Adoption by stepparent; background check. Repeals the July 1, 2020, sunset on provisions that require a circuit court, when determining whether an investigation by the director of the local department of social services should be required before a final order is entered to approve as an adoptive parent the spouse of a child's birth or adoptive parent, to consider the results of a national criminal history background check conducted on the prospective adoptive parent.
Prevailing wage; public works contracts withlocalities; penalty. Requires contractors and subcontractors under any public contract with a locality for public works to paywages, salaries, benefits, and other remuneration to any mechanic,laborer, or worker employed, retained, or otherwise hired to performservices in connection with the public contract at the prevailingwage rate. The Commissioner of Labor and Industry is required todetermine the prevailing wage rate for such public contracts on thebasis of applicable prevailing wage rate determinations made by theU.S. Secretary of Labor under the provisions of the federal Davis-BaconAct. A contractor or subcontractor who knowingly or willfully employsany mechanic, laborer, or worker to perform work contracted to bedone under the public contract at a rate that is less than the prevailingwage rate is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. In addition, such a contractor or subcontractor shall be liable to such individuals forthe payment of all wages due plus interest and shall be disqualifiedfrom bidding on public contracts until full restitution has beenpaid to the individuals.
Window tinting; vehicles used in the courseof business by private investigators, bail bondsmen, and bail enforcementagents. Allows licensed private investigators, licensed bailbondsmen, and licensed bail enforcement agents to apply tinting filmsto darken certain windows of vehicles used in the course of businessto a minimum of 20 percent light transmittance. Current law allowslight transmittance minimums of 50 or 35 percent, depending on the window. The bill contains technical amendments.
School board policies; homework assignments;Internet connection. Requires each school board to establisha policy to prohibit any teacher in the school division from assigningto any student a homework assignment that requires the use of anInternet connection that is capable of transmitting information ata rate that is not less than 256 kilobits per second in at leastone direction when such student lacks meaningful access to such anInternet connection.
Department of Historic Resources; duties.Requires the Director of the Department of Historic Resources toreview and respond to any request from a federal agency for a consultationprocess under the Director's authority as the State Historic PreservationOfficer for review, concurrence, or execution of reports, agreements,determinations, and other documents within 30 days or such periodof time that is less than 30 days if requested by the federal agency.The bill provides that if the Director does not respond to the federalagency within the requested time, the Director's review will be deemed waived and, if the Director's approval, concurrence, or executionhas been requested, such approval, concurrence, or execution shallbe deemed granted. The bill also places certain deadlines by whichthe Director must take action on applications for a permit for anarchaeological field investigation involving the removal of humanskeletal remains or associated artifacts from any unmarked humanburial.
Surface mineral mines; local authority.Authorizes a locality to regulate certain aspects of surface mineralmines including (i) creating a reasonable buffer zone around anyblasting area of any surface mineral mine adjacent to or within areasonable distance of a school, park, or other public gatheringspace; (ii) approving the plan of operation and the bond requirementsfor a surface mining operation permit; and (iii) requiring a reasonabledecrease in the approved height of a mine refuse pile, provided suchdecrease will not affect its safety or structural integrity.
Campaign finance; candidate contribution limits;civil penalty. Prohibits any single contribution, or any combinationof contributions, that exceeds $2,500 from any individual or $5,000from any committee to any one candidate for any election. The bill permits unlimited contributions by a candidate or a candidate's family to the candidate's campaign. The bill prohibits contributions fromany person that is not an individual or a committee to any candidate.The bill imposes civil penalties for violations of the limits ofup to two times the excess contribution amounts.
Tree conservation ordinance; Chesapeake BayPreservation Act locality; designated trees. Adds "Chesapeake Bay watershed tree," as defined in the bill, to the types of treethat a locality with a tree conservation ordinance is authorized to designate individually for preservation. Current law allows individual designation of heritage, memorial, specimen, and street trees. Thebill contains technical amendments.
Ranked choice voting; elections for local governingbodies; local option pilot program. Provides that elections forlocal governing bodies may be conducted by ranked choice voting,which the bill defines as the method of casting and tabulating votesin which (i) voters rank candidates in order of preference, (ii)tabulation proceeds in rounds in each of which either a candidateor candidates are elected or the last-place candidate is defeated,(iii) votes for voters' next-ranked candidates are transferred fromelected or defeated candidates, and (iv) tabulation ends when thenumber of candidates elected equals the number of offices to be filled. The bill allows any local governing body to decide to conduct suchelection by ranked choice voting and requires any such decision tobe made in consultation with the local electoral board and generalregistrar and by a majority vote of the governing body. The bill authorizesthe State Board of Elections to promulgate regulations for the properand efficient administration of elections determined by ranked choicevoting. The bill provides that any costs incurred by the Departmentof Elections related to technological changes necessary for the implementationof ranked choice voting pursuant to the bill shall be charged tothe localities exercising the option to proceed with ranked choice voting. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2021, andsunsets on July 1, 2031.
Hunting laws; novice booklet. Directs theDepartment of Game and Inland Fisheries to develop and publish inprint or on its website or both and update on at least an annualbasis a booklet intended for use by novice hunters that may be called"How to Hunt." The bill provides that the booklet will explain applicablefederal, state, and local hunting laws and regulations accordingto the hunter's location, season, time of day, and weapon and otherrelevant factors as determined by the Department.
Violations of protective orders; penalty.Provides that any person who commits any assault, assault and battery,or bodily wounding upon any party protected by a protective orderis guilty of a Class 6 felony. Currently, the Class 6 felony is onlyapplicable if the person commits an assault and battery that resultsin serious bodily injury to the protected party.
Protective orders; minors; filing of petition.Provides that a minor may petition for a protective order onhis own behalf without the consent of a parent or guardian and withoutdoing so by next friend.
