Failed to pass
Requires local boards of social services, prior to placement, to provide to the foster home or residential facility all known information, including whether the child has been the perpetrator of sexual abuse. The bill also requires that the background information provided to the prospective adoptive parents by a child placing agency or local department of social services include all known information regarding whether the child has been the perpetrator of sexual abuse.
Authorizes the governing body of any locality to adopt an ordinance restricting the tethering of a dog outdoors. The ordinance may limit the maximum number of hours or the weather conditions during which the dog may remain tethered but shall not restrict normal hunting or agricultural activities. The bill provides that its provisions shall not repeal, amend, impair, or affect any tethering ordinance adopted prior to July 1, 2018.
Creates the Kinship Guardianship Assistance program (the program) to facilitate child placements with relatives and ensure permanency for children for whom adoption or being returned home are not appropriate permanency options. The bill sets forth eligibility criteria for the program, payment allowances to kinship guardians, and requirements for kinship guardianship assistance agreements. The bill also requires the Board of Social Services to promulgate regulations for the program. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.
Establishes the position of Commonwealth Broadband Chief Advisor (Chief Advisor) within the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to serve as Virginia's single point of contact and integration for broadband issues, efforts, and initiatives and to increase the availability and affordability of broadband throughout all regions of the Commonwealth.
Failed to pass
Transfers the Virginia-Israel Advisory Board (the Board) from the executive branch to the legislative branch. The bill also changes the membership of the Board by increasing the number of citizen appointments by the Speaker of the House of Delegates from six to 10 and the number of citizen appointments by the Senate Committee on Rules from six to 10 and by decreasing the number of appointments of the Governor from 13 to five. The Joint Rules Committee appoints the executive director to the Board. Funding for the costs of expenses of the members and the operations of the Board, including staffing needs, are made from such funds as appropriated by the General Assembly. The Virginia-Israel Advisory Board is currently an advisory board in the executive branch of government staffed by the Office of the Governor.
Provides that a registered sex offender who enters an emergency shelter designated by the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof and operated in response to a declared state or local emergency shall, as soon as practicable after entry, notify a member of the shelter's staff who is responsible for providing security of such person's status as a registered sex offender. This bill provides that no person shall be denied entry solely on the basis of his status as a sex offender unless such entry is otherwise prohibited by law. This bill incorporates
Establishes the Cybersecurity Student Loan Repayment Grant Program, to be administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (the Council), whereby renewable grants of up to $20,000 of matching state and employer funds are provided on a competitive basis to an individual who (i) either (a) graduated within the past year from a public institution of higher education or regionally accredited private institution of higher education with an undergraduate or graduate degree in computer science or another academic program recognized by the Council to prepare an individual for a career in cybersecurity and who resides in the Commonwealth or (b) has served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, was discharged or released within the past year from such service under conditions other than dishonorable, gained experience or received training in computer science during such service, and resides in the Commonwealth and (ii) accepts an offer of employment in a computer science position with any federal or state organization, including any federal or state military or defense organization, that is located in the Commonwealth or any private organization that contractually provides cybersecurity services for any such federal or state organization and that is located in the Commonwealth. The bill contains provisions relating to program administration and dissemination of information and reporting on the program.
Makes several changes to the teacher licensure process, including (i) permitting teachers with a valid out-of-state license, with full credentials and without deficiencies, to receive licensure by reciprocity without passing additional licensing assessments and (ii) specifying that for the purpose of Board of Education regulations for the approval of teacher education programs, the term "education preparation program" includes four-year bachelor's degree programs in teacher education.
Modifies the worker retraining tax credit by allowing credit to manufacturers conducting a manufacturing orientation, instruction, and training program that is (i) provided to students in grades six through 12, (ii) coordinated with the local school division and certified as qualified for tax credit by the Virginia Economic Partnership Development Authority, and (iii) conducted either at a plant or facility used by the manufacturer or at a public middle or high school in Virginia. The credit would equal 35 percent of the manufacturer's direct costs in providing the program, not to exceed $2,000 for any year.
Increases to a Class 6 felony from a Class 1 misdemeanor the penalties for the following crimes if a minor is involved: (i) keeping, residing in, or visiting a bawdy place; (ii) aiding prostitution; and (iii) using vehicles to promote prostitution. The bill also adds felony violations of these offenses to (a) the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry, (b) the definition of violent felony for the purposes of the sentencing guidelines, (c) the list of predicate criminal acts for street gangs, (d) the list of offenses that may constitute racketeering under the Virginia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, and (e) the offenses that may be investigated by a multi-jurisdiction grand jury. The bill also makes applicable to all persons, regardless of the gender of the victim, the crimes of (1) assisting or aiding in the abduction of or threatening to abduct a female under 16 years of age for the purpose of concubinage or prostitution and (2) placing or leaving one's wife in a bawdy place.
