Directs the Boards of Dentistry and Medicine to adopt regulations for the prescribing of opioids and products containing buprenorphine. The bill requires the Prescription Monitoring Program at the Department of Health Professions to provide an annual report to the Joint Commission on Health Care on the prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines in the Commonwealth. The bill contains an emergency clause.
Broadens eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program by including students whose Expected Family Contribution, as calculated by the federal government using the family's financial information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), is no more than $12,000. Currently the program is available only to students whose Expected Family Contribution is no more than $8,000. The bill does not affect additional eligibility requirements for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program. This bill is identical to
Revises the composition of the Virginia Board of Workforce Development (Board) to conform to requirements of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). One member shall be a representative of a private career college. The measure also (i) specifies that funding for a full-time Executive Director position shall be provided by Title I of the WIOA and (ii) replaces a requirement that industry credentials that align with high-demand occupations shall include the Career Readiness Certificate with the requirement that such industry credentials include a credential that determines career readiness. The measure shall not become effective if prior to July 1, 2017, the U.S. Department of Labor grants a waiver of the State Board membership composition requirements under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act that permits the Board to continue with its current composition.
Requires the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) to establish an optional defined contribution retirement plan for state and local employees. Participation in the plan is in lieu of other retirement plans offered by VRS. Employees hired on or after July 1, 2019, shall make an irrevocable election whether to participate in the plan. A person who is employed on June 30, 2019, shall make an irrevocable election by October 31, 2019, to participate in the new retirement plan beginning January 1, 2020, in lieu of his retirement plan at the time. If such employee elects to participate in the new plan, his retirement plan at the time of election will be "frozen" and not increase because of compensation earned or years of service earned while participating in the new plan. Under the plan, the employer makes a mandatory contribution in the amount of 8.5 percent of the employee's compensation, and the employee contributes five percent of his compensation. The employer's contribution becomes fully vested upon the employee's completion of five years of continuous participation.
Reduces the maximum length of a long-term suspension from 364 calendar days to 90 school days. The bill prohibits a long-term suspension from extending beyond any 45 school day period unless the school principal or division superintendent finds that aggravating circumstances exist, as defined by the local school board. The bill requires that the length of any long-term suspension that extends beyond any 45 school day period shall be reviewed at the end of each such period.
Prohibits students in preschool through grade three from being suspended for more than five school days or expelled except for drug offenses, firearm offenses, or certain criminal acts.
House sustained Governor's veto (62-Y 33-N)
Failed to pass
Left in Commerce and Labor
Establishes a statewide policy for the regulation of professions and occupations specifying criteria for government regulation with the objective of increasing opportunities, promoting competition, encouraging innovation, protecting consumers, and complying with applicable federal antitrust laws. The bill also establishes the position of professional and occupational regulatory analyst within the Division of Legislative Services to assist the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules in (i) evaluating at least three professions and occupations in each year and (ii) to the extent feasible, reviewing legislation establishing or modifying an occupational regulation to determine whether the legislation meets the state policy of using the least restrictive regulation necessary to protect or preserve the public health, safety, and welfare. The evaluation shall include recommendations for changes to occupational regulations to improve compliance with the state policy of using the least restrictive regulation necessary.
Failed to pass
Provides that a person is guilty of felony homicide, which constitutes second degree murder and is punishable by confinement of not less than five nor more than 40 years, if the underlying felonious act that resulted in the killing of another involved the manufacture, sale, gift, or distribution of a Schedule I or II controlled substance to another and (i) such other person's death results from his use of the controlled substance and (ii) the controlled substance is the proximate cause of his death. The bill also provides that venue for a prosecution of this crime shall lie in the locality where the underlying felony occurred, where the use of the controlled substance occurred, or where death occurred. This bill serves to overrule the Court of Appeals of Virginia decision in
