Del. Patrick Hope

Commending Judy Apostolico-Buck.

Commending the Virginia Emergency ManagementAssociation.

Celebrating the life of Sidney Buford Scott.

Commending the passage of the Americans withDisabilities Act.

Ex parte requests for investigative services or expertassistance in noncapital cases. Allows a defendant or his attorney, whensuch defendant is charged with a noncapital offense and is financially unableto pay for investigative services or expert assistance, to move a court toconduct an ex parte hearing on a request for such services or assistance. For amotion for investigative services, the bill requires a defendant or hisattorney to state under oath or in a sworn declaration that a need forconfidentiality exists regarding the request for investigative services and,after a hearing upon the motion, the court shall authorize the defendant or hisattorney to obtain investigative services upon a showing that the requestedservices would materially assist the defendant and are necessary in order toguarantee an adequate defense and that the lack of such confidential serviceswould result in a fundamentally unfair trial. For a motion for expertassistance, the bill requires a defendant or his attorney to show, in anadversarial proceeding before the trial judge, a particularized need forconfidentiality of the request for expert assistance. Upon a finding, by clearand convincing evidence, that a particularized need for confidentiality of theexpert services exists, the court shall hold an ex parte hearing and may orderthe appointment of a qualified expert upon a showing that the provision of therequested expert services would materially assist the defendant in preparinghis defense and the lack of such confidential assistance would result in afundamentally unfair trial.

Partition of property. Incorporates major provisions of the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act. The bill provides that in partition actions the court shall order an appraisal to determine fair market value of the property, unless the parties have agreed to the value of the property or to another valuation method. The bill also provides factors to be considered by the court when making an allotment of the property when there is a dispute among the parties. The bill further provides that if the court orders a sale of property in a partition action, the sale shall be conducted on the open market, unless the court finds that a sale by sealed bids or at auction would be more economically advantageous to the parties as a group. The bill outlines the procedure for such open-market sale. This bill is identical to SB 553.

Emblem for honoring fallen public safety personnel;the Honor and Sacrifice Flag. Designates the Honor and SacrificeFlag as the Commonwealth's emblem for honoring the brave men and womenwho have given their lives for public safety. This resolution is identicalto SJ 31.

Virginia Human Rights Act; racial discrimination; hair. Provides that the terms "because of race" and "on the basis of race," and terms of similar import, when used in reference to discrimination in the Code of Virginia and acts of the General Assembly, include traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists. This bill is identical to SB 50.

Gun Violence Awareness Day. DesignatesJune 1, in 2020 and in each succeeding year, as Gun Violence AwarenessDay in Virginia.

Celebrating the life of Markiya Simone Dickson.