Del. Patrick Hope

Requires the Director of the Department of Corrections to establish a health care continuous quality improvement committee, consisting of the Director and specified health care professionals employed by the Department. The bill requires the committee to (i) identify appropriate criteria for evaluation of the quality of health care services provided by the Department, (ii) monitor and evaluate the quality of health care services provided by the Department utilizing the criteria identified, and (iii) develop strategies to improve the quality of health care services provided by the Department. The bill also requires the committee to publish quarterly continuous quality improvement reports setting forth such data and information as the committee deems appropriate on a website maintained by the Department. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care. This bill is identical to

Requires carriers issuing health benefit plans that develop step therapy protocols for a health benefit plan to ensure that those step therapy protocols are (i) developed and endorsed by a multidisciplinary panel of experts that manages conflicts of interest among the members; (ii) based on peer-reviewed research and medical practice; and (iii) continually updated based on a review of new evidence, research, and newly developed treatments. The measure requires that when coverage of a prescription drug for the treatment of a medical condition is restricted for use by a carrier or utilization review organization through the use of a step therapy protocol, the patient and prescribing provider have access to a clear, readily accessible, and convenient process to request a step therapy exception. The measure establishes conditions under which a request for a step therapy exception shall be granted and authorizes a patient to appeal a step therapy exception request denial. The provisions of the measure shall apply to any health benefit plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2020.

Prohibits school employees from opening or closing an electronic room partition in any school building except under certain limited circumstances. The bill requires any annual safety review or exercise for school employees in a local school division to include information and demonstrations, as appropriate, regarding the operation of such partitions. The bill also requires the Department of Education to make available to each school board model safety guidance regarding the operation of such partitions.

Adds seven cemeteries in Hampton to the list of cemeteries for which qualified organizations may receive funds from the Department of Historic Resources for the care of historical African American cemeteries and graves. The cemeteries are Bassette's Cemetery, containing 212 eligible graves, Elmerton Cemetery, containing 339 eligible graves, Good Samaritan Cemetery, containing 37 eligible graves, Pleasant Shade Cemetery, containing 29 eligible graves, Queen Street Cemetery, containing 14 eligible graves, the Tucker Family Cemetery, containing 15 eligible graves, and Union Street Cemetery, containing 125 eligible graves. This bill is identical to

Allows a parent or legal custodian of a minor to delegate to another person by a properly executed power of attorney any powers regarding care, custody, or property of the minor for a period not exceeding 180 days. The bill provides that a parent or legal custodian who is a service member, as defined in the bill, may delegate such powers for a period of longer than 180 days while on active duty service, but specifies that such a period is not to exceed such active duty service plus 30 days. The bill provides that any such power of attorney shall be signed by all persons with authority to make decisions concerning the child, the person to whom powers are delegated under the power of attorney, and a representative of a licensed child-placing agency that assists parents and legal guardians with the process of delegating parental and legal custodial powers of their children. The bill specifies that such licensed child-placing agency will be subject to background checks and must develop and implement written policies for certain services and provide staff and provider training. The bill further requires that any person to whom any such powers are delegated shall comply with background check requirements established by regulations of the Board of Social Services or otherwise provided by law.

Provides that members of the foreign service office who resided in the Commonwealth for at least 90 days immediately prior to receiving a foreign service assignment and who continue to be assigned overseas, and any dependents of such member, are eligible for in-state tuition charges regardless of domicile.

Requires each school board to (i) develop and implement a policy to prohibit the use and distribution of tobacco products and nicotine vapor products on a school bus, on school property, or at an on-site or off-site school-sponsored activity and (ii) include in its code of student conduct a prohibition against possessing tobacco products or nicotine vapor products on a school bus, on school property, or at an on-site or off-site school-sponsored activity. Current law only places these requirements on each school board with regard to electronic cigarettes. The bill requires such policy to include adequate provisions for enforcement among students, employees, and visitors, including the enumeration of possible sanctions or disciplinary action consistent with state or federal law, and referrals to resources to help staff and students overcome tobacco addiction. This bill is identical to

Authorizes a court to defer proceedings in the adjudication of an animal as a dangerous dog. Such authority requires the court to place conditions upon the owner of the animal, the violation of which shall authorize the court to proceed as it otherwise would have. The bill provides that upon the fulfillment of the conditions, the court shall dismiss the proceedings against the animal and the owner.