Del. Marcus Simon

High school family life education curricula; optional instruction on human trafficking. Permits any family life education curriculum offered by a local school division in high school to incorporate age-appropriate elements of effective and evidence-based programs on the prevention, recognition, and awareness of human trafficking of children.

Virginia Literacy Act; early student literacy; evidence-based literacy instruction; science-based reading research. Makes several changes relating to early student literacy, including requiring (i) each education preparation program offered by a public institution of higher education or private institution of higher education or alternative certification program that provides training for any individual seeking initial licensure with an endorsement in a certain area, including as a reading specialist, to demonstrate mastery of science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction, as such terms are defined in the bill; (ii) the literacy assessment required of individuals seeking initial teacher licensure with endorsements in certain areas to include a rigorous test of science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction; (iii) each local school board to establish a divisionwide literacy plan; (iv) each local school board to employ one reading specialist for each 550 students in kindergarten through grade three; and (v) each local school board to provide a program of literacy instruction whereby, among other things, (a) the program provides reading intervention services to students in kindergarten through grade three who demonstrate deficiencies based on their individual performance on the Standards of Learning reading assessment or an early literacy screener provided or approved by the Department of Education; (b) a reading specialist, in collaboration with the teacher of any student who receives such reading intervention services, develops, oversees implementation of, and monitors student progress on a student reading plan; and (c) each student who receives such reading intervention services is assessed utilizing either the early literacy screener provided or approved by the Department or the grade-level reading Standards of Learning assessment again at the end of that school year. The provisions of the bill become effective beginning with the 2024–2025 school year. This bill is identical to SB 616.

Virginia National Guard; institutions of higher education; tuition grants. Adds parameters around grants distributed by the Department of Military Affairs (the Department) to members of the Virginia National Guard who are enrolled in any course or program at any public institution of higher education or accredited nonprofit private institution of higher education. The bill provides that an application for a grant shall be made to the Department no later than 30 days prior to the beginning of an academic semester. The bill provides that the Department shall determine whether an applicant is eligible for the grant and communicate acceptance and any additional requirements determined by the Department in writing no later than 30 days after receipt of an application. The bill requires individuals who are eligible for such grants to satisfy all financial obligations with the institution and provide written proof of acceptable academic performance and good standing for the current term no later than 30 days following the end of a term or semester. The bill provides that individuals receiving grants pursuant to the bill incur a single two-year service obligation to the Virginia National Guard and that this two-year obligation commences on the last day of the last term or semester for which tuition assistance was awarded. The bill provides that federal active duty mobilizations occurring while still a member of the Virginia National Guard and state active duty for the Commonwealth count toward such two-year service obligation. The bill provides that grants shall be subject to limitation based on the amount of funds appropriated for such purpose and that if applications for grants exceed the amount of funding appropriated, the Department shall issue grants to eligible recipients based on the order in which applications were received.

Local Food and Farming Infrastructure GrantProgram. Increases from $25,000 to $50,000 the amount of a grantthat may be made to a political subdivision for projects that supportlocal food production and sustainable agriculture.

Conservation and natural resources; sectionsnot set out; technical revisions. Sets out in the Code of Virginiawith amendments for clarity sections in Title 28.2 (Fisheries andHabitat of the Tidal Waters), Title 29.1 (Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating), and Title 62.1 (Waters of the State, Ports and Harbors)that are currently carried by reference only. The bill also makestechnical revisions to the description of the Historic Falls of theJames State Scenic River. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Code Commission.

Hospitals; direct readmission of certain postpartum patients. Directs the Department of Health (the Department) to develop recommendations for protocols for hospitals that provide obstetrical services for (i) admission or transfer of any pregnant woman who presents herself while in labor or while experiencing a perinatal emergency and (ii) direct readmission, if appropriate, to the hospital of any patient who received obstetrical services from the hospital, experiences postpartum complications requiring immediate medical care, and is referred to the hospital by the patient's health care provider. The bill requires the Department to make such recommendations available to every hospital in the Commonwealth that provides obstetrical services by December 15, 2022.

Park authorities; electric vehicle chargingstations. Gives park authorities created by a locality the authorityto locate, operate, regulate the use of, and install signage relatingto electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on property under itsjurisdiction. The bill adds park authorities to the list of entitiesfor which provision of electricity for EV charging is exempt fromthe definition of retail sale of electricity. The bill adds park authorities to the list of entities that the State Corporation Commissioncannot regulate or prescribe the rates, charges, and fees for retailEV charging service.

Certain public elementary and secondary school students; excused absences; attendance at pow wow. Provides that, subject to guidelines established by the Department of Education, any student who is a member of a state-recognized or federally recognized tribal nation that is headquartered in the Commonwealth and who is absent from school to attend such tribal nation's pow wow gathering shall be granted one excused absence per academic year, provided that the parent of such student provides to the student's school advance notice of such absence in the manner required by the school.

Dissemination of consumer information about noxious weeds and invasive plants. Requires the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services to develop model signs for retail establishments that sell plants that may be used to explain the benefits of native plants and the harm of noxious weeds and other invasive plants. The bill also directs the Commissioner to develop model labels that may be used for the wholesale and retail sale of plants that indicate the common and scientific name of the plant, as well as whether it is native or invasive.

Campaign finance; record retention requirements and reviews of campaign finance disclosure reports. Requires campaign committee treasurers to retain certain records that may be used in reviews of campaign committee accounts. The bill gives the Department of Elections the authority and duty to conduct reviews of a percentage of campaign committees and to report the results of such reviews annually to the State Board of Elections, the Governor, and the General Assembly and make such report available on the Department's website. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2024, and provides that campaign finance reports filed prior to January 1, 2024, are not subject to the provisions of the bill.