Del. Marcus Simon

Celebrating the life of Colonel Edward DavidShames, USA, Ret.

Public school teachers; continuing contract; resignation. Declares a public school teacher employed after completing the probationary period to be entitled to a continuing contract whereby the contract continues in effect for the ensuing year in conformity with local salary stipulations, including increments, provided, however, that such teacher may be dismissed for any cause set forth in relevant law and in accordance with the procedures set forth in relevant law. Current law declares any such teacher to be entitled to such a continuing contract during good behavior and competent service. The bill requires a public school teacher who seeks to resign from a continuing contract (i) for the ensuing school year to give written notice of such resignation on or before June 15 of the current school year or (ii) in effect for the current school year or for the ensuing school year after June 15 of the current school year to request release from the contract at least two weeks in advance of intended date of resignation and requires such request to be in writing and to set forth the cause of resignation. Current law requires written notice of noncontinuation of a continuing contract by either party to be given by June 15 of each year and permits a teacher to resign after June 15 of any school year with the approval of the local school board or, upon authorization by the school board, with the approval of the division superintendent if the teacher requests release from the contract in writing at least two weeks in advance of the intended date of resignation and sets forth the cause of resignation. The bill also provides that if the school board has not authorized the division superintendent to approve resignations of teachers with continuing contracts, the school board shall decide whether to accept or reject the resignation of such a teacher.

Commending the Spotsylvania American LegionPost 320.

Attorneys for the Commonwealth; compensation and collection of fees. Prohibits the Compensation Board, when determining staffing and funding levels for offices of attorneys for the Commonwealth, from (i) considering the number of charges brought or the number of convictions obtained by such attorney for the Commonwealth; (ii) relying on standards devised or recommended by the attorney for the Commonwealth, law-enforcement agencies, or professional associations representing attorneys for the Commonwealth or law-enforcement officers; or (iii) using measures that increase if an attorney for the Commonwealth (a) elects to prosecute a more serious charge, (b) elects to prosecute additional charges from a single arrest or criminal incident, (c) obtains convictions rather than dismissing charges or offering reduced charges, or (d) proceeds with prosecution rather than diversion. The bill requires attorneys for the Commonwealth to pay into the state treasury all fees collected by them in consideration of the performance of official duties or functions; current law requires the payment of half of such fees. The bill requires the State Treasurer to pay to the treasuries of the respective counties and cities of the attorneys for the Commonwealth a proportion of half of all such fees collected by all attorneys for the Commonwealth, as determined by each county or city's crime rate, criminal incident rate, or arrest rate. Finally, the bill changes the fees collected by attorneys for the Commonwealth on trials of felony indictments from $40 on each count to $120 for each trial of a Class 1 or Class 2 felony indictment, or any other felony punishable by imprisonment for life, and $40 for each trial on all other felony indictments, regardless of the number of counts. The bill contains technical amendments.

Commending Thomas Geary, Ph.D.

Commending Robert L. Dandridge, Jr.

Recognition of the Wolf Creek Cherokee Tribeof Virginia. Extends state recognition to the Wolf Creek CherokeeTribe of Virginia within the Commonwealth.

Commending the Osher Lifelong Learning Instituteat George Mason University.

Celebrating the life of Jameel Jalal Abed.

Celebrating the life of the Honorable FrankDuVal Hargrove, Sr.