Del. Marcus Simon

Virginia Human Rights Acts; discrimination onthe basis of disability. Adds discrimination on the basis ofdisability as an unlawful employment practice under the VirginiaHuman Rights Act. The bill also requires employers, defined in thebill, to make reasonable accommodation to the known physical and mentalimpairments of an otherwise qualified person with a disability, ifnecessary to assist such person in performing a particular job, unlessthe employer can demonstrate that the accommodation would imposean undue hardship on the employer. The bill also prohibits employersfrom taking any adverse action against an employee who requests oruses a reasonable accommodation, from denying employment or promotionopportunities to an otherwise qualified applicant or employee because such employer will be required to make reasonable accommodation tothe applicant or employee, or from requiring an employee to takeleave if another reasonable accommodation can be provided to the known limitations related to the disability. The bill creates a cause of action against any employer who denies any of the rights to reasonable accommodation afforded by the bill and permits the court or juryto award compensatory damages, back pay, and other equitable relief.

Programs to address career fatigue and wellnessin certain health care providers; civil immunity. Expands civilimmunity for health care professionals serving as members of or consultantsto entities that function primarily to review, evaluate, or makerecommendations related to health care services to include healthcare professionals serving as members of or consultants to entitiesthat function primarily to address issues related to career fatigueand wellness in health care professionals licensed, registered, orcertified by the Boards of Medicine, Nursing, or Pharmacy, or instudents enrolled in a school of medicine, osteopathic medicine,nursing, or pharmacy located in the Commonwealth. The bill containsan emergency clause.

Access to water; human right. Recognizing that access to clean, potable, and affordable water is a necessary human right.

Child-placing agencies; conscience clause; repeal. Repeals provisions that allowed child-placing agencies to refuse to perform, assist with, counsel, recommend, consent to, refer, or participate in any child placements when the proposed placement would violate the agency's written religious or moral convictions or policies. The bill provides that any child-placing agency that operated pursuant to the provisions of the conscience clause prior to February 1, 2021, may continue to do so until January 1, 2022, but only with regard to placements made prior to February 1, 2022.

National Statuary Hall Collection at the United States Capitol; Barbara Rose Johns. Authorizes, and directs the submission to the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library, that the vacant spot of the Commonwealth in the National Statuary Hall Collection at the United States Capitol be filled with a statue to commemorate Barbara Rose Johns. The request is subject to written approval by the Governor and is made in accordance with the recommendation by the Commission for Historical Statues in the United States Capitol.

Victims of COVID-19 Remembrance Day. DesignatingMarch 14, in 2021 and in each succeeding year, as Victims of COVID-19Remembrance Day in Virginia.

Equal Citizens Month. Designates November,in 2021 and in each succeeding year, as Equal Citizens Month in Virginia.

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