Rep. Candi King

Department of Education and Board of Education;special education and related services for students with disabilities.Requires the Department of Education to update its special educationeligibility worksheets as necessary, including clarifying any ambiguityor vagueness in eligibility criteria, and provide to each local schooldivision the appropriate level of guidance on eligibility determinationsfor special education and related services. The bill requires theBoard of Education to amend its regulations to ensure that each educationpreparation program graduate in a K-12 general education endorsementarea demonstrates proficiency in understanding the role of generaleducation teachers on the individualized education program (IEP)team.

Solicitation of prostitution; reorganization. Reorganizes the statute penalizing prostitution into two distinctsections. The penalties for all offenses remain unchanged. This billis a recommendation of the Virginia State Crime Commission.

Virginia Small Business Financing Authority;annual report; utilization or award of loan and grant program funds.Requires the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority to includein its annual report information regarding the percentage of loanand grant program funds utilized or awarded by the Authority duringthe preceding fiscal year. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.

Essential health benefits; abortion coverage.Removes the prohibition on the provision of coverage for abortionsin any qualified health insurance plan that is sold or offered forsale through a health benefits exchange established or operatingin Virginia.

Student driver safety. Adopts measures aimedat improving student driver safety. The bill requires curriculumfor tenth grade health at public schools to include instruction onthe dangers of distracted driving and speeding, to be developed bythe Department of Education. Finally, the bill requires that a studentshow proof of a valid driver's license or driver privilege card before being issued a school parking pass at a public high school and thatschools use a common application for such parking passes.

Virginia Retirement System; technical amendments.Makes technical amendments to provisions of the Code of Virginiarelating to the Virginia Retirement System to reflect recent changesto federal law and conform terminology to federal law.

Compensation Board determining staffing and salaries for an attorney for the Commonwealth. Provides that the Compensation Board shall consider workload totals comprehensively, including the use of diversion programs and specialty dockets, when determining staffing and funding levels for an attorney for the Commonwealth and the office. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.

Study; Department of Rail and Public Transportation; transit equity and modernization; report. Requests the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to conduct a two-year study of transit equity and modernization in the Commonwealth,with emphasis on transit services and engagement opportunities for underserved and underrepresented communities.

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.