Rep. Dave LaRock

Sales and use tax exemption; aircraft components. Extends the sunset date for the sales and use tax exemption for parts, engines, and supplies used for maintaining, repairing, or reconditioning aircraft or any aircraft's avionics system, engine, or component parts from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2025. The bill also restricts the exemption for manned systems to aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of at least 2,400 pounds. This bill is identical to SB 701.

World Polio Day. Designates October 24,in 2022 and in each succeeding year, as World Polio Day in Virginia.

Rate of tax on gasoline and diesel fuel. Lowers the rate of tax on gasoline and diesel fuel on July 1, 2022, from 26.2 cents per gallon to 21.2 cents per gallon on gasoline and from 27 cents per gallon to 20.2 cents per gallon on diesel fuel, the rates that were in effect before July 1, 2021. The bill provides that the rate of tax on gasoline and diesel fuel will return to 26.2 and 27 cents per gallon, respectively, on July 1, 2023, and will be indexed based on the change in the United States Average Consumer Price Index for both 2021 and 2022; thereafter, the rate will be indexed annually.

Income tax; standard deduction. Increasesthe standard deduction, starting with taxable year 2022, from $4,500to $9,000 for single filers and from $9,000 to $18,000 for married filers (one-half of such amount in the case of a married individualfiling a separate return). The increase would remain in effect fortaxable years 2026 and after, when, under current law, the standard deduction is scheduled to be reduced to $3,000 for single filersand to $6,000 for married filers.

Attorney General; instituting or conductingcriminal prosecutions for certain acts of violence. Authorizesthe Attorney General to institute or conduct criminal prosecutionsin cases involving a violation of the criminal laws for certain actsof violence when such prosecution is requested by the sheriff orchief of police investigating the violation. The bill also providesthat prior to instituting or conducting a criminal prosecution forsuch cases, the Attorney General shall give notice to the local attorneyfor the Commonwealth where such violation occurred of his intentto institute or conduct such criminal prosecution.

Collective bargaining; law enforcement; transparencyand accountability. Prohibits a county, city, or town from enteringinto a collective bargaining contract with a labor union or otheremployee association representing law-enforcement officers or employeesof a law-enforcement agency that (i) prevents the Attorney Generalfrom seeking equitable relief against a law-enforcement agency engagingin a pattern or practice of unconstitutional misconduct; (ii) includesany stipulation that delays officer interviews or interrogationsafter alleged wrongdoing for a set length of time; (iii) providesofficers with access to evidence before interviews or interrogations about alleged wrongdoing; (iv) mandates the destruction or purgingof disciplinary records from personnel files after a set length oftime, or limits the consideration of disciplinary records in futureemployment actions; (v) prohibits the interrogation, investigation,or punishment of officers on the basis of alleged wrongdoing if aset length of time has elapsed since its alleged occurrence, or sincethe initiation of the investigation; (vi) prohibits supervisors frominterrogating, investigating, or disciplining officers on the basisof anonymous civilian complaints; or (vii) requires arbitration of disputes related to disciplinary penalties or termination.

Firearms; removal from persons posing substantialrisk; penalties. Repeals the procedure by which any attorney for the Commonwealth or law-enforcement officer may apply to a generaldistrict court, circuit court, or juvenile and domestic relationsdistrict court judge or magistrate for an emergency substantial riskorder to prohibit a person who poses a substantial risk of injuryto himself or others from purchasing, possessing, or transportinga firearm. The bill also removes the substantial risk order registryfor the entry of orders issued.

Private elementary and secondary schools; retaliationfor good faith reports of child abuse or neglect prohibited. Prohibitsany private elementary or secondary school from retaliating in anymanner against any individual who in good faith reports child abuseor neglect as mandated by relevant law.

Sale and transfer of firearms; criminal historyrecord information check delay. Decreases from five business days to three business days the time provided for the Department of StatePolice to complete a background check before a firearm may be transferred.If a dealer who has otherwise fulfilled all requirements is toldby the State Police that a response will not be available by the endof the dealer's third business day, the dealer may complete the saleor transfer without being deemed in violation.

Control of firearms by localities. Removes the authority for a locality by ordinance to prohibit the possession or carrying of firearms, ammunition, or components or any combination thereof in (i) any building, or part thereof, owned or used by such locality for governmental purposes; (ii) any public park owned or operated by the locality; (iii) any recreation or community center facility; or (iv) any public street, road, alley, or sidewalk or public right-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit. The bill provides that any firearm received by the locality pursuant to a buy-back program shall be offered for sale by public auction or sealed bids to a person licensed as a dealer. Current law provides that any such firearm shall be destroyed by the locality unless the person surrendering the firearm requests in writing that the firearm be offered for sale. The bill also limits the authority of localities and state governmental entities to bring lawsuits against certain firearms manufacturers and others.