Del. Dave LaRock

Nutrient credit trading; adjacent hydrologicunit code. Removes authority for a Virginia Stormwater ManagementProgram or Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program toallow compliance with stormwater nonpoint nutrient runoff water qualitycriteria through the applicant's acquisition of nutrient creditsin the same tributary in an adjacent hydrologic unit code (HUC) orfourth order subbasin unless certain existing criteria for purchasing credits outside of the HUC or fourth order subbasin are met, whenthe credits are in a locality with a population fewer than 20,000and geographic area under 200 square miles.

Virginia Highway Corporation Act of 1988; Departmentof Transportation authority. Transfers enforcement and oversightauthority of the Virginia Highway Corporation Act of 1988 from theState Corporation Commission to the Department of Transportation.

Application for public assistance; eligibility;review of records. Requires entities processing applicationsfor medical assistance and other public assistance to conduct a reviewof death records and records relating to the applicant's incarcerationstatus, employment status, and income to determine whether the applicantis eligible for assistance.

Fetal dismemberment prohibited. Prohibitsa person licensed by the Board of Medicine to practice medicine fromperforming an abortion that involves dismemberment of a fetus.

Additional real property tax on commercial andindustrial property in certain localities. Authorizes countiesand cities in Planning District 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 to impose an additionalreal estate tax on commercial and industrial property at a rate ofup to $0.10 per $100 of assessed value. Any revenue raised from suchtax would be required to be used to pay for transportation costs.Under current law, only localities within the Northern Virginia TransportationAuthority or the Hampton Roads metropolitan planning area are authorizedto impose such tax. The bill contains technical amendments.

Carrying a concealed handgun; permit not required. Allows any person who is otherwise eligible to obtain a concealedhandgun permit to carry a concealed handgun without a permit anywherehe may lawfully carry a handgun openly within the Commonwealth.

Goat grazing on stream buffers. Authorizes a locality that procures and utilizes goats for the temporary grazingof stream buffers to remain in compliance with a resource managementplan for pasture land. Such compliance qualifies the locality formatching grants for agricultural best management practices providedthrough the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-ShareProgram. The bill also clarifies that such grazing is not prohibitedby certain provisions of the State Water Control Law.

Use of transportation funds in the Commonwealth. Requires affirmative authorization by the General Assembly in anappropriation act for any funds in the Commonwealth, including localand regional funds and toll revenues, to be used for a transportationproject physically located outside of the Commonwealth.

Students who receive home instruction; participationin interscholastic programs. Prohibits public schools from joiningan organization governing interscholastic programs that does notdeem eligible for participation a student who (i) receives home instruction;(ii) has demonstrated evidence of progress for two consecutive academicyears; (iii) is in compliance with immunization requirements; (iv)is entitled to free tuition in a public school; (v) has not reachedthe age of 19 by August 1 of the current academic year; (vi) is anamateur who receives no compensation but participates solely forthe educational, physical, mental, and social benefits of the activity;(vii) complies with all disciplinary rules and is subject to allcodes of conduct applicable to all public high school athletes; and(viii) complies with all other rules governing awards, all-star games,maximum consecutive semesters of high school enrollment, parentalconsents, physical examinations, and transfers applicable to allhigh school athletes. The bill provides that no local school boardis required to establish a policy to permit students who receivehome instruction to participate in interscholastic programs. Thebill permits reasonable fees to be charged to students who receivehome instruction to cover the costs of participation in such interscholasticprograms, including the costs of additional insurance, uniforms,and equipment. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2025.

Exemption from sales tax for sales of gun safes. Provides a tax exemption for the purchase of gun safes with a price of $1,000 or less.