Del. Kaye Kory

Allowing access to firearms by minors; penalty. Provides that any person who recklessly leaves a loaded, unsecuredfirearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any personunder the age of 18 is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. Current lawprovides that any person who recklessly leaves a loaded, unsecuredfirearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any childunder the age of 14 is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Cruelty to animals; serious bodily injury; firstoffense; penalty. Provides that a person who commits an act ofanimal cruelty that results in serious bodily injury to or the deathor euthanasia of an animal is guilty of a Class 6 felony. Currentlaw requires that the person have been convicted of an act of crueltywithin the past five years and that an animal die as a direct resultof the current or past act of cruelty before the violation is a Class6 felony. The bill expands the authority of a court to order angermanagement treatment from cases of misdemeanor cruelty to all cases.The bill contains technical amendments.

Animal cruelty videos and photos; penalty.Prohibits creating, recording, distributing, selling, advertising,or appearing in any videographic or still image depicting animalcruelty, with certain exceptions for law-enforcement investigationsof animal cruelty. A violation is a Class 6 felony.

Open-end credit plans. Prohibits a creditorfrom extending credit under an open-end credit plan at an annualrate that exceeds 36 percent unless the credit is extended by theseller of personal, family, or household goods for the sole purposeof financing the purchase price.

Constitutional amendment (first resolution);marriage. Proposes the repeal of the constitutional amendmentdealing with marriage that was approved by referendum at the November2006 election. That amendment to the Bill of Rights (i) defines marriage as "only a union between one man and one woman"; (ii) prohibits theCommonwealth and its political subdivisions from creating or recognizing"a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intendsto approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects ofmarriage"; and (iii) prohibits the Commonwealth or its politicalsubdivisions from creating or recognizing "another union, partnership,or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits,obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage." The provisions ofthis section of the Constitution of Virginia are no longer validas a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefellv. Hodges, 576 U.S. ___ (June 26, 2015).

Constitutional amendment (first resolution);marriage. Proposes the repeal of the constitutional amendment dealing with marriage that was approved by referendum at the November2006 election. That amendment to the Bill of Rights (i) defines marriageas "only a union between one man and one woman"; (ii) prohibits theCommonwealth and its political subdivisions from creating or recognizing"a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intendsto approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects ofmarriage"; and (iii) prohibits the Commonwealth or its political subdivisions from creating or recognizing "another union, partnership, or otherlegal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations,qualities, or effects of marriage." The provisions of this section of the Constitution of Virginia are no longer valid as a result ofthe United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges,576 U.S. ___ (June 26, 2015).

Absentee voting; prohibiting release of absenteevoter applicant list. Prohibits the release of the list of personsapplying for an absentee ballot. Currently, the absentee voter applicantlist is available to registered voters for inspection and copying,and political parties and candidates may request and, for a reasonablefee, must be provided an electronic copy of the list.

Constitutional amendment (first resolution);qualifications of voters and the right to vote. Establishes thatthe only qualifications to vote in the Commonwealth are United States citizenship, being at least 18 years of age, residency in the Commonwealth,and registration to vote in accordance with the requirements setout in the Constitution of Virginia. The amendment further providesthat any person who meets those qualifications has the right to voteand that such right cannot be abridged by law. The bill removes fromcurrent constitutional qualifications to vote not having been convictedof a felony and not having been adjudicated to be mentally incompetent.

Celebrating the life of Dorothy Leah Gerber.

Commending the Washington Nationals.