Del. Sam Rasoul

Development and use of accessory dwelling units.Provides that all localities shall allow for the development anduse of one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) per single-family dwelling(SFD), notwithstanding any contrary provision of a zoning ordinance.The bill defines "accessory dwelling unit" or "ADU" as an independentdwelling unit on a single-family lot with its own living, bathroom,and kitchen space that may be within or attached to SFDs or in detachedstructures on lots containing SFDs. ADUs may include basements, attics,flats, guest houses, cottages, and converted structures such as garages and sheds. The bill requires localities to regulate the sizeand design of ADUs through an approval process, as well as regulatefees, parking, and other requirements, provided that the regulations(i) are not so arbitrary, excessive, or burdensome, individuallyor cumulatively, as to unreasonably restrict the ability of propertyowners to utilize or create ADUs and (ii) do not require the propertyowner to occupy the ADU or SFD as his primary residence.

Teacher compensation; at or above national average. Requires public school teachers to be compensated at a rate that is at or above the national average. Under current law, compensation at such rate is aspirational. The foregoing provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025. The bill requires funding to be provided on an incremental basis pursuant to the general appropriation act to implement such teacher compensation rate by the effective date.

Study; JLARC; effects of gun violence on communities;report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commissionto study the social, physical, emotional, and economic effects ofgun violence on communities across the Commonwealth.

Unauthorized use of dairy milk cases or milkcrates. Repeals provisions that make it a Class 4 misdemeanorfor any person to (i) buy, sell, or dispose of any milk case or milkcrate bearing the name or label of the owner without the writtenconsent of the owner or his designated agent; (ii) refuse, upon writtendemand of the owner or his designated agent, to return to the owneror his designated agent any milk case or milk crate bearing the nameor label of the owner; or (iii) deface, obliterate, erase, cover up, or otherwise remove or conceal any name, label, registered trademark,insignia, or other business identification of an owner of a milkcase or milk crate without the consent of the owner, for the purposeof destroying or removing from the milk case or milk crate evidenceof its ownership.

Study; JLARC; special education staffing ratios;report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commissionto include in its current review of the effectiveness of Virginia'sspecial education programs an examination of the prescribed and actualratios of students to special education instructional and supportpersonnel in public elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealthto determine whether any adjustment to such ratios is necessary.

Felony homicide; repeal. Repeals the crimeof felony homicide. Under current law, felony homicide is the killingof one accidentally, contrary to the intention of the parties, whilein the prosecution of some felonious act other than capital murderor first degree murder.

Study; Albemarle-Pamlico Watershed; report.Requests the Department of Environmental Quality to study the Albemarle-Pamlico Watershed in Virginia, including land use, stormwater, groundwater,storm information, and flora and fauna.

Free use of toll facilities; teachers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel. Authorizes any teacher employed by a public school district, firefighter, or emergency medical services personnel to use all toll bridges, toll ferries, toll tunnels, and toll roads in the Commonwealth without the payment of toll while traveling between his place of residence and his place of employment.

Interest on fines and costs in criminal casesand traffic infractions. Eliminates the accrual of interest onany fine or costs imposed in a criminal case or in a case involvinga traffic infraction. The bill provides that any such fine or coststhat have accrued interest prior to July 1, 2020, shall cease toaccrue interest on July 1, 2020, and such accrued interest may bewaived by any court. A person who owes fines and costs on which interesthas accrued may move any court in which he owes fines and costs to waive the interest that accrued on such fines and costs and shallhave such interest waived for any period of incarceration.

Study; Department of Rail and Public Transportation; Commonwealth Corridor passenger rail service; report. Requeststhe Department of Rail and Public Transportation to study the feasibilityof an east-west Commonwealth Corridor passenger rail service connectingHampton Roads, Richmond, and the New River Valley.