Del. Charniele Herring

Directs the State Board of Social Services to adopt regulations that require assisted living facilities to disclose to each prospective resident, or his legal representative, in writing in a document provided to the prospective resident or his legal representative and as evidenced by the written acknowledgement of the resident or his legal representative, whether the facility has an on-site emergency electrical power source for the provision of electricity during an interruption of the normal electric power supply and, if the assisted living facility does have an on-site emergency electrical power source, (i) the items for which such on-site emergency electrical power source will supply power in the event of an interruption of the normal electric power supply and (ii) whether staff of the assisted living facility have been trained to maintain and operate such on-site emergency electrical power source to ensure the provision of electricity during an interruption of the normal electrical power supply. The bill also provides that an on-site emergency electrical power source shall include both permanent on-site emergency electrical power sources and portable on-site emergency electrical power sources, provided such portable on-site emergency electrical power source remains on the premises of the assisted living facility at all times.

Adds to the list of persons who are required to report suspected child abuse or neglect ministers, priests, rabbis, imams, and duly accredited practitioners of any religious organization or denomination usually referred to as a church; however, the bill exempts such clergy members from the mandatory reporting requirement when the information supporting the suspicion of child abuse or neglect (i) is required by the doctrine of the religious organization or denomination to be kept confidential or (ii) would be subject to the exemptions set forth in § 8.01-400 or 19.2-271.3 if offered as evidence in court. This bill is identical to

Provides that, where the appointment of counsel is necessary pursuant to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, any attorney fees assessed shall not exceed $125, unless the court deems a higher amount appropriate.

Requires a local department of social services to conduct a sex trafficking assessment upon receiving a complaint of suspected child abuse that is based upon information and allegations that a child is a victim of sex trafficking, provided that the local department has not determined that a separate investigation or family assessment is required. The bill also allows a child-protective services worker of a local department responding to such complaint to take the child victim into custody and allows the local department to maintain custody of the child for up to 72 hours without prior approval of a parent or guardian. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia State Crime Commission. This bill is identical to

Prohibits school employees from opening or closing an electronic room partition in any school building except under certain limited circumstances. The bill requires any annual safety review or exercise for school employees in a local school division to include information and demonstrations, as appropriate, regarding the operation of such partitions. The bill also requires the Department of Education to make available to each school board model safety guidance regarding the operation of such partitions.