Prohibits any locality from banning car-washing fundraisers that use biodegradable, phosphate-free, water-based cleaners and provides that no permit issued pursuant to the State Water Control Law shall prohibit the discharge of such noncommercial fundraising activity washwaters from a municipal separate storm sewer system.
Provides that a person is guilty of felony homicide, which constitutes second degree murder and is punishable by confinement of not less than five nor more than 40 years, if the underlying felonious act that resulted in the killing of another involved the manufacture, sale, gift, or distribution of a Schedule I or II controlled substance to another and (i) such other person's death results from his use of the controlled substance and (ii) the controlled substance is the proximate cause of his death. The bill also provides that venue for a prosecution of this crime shall lie in the locality where the underlying felony occurred, where the use of the controlled substance occurred, or where death occurred. This bill serves to overrule the Court of Appeals of Virginia decision in Woodard v. Commonwealth, 61 Va. App. 567, 739 S.E.2d 220 (2013), aff'd, 287 Va. 276, 754 S.E.2d 309 (2014).
Authorizes the governing body of any locality to adopt an ordinance restricting the tethering of a dog outdoors. The ordinance may limit the maximum number of hours or the weather conditions during which the dog may remain tethered but shall not restrict normal hunting or agricultural activities. The bill provides that its provisions shall not repeal, amend, impair, or affect any tethering ordinance adopted prior to July 1, 2018.
Transfers the Virginia-Israel Advisory Board (the Board) from the executive branch to the legislative branch. The bill also changes the membership of the Board by increasing the number of citizen appointments by the Speaker of the House of Delegates from six to 10 and the number of citizen appointments by the Senate Committee on Rules from six to 10 and by decreasing the number of appointments of the Governor from 13 to five. The Joint Rules Committee appoints the executive director to the Board. Funding for the costs of expenses of the members and the operations of the Board, including staffing needs, are made from such funds as appropriated by the General Assembly. The Virginia-Israel Advisory Board is currently an advisory board in the executive branch of government staffed by the Office of the Governor.
Increases to a Class 6 felony from a Class 1 misdemeanor the penalties for the following crimes if a minor is involved: (i) keeping, residing in, or visiting a bawdy place; (ii) aiding prostitution; and (iii) using vehicles to promote prostitution. The bill also adds felony violations of these offenses to (a) the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry, (b) the definition of violent felony for the purposes of the sentencing guidelines, (c) the list of predicate criminal acts for street gangs, (d) the list of offenses that may constitute racketeering under the Virginia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, and (e) the offenses that may be investigated by a multi-jurisdiction grand jury. The bill also makes applicable to all persons, regardless of the gender of the victim, the crimes of (1) assisting or aiding in the abduction of or threatening to abduct a female under 16 years of age for the purpose of concubinage or prostitution and (2) placing or leaving one's wife in a bawdy place.
Creates the Henrietta Lacks Commission to establish through a public-private partnership the Henrietta Lacks Life Sciences Center in Halifax County as a cancer research and treatment center designed to (i) transform and accelerate cancer research and treatment through the use of biodata tools, (ii) provide tailored cancer treatment medicine to an underserved portion of rural Southside Virginia, and (iii) incubate new biotech businesses across the Southside Virginia region. The bill requires the Commission to annually submit a report on its interim activity and work to the Governor and General Assembly. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2021.
. Directs the Commonwealth Transportation Board (the Board) to develop a prioritization process for the use of funds in the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund (the Fund), based on criteria specified in the bill. The prioritization process would apply to capital projects administered by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). The bill establishes separate prioritization processes for the Board's Six Year-Improvement Program, state of good repair projects, and major expansion projects. The bill directs the Board to solicit input from various organizations, including localities and other stakeholders, on its development of prioritization processes and to create a Transit Service Advisory Committee to advise DRPT.
