Purchase of handguns; limitation on handgunpurchases. Removes the prohibition on any person who is not a licensed firearms dealer from purchasing more than one handgun ina 30-day period. Current law makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for aviolation of this provision, subject to certain exemptions.
Emergency custody and temporary detention orders; custody. Requires a facility or location to which a minor or adult who is subject to an emergency custody or temporary detention order is transported to accept custody of the minor or adult upon completion of transportation and arrival of the minor or adult at the facility and specifies that the primary law-enforcement agency shall provide transportation of a person who is involved in the involuntary commitment process, rather than a sheriff, as provided under current law.
Carrying concealed weapons; members of the UnitedStates Armed Forces; permit not required. Provides that currentmembers of the United States Armed Forces are not required to obtaina concealed handgun permit in order to carry a concealed weapon.
Constitutional amendment (first reference);real property tax; exemption for certain surviving spouses of membersof the armed forces. Authorizes the General Assembly to exemptfrom tax the real property of a surviving spouse of a member of thearmed forces who died in the line of duty while performing officialmilitary activities. The amendment provides that such exemption isonly available when the death of such member of the armed forces did not result from criminal conduct. The current Constitution exemptsthe real property of a surviving spouse of a member of the armedforces who was killed in action, a disabled veteran, and the survivingspouse of a disabled veteran.
Public institutions of higher education; in-statetuition; children of active duty service members or veterans.Provides that any child of an active duty service member or veteran who claims Virginia as his home state and filed Virginia tax returnsfor at least two years during active duty service is eligible forin-state tuition charges, regardless of domicile. Under current law,any such child is eligible for in-state tuition charges if such servicemember or veteran claims Virginia as his home state and filed Virginiatax returns for at least 10 years during active duty service.
Criminal proceedings; evidence of defendant'smental condition. Repeals provisions permitting the admissionof evidence by the defendant concerning a defendant's mental conditionat the time of an alleged offense, including expert testimony, ifsuch evidence is relevant, is not evidence concerning an ultimateissue of fact, and (i) tends to show the defendant did or did nothave the intent required for the offense charged and (ii) is otherwiseadmissible pursuant to the general rules of evidence. The bill alsoremoves provisions permitting a court to issue an emergency custodyorder in cases where such evidence was admitted and repeals provisionsrequiring the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Courtto collect data regarding the cases that use such evidence.
Absentee ballots; witness requirement; printedname and residence address. Requires that a witness to a voter's absentee ballot provide, in addition to his signature, his printedname, his date of birth, the last four digits of his social securitynumber, and his residence address.
Criminal cases; sentencing by jury. Providesthat if a jury finds a person guilty of a criminal offense, suchjury shall ascertain the punishment of the offense. Under currentlaw, unless the accused has requested that the jury ascertain punishment,the court shall fix punishment after the accused has been found guiltyby a jury.
Constitutional amendment (first reference);limitations on power of the General Assembly; parole. Provides that, with the exception of the eligibility of a person convictedof a felony offense committed while such person was a juvenile, theGeneral Assembly shall not enact any law authorizing the eligibilityof a person convicted of a felony offense committed on or after January1, 1995, and sentenced and committed to the Department of Corrections by a court under the laws of the Commonwealth for an early releasefrom incarceration on discretionary parole.
Commending Virginia Polytechnic Institute andState University.
