Del. Mark H. Levine

Science, technology, engineering, arts, andmathematics (STEAM) programs; grants. Establishes the STEAM EducationFund for the purpose of awarding grants in amounts not to exceed $50,000 annually to any public elementary or secondary school inthe Commonwealth at which at least 25 percent of students qualifyfor free or reduced lunch that provides an academic class, curriculum,or activity focused on a science, technology, engineering, arts,or mathematics (STEAM) discipline.

Carrying weapon into building owned or usedby the Commonwealth or political subdivision thereof; penalty. Makesit a Class 1 misdemeanor for a first or second offense for a person to transport any (i) gun or other weapon designed or intended topropel a missile or projectile of any kind; (ii) frame, receiver,muffler, silencer, missile, projectile, or ammunition designed foruse with a dangerous weapon; or (iii) other dangerous weapon intoa building owned or used by the Commonwealth or any agency or politicalsubdivision thereof for governmental purposes. The bill providesexceptions for law-enforcement officers, conservators of the peace,magistrates, court officers, judges, city or county treasurers, commissionersor deputy commissioners of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission,authorized security personnel, and active military personnel whilein the conduct of such individuals' official duties. The bill requiresthat notice of the provisions prohibiting the carrying of such weaponsbe posted at each public entrance to all buildings owned or leasedby the Commonwealth or any agency or political subdivision thereof.A third or subsequent offense of this or certain other firearms offensesis punishable as a Class 6 felony.

Grand larceny; threshold. Increases from$500 to $1,500 the threshold amount of money taken or value of goodsor chattel taken at which the crime rises from petit larceny to grandlarceny. The bill increases the threshold by the same amount forthe classification of certain property crimes.

Preliminary protective orders; hearing dates.Allows the full hearing resulting from the issuance of a preliminaryprotective order to be heard on the same hearing or trial date asa related criminal offense if such hearing or trial date has alreadybeen set for a date later than 15 days after the issuance of thepreliminary protective order. Current law requires that a full hearingbe held within 15 days of the issuance of a preliminary protective order in every instance. The bill also requires an extended preliminary protective order to specify that the respondent may at any time filea motion requesting an earlier or later hearing date and that theorder shall remain in effect until the hearing. The bill requiresa copy of any motion requesting a hearing to dissolve such orderor requesting an earlier or later hearing date be served by personalservice by the primary law-enforcement agency responsible for serviceand entry of protective orders. The bill contains technical amendments.

Family caregiver tax credit. Creates a nonrefundable income tax credit beginning in taxable year 2020 for expenses incurred by an individual in caring for an eligible family member, defined in the bill, who requires assistance with one or more activities of daily living, also defined in the bill. The credit equals 50 percent of eligible expenditures incurred by the caregiver, but shall not exceed $1,000. In order to qualify for the credit, the family caregiver must (i) not receive any compensation or reimbursement for the eligible expenditures and (ii) have federal adjusted gross income that is no greater than $75,000 for an individual or $150,000 for married persons. Both the caregiver and the eligible family member must be residents of Virginia. The bill requires the Tax Commissioner to establish guidelines for claiming the credit and provides that any unused credit may be carried forward by the taxpayer for five taxable years following the taxable year for which the credit was issued. The credit expires beginning with taxable year 2025.

Local alternative minimum wage. Establishes a procedure by which a local alternative minimum wage may be imposed in any locality. A local alternative minimum wage requires every employer to pay to each of its employees wages at a rate to be determined by local ordinance for work performed by them within the locality. If the federal minimum wage exceeds the levels specified in a local alternative minimum wage requirement, the federal minimum wage will prevail. The measure also provides that the Virginia minimum wage applies to persons whose employment is covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and to public employees.

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.

Law enforcement; use of force; data collectionand reporting requirement. Requires state and local law-enforcementofficers to collect data on use of force incidents involving law enforcement and forward the data to the Superintendent of StatePolice, which the Department of State Police shall include in theannual Crime in Virginia report. Such incidents include the following:(i) any fatality to a civilian; (ii) any serious bodily injury toa civilian; or (iii) in the absence of either death or serious injury,a discharged firearm by a state or local law-enforcement officerat or in the direction of a person. The bill specifies information required to be included in such incident report.

Appeal of involuntary admission order; possessionof firearms; penalty. Provides that a person who is involuntarilyadmitted or ordered to mandatory outpatient treatment may not purchase, possess, or transport a firearm until his right to do so is restoredby a court regardless of the outcome of any appeal of that order.A violation of this prohibition is a Class 1 misdemeanor. A thirdor subsequent offense is punishable as a Class 6 felony.

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.