Del. Les Adams

Provides that contempt of court for willful failure to appear may be punished summarily. The bill also requires judges to indicate, in writing, the reason for a charge and punishment of contempt when punished summarily. As introduced, this bill is a recommendation of the Virginia State Crime Commission.

Requires each local school board to set the school calendar so that the first day students are required to attend school is no earlier than 14 days before Labor Day unless the Board of Education waives such requirement for good cause. Under current law, each local school board is required to set the school calendar so that the first day students are required to attend school is after Labor Day unless the Board of Education waives such requirement for good cause. The bill provides that in each school division in which the school board sets the school calendar so that the first day students are required to attend school is before Labor Day, such school board shall close each school in the school division from the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day through Labor Day. The bill exempts from certain requirements certain school boards that were previously granted good cause waivers by the Board of Education. This bill is identical to

Provides that any person granted permission to make notes and to duplicate portions of the evidence given before the multi-jurisdiction grand jury shall maintain the secrecy of all information obtained from a review or duplication of the evidence presented to the multi-jurisdiction grand jury, except for disclosure as he deems necessary for use in a criminal investigation or proceeding. The bill also provides that after a person has been indicted by a grand jury, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall notify such person that the multi-jurisdiction grand jury was used to obtain evidence for a prosecution. As introduced, the bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Criminal Justice Conference.

Limits the applicability of the requirement for a nonresident landlord to appoint a resident agent to nonresident individuals who own and lease real property in the Commonwealth. Under current law, the requirement applies to corporations, partnerships, business trusts, associations, and other legal entities. The bill also clarifies that if the resident agent appointed by the nonresident property owner is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity, it must be authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth. In addition, the bill clarifies that the specification of ownership of four or more units applies to residential property and not commercial property. The bill contains technical amendments.

Provides that a person who buys and removes timber from a landowner's property is guilty of timber theft if he fails to pay the landowner by the date specified in their agreement or, if there is no written agreement, within 60 days of removing the timber. The bill provides that a person who is convicted of timber theft is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and shall be ordered to pay three times the value of the timber removed in addition to any penalties imposed by the court. The bill provides that, following the passing of the payment deadline, a buyer's failure to pay within 10 days of receiving a demand for payment shall constitute prima facie evidence of the buyer's intent to violate the timber theft provision. An exception exists for a purchaser who made payment to a person he believed in good faith to be the rightful owner of the timber.

Provides that, for purposes of the optional local personal property tax exemptions for motor vehicles, trucks, and tractors, the exemption shall apply if the vehicle is used primarily for agricultural purposes. Under current law, the exemption applies only if the vehicle is used exclusively for agricultural purposes.

Adds three cemeteries in Martinsville to the list of cemeteries for which qualified organizations may receive funds from the Department of Historic Resources for the care of historical African American cemeteries and graves. The cemeteries are the Matthews Cemetery, which contains eight eligible graves; the People's Cemetery, which contains 178 eligible graves; and the Smith Street Cemetery, which contains nine eligible graves.

. Provides that a transfer of venue in delinquency proceedings, which under current law may occur only after adjudication, may occur when such adjudication consists of a finding of facts sufficient to justify a finding of delinquency. This bill is a recommendation of the Committee on District Courts and is identical to