Del. Danny Marshall

Celebrating the life of the Honorable AugustusBenton Chafin, Jr.

Virginia Tourism Authority; marketing modelfor casinos. Directs the Executive Director of the Virginia TourismAuthority to develop a state and local tourist marketing model forcasinos in the Commonwealth that shall include (i) identificationof the Authority's specific and measurable marketing goals and thetimetable to achieve such goals, (ii) identification of specificmarketing activities, and (iii) the development of quantifiable metricsand performance measures for attaining each such goal. The bill alsorequires the Authority to report to the Governor and the GeneralAssembly on its marketing model and its progress toward meeting thegoals and objectives stated in the marketing model. The provisionsof the bill shall not become effective unless and until legislationlegalizing casino gaming in the Commonwealth is passed by the 2020Session of the General Assembly and becomes law.

Lottery Board; regulation of casino gaming. Authorizes casino gaming in the Commonwealth to be regulated by the Virginia Lottery Board. The bill specifies the requirements for licensure of casino gaming operators and the conduct of casino gaming and imposes criminal and civil penalties for violations of the casino gaming law. The location of casino gaming establishments shall be limited to eligible host cities that meet specified criteria: the Cities of Portsmouth, Richmond, Norfolk, Danville, and Bristol. The bill requires each eligible host city to hold a referendum on the question of whether to allow casino gaming in the city and, with the exception of the City of Richmond, to hold such referendum at the November 2020 general election. The bill imposes a tax ranging from 18 to 30 percent of the adjusted gross receipts of licensees, based upon a licensee's annual adjusted gross receipts, and provides for disbursement of the tax revenues. The bill requires the Board to establish a voluntary exclusion program allowing individuals to voluntarily list themselves as being barred from entering a casino gaming establishment or other facility under the jurisdiction of the Board. The bill establishes the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund, administered by the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, and the Virginia Indigenous People's Trust Fund, both of which are funded by proceeds from the casino gaming tax revenues. The bill also establishes the Regional Improvement Commission, consisting of a representative of each jurisdiction composing the transportation district in which the City of Bristol is located, to receive disbursements of gaming tax revenues and to prioritize and fund improvements in those jurisdictions. The bill requires the Virginia Racing Commission to authorize an additional 600 historical horse racing terminals each time a local referendum held by an eligible host city is approved, provided that the total number of additional machines does not exceed 2,000 statewide, and includes other provisions relating to the placement of historical horse racing terminals in the Commonwealth. The bill incorporates HB 374, HB 428, HB 560, HB 1343, and HB 1661 and is identical to SB 36.

Roy P. Byrd, Jr., Memorial Bridge. Designates the U.S. Route 29 Business bridge over U.S. Route 29 in Pittsylvania County the "Roy P. Byrd, Jr., Memorial Bridge."

Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; industrial hemp marketing plan; report. Directs the Board ofDirectors and Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Economic DevelopmentPartnership Authority to develop a marketing plan for industrialhemp. The bill requires the Authority to report to the Chairmen ofthe House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resourcesand the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and NaturalResources by November 30, 2020, on its marketing plan and its progresstoward meeting the goals and objectives stated in the marketing plan.

Industrial hemp; federal regulations; adoption in Virginia. Directs the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services to conform the regulations of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to any federal regulation adopted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, immediately upon publication in the Federal Register, that materially expands opportunities for growing, producing, or dealing in industrial hemp in the Commonwealth. The bill exempts such regulatory amendments by the Board from the Administrative Process Act. The bill contains an emergency clause.

GO Virginia grants; matching funds. Allows a locality to use funds awarded from the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission as matching funds for a GO Virginia grant award. No other state funds are authorized to be used as a source of matching funds. The provisions of the bill sunset on July 1, 2021.

Vocational rehabilitation and employment services for former law-enforcement officers with a disability. Requires the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services to make available to law-enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth information regarding vocational rehabilitation programs and employment services available to assist former law-enforcement officers who have a disability as a result of their service with preparing for, obtaining, and maintaining suitable employment, including information on the types of programs available and the process by which former law-enforcement officers who have a disability as a result of their service can access such programs and services, and provides that every law-enforcement agency in the Commonwealth shall provide to every law-enforcement officer who separates from the agency due to a disability resulting from his service information regarding vocational rehabilitation programs and employment services available to assist former law-enforcement officers who have a disability as a result of their service with preparing for, obtaining, and maintaining suitable employment, including information on the types of programs available and the process by which such law-enforcement officers may access such programs and services.

Hemp products intended for smoking. Providesthat it shall be legal to produce, distribute, and consume hemp productsintended for smoking. Current law is silent on the legality of suchproducts. The bill prohibits the sale to persons under age 21 ofhemp products intended for smoking.

Additional sales and use tax in Henry County, Northampton County, Patrick County, Pittsylvania County and the City of Danville; appropriations of Henry County, Northampton County, Patrick County, and Pittsylvania County to incorporated towns for educational purposes. Authorizes Henry County, Northampton County, Patrick County, Pittsylvania County, and the City of Danville to impose an additional local sales and use tax at a rate not to exceed one percent, as determined by the governing body, if initiated by a resolution of the local governing body and approved by the voters at a referendum. The bill requires the governing body to specify in the enacting ordinance the time period, not to exceed 20 years, for which the tax would be imposed. Revenue from the tax shall be used solely for capital projects for new construction or major renovation of schools in the locality enacting the tax.The bill removes the limit on the amount that Henry County, Northampton County, Patrick County, and Pittsylvania County may appropriate to an incorporated town that has not complied with the provisions of its charter relating to the elections of local officials. Under current law, such amount is limited to the amount the town would have received from local sales and use tax for educational purposes if such election had been held.Under current law, only Halifax County has the authority to impose such taxes and make such appropriations.