Del. Lee J. Carter

Commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. RobertRussa Moton.

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.

Development and use of accessory dwelling units.Provides that all localities shall allow for the development anduse of one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) per single-family dwelling(SFD), notwithstanding any contrary provision of a zoning ordinance.The bill defines "accessory dwelling unit" or "ADU" as an independentdwelling unit on a single-family lot with its own living, bathroom,and kitchen space that may be within or attached to SFDs or in detachedstructures on lots containing SFDs. ADUs may include basements, attics,flats, guest houses, cottages, and converted structures such as garages and sheds. The bill requires localities to regulate the sizeand design of ADUs through an approval process, as well as regulatefees, parking, and other requirements, provided that the regulations(i) are not so arbitrary, excessive, or burdensome, individuallyor cumulatively, as to unreasonably restrict the ability of propertyowners to utilize or create ADUs and (ii) do not require the propertyowner to occupy the ADU or SFD as his primary residence.

Purchase or construction of rental housing bylocalities. Provides that any locality may by ordinance establisha program to purchase or construct housing and to rent such housingto residents. The rent charged for such housing shall not exceedthe higher of 85 percent of the market rate for a similar housingunit, or 115 percent of the actual cost of operation, defined inthe bill, of the housing unit offered for rent.

Study; JLARC; cost of implementing universalhealth care in the Commonwealth; report. Directs the Joint LegislativeAudit and Review Commission to study the cost of implementing universalhealth care in the Commonwealth.

Study; Department of Rail and Public Transportation; Commonwealth Corridor passenger rail service; report. Requeststhe Department of Rail and Public Transportation to study the feasibilityof an east-west Commonwealth Corridor passenger rail service connectingHampton Roads, Richmond, and the New River Valley.

Abolition of the death penalty. Abolishesthe death penalty, including for those persons currently under adeath sentence.

Study; Virginia Economic Development PartnershipAuthority to study the emergence and integration of blockchain technologyin the economy of the Commonwealth; report. Requests the VirginiaEconomic Development Partnership Authority to identify blockchaintechnology research and economic development opportunities with thegoal of creating a statewide, comprehensive, and coordinated strategyrelating to blockchain technology. In conducting its study, the VirginiaEconomic Development Partnership Authority shall analyze and consider(i) economic development opportunities in the Commonwealth availablethrough the utilization of blockchain technology; (ii) different types of blockchain technology and the feasibility of economic developmentfor each type; (iii) the creation of a statewide, comprehensive,and coordinated strategy to encourage commercial activity in the blockchain technology sector; (iv) opportunities for deployment ofblockchain technology in state government; and (v) strategies toincentivize the development of blockchain companies in the Commonwealth.The Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority shall submitits report to the Governor and the 2021 and 2022 Regular Sessionsof the General Assembly.

Study; Joint Commission on Health Care; health care spending. Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to study health care spending in the Commonwealth. In conducting its study, the Joint Commission on Health Care shall (i) determine the total amount of spending on health care in the Commonwealth, including the total amount of public funds and private funds spent on health care in the Commonwealth; (ii) determine the sources of funds spent on health care in the Commonwealth, including federal funds, state funds, local funds, employer-paid health insurance premiums, member-paid health insurance premiums, individual out-of-pocket spending, and uncompensated care, and the total amount for each source; (iii) determine the rates of change in health care spending, including rates of change in public and private health care spending, in the last five years; and (iv) identify the drivers of increases in health care spending in the Commonwealth.

Virginia Cyber Initiative Act. Directsthe Virginia Information Technologies Agency to work with publicand private institutions of higher education, state agencies, andbusinesses in the Commonwealth to develop a cyber alliance, to beknown as the Virginia Cyber Initiative, to reduce cyber risks andencourage economic development in the cybersecurity field. The billalso creates the Virginia Cyber Initiative Fund for the purposesof improving cybersecurity and the economy of the Commonwealth through(i) improving cyber infrastructure, (ii) increasing the focus oncyber job-creating research activities, and (iii) expanding cyberjob-creating research activities toward producing more knowledge-basedand high-technology cyber jobs in the Commonwealth.