Rep. Eric Zehr

Dangerous dogs; criteria for adjudication. Allows a court to find an animal is a dangerous dog if the threat, injury, or damage was sustained by a person who was willfully trespassing or if at the time of the acts complained of the animal was protecting its kennel, its offspring, or its owner's property. The bill retains the restriction on a court from finding an animal is dangerous if such animal was responding to pain or injury to itself, its owner, or another person but requires the other person to be in the animal's presence.

Maddy summaryHB 550 would allow any adoptee who is 18 years or older to obtain their original birth certificate directly from state records. The bill removes current barriers that prevent adult adoptees from accessing this document without court involvement or consent from birth parents. This change directly affects adoptees in the state who seek to understand their biological family history or medical background. The policy would require state agencies to provide the original birth certificate upon request by eligible adoptees.

Standards of Learning; programs of instruction; civics education; instruction on local government. Requires the Board of Education to include in the Standards of Learning for Virginia and United States Government for grade 12 and requires each school board to provide as a part of any Virginia and U.S. Government course or civic education course offered to students in grade 12 instruction on local government, including instruction on the types of localities in the Commonwealth and the structure and functions of local governments in the Commonwealth. The bill also requires the Board to consider in its criteria for awarding a diploma seal for excellence in civics education and understanding of the state and federal constitutions and the democratic model of government the successful completion of government or civics courses that include instruction on the structures and functions of local government.

State debt collection; statute of limitations. Establishes a seven-year statute of limitations on the commencement of any action by a state agency or institution to collect past due accounts receivable due to the Commonwealth.

Carrying concealed handguns; protective orders. Authorizes any person 21 years of age or older who is not prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm and is protected by an unexpired protective order to carry a concealed handgun for 45 days after the protective order was issued. The bill provides that if the person issued the protective order applies for a concealed handgun permit during such 45-day period, such person will be authorized to carry a concealed handgun for an additional 45 days and be given a copy of the certified application, which shall serve as a de facto concealed handgun permit. During the period such person is authorized to carry a concealed handgun, the bill provides that the person may carry a handgun any place a law-enforcement officer may carry a firearm. The bill requires such person to have the order or certified application and photo identification on his person when carrying a concealed handgun and to display them upon demand by a law-enforcement officer; failure to do so is punishable by a $25 civil penalty.

Human trafficking investigators; licensing by the Department of Criminal Justice Services. Authorizes the Department of Criminal Justice Services to register and issue licenses for human trafficking investigators. The bill provides that a human trafficking investigator is a private investigator who is GSA compliant and engages in the business of, or accepts employment to make, investigations to obtain information on sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking as defined in the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and in the federal Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015.

Surveillance Technology Registry; created.Directs the Department of Criminal Justice Services (the Department)to create and maintain a registry of surveillance technologies, definedin the bill, and related information provided by localities and toprovide notice to localities that fail to properly register. Thebill requires localities, prior to implementing the use of any surveillancetechnology, to register such surveillance technology with the SurveillanceTechnology Registry and provide information including (i) the type of surveillance technology used, (ii) the cost and vendor of thesurveillance technology, (iii) the approximate location of the surveillancetechnology, and (iv) any storage and use requirements for the surveillancetechnology. The bill requires the Department, for any type of surveillancetechnology that has not previously been registered, to request theJoint Commission on Technology and Science to study and issue a reporton such surveillance technology.

Auricular acupuncture; use of the five needle protocol. Allows any person to engage in the five needle auricular acupuncture protocol (5NP), a standardized protocol wherein up to five needles are inserted into the external human ear to provide relief from the effects of behavioral health conditions, provided that such person (i) has appropriate training in the 5NP, including training established by the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association or equivalent certifying body; (ii) does not use any letters, words, or insignia indicating or implying that he is an acupuncturist; and (iii) makes no statement implying that his practice of the 5NP is licensed, certified, or otherwise overseen by the Commonwealth. Treatment utilizing the 5NP pursuant to this bill is strictly limited to the insertion of disposable, sterile acupuncture needles into the ear and only in compliance with the 5NP.

Conveyance of easement; Department of StatePolice and Department of Transportation. Authorizes the conveyanceof an easement in Campbell County by the Department of State Policein conjunction with the Department of Transportation.

Cell phone records; missing persons. Providesthat a court shall issue an order for disclosure of records or otherinformation pertaining to a subscriber to or customer of a providerof electronic communication service or remote computing service,including a foreign corporation that provides such services, onlyif the investigative or law-enforcement officer shows that thereis reason to believe the records or other information sought are relevant and material to the investigation of any missing person (i) whosewhereabouts are unknown and (ii) who has been reported missing toa law-enforcement agency.