Nitrile Glove Manufacturing Training Program; established. Establishes the Nitrile Glove Manufacturing Training Program, a funding program of up to $4,601,000 for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, to support the recruitment and training needs of nitrile glove manufacturing companies located in the Mount Rogers Planning District. The bill also requires companies eligible for such funding to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership that is subject to performance targets for jobs and capital investment on or before January 1, 2027, unless an extension of no more than two years is agreed upon. This bill is identical to SB 595.
Sponsored bills
Promises not to plead the statute of limitations. Specifies that a written promise not to plead the statute of limitations is valid only when such written promise is made to avoid or defer litigation pending settlement of any cause of action that has accrued in favor of the promisee against the promisor. The bill further replaces the current requirement of validity that such promise not be made contemporaneously with any other contract with the requirement that the written promise be signed by the promisor or his agent. Finally, the bill specifies that the promisee must commence an action asserting such cause of action within the earlier of the applicable limitations period running from the date the written promise is made or any shorter time provided for in the written promise for such promise to be valid; current law requires that any such written promise may be made for an additional term not longer than the applicable limitations period in order to be valid. The bill provides that its provisions apply only to written promises not to plead the statute of limitations made on or after July 1, 2022. The bill as introduced was a recommendation of the Boyd-Graves Conference.
Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Programand Fund. Creates the Advanced Manufacturing Talent InvestmentProgram and Fund to assist qualified institutions, as defined in the bill, in reaching, by 2042, a goal of increasing by at least 25,000new eligible credentials, which are noncredit workforce credentialsawarded by a qualified institution in a high demand advanced manufacturingfield as identified by the Board of Workforce Development. To be eligible for an annual grant, a qualified institution is requiredto enter into a memorandum of understanding setting forth specificcriteria for eligible credentials, eligible expenses, credentialproduction goals, and completion rates.
Disposition of property previously used by theDepartment of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services as theSouthwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute. Authorizes theGovernor to convey a portion of property previously used by the Departmentof Behavioral Health and Developmental Services as the SouthwesternVirginia Mental Health Institute to Smyth County. The conveyanceshall be made without consideration and in as-is condition.
Group health benefit plans; bona fide associations; formation of benefits consortium. Provides that certain trusts constitute a benefits consortium and are authorized to sell health benefit plans to members of a sponsoring association that (i) has been formed and maintained in good faith for purposes other than obtaining or providing health benefits; (ii) does not condition membership in the sponsoring association on any factor relating to the health status of an individual, including an employee of a member of the sponsoring association or a dependent of such an employee; (iii) makes any health benefit plan available to all members regardless of any factor relating to the health status of such members or individuals eligible for coverage through a member; (iv) does not make any health benefit plan available to any person who is not a member of the association; (v) makes available health plans or health benefit plans that meet requirements provided for in the bill; (vi) operates as a nonprofit entity under § 501(c)(5) or 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code; and (vii) has been in active existence for at least five years. The bill replaces references to "bona fide association," as used in provisions applicable to health care plans in the small employer market, with the term "sponsoring association."The bill requires any health benefit plan issued by a self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) that covers one or more employees of one or more small employers to (a) provide essential health benefits and cost-sharing requirements; (b) offer a minimum level of coverage designed to provide benefits that are actuarially equivalent to 60 percent of the full actuarial value of the benefits provided under the plan; (c) not limit or exclude coverage for an individual by imposing a preexisting condition exclusion on that individual; (d) be prohibited from establishing discriminatory rules based on health status related to eligibility or premium or contribution requirements as imposed on health carriers; (e) meet the renewability standards set forth for health insurance issuers; (f) establish base rates formed on an actuarially sound, modified community rating methodology that considers the pooling of all participant claims; and (g) utilize each employer member's specific risk profile to determine premiums by actuarially adjusting above or below established base rates, and utilize either pooling or reinsurance of individual large claimants to reduce the adverse impact on any specific employer member's premiums.The bill prohibits a self-funded MEWA from issuing health benefit plans in the Commonwealth until it has obtained a license pursuant to regulations promulgated by the State Corporation Commission. The bill authorizes the Commission to adopt regulations applicable to self-funded MEWAs, including regulations addressing financial condition, solvency requirements, and the exclusion of self-funded MEWAs from the Virginia Life, Accident and Sickness Insurance Guaranty Association. This bill is identical to SB 195.
Veteran-owned small businesses; waiving of fees. Directs the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs and the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, in conjunction with the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, to examine the waiving of fees associated with permits necessary to establish a small business for veteran-owned small businesses. This bill is identical to SB 572.
Certain manufactured homes; recordation as realproperty; release of manufactured home records. Requires theowner of a new manufactured home that is and always has been affixedto real property to record the certificate of origin provided bythe home's manufacturer with the commissioner of revenue in the localitywhere the real property is located. The bill provides that, uponproper recordation, such manufactured home shall be considered realproperty and shall be subject to all local, state, and federal rules,laws, and regulations regarding real property. The bill also (i)requires the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles tofurnish vehicle information for a manufactured home to a prospective purchaser, a real estate agent, or a loan officer upon such individualsmeeting certain requirements and (ii) prohibits the Department fromdisposing of any vehicle information for any manufactured home.
Virginia Literacy Act; early student literacy; evidence-based literacy instruction; science-based reading research. Makes several changes relating to early student literacy, including requiring (i) each education preparation program offered by a public institution of higher education or private institution of higher education or alternative certification program that provides training for any individual seeking initial licensure with an endorsement in a certain area, including as a reading specialist, to demonstrate mastery of science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction, as such terms are defined in the bill; (ii) the literacy assessment required of individuals seeking initial teacher licensure with endorsements in certain areas to include a rigorous test of science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction; (iii) each local school board to establish a divisionwide literacy plan; (iv) each local school board to employ one reading specialist for each 550 students in kindergarten through grade three; and (v) each local school board to provide a program of literacy instruction whereby, among other things, (a) the program provides reading intervention services to students in kindergarten through grade three who demonstrate deficiencies based on their individual performance on the Standards of Learning reading assessment or an early literacy screener provided or approved by the Department of Education; (b) a reading specialist, in collaboration with the teacher of any student who receives such reading intervention services, develops, oversees implementation of, and monitors student progress on a student reading plan; and (c) each student who receives such reading intervention services is assessed utilizing either the early literacy screener provided or approved by the Department or the grade-level reading Standards of Learning assessment again at the end of that school year. The provisions of the bill become effective beginning with the 2024–2025 school year. This bill is identical to SB 616.
Local Food and Farming Infrastructure GrantProgram. Increases from $25,000 to $50,000 the amount of a grantthat may be made to a political subdivision for projects that supportlocal food production and sustainable agriculture.
Safe haven protections; newborn safety device. Provides an affirmative defense in certain criminal prosecutions and civil proceedings regarding child abuse or neglect to a parent who safely delivers his child within the first 30 days of the child's life to a newborn safety device located at a hospital that provides 24-hour emergency services or at an attended emergency medical services agency that employs emergency medical services personnel. The bill also provides civil and criminal immunity to such hospitals and emergency medical services agencies for injuries to children received through such newborn safety devices, provided that (i) the injuries are not the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct and (ii) the hospital or emergency medical services agency meets certain requirements regarding the establishment, functioning, and testing of the device. Current law requires the child to be delivered within the first 14 days of the child's life at such hospital or emergency medical services agency. This bill is identical to SB 63.