Victims of human trafficking; eligibility forin-state tuition. Provides that a non-Virginia student who iscurrently present in the Commonwealth as a result of being a victimof human trafficking, defined in the bill, is eligible for in-statetuition. The bill provides that a person may be a victim of humantrafficking regardless of whether any person has been charged withor convicted of any offense and that eligibility for in-state tuitionmay be proved by a certification of such status as a victim of humantrafficking by a federal, state, or local agency or not-for-profitagency, one of whose primary missions is to provide services to victimsof human trafficking. The bill also requires institutions of highereducation to automatically record such a student as opting out ofmaking any directory or educational information available to thepublic unless the student voluntarily and affirmatively chooses toopt in to allowing such directory or educational information to be made available.
Del. Nick Freitas
Sponsored bills
Certain health care providers; licensure orcertification by endorsement. Requires the Board of Medicine to issue a license or certificate by endorsement to an applicantwho holds a valid, unrestricted license or certificate under thelaws of another state, the District of Columbia, or a United Statesterritory or possession with which the Commonwealth has not establisheda reciprocal relationship upon endorsement by the appropriate boardor other appropriate authority of such other state, the District ofColumbia, or United States territory or possession and a determinationby the Board of Medicine that the applicant's credentials are satisfactoryto the Board of Medicine and the examinations and passing gradesrequired by such other board or authority are fully equal to thoserequired by the Board of Medicine.
Carrying a concealed handgun; permit not required. Allows any person who is otherwise eligible to obtain a concealedhandgun permit to carry a concealed handgun without a permit anywherehe may lawfully carry a handgun openly within the Commonwealth.
Public education; student education accounts.Permits any school division to establish a program to create savingsaccounts for students to be used for alternative educational programs.The bill requires the Department of Education to establish policiesand procedures under which the parent of each student may use suchfunds on public or private educational programs.
Individual and corporate income tax credit;employers of National Guard members and self-employed National Guardmembers. Provides for taxable years 2021 through 2025 a nonrefundabletax credit against individual and corporate income taxes for (i)wages paid by an employer to an employee who is a Virginia NationalGuard member or (ii) income of a self-employed Virginia NationalGuard member attributable to his business. The amount of the creditshall be 25 percent if such member was in a military pay status for65 days or more during such taxable year or 15 percent if such memberwas in a military pay status for 45 days or more during such taxableyear. The credit shall not be allowed if such member was in a militarypay status for fewer than 45 days during such taxable year.
Local government attorneys; prohibiting thehandling of matters related to certain wills. Prohibits localgovernment attorneys from handling matters related to a will on behalfof the local government if the attorney was privately retained byan individual to prepare, alter, or otherwise represent such individualwith respect to such will.
Conduct of elections; vote counting; requiredlive video recording. Requires the general registrar of each county and city to provide for a live video recording of each pollingplace while absentee ballots are cast, votes are counted, and returnsare completed, and of each central absentee precinct while ballots are handled and returns are completed. The general registrars arerequired to ensure the video coverage is recorded and retained untilthe deadline to request a recount has passed and, if any contestor recount is pending thereafter, until it has been concluded. The bill provides that each live video recording must include date andtime indicators and be linked to the official website of the countyor city. The Department of Elections is required to post links onits official website to the video coverage for viewing by the public.The bill provides that any disruption in video coverage shall notaffect or prevent the continued casting of absentee ballots, countingof votes, or completion of returns, and is not grounds for an electioncontest.
Constitutional amendment (first reference);right of parents. Adds to the Constitution of Virginia the fundamentalright of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care oftheir children. The amendment prohibits the Commonwealth from infringingthese rights without demonstrating that the governmental interestas applied to the person is of the highest order and not otherwiseserved. This section shall not be construed to apply to a parentalaction or decision that would physically harm or end the life ofthe child.
Celebrating the life of Stephen Teel Goodwin.
Celebrating the life of Stephen Teel Goodwin.