Line of Duty Act; payment of benefits. Increases from $25,000 to $75,000 the death benefit payout under the Virginia Line of Duty Act for a death caused by occupational cancer, respiratory disease, or hypertension or heart disease for those deaths that will occur on or after January 1, 2025. This bill is identical to SB 649.
Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System; conservation officers. Extends membership in the Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System (VaLORS) to conservation officers of the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025, and provides that such membership would apply only to service earned on or after July 1, 2025. The bill contains a reenactment clause.
Public secondary schools; satisfaction of physical education requirements; participation in Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Permits each local school board to accept participationin the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps as fulfillment of any physical education requirements applicable to students in grades nine through 12.
Labor trafficking; forced labor or service; penalties. Provides that any person who knowingly provides or obtains the labor or services of a person by means of (i) force, threats of force, physical restraint, or threats of physical restraint to that person or another person; (ii) serious harm, as defined in the bill, or threats of serious harm to that person or another person; (iii) the abuse or threatened abuse of law or legal process, as defined in the bill; or (iv) any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause the person to believe that if that person did not perform such labor or services that person or another person would suffer serious harm or physical restraint is guilty of labor trafficking. The bill also provides that any person who knowingly benefits from participation in a venture that has engaged in labor trafficking is guilty of receiving money from labor trafficking. The bill provides that a violation of labor trafficking or receiving money from labor trafficking is punishable as a Class 4 felony; however, any adult who commits an act of labor trafficking or receiving money from labor trafficking with a person under the age of 18 is guilty of a Class 3 felony. The bill also creates a civil cause of action against individuals who engage in labor trafficking or who receive money from labor trafficking and adds labor trafficking and receiving money from labor trafficking to provisions of the Code defining racketeering and as a barrier crime from caring for children or the elderly or disabled, among other provisions listed in the bill. The bill extends the time to commence a civil action for trafficking in persons from seven years to 10 years.
Virginia Freedom of Information Act; effective date of procedures for conducting meetings held through electronic communication means during declared states of emergency. Provides that the provisions for conducting a meeting by electronic means due to a state of emergency stated in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) are declarative of existing law since March 20, 2020, with respect to the Governor's declared state of emergency due to COVID-19. Under the bill, any meeting by a public body using electronic communication means occurring from that date until July 1, 2021, and any otherwise lawful action taken at it is validated with respect to FOIA if the body provided public notice, public access, and public comment commensurate with the requirements of existing FOIA provisions regarding electronic and closed meetings. The bill is a response to the case Berry v. Bd. of Supervisors (Va. 2023) and is a recommendation of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council. This bill is identical to SB 244.
Charter; City of Colonial Heights. Amends the charter of the City of Colonial Heights by updating language related to the duties of the City Manager and City Attorney, including elimination of the City Attorney's duties to the school board and school superintendent. The bill also includes the update or repeal of various outdated provisions related to appropriations, purchasing, and capital improvements. This bill is identical to SB 112.
Special license plates; United States Air Force. Authorizes the issuance of special license plates for active duty members with, honorably discharged veterans with six months of active duty service in, and retirees from the United States Air Force and unremarried surviving spouses of such service members. This bill incorporates HB 1489.
Active-duty status for any service member injured while in the line of duty. Provides that the Adjutant General may maintain state active-duty status for any service member injured while in the line of duty during the course of a state active-duty mission who is unable to return to civilian employment for a period of up to 90 days after the date of the service member's injury.
Charter; City of Colonial Heights. Amends the charter of the City of Colonial Heights by updating language related to the duties of the City Manager and City Attorney, including elimination of the City Attorney's duties to the school board and school superintendent. The bill also includes the update or repeal of various outdated provisions related to appropriations, purchasing, and capital improvements. This bill is identical to HB 227.
Center for Rural Virginia; name change. Renames the Center for Rural Virginia as the Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr. Center for Rural Virginia. This bill is identical to SB 704.
