Toll lane enforcement; Midtown Tunnel and DowntownTunnel. Prohibits the Department of Motor Vehicles from suspendinga person's registration certificates or licenses plates due to unpaidtolls when such toll violations occurred at the Midtown Tunnel orDowntown Tunnel connecting the Cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth.
Workers' compensation; foreign injuries.Provides that an injured employee is eligible for benefits underthe Virginia Workers' Compensation Act when a compensable accidenthappens while the employee is employed outside Virginia if (i) theemployment contract was not expressly for services exclusively tobe performed outside Virginia and (ii) either the employer's placeof business is in Virginia or the employee regularly performs workon the employer's behalf in Virginia and resides in Virginia.
Public schools; potable water. Establishes minimum requirements for the installation of water bottle filling stations and drinking fountains in new public school buildings, additions to existing public school buildings, and alterations to existing public school buildings estimated to cost $50,000 or more. The bill requires the Board of Education to amend its regulations to require local school divisions to allow all students to carry and utilize a water bottle while at school.
Study; JLARC; reduction or elimination of tollson Midtown and Downtown Tunnels in Hampton Roads; report. Directsthe Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the feasibilityof reducing or eliminating tolls on the Midtown and Downtown Tunnelsin Hampton Roads.
Right to work. Repeals the provisions ofthe Code of Virginia that, among other things, prohibit any agreementor combination between an employer and a labor union or labor organizationwhereby (i) nonmembers of the union or organization are denied theright to work for the employer, (ii) membership in the union or organization is made a condition of employment or continuation ofemployment by such employer, or (iii) the union or organization acquiresan employment monopoly in any such enterprise.
Child abuse and neglect; valid report or complaint;alleged abuser. Requires a local department of social servicesto conduct an investigation or family assessment when, among otherthings, a report or complaint of child abuse or neglect is receivedin which the alleged abuser (i) is the child's relative by blood,marriage, or adoption; (ii) is the child's caretaker or has supervisorycontrol over such child; or (iii) resides or is regularly presentin the same household as the child. The bill also amends the definitionof "abused or neglected child" to accommodate this directive. Undercurrent law, local departments are only required to conduct an investigationor family assessment when the alleged abuser is the child's parentor other caretaker.
Relocation of call centers to a foreign country; notification requirements. Requires certain call centers thatintend to relocate operations from the Commonwealth to a foreigncountry to give the Commissioner of Labor and Industry at least 120days' prior notice. The measure requires the Commissioner to compilea semiannual list of all employers that relocate a call center fromthe Commonwealth to a foreign country and to distribute the list to state agencies. Subject to exceptions, an employer that appears onthe list is (i) ineligible for five years for any direct or indirectgrants of state funds, any loans from or guaranteed by the state,or any tax credit or reduction in tax liability and (ii) requiredto repay any financial incentives the employer has previously received.The measure requires new state agency contracts for the performanceof state business-related call center and customer service work toprovide that such work will be performed entirely within the Commonwealth.
Battery against a sports official; penalty.Provides that if any person commits a battery against another knowingor having reason to know that such other person is a sports officialengaged in the performance of his duties as such, he is guilty ofa Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also provides that the sentenceof such person upon conviction shall include a mandatory minimum fine of $500 and such person shall be ordered to perform a mandatory minimumof 20 hours of community service as a condition of probation supervision.A "sports official" is defined in the bill as a coach, umpire, referee,line judge, or other person employed or volunteering in a similarcapacity during an amateur or professional sporting event.
Campaign finance; prohibited contributions tocandidates. Prohibits any candidate from soliciting or acceptinga contribution from any public service corporation, as defined in§ 56-1, or any political action committee established and administeredby such a corporation.
Virginia National Guard; state active duty for emergency response; pay and allowances for members. Establishes rates of pay and allowances for members of the Virginia National Guard and Virginia Defense Force.
