Del. Betsy Carr

Civil action for the dissemination of sexually explicit visual material to another. Provides that any person 18 years of age or older who knowingly transmits an intimate image, as defined in the bill, by computer or other electronic means to the computer or electronic communication device of another person 18 years of age or older when such other person has not consented to the use of his computer or electronic communication device for the receipt of such material or has expressly forbidden the receipt of such material shall be considered a trespass and shall be liable to the recipient of the intimate image for actual damages or $500, whichever is greater, in addition to reasonable attorney fees and costs.

Innovative Internship Program; Office of Education and Labor Market Alignment. Directs the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to partner with the Office of Education and Labor Market Alignment to collect and utilize data that includes the gaps that are most significant in hindering the Commonwealth from achieving its goals that its funds are intended to accomplish under the Innovative Internship Program and provides other directives to the Council and the Office to collaborate on and accomplish for the Innovative Internship Program.

Capital Region Airport Commission. Authorizesthe Capital Region Airport Commission to (i) make charitable donationsto organizations and (ii) form or support independent foundationsdesigned to foster an appreciation by the public of the importanceof aviation, assist the public in aviation travel, or help developand educate the next generation of aviation professionals in the Commonwealth.The bill provides that any such foundation is not a public body andis exempt from the provisions of the Virginia Public Procurement Actand the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The bill also authorizesthe Commission to indemnify any current or former Commissioner, officer,employee, or agent of the Commission against liability arising fromsuch position. This bill is identical to SB 478.

Careless driving; vulnerable road users. Provides that a person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor if he operates a vehicle in a careless or distracted manner and causes the death or serious bodily injury of a vulnerable road user. Current law only imposes the penalty if such careless or distracted operation causes serious bodily injury to the vulnerable road user. The bill also allows a court to suspend the driver's license or restrict the driver's license of a person convicted of careless driving for up to six months. This bill is identical to SB 247.

Health insurance; provider credentialing; receipt of application. Requires the protocols and procedures for the reimbursement of new provider applicants that are established by a carrier that credentials providers in its network to require that the carrier provide recognition or notification of receipt of such applicant's credentialing application (i) electronically if the carrier uses an online credentialing system for new provider applicants or (ii) by mail or electronic mail, as selected by the applicant, within 10 days of receiving the application if the carrier does not use an online credentialing system. This bill is identical to SB 427.

Commission to Study Slavery and Subsequent DeJure and De Facto Racial and Economic Discrimination Against AfricanAmericans; expiration. Extends from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2024,the expiration of the Commission to Study Slavery and Subsequent DeJure and De Facto Racial and Economic Discrimination Against AfricanAmericans. The bill also provides for the nonlegislative citizen membersof the Commission to continue to serve for the duration of the extension.This bill is identical to SB 151.

Assessment of real property; affordable housing. Includes the Rental Assistance Demonstration program in the list of federal laws whose restrictions shall be considered in determining the fair market value of real property that is operated as affordable rental housing.

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.

Hospitals; direct readmission of certain postpartum patients. Directs the Department of Health (the Department) to develop recommendations for protocols for hospitals that provide obstetrical services for (i) admission or transfer of any pregnant woman who presents herself while in labor or while experiencing a perinatal emergency and (ii) direct readmission, if appropriate, to the hospital of any patient who received obstetrical services from the hospital, experiences postpartum complications requiring immediate medical care, and is referred to the hospital by the patient's health care provider. The bill requires the Department to make such recommendations available to every hospital in the Commonwealth that provides obstetrical services by December 15, 2022.

Absentee ballots; materials included; information on proposed constitutional amendments and referenda. Requires explanations of proposed constitutional amendments and information about statewide referenda to be included with the other materials sent with absentee ballots. These neutral explanations are prepared by a nonpartisan legislative agency, in consultation with appropriate state agencies and entities, and provided to the State Board of Elections for distribution to the voters. Currently, the explanations are made available at registration sites and are posted in polling places only.