Del. Irene Shin

Commending the Honorable Michael P. Mullin.

Commending the Virginia Department of MotorVehicles.

Commending Marie Ridder.

Commending Bishop Kim W. Brown.

Mineral mining and exploration; public notification.Requires an explorer conducting any mineral exploration activities,as those terms are defined in the bill, prior to the start of suchactivities, to (i) publish a notice in a newspaper having a generalcirculation in the locality where the exploration activity will occurat least once a week for two successive weeks, (ii) notify the governingbody of such locality at least 15 days in advance of such activity, and (iii) notify all individual residences and properties within500 yards of the property lines where the exploration activity willtake place at least 15 days in advance of such activity. The billrequires such notices to include certain information related to theexploration activity.

Synthetic media; penalty. Expands the applicabilityof provisions related to defamation, slander, and libel to includesynthetic media, defined in the bill. The bill makes it a Class 1misdemeanor for any person to generate, create, or use or cause tobe generated, created, or used any deceptive audio or visual media,defined in the bill, for the purpose of committing a criminal offenseinvolving fraud. The bill creates a rebuttable presumption that suchdeceptive audio or visual media was generated or created for thepurpose of committing such criminal offense if such deceptive audioor visual media is subsequently used as part of a plan or courseof conduct to commit such criminal offense. The bill also authorizesthe individual depicted in the deceptive audio or visual media tobring a civil action against the person who violates such prohibition to recover actual damages, reasonable attorney fees, and such otherrelief as the court determines to be appropriate. The bill directsthe Attorney General to convene a work group to study and make recommendationson the current enforcement of laws related to the use of deceptive audio or visual media, including deepfakes, and any further actionneeded to address the issue of such use in fraudulent acts.

Commending Blake Corum.

Commending the ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation.

Collective bargaining by public employees; labor organization representation. Repeals the existing prohibition on collective bargaining by public employees. The bill creates the Public Employee Relations Board, which shall determine appropriate bargaining units and provide for certification and decertification elections for exclusive bargaining representatives of state employees and local government employees. The bill requires public employers and employee organizations that are exclusive bargaining representatives to meet at reasonable times to negotiate in good faith with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. The bill repeals a provision that declares that, in any procedure providing for the designation, selection, or authorization of a labor organization to represent employees, the right of an individual employee to vote by secret ballot is a fundamental right that shall be guaranteed from infringement.

Advisory Council on Sickle Cell Disease; established;report. Establishes the Advisory Council on Sickle Cell Diseaseto advise the State Health Commissioner on the efforts to improveawareness of sickle cell disease and the needs of individuals withsickle cell disease. The bill requires the Board of Health to reportannually by December 1 to the Governor and the General Assemblyregarding its activities and recommendations.