Del. Jason S. Miyares

Commending Steven R. Cover.

Voter identification; identification containinga photograph required. Requires presentation of a form of identification containing a photograph in order to vote. The bill repeals the provisionsof law permitting a voter who does not have one of the required formsof identification to vote after signing a statement, subject to felony penalties for false statements, that he is the named registered voterhe claims to be. Instead, such voter would be entitled to cast aprovisional ballot.

Felony homicide; certain drug offenses; penalty. Provides that a person is guilty of felony homicide, punishable byconfinement for not less than five nor more than 40 years, if theunderlying felonious act that resulted in the accidental killingof another person involved the manufacture, sale, gift, or distributionof a Schedule I or II controlled substance and (i) such other person'sdeath results from his use of the controlled substance and (ii) the controlled substance is the proximate cause of the person's death.The bill provides that the venue for prosecution is the locality wherethe felony violation occurred, where the use of the controlled substanceoccurred, or where the death occurred. The bill serves to overrulethe decision of the Court of Appeals of Virginia in Woodard v.Commonwealth, 61 Va. App., 567, 739 S.E.2d 220 (2013),aff'd, 287 Va. 276, 754 S.E.2d 309 (2014).

Condemning the Chinese Communist Party; COVID-19pandemic. Expresses the sense of the House of Delegates in condemningthe Chinese Communist Party for its role in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Police; affirming support. Expresses thesense of the House of Delegates in affirming its support and appreciationfor the service and sacrifice of law-enforcement officers in theCommonwealth.

Parole; investigation prior to release.Requires the Parole Board to contact the victim, replacing the currentrequirement to "endeavor diligently" to contact the victim, priorto making any decision to release any inmate on discretionary paroleand allows the victim to present virtual testimony to the Board concerningthe impact that the release of the prisoner will have on the victim.

Public institutions of higher education; virtual instruction; tuition cap. Prohibits the governing board of anypublic institution of higher education from fixing tuition at a ratethat exceeds $2,500 per semester or its equivalent in any case in which instruction is provided solely in a virtual format and froma remote location.

Immunity from civil claims related to the transmissionof or exposure to the COVID-19 virus and uses of personal protectiveequipment; emergency. Provides immunity to persons, as defined in the bill, from civil causes of action arising from any act oromission alleged to have resulted in the contraction of or exposureto the COVID-19 virus, provided such person has complied with applicablefederal, state, and local policies, procedures, and guidance regardingCOVID-19. The bill further provides immunity to persons who design,manufacture, label, or distribute any personal protective equipmentin response to the COVID-19 virus from any civil cause of actionarising out of the use of such equipment. The bill contains an emergency clause, and the immunities provided by such bill expire two yearsafter the expiration or revocation of all states of emergency declaredby the Governor related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Child care tax credit. Establishes an individual nonrefundable income tax credit for taxable years 2020 and 2021 ofup to $1,000 per taxable year for eligible child care expenses incurredand paid between September 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021, due to theclosure of Virginia child care facilities or primary or secondaryschools as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. If the amount of thecredit exceeds the taxpayer's tax liability for the taxable yearin which the child care expenses were incurred and paid, such excessmay be carried over for five years. The taxpayer must verify their eligible child-care expenses when claiming the credit in each taxableyear pursuant to guidelines promulgated by the Department of Taxation.

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.