Del. Nadarius Clark

Virginia Public Procurement Act; additional public works contract requirements. Provides that public bodies shall require the contractor and its subcontractors for any capital outlay project, as defined in the bill, to complete certain safety training programs, maintain records of compliance with applicable laws, and participate in approved apprenticeship training programs. The bill provides exemptions from such requirements for reasons related to lack of availability of apprentices and high costs. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025.

Local tax; penalties and interest. Requireslocalities to apply voluntary payments made by a taxpayer to thetax return that accompanies such payment. The bill provides thatno interest will accrue on any unpaid balances 90 days after thedate on which a taxpayer files an application for correction by thelocality, an administrative appeal, or an application to court formeals taxes, until such appeal is resolved. The bill creates noticeprocedures prior to a locality making a levy on property due to delinquenttax payments. With respect to any local food or beverage tax, followingthe denial of a taxpayer's application for correction, the bill providesthat the locality and taxpayer may agree to settle the liabilitypursuant to an offer in compromise. The bill also provides that followingan application to court to correct erroneous assessments of locallevies, the court may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailingparty.

Early childhood care and education; publicly funded providers. Provides that any locality wishing to participate in the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) must submit a proposal by May 15 of each year identifying a lead VPI agency responsible for developing a local plan for the delivery of preschool services to at-risk children. A local match based on the composite index of local ability to pay is required to fund such a proposal. The proposal must include the number of at-risk four-year-olds and three-year-olds to be served and eligibility criteria for participation. Upon acceptance, the Department will disburse state VPI funds to the lead VPI agency in such localities, which may be used with local matching funds to provide preschool education, health services, social services, parental involvement services, and transportation. The Department must establish academic standards for VPI programs that prepare students to successfully enter kindergarten. Full day VPI programs must operate for a minimum of five and a half instructional hours per day, while half day VPI programs operate for a minimum of three instructional hours per day. The bill requires the Department of Education to collect information from VPI and the Mixed Delivery Grant Program to compile a comprehensive report on the use of state funds, including the number of slots and funding allocated to each local program or provider and the number of slots that have been filled. The bill codifies the Child Care Subsidy Program, which is currently established pursuant to regulations of the Board of Education, for the purpose of assisting families who meet certain eligibility criteria with the cost of child care provided by approved vendors. The bill requires the Child Care Subsidy Program to be overseen by the Department of Education and permits the Department to contract with state and local agencies to administer the Program. The bill requires the Department and Board of Education, as applicable, to establish rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and standards for the Program. The bill also codifies the Mixed Delivery Grant Program, which is currently established pursuant to the general appropriation act, for the purpose of awarding grants on a competitive basis to local public entities that enter into partnerships with local private early childhood care and education entities and other community organizations, as applicable, to provide, under the direction and leadership of a lead agency identified in the grant proposal, high-quality care and education, either part time or full time, for at-risk infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children who reside in the locality. The bill requires the Mixed Delivery Grant Program to be administered by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation in partnership with the Department of Education and, consistent with any provisions relating to the Program in the general appropriation act, requires the Foundation and the Department to establish policies, procedures, and standards for the Program.

Absentee voting in person; voter satellite offices; days and hours of operation. Authorizes the governing body of any county or city establishing voter satellite offices for absentee voting in person to prescribe, by ordinance, the dates and hours of operation for such offices. The bill prohibits any reduction in the dates or hours of operation of such offices to be enacted within 60 days of any general election.

Television and Film Production Development GrantProgram and Fund established; report. Establishes the Televisionand Film Production Development Grant Program and Fund that allowsthe Virginia Tourism Authority, with assistance from the VirginiaFilm Office, to award competitive grants to businesses in the televisionor film industry for filming or investing in television or film productionor television or film production-related infrastructure projectsin the Commonwealth. The bill provides that the Office and the Authorityshall submit a report every two years detailing television and filmindustries and related infrastructure spending in the Commonwealthand information related to the issuance of such grants through theProgram from the Fund.

Black Women's History Month. Designates April, in 2024 and in each succeeding year, as Black Women's History Month in Virginia.

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Month of Awareness. Designates May, in 2024 and in each succeeding year, as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Month of Awareness in Virginia.

Uterine Fibroids Awareness Month. DesignatesJuly, in 2024 and in each succeeding year, as Uterine Fibroids AwarenessMonth in Virginia.

Coach Appreciation Week. Designates theweek of October 6, in 2024 and in each succeeding year, as CoachAppreciation Week in Virginia.

Kidney Disease Awareness Month. DesignatesMarch, in 2024 and in each succeeding year, as Kidney Disease AwarenessMonth in Virginia.