Fornication; repeal. Repeals the crime of fornication, i.e., voluntary sexual intercourse by an unmarried person, punishable under current law as a Class 4 misdemeanor.
Virginia Human Rights Act; racial discrimination; hair. Provides that the terms "because of race" and "on the basis of race," and terms of similar import, when used in reference to discrimination in the Code of Virginia and acts of the General Assembly, include traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists. This bill is identical to SB 50.
Saliva or tissue sample required for DNA analysisafter arrest for a violent felony. Clarifies that the Departmentof Forensic Science may retain a DNA sample from a person who wasarrested for a violent felony if such person was convicted of a misdemeanoroffense that would otherwise require the sample to remain in theDNA data bank.
School attendance officers; petitions for violation of a school attendance order. Provides that an attendance officer, or a division superintendent or his designee when acting as an attendance officer, to complete, sign, and file with the intake officer of the juvenile and domestic relations district court, on forms approved by the Supreme Court of Virginia, a petition for a violation of a school attendance order entered by the juvenile and domestic relations district court in response to the filing of a petition alleging the pupil is a child in need of supervision. The bill provides that such actions do not constitute the unauthorized practice of law. This bill is identical to SB 237.
Commending the Unity March Against Hate.
Year of the Eye Exam. Designates 2020 as the Year of the Eye Exam in Virginia.
Larceny; subsequent offenses; penalty. Eliminatesthe enhanced Class 6 felony applicable for a third or subsequentoffense of petit larceny.
Same-sex marriages; civil unions. Repeals the statutory prohibitions on same-sex marriages and civil unions or other arrangements between persons of the same sex purporting to bestow the privileges and obligations of marriage. These prohibitions are no longer valid due to the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. ___ (June 26, 2015). This bill is identical to SB 17.
Payments of court fines and costs; communitywork in lieu of payment; during imprisonment. Allows courts toprovide an option to any person upon whom a fine and costs have beenimposed to discharge all or part of the fine or costs by earningcredits for the performance of community service work during imprisonment.Under current law, credit may be earned only for the performance ofcommunity service work completed before or after imprisonment.
Commending the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community,USA.
