Del. Mark L. Cole

Constitutional amendment (first reference);special sessions; required in certain states of emergency. Requiresthe Governor to convene a special session whenever declaring a stateof emergency for a period that exceeds 90 days or whenever extendinga state of emergency for a period that exceeds 90 days in the aggregate.

Parole; investigation prior to release.Provides that the Parole Board shall contact the victim prior to making any decision to release any inmate on discretionary parole.The bill provides that the term "victim" includes a spouse, parent,sibling, or legal guardian of a person who was the victim of a homicide.

Voting Rights for Women Month. DesignatesNovember, in 2021 and in each succeeding year, as Voting Rights forWomen Month in Virginia.

Constitutional amendment (first reference);right of parents. Adds to the Constitution of Virginia the fundamentalright of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care oftheir children. The amendment prohibits the Commonwealth from infringingthese rights without demonstrating that the governmental interestas applied to the person is of the highest order and not otherwiseserved. This section shall not be construed to apply to a parentalaction or decision that would physically harm or end the life ofthe child.

Local authority; parking. Expands from certainlisted localities to all localities the authority to regulate orprohibit by ordinance (i) parking on secondary highways; (ii) the parking of watercraft, boat trailers, motor homes, and camping trailerson any public highway; and (iii) the parking of commercial vehicleson any public highway in a residence district.

Group Violence Intervention Board; Divisionof Group Violence Intervention; Project Ceasefire Grant Fund; ProjectExit Grant Fund. Establishes the Group Violence Intervention Boardto coordinate and assist federal, state, and local group violenceintervention efforts. The bill also establishes within the Departmentof Criminal Justice Services (the Department) the Division of Group Violence Intervention (the Division), to be headed by an executivedirector appointed by the Director of the Department. The bill providesthat the Division is responsible for (i) coordinating the effortsof members of state and local law enforcement, community members,and social services providers to combat group violence; (ii) servingas a clearinghouse for research, best practices, and strategies thatmay be utilized in the implementation, execution, and evaluationof group violence interventions; and (iii) implementing and administeringvarious federal, state, and local grant funds that aid group violence intervention efforts. Finally, the bill creates the Project CeasefireGrant Fund, which provides money to organizations that are involvedin group violence intervention efforts, and creates the Project Exit Grant Fund, which provides money to organizations that assist formergang members or individuals attempting to leave gangs.

Issuing citations; certain traffic offenses.Authorizes law-enforcement officers to lawfully stop a motorvehicle for operating (i) without a light illuminating a licenseplate, (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment, (iii) without brakelights or a high mount stop light, (iv) without an exhaust systemthat prevents excessive or unusual levels of noise, (v) with certainsun-shading materials and tinting films, and (vi) with certain objects suspended in the vehicle. The bill authorizes a law-enforcement officerto stop a pedestrian for jaywalking or entering a highway where thepedestrian cannot be seen. The bill provides that law-enforcement officers are permitted to stop a motor vehicle for an expired safetyinspection or registration sticker immediately following the originalexpiration date. The bill removes the prohibition on using evidencediscovered or obtained due to an impermissible stop, including evidenceobtained with the person's consent, in any trial, hearing, or otherproceeding. The bill removes prohibitions on stopping or arrestinga driver of a motor vehicle for the violation of a local ordinancerelating to the ownership or maintenance of a motor vehicle that isnot a jailable offense.

Commending Homework Helpers Organization.

Commending Redella S. Pepper.

Commending Aquatech.