Right to reproductive choice. Provides thatevery individual has a fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptionand that a pregnant person has a fundamental right to choose to carrya pregnancy to term, give birth to a child, or terminate a pregnancy.The bill states that the Commonwealth shall not, in the regulationor provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information, denyor interfere with an individual's fundamental rights, including individualsunder state control or supervision. The bill states that any stateor local official who is charged with violating provisions of thissection shall be subject to an action in federal or state court forinjunctive relief and damages. Such action may be brought by any person or entity that may be aggrieved by such official's actions.
Sponsored bills
Juveniles; trial as an adult. Increases from age 14 to age 16 the minimum age at which a juvenile must be tried as an adult in circuit court for murder or aggravated malicious wounding or for certain charges requiring notice of intent to try such juvenile as an adult by the attorney for the Commonwealth. In order to be tried as an adult in circuit court for charges that require notice of intent to proceed with trial as an adult by the attorney for the Commonwealth, the bill requires that (i) a report of the juvenile be prepared by probation services or other qualified agency and (ii) the attorney for the Commonwealth review such report prior to filing his notice of intent to proceed with a preliminary hearing for trial of such juvenile as an adult. This bill was incorporated into HB 477.
Commending the Washington Nationals.
Constitution of the United States; Equal RightsAmendment. Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitutionof the United States that was proposed by Congress in 1972. The jointresolution advocates the position that the 1972 Equal Rights Amendmentremains viable and may be ratified notwithstanding the expirationof the 10-year ratification period set out in the resolving clause,as amended, in the proposal adopted by Congress.
Commending the United States Women's NationalSoccer Team.
Eliminates the Virginia Department of Emergency Management's requirement to submit an annual Commonwealth Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (C-THIRA) to the Governor and General Assembly. The bill also consolidates other additional annual reporting requirements into one annual tabulated report called the Virginia Comprehensive Emergency Management Report, which shall be submitted by the State Coordinator of Emergency Management to the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Finance, the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice, the House Committee on Appropriations, and the House Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety by November 1 of each year.