Del. Charles D. Poindexter

Electronic health records; digital format.Requires electronic health record systems to transfer data in a commonfile format that is suitable for electronic access and use by thereceiving entity and provides that if an individual requests hishealth record in an electronic format from a health care entity,the health care entity shall provide such health record in a commonelectronic file format that is suitable for electronic access anduse by the receiving entity.

Use or display of firearm in committing felony;penalty. Increases from three to five years for a first offenseand from five to 10 years for a second or subsequent offense themandatory minimum sentences for use or display of a firearm duringthe commission of certain felonies.

Throwing or depositing certain materials orsubstances on land used for agricultural purposes; penalty. Makesit a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to throw or deposit or causeto be deposited upon any land used for agricultural purposes anyglass bottle, glass, nail, tack, wire, or can, or any other materialor substance, that causes property damage of $200 or more to anymachinery or motor vehicle being used in an agricultural operationon such land.

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative; prohibitionon participation by Commonwealth. Prohibits the Governor or anystate agency from adopting any regulation establishing a carbon dioxidecap-and-trade program or bringing about the participation by theCommonwealth in a regional market for the trading of carbon dioxideallowances. The bill provides that the Commonwealth shall be allowedto participate in such a cap-and-trade program if the House of Delegatesand the Senate of Virginia each adopt a resolution by a majorityvote that specifically references and approves the regulatory textproposed for adoption by a state agency.

Baccalaureate public institutions of highereducation; websites; certain information; degree completion. Requireseach baccalaureate public institution of higher education to include,on the informational tab or link on the home page of its websitethat the institution is required to maintain and annually update,the number of degrees completed during the most recent academic yearby degree program and by primary location and manner of completion,including completion on the main campus, at a center or other institutionestablished pursuant to Chapter 31 (Educational Authorities, Centers,Committees, Funds, Institutes, and Partnerships) of Title 23.1, andonline.

Tech Talent Investment Program; eligibilityfor grant payments. Requires a public institution of higher educationreceiving grants via the Tech Talent Investment Program to agree to award 50 percent of its new eligible degrees for incoming freshmanto students from rural areas. The bill defines "rural area" as acounty or city with a population density of less than 200 personsper square mile.

Local electoral boards; certain persons prohibitedfrom serving. Provides that the spouse, grandparent, parent,sibling, child, or grandchild, or the spouse of a grandparent, parent,sibling, child, or grandchild, of any sitting member of the GeneralAssembly is prohibited from being a member of a local electoral board.

Study JLARC; compliance reviews; higher educationmanagement agreements; report. Directs the Joint LegislativeAudit and Review Commission to perform compliance reviews of the management agreements between the Commonwealth and The College ofWilliam and Mary in Virginia, James Madison University, the Universityof Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Virginia PolytechnicInstitute and State University that were entered into pursuant tothe Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative OperationsAct of 2005 (the Restructuring Act) and to make recommendations forany amendment to any such management agreement that it deems necessaryto ensure compliance with the provisions of the Restructuring Act.

Regional transportation sector emissions programs; participation by Commonwealth. Prohibits the Governor or anystate agency from adopting any regulation establishing or bringingabout the participation by the Commonwealth in the Transportationand Climate Initiative or any other regional transportation sectoremissions program. The bill provides that the Commonwealth shallbe allowed to participate in such a regional transportation sectoremission program if the House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia each adopt a resolution by majority vote that specifically referencesand approves the regulatory text proposed for adoption by a stateagency.

Group Violence Intervention Board; Divisionof Group Violence Intervention; Project Ceasefire Grant Fund; ProjectExile Grant Fund. Establishes the Group Violence InterventionBoard to 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) serving as 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 violenceintervention 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 ExileGrant Fund, which provides money to organizations that assist formergang members or individuals attempting to leave gangs.