Sen. Monty Mason

Misuse of power of attorney; financial exploitation; incapacitated adults; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for an agent under a power of attorney to knowingly or intentionally engage in financial exploitation of an incapacitated adult who is the principal of that agent. The bill also provides that the agent's authority terminates upon such conviction. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Criminal Justice Conference. This bill is identical to SB 124.

Foster care; barrier crimes. Directs the Department of Social Services (the Department), together with relevant stakeholders, to develop recommendations regarding changes to provisions governing criminal history background checks and barrier crimes for applicants to serve as a foster or adoptive home and requires the Department to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions and the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services by October 1, 2022.

Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Programand Fund. Creates the Advanced Manufacturing Talent InvestmentProgram and Fund to assist qualified institutions, as defined in the bill, in reaching, by 2042, a goal of increasing by at least 25,000new eligible credentials, which are noncredit workforce credentialsawarded by a qualified institution in a high demand advanced manufacturingfield as identified by the Board of Workforce Development. To be eligible for an annual grant, a qualified institution is requiredto enter into a memorandum of understanding setting forth specificcriteria for eligible credentials, eligible expenses, credentialproduction goals, and completion rates.

Responsibilities of local pretrial services officers; behavioral health dockets. Provides that a local pretrial services officer may facilitate the referral to screening for a defendant to be placed in a behavioral health docket as a treatment service.

Real estate settlement agents; emergency. Clarifies that a seller shall not be prohibited from retaining a licensed attorney to represent his interests and provide legal advice pertaining to escrow, closing, or settlement services. This bill is declarative of existing law. The bill contains an emergency clause and is identical to HB 1364.

Misuse of power of attorney; financial exploitation; incapacitated adults; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for an agent under a power of attorney to knowingly or intentionally engage in financial exploitation of an incapacitated adult who is the principal of that agent. The bill also provides that the agent's authority terminates upon such conviction. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Criminal Justice Conference. This bill incorporates SB 10 and SB 690 and is identical to HB 497.

American Revolution 250 Commission; membership. Adds five legislative members to the American Revolution 250 Commission. This bill is identical to HB 6.

Abuse and neglect; financial exploitation;incapacitated adults; penalties. Changes the term "incapacitatedadult" to "vulnerable adult" for the purposes of the crime of abuseand neglect of such adults and defines "vulnerable adult" as any person18 years of age or older who is impaired by reason of mental illness,intellectual or developmental disability, physical illness or disability,advanced age, or other causes to the extent the adult lacks sufficientunderstanding or capacity to make, communicate, or carry out reasonabledecisions concerning his well-being or has one or more limitationsthat substantially impair the adult's ability to independently providefor his daily needs or safeguard his person, property, or legal interests.The bill adds the definition of "advanced age" as it is used in the definition of "vulnerable adult" to mean 65 years of age or older. The bill also changes the term "person with mental incapacity" tothe same meaning of "vulnerable adult" for the purposes of the crimeof financial exploitation. This bill is a recommendation of the VirginiaCriminal Justice Conference.

Emergency custody and temporary detention; transportation; transfer of custody. Provides that, in cases in which transportation of a person subject to an emergency custody order is ordered to be provided by an alternative transportation provider, the primary law-enforcement agency that executes the order may transfer custody of the person to the alternative transportation provider immediately upon execution of the order, and the alternative transportation provider shall maintain custody of the person from the time custody is transferred to the alternative transportation provider by the primary law-enforcement agency until such time as an evaluation is conducted and custody is transferred pursuant to a temporary detention order or the person is released upon determination the person does not meet the criteria for temporary detention or custody of the person is transferred to the community services board or its designee that is responsible for conducting the evaluation. The bill also provides that in cases in which transportation of a person subject to a temporary detention order is ordered to be provided by an alternative transportation provider, the primary law-enforcement agency that executes the order may transfer custody of the person to the alternative transportation provider immediately upon execution of the order, and that the alternative transportation provider shall maintain custody of the person from the time custody is transferred to the alternative transportation provider by the primary law-enforcement agency until such time as custody of the person is transferred to the temporary detention facility. The bill also adds employees of and persons providing services pursuant to a contract with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to the list of individuals who may serve as alternative transportation providers.

Commonwealth Council on Aging; reports.Requires the Commonwealth Council on Aging to submit to the Governor,General Assembly, and Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Servicesby October 1 of each year an electronic report regarding the activitiesand recommendations of the Council.