Sen. Amanda Chase

Specialty dockets; veterans docket. Providesthat any veterans docket authorized and established as a local specialtydocket in accordance with the Rules of Supreme Court of Virginiashall be deemed a "Veterans Treatment Court Program," as that termis used under federal law or by any other entity, for the purposesof applying for, qualifying for, or receiving any federal grants,other federal money, or money from any other entity designated toassist or fund such state programs. The bill contains an emergencyclause.

Public institutions of higher education; in-state tuition; children of active duty service members or veterans. Provides that any child of an active duty member or veteran who claims Virginia as his home state and filed Virginia tax returns for at least 10 years during active duty service is eligible for in-state tuition charges, regardless of domicile. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.

Telephone privacy protection. Requires atelephone solicitor to immediately disclose who is calling and whatproperty, good, or service is being offered. The measure also prohibitscaller ID spoofing, which is defined in the bill as causing any calleridentification service to transmit caller identification informationthat represents or states that the call originates from a telephonewith an area code assigned to an area in the Commonwealth or froma location in the Commonwealth if the person on whose behalf thetelephone solicitation call is being made does not conduct business from a location in the Commonwealth. Themeasure prohibits a telephone solicitor from making a telephone solicitationcall or the use of an automatic dialing-announcing device in connectionwith making a call to any subscriber who has registered with theVirginia Do Not Call Registry. The measure requires the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to set up by January1, 2021, the Virginia Do Not Call Registry for subscribers who wishto block all solicitation calls and calls that use or are made in connection with automatic dialing-announcing devices.

Line of Duty Act; eligible dependents. Provides that children born or adopted after the death or disability of an employee covered by the Line of Duty Act are eligible for health insurance coverage if their birth or adoption occurred after the time of the employee's death or disability, but prior to July 1, 2017. Under current law, such children are not eligible unless they were adopted pursuant to a preadoptive agreement entered into prior to the death or disability. This bill is identical to HB 51.

School bus drivers; critical shortages. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, with the assistance of each school board or division superintendent, to survey each local school division to identify critical shortages of school bus drivers by geographic area and local school division and to report any such critical shortage to each local school division and to the Virginia Retirement System. The bill permits any school bus driver hired by a local school board in any geographic area or school division in which a critical shortage of school bus drivers has been so identified to elect to continue to receive a service retirement allowance during such employment if the driver meets certain other conditions. This bill is identical to HB 351.

Special license plates; VB STRONG. Authorizes the issuance of special license plates for supporters of the City of Virginia Beach bearing the legend VB STRONG. The deadline for the receipt of 450 prepaid applications is November 1, 2020.

Income tax subtraction; crime stopper rewards. Increases from $1,000 to $5,000, beginning in taxable year 2020, the maximum amount that may be subtracted from taxable income for amounts received as a reward for providing information to a law-enforcement official or agency, or to a nonprofit corporation created exclusively to assist such law-enforcement official or agency, that is used in the apprehension and conviction of perpetrators of crimes. This bill is identical to HB 307.

Commending the Virginia State Police.

Income tax subtraction; crime stopper rewards. Increases from $1,000 to $5,000, beginning in taxable year 2020, the maximum amount that may be subtracted from taxable income for amounts received as a reward for providing information to a law-enforcement official or agency, or to a nonprofit corporation created exclusively to assist such law-enforcement official or agency, that is used in the apprehension and conviction of perpetrators of crimes. This bill is identical to SB 931.

Local electoral boards; terms to begin January 1. Provides for terms of local electoral board members to begin on January 1. If the results of an election have not been certified by the board or a recount of an election has not concluded, the term will expire at midnight on the day the results are certified or the recount is concluded, instead of December 31. Under current law, terms begin March 1.