Sen. Amanda Chase

Virginia Telephone Privacy Protection Act.Provides that for the purposes of the Virginia Telephone PrivacyAct (the Act), "telephone solicitation call" includes any text messagesent to any wireless telephone with a Virginia area code, or to a wireless telephone registered to any natural person who is a residentof the Commonwealth, for the purpose of offering or advertising anyproperty, goods, or services for sale, lease, license, or investment,including offering or advertising an extension of credit. The billprohibits a telephone solicitor from engaging in any conduct thatresults in the display of false or misleading caller identificationinformation on the called party's telephone.

Study; JLARC; the practices, procedures, and accountability of industrial development authorities; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to study the practices, procedures, and accountability of industrial development authorities. In conducting its study, JLARC shall (i) collect information regarding the number, sizes, budgets, and locations of industrial development authorities throughout the Commonwealth; (ii) collect information regarding any moneys received by industrial development authorities, the source and final disposition of such moneys, and the level of control that local governing bodies have over the use of such moneys; (iii) make recommendations to enhance the level of supervision and accountability that local governing bodies have over the activities of industrial development authorities; (iv) collect information about opportunities for citizen engagement in pursuing and approving projects and make recommendations to enhance such engagement; and (v) make other legislative recommendations as appropriate.

Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act; penalty. Creates the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The Act prohibitsan abortion after 20 weeks gestation unless, in reasonable medicaljudgment, the mother has a condition that so complicates her medical condition as to necessitate the abortion to avert her death or toavert serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairmentof a major bodily function. When an abortion is not prohibited post-20weeks' gestation, the physician is required to terminate the pregnancyin a manner that would provide the unborn child the best opportunityto survive. The bill punishes performance of an abortion in violationof the Act as a Class 6 felony. The bill also provides for civil remedies against a physician who performs an abortion in violationof the Act.

Public institutions of higher education; tuitionand fees; public comment; notice of meeting. Requires the governingboards of public institutions of higher education to provide students and the public 15 days' prior notice of the date and location ofany meeting at which, under current law, public comment must be permittedprior to any vote by the governing board to approve an increase inundergraduate tuition or mandatory fees.

Abortion; born alive human infant; treatmentand care; penalty. Requires every physician licensed by the Boardof Medicine who attempts to terminate a pregnancy to (i) exercisethe same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preservethe life and health of a human infant who has been born alive followingsuch attempt as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health carepractitioner would render to any other child born alive at the samegestational age and (ii) take all reasonable steps to ensure theimmediate transfer of the human infant who has been born alive toa hospital for further medical care. A physician who fails to complywith the requirements of this act is guilty of a Class 4 felony and may be subject to disciplinary action by the Board of Medicine. The bill also requires every hospital licensedby the Department of Health to establish a protocol for the treatmentand care of a human infant who has been born alive following performanceof an abortion and for the immediate reporting to law enforcementof any failure to provide such required treatment and care.

Income tax deduction; primary and secondaryschool tuition or home instruction expenses. Provides an incometax deduction beginning in taxable year 2020 for education expenses incurred by the parent or guardian of a child under the age of 18. Qualifying education expenses for the deduction are defined in thebill as tuition for a primary or secondary school in the Commonwealth,or expenses directly related to the home instruction of children.

Family life education programs; student participation. Prohibits any public elementary or secondary school student fromparticipating in any family life education program without the priorwritten consent of his parent.

Personal income tax deduction; veterans witha 100 percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability.Provides an additional personal income tax deduction of $930 forveterans who have been rated with a 100 percent service-connected,permanent, and total disability. This deduction is allowed regardlessof whether the taxpayer itemizes deductions for the taxable yearfor federal income tax purposes.

Fetal dismemberment prohibited. Prohibitsa person licensed by the Board of Medicine to practice medicine fromperforming an abortion that involves dismemberment of a fetus.

Carrying concealed handgun with a permit; employeesof any agency of the Commonwealth or political subdivision thereof.Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law or anyrule, regulation, or workplace policy to the contrary, an employeeof any agency of the Commonwealth or a political subdivision thereofwith a valid concealed handgun permit may possess or carry a concealedhandgun at his workplace. The bill provides, however, that any agencyof the Commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof may prohibit employees from possessing or carrying a concealed handgun at theirworkplace only if such agency of the Commonwealth or a politicalsubdivision thereof has employed law-enforcement officers or armedsecurity officers to provide protection at such workplace, and suchofficers are stationed within the workplace building during operatinghours.