Penalties for failure to appear; contempt.Provides that any person (i) charged with a felony offense or misdemeanoroffense or (ii) convicted of a felony offense or misdemeanor offenseand execution of sentence is suspended who willfully fails to appearbefore any court or judicial officer as required may be punishedfor contempt. Under current law, such person is guilty of a Class6 felony, if charged with a felony, or a Class 1 misdemeanor, ifcharged with a misdemeanor, for such a violation. The bill excludesfrom such penalty persons who are incarcerated or in the custodyof a law-enforcement officer at the time such person is requiredto appear. The bill also eliminates a court's authority to punishsummarily a contempt of court for willful failure to appear.
Sponsored bills
Celebrating the life of the Honorable BernardWaugh Crigler.
Commending Major General Timothy P. Williams,VNG.
Siting of energy facilities; approval by theState Corporation Commission. Establishes a procedure under whichan electric utility or independent power provider (applicant) is able to obtain approval for a certificate from the State CorporationCommission for the siting of an energy facility rather than fromthe governing body of a locality. Under the bill, applicants areauthorized to submit an application to the Commission if (i) thelocality fails to timely approve or deny an application; (ii) theapplication complies with certain requirements for Commission approval,but a host locality denies the application; or (iii) the localityamends its zoning ordinance after it has notified the applicant that its requirements are compatible with the requirements for Commissionapproval, and the amendment imposes additional requirements thatare more restrictive. The bill provides that an applicant who isissued a certificate by the Commission for an energy facility isexempt from obtaining approvals or permits, including any land useapprovals or permits under the regulations and ordinances of thelocality. The bill applies to anysolar energy facility with a capacity of 50 megawatts or more, anywind energy facility with a capacity of 100 megawatts or more, andany energy storage facility with a nameplate capacity of 50 megawattsor more and an energy discharge capability of 200 megawatt hours or more.
Net energy metering; solar interconnection;cost recovery. Provides that an electric distribution companyshall pay $1 per kilowatt per day for the costs of lost electricityproduction for any and all delays beyond the regulatory notice periodrequired by State Corporation Commission related to net energy metering. The bill requires that, for the purposes of net energy metering,an eligible customer-generator shall bear all reasonable costs ofequipment required at the eligible customer-generator's side of the meter forthe interconnection to the supplier's electric distribution system,including reasonable and prudent costs of additional controls, tests,or liability insurance. Additionally, the bill allows for cost recovery by Phase I and Phase II Utilities for electric distribution gridtransformation projects that support the interconnection of generatingfacilities using energy derived from sunlight that are owned or contractedby eligible customer-generators, subject to the Commission findingthose costs to be reasonable and prudent in accordance with existinglaw.
Commending John Ray Grisham, Jr.
Celebrating the life of Shawn Soares.
Commending the Honorable Dr. Luke E. Torian.
Commending Margaret L. Sanner.
Mattress stewardship program established; civilpenalty. Prohibits the disposal of a mattress, as defined inthe bill, in a landfill or an incinerator beginning January 1, 2028,and requires producers of mattresses sold at retail in the Commonwealthor a representative organization acting on a producer's behalf tosubmit a plan for the establishment of a mattress stewardship program.Such mattress stewardship program plan shall establish an assessmentfor all mattresses sold in the Commonwealth and a network of convenientand free collection sites for postconsumer mattresses, defined in the bill, that will facilitate higher rates of recycling and materials recovery for postconsumer mattresses. The bill establishes annualreporting requirements for mattress producers or representative organizationsand establishes a Mattress Stewardship Program Advisory Board toadvise on the proper implementation and sustainability of the mattressstewardship program. The bill also establishes the powers and dutiesof the Department of Environmental Quality as they relate to thebill and civil penalties for improper mattress disposal and violationsof the mattress stewardship program.