Voter identification; repeal of photo identification requirements; additional forms of identification accepted; signed statement in lieu of required form of identification; penalty. Removes the requirement that voters show a form of identification containing a photograph in order to be allowed to vote. The bill requires a voter to show either his voter registration confirmation documents; his valid Virginia driver's license, his valid United States passport, or any other identification issued by the Commonwealth, one of its political subdivisions, or the United States; any valid student identification card issued by any institution of higher education located in the Commonwealth or any private school located in the Commonwealth; any valid student identification card issued by any institution of higher education located in any other state or territory of the United States; any valid employee identification card containing a photograph of the voter and issued by an employer of the voter in the ordinary course of the employer's business; or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter. The bill also provides that the expiration date on a Virginia driver's license is not considered when determining the validity of a driver's license offered for voter identification purposes. A voter who does not show one of the required forms of identification when offering to vote is required to sign a statement that he is the named registered voter he claims to be in order to be permitted to cast a ballot. Such statement is signed subject to felony penalties for making false statements, punishable as a Class 5 felony. A voter who does not show one of the required forms of identification and does not complete or sign the statement shall be offered a provisional ballot according to the provisions of current law. The bill adds language regarding identification requirements for certain voters pursuant to the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002. The bill incorporates SB 113 and SB 123.
Sponsored bills
Memorials for war veterans. Provides that a locality may remove, relocate, contextualize, cover, or alter any monument or memorial for war veterans located in its public space, except in a publicly owned cemetery, regardless of when erected and removes certain criminal and civil penalties for such removal, relocation, or alteration. Current law makes it unlawful to disturb or interfere with such monuments or memorials or to prevent citizens from taking proper measures and exercising proper means for the protection, preservation, and care of such monuments or memorials. The bill requires that such locality initiate such process by passing a resolution stating its intention and (i) formally request the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (Department) to prepare a report that, at a minimum, sets forth the background of the person or people depicted on the monument or memorial, the circumstances surrounding the establishment of the monument or memorial, and whether the monument or memorial qualifies for placement on the Virginia Landmarks Register or the National Register of Historic Places; (ii) no sooner than 30 days after publication of the report on its website, hold a public hearing to solicit comments; (iii) no sooner than 10 days after completion of the public hearing, vote whether to remove, relocate, contextualize, cover, or alter the monument or memorial; such motion requires an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to the governing body for passage. The bill authorizes the local governing body to call for an advisory referendum prior to voting on such motion; and (iv) for a period of 30 days, offer the monument or memorial for relocation and placement to any museum, historical society, government, or military battlefield. The bill provides that the local governing body shall have sole authority to determine the final disposition of the monument or memorial.The bill repeals an 1890 act of assembly related to the placement of a statue in the City of Alexandria and does not apply to a monument or memorial located on the property of a public institution of higher education within the City of Lexington. This bill incorporates SB 560 and SB 620.
Board of zoning appeals; dual office holding. Authorizes a member of a board of zoning appeals to be appointed to also serve as an officer of election. This bill is identical to HB 370.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; namechange. Renames the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries asthe Department of Wildlife Resources and the Board of Game and InlandFisheries as the Board of Wildlife Resources.
Clinical social workers; patient records; involuntary detention orders. Adds clinical social workers to the list ofeligible providers that includes treating physicians and clinicalpsychologists who can disclose or recommend the withholding of patientrecords, face a malpractice review panel, and provide recommendationson involuntary temporary detention orders.
Deferred dispositions; property crimes; larceny and receiving stolen goods. Provides that a court, upon such plea if the facts found by the court would justify a finding of guilt, without entering a judgment of guilt and with the consent of the accused, may defer further proceedings and place him on probation subject to terms and conditions for a first offense misdemeanor larceny provided such person has not previously been convicted of any felony or had a prior deferred disposition for the same offense. The bill also provides that deferred disposition will no longer be allowed for peeping crimes. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Criminal Justice Conference. This bill incorporates SB 309 and is identical to HB 660.
Absentee voting; voter satellite offices for absentee voting in person. Authorizes the establishment of voter satellite offices by governing bodies of counties and cities for purposes of absentee voting in person. No change in any voter satellite office, including the creation of a new voter satellite office or abolishment of an existing voter satellite office, may be enacted within the 60 days immediately preceding a general election. The bill requires general registrars to post notice of the locations of all voter satellite offices within the locality, and their days and hours of operation, not later than 55 days prior to any election. Requirements for polling places, including accessibility for persons with disabilities, changes of location due to emergency circumstances, and funding, apply to voter satellite offices. The provisions of the bill are applicable to elections beginning with the general election on November 3, 2020.
Charter; City of Charlottesville; city organization; council. Modernizes and reorganizes aspects of the charter of the City of Charlottesville. The bill updates and repeals various provisions to conform to state and federal law as well as current city organization. This bill is identical to HB 1107.
Public institutions of higher education; eligibility for in-state tuition. Provides that any student is eligible for in-state tuition who (i) attended high school for at least two years in the Commonwealth and either (a) graduated on or after July 1, 2008, from a public or private high school or program of home instruction in the Commonwealth or (b) passed, on or after July 1, 2008, a high school equivalency examination approved by the Secretary of Education; (ii) has submitted evidence that he or, in the case of a dependent student, at least one parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis has filed, unless exempted by state law, Virginia income tax returns for at least two years prior to the date of registration or enrollment; and (iii) registers as an entering student or is enrolled in a public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth. The bill states that students who meet these criteria shall be eligible for in-state tuition regardless of their citizenship or immigration status, except students with currently valid visas issued under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15)(F), 1101(a)(15)(H)(iii), 1101(a)(15)(J) (including only students or trainees), or 1101(a)(15)(M). Information obtained in the implementation of the provisions of the bill shall only be used or disclosed to individuals other than the student for purposes of determining in-state tuition eligibility. This bill is identical to HB 1547.
Virginia Public Records Act; availability of certain public records. Provides that upon a petition filed with the clerk, a judge may enter an order releasing any record in the custody of The Library of Virginia that was sealed prior to January 1, 1901. The bill also provides that notwithstanding any provisions of a previously executed contract with any department, agency, or institution of the Commonwealth or political subdivision, any individual or private entity lawfully in possession of public records created prior to January 1, 1901, or images of such records may display or publish such records in any format, including in an electronic database or on the Internet, without paying a fee to or requesting permission from the original custodian of such records.