Commercial driver's licenses; entry-level drivertraining. Makes changes to Chapter 750 of the Acts of Assemblyof 2019 necessitated by federal regulatory action delaying the compliancedate for certain provisions of that act.
Driver's license designation; traumatic braininjury. Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles, upon the requestof the applicant and presentation of a signed statement by a licensedphysician confirming the applicant's condition, to designate a traumaticbrain injury on the applicant's driver's license.
Ignition interlock for first offense driving under the influence of drugs. Provides that a court of proper jurisdiction may, as a condition of a restricted license, prohibit an offender from operating a motor vehicle that is not equipped with a functioning, certified ignition interlock system for a first offense of driving under the influence of drugs. Under current law, such prohibition is required to be ordered as a condition of a restricted license.
Voir dire examination of persons called as jurors; criminal case. Allows the court and counsel for either party in a criminal case to (i) ask potential jurors any relevant question to ascertain whether the juror can sit impartially in either the guilt or sentencing phase of the case and (ii) inform any potential juror as to the potential range of punishments to ascertain if the person or juror can sit impartially in the sentencing phase of the case. This bill is identical to HB 100.
Workers' compensation; presumption of compensability for certain diseases. Adds cancers of the colon, brain, or testes to the list of cancers that are presumed to be an occupational disease covered by the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act when firefighters or certain employees develop the cancer. The presumption shall not apply for any individual who was diagnosed with one of the conditions before July 1, 2020. The measure removes the compensability requirement that the employee who develops cancer had contact with a toxic substance encountered in the line of duty. The bill also reduces the number of years of service needed to qualify for the presumption from 12 to five for various types of cancer. For hypertension or heart disease, the bill adds a requirement that an individual complete five years of service in his position in order to qualify. This bill incorporates SB 58, SB 381, and SB 531 and is identical to HB 783.
Property conveyance; Department of Conservation and Recreation; New River Trail State Park. Authorizes the Department of Conservation and Recreation to convey certain property that was previously conveyed to it by Norfolk Southern Railroad for the New River Trail State Park.
School boards; mental health awareness training. Requires each school board to (i) adopt and implement policies that require each teacher and other relevant personnel, as determined by the school board, employed on a full-time basis, to complete a mental health awareness training or similar program at least once and (ii) provide such training, which may be provided pursuant to a contract with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, a community services board, a behavioral health authority, a nonprofit organization, or other certified trainer or via an online module. This bill is identical to HB 74.
Scenic river designation; Maury River. Designates a 19.25-mile segment of the Maury River as a component of the Virginia Scenic Rivers System. This bill is identical to HB 282.
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.
Open-space and conservation easements; ruleof construction. Provides that if language in an open-space orconservation easement acquired pursuant to state law is ambiguous,such language shall be construed against the grantor and in favorof the grantee.
