Sen. Ghazala Hashmi

Celebrating the life of the Honorable Mary T.Christian.

Collective bargaining for public employees.Repeals the existing prohibition on collective bargaining by publicemployees. The bill creates the Public Employee Relations Board,which will determine appropriate bargaining units and provide forcertification and decertification elections for exclusive bargainingrepresentatives of state employees and local government employees.The measure requires public employers and employee organizationsthat are exclusive bargaining representatives to meet at reasonabletimes to negotiate in good faith with respect to wages, hours, andother terms and conditions of employment. The measure repeals a provisionenacted in 2013 that declares that, in any procedure providing for the designation, selection, or authorization of a labor organizationto represent employees, the right of an individual employee to voteby secret ballot is a fundamental right that shall be guaranteedfrom infringement.

Department of Motor Vehicles; issuance of certain documents; citizenship requirement. Removes the citizenship and legal presence requirements for obtaining a driver's license or special identification card. The bill requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to cancel any (i) REAL ID-compliant driver's license or special identification card and (ii) commercial driver's license or commercial learner's permit if the Department is notified by a federal agency that the individual to whom such document was issued is not in compliance with the citizenship and lawful residency requirements for such license, card, or permit. The bill has a delayed effective date of October 2, 2020, and contains technical amendments. This bill was incorporated into SB 34.

Right to reproductive choice. Provides thatevery individual has a fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptionand that a pregnant person has a fundamental right to choose to carrya pregnancy to term, give birth to a child, or terminate a pregnancy.The bill states that the Commonwealth shall not, in the regulationor provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information, denyor interfere with an individual's fundamental rights, including individualsunder state control or supervision. The bill states that any stateor local official who is charged with violating provisions of thissection shall be subject to an action in federal or state court forinjunctive relief and damages. Such action may be brought by any person or entity that may be aggrieved by such official's actions.

Department of Motor Vehicles; access to documents.Provides for the Department of Motor Vehicles (Department) to facilitateaccess to certain documents. The bill requires the Department toaccept a printed version of an online United States Postal Servicechange of address confirmation as primary proof of Virginia residencyfor the purpose of issuing special identification cards and certain driver's licenses and permits. The bill prohibits the Departmentfrom charging fees for the issuance of driver's licenses, learner'spermits, commercial driver's licenses, special identification cards,and special identification cards without a photograph if the applicantprovides proof that he is a current recipient of a state or federallyfunded public assistance program for the indigent. The bill requiresthe Department to issue, upon request and free of charge, a specialidentification card to replace any suspended, revoked, or canceleddriver's license surrendered to a court or the Department. The billrequires the Department of Corrections and the sheriff, jail superintendent,or other jail administrator of a local correctional facility to provide,upon request and free of charge, a special identification card toa prisoner upon his release.

Local impact from large landfills. Requiresthe Director of the Department of Environmental Quality to analyzeand determine, in writing, what impacts to local water, soil, andair quality are expected from the construction and operation of anew municipal solid waste landfill that will accept 3,500 tons ormore of municipal solid waste per day and to impose additional conditionsor requirements, including facilities, maintenance, or operation or closure practices, as are necessary to adequately protect localwater, soil, and air quality.

Constitution of the United States; Equal RightsAmendment. Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitutionof the United States that was proposed by Congress in 1972.

Employment health and safety standards; heatillness prevention. Requires the Safety and Health Codes Boardto adopt regulations establishing reasonable standards designed toprotect employees from heat illness. The measure directs the standardsto require employers to provide water, shade, rest periods, training,and emergency response procedures. The standards are also directedto require employers in certain industries to implement high-heatprocedures when the temperature is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer.The measure requires employers to pay employees one additional hourof pay at his regular compensation for each workday that it failsto provide the employee with five-minute rest period every hour orevery half hour if the temperature is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer.

Commending the Washington Nationals.

Celebrating the life of Alan Arnold Diamonstein.