Sen. Louise Lucas

Provides that the form of garnishment summons will state that an employee who makes the minimum wage or less for his week's earnings will ordinarily get to keep 40 times the minimum hourly wage when such earnings are subject to a garnishment, not 30 times as stated in Title 8.01, Civil Remedies and Procedures. The bill is intended to reflect the current statutory requirement for exemptions in Title 34, Homestead and Other Exemptions, and is technical in nature. The bill further directs the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court to update the form of garnishment summons accordingly. This bill is identical to

Provides that a blind parent's blindness, as defined in the bill, shall not be the sole basis of the denial or restriction of such parent's custody or visitation rights. The bill requires a party who alleges that a parent's blindness should be a factor to be considered to not be in the best interests of the child, or should otherwise be a reason to deny or restrict such a parent's custody or visitation rights, to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the child's best interests would not be met or served due to such parent's blindness. The bill allows a blind parent to demonstrate how supportive parenting services would appropriately address any threats to the child's best interests and further allows that such services be ordered by the court. The bill requires a court to make findings where the court denies or restricts custody or visitation of a blind parent or where supportive parenting services are not ordered, and to provide such findings in an accessible format. The same requirements apply to the denial of approval of a blind prospective foster parent, or removal of a child from a blind foster parent's home, and to the denial of a final order of adoption wherein the prospective adoptive parent is blind.

Creates the Host Localities Economic Development Incentive Fund, administered by the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, to support economic development, growth of existing businesses, and job creation related to the Port of Virginia in one or more host localities. The bill also creates the Host Localities Transportation Support Fund, administered by the Secretary of Transportation, to support transportation projects and facilities related to the Port of Virginia in one or more host localities. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.

Provides that poker is a game of skill and therefore not illegal gambling. The bill also allows a qualified organization to conduct poker games in conjunction with its charitable gaming activities, but does not allow a charitable organization to conduct poker tournaments. The bill requires the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Charitable Gaming Board to regulate poker tournaments, defined in the bill as a competition organized for the purpose of conducting poker games at one or multiple tables where (i) competitors play a series of poker games, (ii) prizes are awarded to winning players on a fixed or proportional payout basis, and (iii) the total prize amount awarded to all winning players at the event is $50,000 or more. Finally, the bill requires poker tournament sponsors to obtain a permit before conducting a tournament and tournament managers and operators to be registered with the Department. The bill contains technical amendments. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2018.

Eliminates the restriction that renders persons convicted of breaking and entering dwelling house with intent to commit other misdemeanor, punishable as a Class 6 Felony, ineligible to participate in a drug treatment court. Persons convicted of other violent felony offenses remain ineligible to participate in a drug treatment court.