Sen. Christie Craig

Marine Resources Commission; certain permitsin the Lynnhaven River and its tributaries prohibited. Prohibitsthe Marine Resources Commission from issuing any permit for any floating oyster cage in a water column, rack-and-bag, or other similar apparatus for oyster aquaculture in the Lynnhaven River or its tributaries.

Use, display, or concealment of firearm in committing certain felonies; penalty. Provides that a person is guilty ofa separate felony if he carries about his person any pistol, shotgun,rifle, or other firearm that is hidden from common observation whilecommitting or attempting to commit certain other felonies. The billalso increases from three to five years for a first offense and fromfive to 10 years for a second or subsequent offense the mandatoryminimum sentences for use or display of a firearm during the commissionof certain felonies.

Firearms-related offenses; mandatory minimumsentences; penalty. Increases from five to 10 years for a secondor subsequent offense the mandatory minimum sentences for use ordisplay of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies.

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the HonorableYvonne Bond Miller's service in the Virginia General Assembly.

Board of Education; out-of-school time programs;exemptions from licensure; conditions and requirements. Exemptsfrom licensure any out-of-school time program that (i) serves onlyschool-age children; (ii) operates primarily after or before regularschool hours, during the summer, or at times when school is not normallyin session; (iii) is offered for the purpose of promoting expandedchildhood learning and enrichment, child and youth development, oreducational, recreational, or character-building activities; and(iv) receives and maintains Board of Education certification to operate without a license. The billprovides that any Board-certified, license-exempt out-of-school timeprogram that fails to comply with the conditions set forth in thebill shall receive from the Superintendent notice of such noncompliancewith an explanation that if such noncompliance is not resolved withina reasonable period of the time, as determined by the Board, theSuperintendent may, at his discretion, deny, suspend, or revoke such program's certification and require it to be licensed.

School choice educational savings accounts. Permits the parents of qualified students to apply to the Department of Education for a renewable school choice education savings account, consisting of a monetary amount that is equivalent to a certain percentage of all applicable annual Standards of Quality per pupil state funds appropriated for public school purposes and apportioned to the resident school division in which the qualified student resides, from which the parent of such student may use the funds to make education-related qualifying expenditures, including tuition, deposits, fees, and required textbooks and instructional materials, at (i) a private elementary or secondary school located in the Commonwealth, (ii) certain nonpublic online learning programs, and (iii) institutions of higher education and requires the Department of Education to establish certain policies, procedures, and processes relating to the savings accounts. The bill defines the term "qualified student" to provide for the annual expansion of the students who are eligible to receive savings accounts, from including for the 2024–2025 school year only students who meet a limited set of criteria and gradually expanding to declare eligible for the 2028–2029 school year and each year thereafter any student who (a) is deemed to reside in a school division in the Commonwealth, (b) for whom compulsory attendance is required pursuant to relevant law, (c) is eligible to enroll in a public elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth, and (d) is entering kindergarten or was enrolled at and attended a public elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth during the two semesters immediately preceding the semester for which the child's parent initially applies for a savings account. The bill contains several provisions relating to the terms and conditions to which the parent of any qualified student is required to agree to receive a savings account, requirements relating to renewal of savings accounts and the management of funds remaining when accounts are closed or become inactive, and the consequences of noncompliance with the terms and conditions. The bill also provides that the Department of Education shall be responsible for the administration of the savings accounts, including (1) making quarterly disbursements in the appropriate amount to each savings account and managing retained savings; (2) developing informational materials for interested parents relating to the savings accounts; and (3) developing policies and procedures relating to the administration and management of the savings accounts, the application process, quarterly reviews and annual audits of each savings account, and addressing incidents of intentional and substantial misrepresentation, fraud, or noncompliance in relation to expenditures from savings accounts.

Commending Master Sergeant Jack Dixon Peed,Jr., VA VNG.

Commending Sandra Gioia Treadway.

Fleeing from a law-enforcement officer; penalty.Removes the requirement that a law-enforcement officer have the immediatephysical ability to place a person under arrest for the crime of fleeing from a law-enforcement officer.

Animal control officers; additional training.Increases the number of hours of required additional training inanimal control and protection from 15 to 24 every three years forall animal control officers and deputy animal control officers employedby a locality.