Sen. Bill DeSteph

Local wetlands boards; permit applicationapproval. Changes the standard for approval of a wetlands permitapplication from three members of a five-member wetlands board orfour members of a seven-member wetlands board to a simple majorityof those board members present and voting. The bill also changes the standard for approval of a coastal primary sand dune permit applicationfrom three members of a five-member wetlands board or four membersof a seven-member wetlands board to a simple majority of a quorumof such board. The bill requires certain localities to amend therelated ordinances to conform to the provisions of the bill no laterthan January 1, 2025.

Southwest Regional Recreation Authority; soilerosion control and stormwater management plans; land-disturbingactivities. Adds the Southwest Regional Recreation Authorityto the list of entities that may submit standards and specificationsfor its conduct of land-disturbing activities to the Department ofEnvironmental Quality for approval by the Department as an alternativeto submitting soil erosion control and stormwater management plans.

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.

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

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.

Marine Resources Commission; permits; public notice. Requires the Commissioner of Marine Resources to ensure that for any project under consideration for a Commission-issued permit the Commission sends public notice electronically to any business, residence, or civic organization that has requested to be added to the Commission's public notice email list.