Sen. Bill DeSteph

Commending William H. Goodwin, Jr.

Constitutional amendment (voter referendum); personal property tax exemption; motor vehicle owned by a veteran who is disabled. Provides for a referendum at the November 3, 2020, election to approve or reject a personal property tax exemption for a motor vehicle that is owned and used primarily by or for a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States or the Virginia National Guard who has a 100 percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability.

Management of the menhaden fishery. Requires the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (the Commission) to adopt regulations to implement the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden and authorizes the Commission to adopt regulations for managing the Commonwealth's menhaden fishery. The bill also requires that any moratorium on the fishery be subject to legislative review. The bill repeals several Code sections relating to quotas, allocation of allowable landings, and administrative procedures that will be included in a regulatory framework for managing the fishery. This bill was incorporated into SB 791.

Harvest of menhaden after closure of fishery;penalty. Increases from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a Class 6 felonythe penalty for harvesting menhaden for bait or reduction purposesafter the portion of the total allowable landings for the sectorin which that person holds a license has been closed.

Menhaden fishing in Chesapeake Bay prohibited. Prohibits catching menhaden with purse nets in the territorial watersof the Commonwealth lying west or within three miles of the ChesapeakeBay Bridge-Tunnel.

Celebrating the life of the Honorable Mary T.Christian.

Unconstitutional laws; attorney fees and costs. Provides that in any litigation in which the constitutionality ofa law of the Commonwealth is at issue and in which the court findsthat the law is unconstitutional, the Commonwealth shall reimbursethe aggrieved party for attorney fees and costs.

Assisted living facilities; audio-visual recording of residents. Directs the Board of Social Services (the Board) to promulgate regulations by July 1, 2021, governing audio-visual recording of residents in assisted living facilities and requires the Department of Social Services to convene a work group of stakeholders to make recommendations on such regulations. The work group shall report its recommendations to the Board and the General Assembly by December 1, 2020.

Public institutions of higher education; State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; business advisory committee. Establishes a business advisory committee, consisting of business and industry leaders in the Commonwealth, to advise the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia regarding the approval of new academic programs at public institutions of higher education in relation to current workforce and industry needs in the Commonwealth and other relevant topics deemed fit by the committee. Appointments shall be based on recommendations made by the Council, the General Assembly, the Governor, and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Education and Health, and the Senate Committee on Finance in a manner to ensure broad representation from among various industries. Ad hoc members may be added as needed to advise the committee on specific industry needs.

Recognizing that the Virginia Beach TragedyFund is performing an essential government service with respect tothe Virginia Beach mass shooting. States that the Senate of Virginiarecognizes that the Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund, which is administeredby United Way of South Hampton Roads in cooperation with the City of Virginia Beach, is performing an essential government servicewith respect to the Virginia Beach mass shooting.