Children's Services Act; eligibility for state pool of funds; pilot program related to educational placement transition for certain students with disabilities. Expands eligibility for use of the state pool of funds under the Children's Services Act to services that are provided in a public school setting and requires that private day schools be approved and licensed by the Department of Education or an equivalent out-of-state licensing agency to be eligible for the state pool of funds. The bill requires the Department of Education and relevant local school boards to develop and implement a pilot program for up to four years in two to eight local school divisions in the Commonwealth. In developing the pilot, the Department is required to partner with the appropriate school board employees in each such local school division to (i) identify the resources, services, and supports required by each student who resides in each such local school division and who is educated in a private school setting pursuant to his Individualized Education Program; (ii) study the feasibility of transitioning each such student from his private school setting to an appropriate public school setting in the local school division and providing the identified resources, services, and supports in such public school setting; and (iii) recommend a process for redirecting federal, state, and local funds, including funds provided pursuant to the Children's Services Act, provided for the education of each such student to the local school division for the purpose of providing the identified resources, services, and supports in the appropriate public school setting. The bill requires the Department of Education to make a report to the Governor, the Senate Committees on Education and Health and Finance and Appropriations, and the House Committees on Education and Appropriations on the findings of each pilot program after two and four years.
Sponsored bills
Constitutional amendment (first reference);marriage; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; recognition ofsame-sex marriages. Repeals the constitutional provision definingmarriage as only a union between one man and one woman, as well asthe related provisions that are no longer valid as a result of theUnited States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges,576 U.S. 644 (2015). The amendment provides that the Commonwealthand its political subdivisions and its agents are required to issuemarriage licenses, recognize marriages, and treat all marriages equallyunder the law, regardless of the gender of the two parties to themarriage. The amendment further provides that religious organizationsand clergy acting in their religious capacity have the right to refuseto perform any marriage.
Application of parole statutes for juvenilesand persons committed upon felony offenses committed on or afterJanuary 1, 1995. Repeals the abolition of parole. The bill requires the Virginia Parole Board to establish procedures for considerationof parole for persons who were previously ineligible for parole becauseparole was abolished and to allow for an extension of time for thescheduling of a parole interview for reasonable cause.
Nominating persons to be elected to circuitcourt judgeships.
Nominating persons to be elected to juvenileand domestic relations district court judgeships.
Nominating persons to be elected as membersof the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission.
Nominating persons to be elected to generaldistrict court judgeships.
Celebrating the life of the Honorable MamyeE. BaCote.
Celebrating the life of the Honorable AugustusBenton Chafin, Jr.
Celebrating the life of the Honorable BernardS. Cohen.