Sen. John Edwards

Firearms shows; mandatory background check.Requires the Department of State Police to perform a criminal history record information check on the prospective purchaser ortransferee prior to the completion of any firearms transaction ata firearms show held in the Commonwealth. Current law requires theDepartment of State Police to be available at every firearms showheld in the Commonwealth to perform criminal history record informationchecks but does not require such checks to be performed unless requestedby a party involved in the transaction.

Public institutions of higher education; eligibility for in-state tuition. Provides that any student is eligible for in-state tuition who (i) attended high school for at least two years in the Commonwealth and either (a) graduated on or after July 1, 2008, from a public or private high school or program of home instruction in the Commonwealth or (b) passed, on or after July 1, 2008, a high school equivalency examination approved by the Secretary of Education; (ii) has submitted evidence that he or, in the case of a dependent student, at least one parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis has filed, unless exempted by state law, Virginia income tax returns for at least two years prior to the date of registration or enrollment; and (iii) registers as an entering student or is enrolled in a public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth. The bill states that students who meet these criteria shall be eligible for in-state tuition regardless of their citizenship or immigration status, except students with currently valid visas issued under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15)(F), 1101(a)(15)(H)(iii), 1101(a)(15)(J) (including only students or trainees), or 1101(a)(15)(M). Information obtained in the implementation of the provisions of the bill shall only be used or disclosed to individuals other than the student for purposes of determining in-state tuition eligibility. This bill is identical to HB 1547.

Charter; Town of Blacksburg; public hearings. Clarifies provisions related to public hearings in the Town of Blacksburg by providing that if the town council plans to conduct a public hearing related to a proposed ordinance but to delay action on the proposal, the date for the delayed vote shall be stated on the agenda. Furthermore, the bill allows the council, after conducting and closing the public hearing, to vote to delay action until its next regular meeting. This bill is identical to HB 629.

Possession and administration of epinephrine; restaurant employee. Authorizes any employee of a licensed restaurant to possess and administer epinephrine on the premises of the restaurant at which the employee is employed, provided that such employee is authorized by a prescriber and trained in the administration of epinephrine. The bill also requires the Department of Health, in conjunction with the Department of Health Professions, to develop policies and guidelines for the recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis in restaurants.

Public institutions of higher education; contractingfirms; president of the institution; delegation. Allows a presidentof a public institution of higher education to delegate to an officeror administrator of the institution his obligation to determine andmake a written finding as a matter of public record that a contractis in the best interests of the institution when an officer or employeewhose personal interest in a contract with the institution is byreason of an ownership in the contracting firm in excess of threepercent of the contracting firm's equity or such ownership interestand income from the contracting firm is in excess of $5,000 per year.

Virginia Wireless Service Authority Act; appointments to board. Provides that a board established under the Virginia Wireless Service Authority Act may contain either five or seven members, rather than five members as required under current law. This bill is identical to HB 1376.

Provisional voting; reorganization of sections;technical amendments. Reorganizes sections related to provisionalvoting and makes related technical amendments. This bill is a recommendationof the Virginia Code Commission.

Cemeteries; acquisition of abandoned lots in cities and certain towns. Removes references to courts of equity, improves readability, and makes technical changes. The bill also removes population brackets and replaces them with the names of specific counties.

Driver's license suspensions for certain non-driving related offenses. Removes the existing provisions that allow a person's driver's license to be suspended (i) when he is convicted of or placed on deferred disposition for a drug offense; (ii) for non-payment of certain fees owed to a local correctional facility or regional jail; and (iii) for shoplifting motor fuel. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.

Corporal Ryan C. McGhee Memorial Bridge. Designatesthe bridge on Guinea Station Road over Interstate 95 in SpotsylvaniaCounty the Corporal Ryan C. McGhee Memorial Bridge.