Sen. John Edwards

Specialty dockets; veterans docket. Providesthat any veterans docket authorized and established as a local specialtydocket in accordance with the Rules of Supreme Court of Virginiashall be deemed a "Veterans Treatment Court Program," as that termis used under federal law or by any other entity, for the purposesof applying for, qualifying for, or receiving any federal grants,other federal money, or money from any other entity designated toassist or fund such state programs. The bill contains an emergencyclause.

Holding handheld personal communications devices while driving a motor vehicle. Prohibits any person from holding a handheld personal communications device while driving a motor vehicle. Current law prohibits (i) the reading of any email or text message and manually entering letters or text in such a device as a means of communicating and (ii) holding a personal communications device while driving in a work zone. The bill expands the exemptions to include handheld personal communications devices that are being held and used (a) as an amateur radio or a citizens band radio or (b) for official Department of Transportation or traffic incident management services. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2021. This bill incorporates SB 136 and SB 944 and is identical to HB 874.

Polling place activities; reorganization ofsections; technical amendments. Reorganizes sections relatedto polling place activities and makes related technical amendments.This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Code Commission.

Department of Criminal Justice Services; crisis intervention team training. Adds the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services and brain injury stakeholders to the list of entities with whom the Department of Criminal Justice Services is required to consult in developing a training program for all persons involved in the crisis intervention team programs and requires the curriculum for such training program to include a module on brain injury as part of the four hours of mandatory training in legal issues. This bill is identical to HB 1231.

Virginia Public Procurement Act; statute oflimitations on actions on construction contracts; statute of limitationson actions on performance bonds. Provides that no action maybe brought by a public body on any construction contract, includingconstruction management and design-build contracts, unless such actionis brought within five years after completion of the work on theproject, and provides that no action may be brought by a public body on a warranty or guaranty in such construction contract more thanone year from the breach of that warranty, but in no event more thanone year after the expiration of such warranty or guaranty. The billalso limits the time frame during which a public body, other thanthe Department of Transportation, may bring an action against a suretyon a performance bond to within one year after completion of thework on the project. Current law allows a public body, other thanthe Department of Transportation, to bring such an action withinone year after (i) completion of the contract, including the expirationof all warranties and guaranties, or (ii) discovery of the defector breach of warranty that gave rise to the action. The bill containstechnical amendments.

Landlord and tenant; victims of family abuse; evidence to mitigate low credit score; damages. Allows an applicant for a lease to recover actual damages, including all amounts paid to the landlord as an application fee, application deposit, or reimbursement for any of the landlord's out-of-pocket expenses that were charged to the applicant, along with attorney fees, if the landlord does not consider evidence of the applicant's status as a victim of family abuse to mitigate any adverse effect of the otherwise qualified applicant's low credit score.

Alcoholic beverage control; mixed beveragerestaurant license; mini bottles. Allows mixed beverage restaurant licensees located on the premises of and operated by a private, nonprofit,or profit club to sell spirits packaged in original closed containerswith a maximum capacity of two fluid ounces or 50 milliliters foron-premises consumption.

Nominating a person to be elected to a generaldistrict court judgeship.

Nominating persons to be elected as membersof the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission.

Nominating persons to be elected to juvenileand domestic relations district court judgeships.