Department of Motor Vehicles; issuance of certain documents; citizenship requirement. Removes the citizenship and legal presence requirements for obtaining a driver's license or special identification card. The bill requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to cancel any (i) REAL ID-compliant driver's license or special identification card and (ii) commercial driver's license or commercial learner's permit if the Department is notified by a federal agency that the individual to whom such document was issued is not in compliance with the citizenship and lawful residency requirements for such license, card, or permit. The bill has a delayed effective date of October 2, 2020, and contains technical amendments. This bill was incorporated into SB 34.
Sponsored bills
Right to reproductive choice. Provides thatevery individual has a fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptionand that a pregnant person has a fundamental right to choose to carrya pregnancy to term, give birth to a child, or terminate a pregnancy.The bill states that the Commonwealth shall not, in the regulationor provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information, denyor interfere with an individual's fundamental rights, including individualsunder state control or supervision. The bill states that any stateor local official who is charged with violating provisions of thissection shall be subject to an action in federal or state court forinjunctive relief and damages. Such action may be brought by any person or entity that may be aggrieved by such official's actions.
Pharmacy benefit managers; licensure and regulation. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2021, no person is authorized to provide pharmacy benefit management services or otherwise act as a pharmacy benefit manager without first obtaining a license from the State Corporation Commission. Such licenses are to be renewed annually. The bill prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from participating in spread pricing, defined in the bill, and provides that except for any agreed-upon administrative fee, all funds, including any rebates received by the pharmacy benefit manager in relation to providing pharmacy benefit management services for a carrier, will be distributed to the carrier. This bill was incorporated into SB 251.
Virginia Health Benefit Exchange. Creates the Virginia Health Benefit Exchange, which will be established and operated by a new division within the State Corporation Commission (SCC). The Exchange shall facilitate the purchase and sale of qualified health plans and qualified dental plans to qualified individuals and qualified employers. The Exchange shall make qualified plans available to qualified individuals and qualified employers by July 1, 2023, unless the SCC postpones this date. The measure authorizes the SCC to review and approve accident and sickness insurance premium rates applicable to health benefit plans in the individual and small group markets and health benefit plans providing health insurance coverage in the individual market through certain non-employer group plans. The Exchange will be funded by assessments on health insurers offering plans in the Exchange. A health plan will not be required to cover any state-mandated health benefit if federal law does not require it to be covered as part of the essential benefits package. The essential health benefits are items and services included in the benchmark health insurance plan, which is the largest plan in the largest product in the Commonwealth's small group market as supplemented in order to provide coverage for the items and services within the statutory essential health benefits categories. The SCC may contract with other eligible entities and enter into memoranda of understanding with other agencies of the Commonwealth to carry out any of the functions of the Exchange, including agreements with other states or federal agencies to perform joint administrative functions. Such contracts are not subject to the Virginia Public Procurement Act (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.). The measure repeals a provision enacted in 2013 that prohibits an agent, employee, officer, or agency of the Commonwealth from taking any action to establish a health benefit exchange. This bill was incorporated by SB 732.
Minimum wage. Increases the minimum wagefrom its current federally mandated level of $7.25 per hour to $9.75per hour, effective July 1, 2020; to $10.75 per hour, effective July1, 2021; to $11.75 per hour, effective July 1, 2022; to $12.75 perhour, effective July 1, 2023; to $14 per hour, effective July 1,2024; and to $15 per hour, effective July 1, 2025, unless a higherminimum wage is required by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The measure also provides that the Virginia minimum wage appliesto persons whose employment is covered by the FLSA and to publicemployees.
Constitution of the United States; Equal RightsAmendment. Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitutionof the United States that was proposed by Congress in 1972.
Nominating a person to be elected to the SupremeCourt of Virginia.
Nominating persons to be elected to juvenileand domestic relations district court judgeships.
Nominating persons to be elected to circuitcourt judgeships.
Celebrating the life of Harry Clarke Curtis.