Sen. Mamie Locke

Commending the Virginia Mediation Network, Inc.

Virginia Diverse Educator Scholarship Fund and Program established. Establishes the Virginia Diverse Educator Scholarship Fund and Program, to be administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, for the purpose of annually providing to each Historically Black College or University in the Commonwealth (Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Virginia State University, and Virginia Union University) such sums as are necessary for each such institution to annually provide scholarships on a competitive basis to no more than two students who (i) identify as African American, Asian, Hispanic or Latino, Native American or Native Alaskan, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; (ii) are accepted to or enrolled in such institution's education preparation program; and (iii) are eligible for a federal Pell Grant to attend such institution. The bill provides that each such scholarship would consist of the following sums: (a) the cost of tuition, mandatory fees, room and board, and textbooks at such institution; (b) the recipient's teacher licensure fees; (c) $5,000 toward teacher professional development activities for the recipient, including coursework, seminars, and conferences; and (d) $10,000 toward mentorship of the recipient by an experienced teacher who is deemed by the relevant school board to be highly effective and able to provide high quality mentorship. The bill requires each student who is awarded a scholarship pursuant to the Program to agree in writing to (1) teach in a public elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth in which at least 75 percent of the enrolled students qualify for free or reduced price lunch or are members of families whose income is below the federal poverty guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services upon graduation for a period that is at least as long as the period during which the recipient used scholarship funds to attend a Historically Black College or University and (2) be mentored by an experienced teacher, as described in clause (d), during such period of employment.

Property; landlord and tenant; noncomplianceas defense to action for possession for nonpayment of rent. Removesprovisions limiting the discretion of the court in actions for possessionbased upon nonpayment of rent and actions for rent by a landlordwhen the tenant is in possession. The bill simplifies the law; statingonly that, in such cases, a tenant may assert as a defense the landlord'sviolation of his duty to maintain a fit and habitable premises.

Constitutional amendment (voter referendum);reapportionment; technical adjustments permitted. Provides for a referendum at the November 3, 2020, election to approve or rejectan amendment that would allow the General Assembly to make technicaladjustments to legislative election district boundaries in the periodbetween decennial reapportionments, provided that the adjustment'ssole purpose is to align legislative election district boundarieswith the boundaries of voting precincts established in counties andcities.

Commending William H. Goodwin, Jr.

Reproductive health services. Requireshealth benefit plans to cover the costs of specified health care services, drugs, devices, products, and procedures related to reproductive health. The health benefit plan requirements become effective whena plan is delivered, issued for delivery, reissued, or extended inthe Commonwealth on and after January 1, 2021, or at any time thereafterwhen any term of the health benefit plan is changed or any premiumadjustment is made. The measure also requires the Board of MedicalAssistance Services to include in the state plan for medical assistanceservices a provision for the payment of the costs of a reproductivehealth care program providing reimbursement for medically necessary reproductive health care services, drugs, devices, products, andprocedures for eligible individuals.

Juvenile community correctional centers andfacilities; establishment; placement of juveniles. Changes theterm "juvenile correctional centers and facilities" to "juvenile community correctional centers and facilities." The bill furtherprovides that any juvenile community correctional center establishedafter July 1, 2020, shall (i) be located within a locality in whichat least five percent of all juvenile commitments occur statewide,using an average of the rate of commitments of the three most recentconsecutive years, and (ii) be designed to confine 30 juveniles orfewer. The bill also states that the Department of Juvenile Justiceshall place children at the juvenile community correctional centerlocated closest to their primary residence and within one hour ofsuch residence via motor vehicle and within one and one-half hoursof such residence via public transportation. If such placement isnot available, the Department shall use an alternative placementthat is closest to the juvenile's primary residence, such as a localjuvenile detention center. Under current law, the Department may place such children at such facilities as are available.

Local cigarette tax; authorize all counties to impose without rate limit. Permits any county to impose a cigarette tax. Under current law, only the Counties of Arlington and Fairfax have such authority. The bill provides that there shall be no limitation on the cigarette tax rate imposed by counties. Under current law, cities and towns may impose the tax without limitation on the rate, but the Counties of Arlington and Fairfax may impose the tax at a rate not to exceed the amount levied under state law ($0.30 per pack). This bill was incorporated into SB 588.

State plan for medical assistance; doulas. Directs the Board of Medical Assistance Services to amend the state plan for medical assistance services to include a provision for the payment of medical assistance for antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum services provided to a pregnant person by a doula, including services for labor and delivery support and at least four visits during the antenatal period and seven visits during the postpartum period. The bill also directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to conduct a rate study to determine appropriate reimbursement rates for doula services provided to Medicaid recipients and to report its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2020.

Redistricting; role of Supreme Court of Virginia. Directs the Supreme Court of Virginia to enact rules and proceduresfor implementing the constitutional requirement that the Court establishcongressional or state legislative districts in the event districts fail to be enacted. The rules and procedures enacted by the Courtare required to allow public participation in the Court's redistrictingdeliberations, to provide for the Division of Legislative Servicesto provide staff support and technical assistance to the Court, andto ensure districts established by the Court adhere to constitutional and statutory criteria. The bill directs the Court to appoint aspecial master to assist in the establishment of districts and authorizesthe Court to adjust the date of the primary election and various related deadlines as may be necessary to allow for the establishmentof districts. The bill has a contingent effective date of November15, 2020, provided that the voters approve the amendments to ArticleII of the Constitution of Virginia, amending Section 6 and adding Section 6-A, at the November 2020 general election.