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.
Sponsored bills
Door locking mechanisms and other safety devices.Provides that the Department of Housing and Community Developmentshall convene stakeholders representing entities that enforce theUniform Statewide Building Code and the Virginia Statewide Fire PreventionCode, other law-enforcement organizations, and representatives oflocal governments throughout the Commonwealth to develop proposalsfor changes to the USBC and SFPC for submission to the Board of Housingand Community Development. Such proposals shall have the goal of assistingin the provision of safety and security measures for the Commonwealth'spublic buildings for active-shooter or hostile threats while maintainingcompliance with basic accessibility requirements under the federalAmericans with Disabilities Act. This bill is identical to HB 670.
Special fishing permits for certain youth camps. Authorizes employees of an organized nonprofit tax-exempt youth campthat holds a special fishing permit for certain youth camps to fishwithout a license in public waters adjacent to property owned bythe camp. Current law only authorizes camp members under 18 yearsof age at such camp to fish without a license.
Hunting waterfowl; duck blinds. Prohibitshunting or shooting migratory waterfowl in the public waters of the Commonwealth from a boat, float, raft, or other buoyant craft ordevice within 150 yards of a residence without the consent of thelandowner, except when in active pursuit of a visibly crippled waterfowlthat was legally shot by the person. The bill requires a person huntingwaterfowl to also have a state and federal duck stamp prior to applyingto license a stationary blind in public waters.
Public defender offices; Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park and County of Prince William. Establishes a public defender office for the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park and the County of Prince William. This bill is identical to HB 366.
Management of the menhaden fishery. Requires the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to adopt regulations necessary to manage Atlantic menhaden, including those necessary to comply with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden. The bill repeals several Code sections relating to quotas, allocation of allowable landings, and administrative procedures that will be included in a regulatory framework for managing the fishery. The bill directs the Commissioner of Marine Resources to establish a Menhaden Management Advisory Committee to provide guidance to the Commission. This bill incorporates SB 157, SB 194, SB 357, SB 402, and SB 1054 and is identical to HB 1448. The bill contains an emergency clause.
School boards; teachers; planning time and planning periods. Requires each local school board to ensure that each elementary school teacher has an average of one 45-minute period per school day of planning time and that each middle and high school teacher is provided an average of one planning period per school day or the equivalent, which shall be at least 45 minutes or one class period, whichever is longer. The bill permits local school boards and teachers to enter into an appropriate contractual arrangement providing for compensation in lieu of such planning time or period. Under current law, public elementary school teachers are guaranteed at least an average of 30 minutes of planning time per school day during a school week. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.
Celebrating the life of Henry J. Abraham.
Commending Bob Brown.
Celebrating the life of Katherine Johnson.