Sen. Chris Head

Allows a landowner whose property, including multiple contiguous parcels, spans two or more localities to elect to have the firearms ordinances of the locality in which the largest portion of the contiguous parcel lies apply to anyone hunting on the property. The bill requires any landowner making such an election to notify the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The measure will become effective if reenacted by the 2020 Session of the General Assembly. The measure also directs the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries study issues related to the application of inconsistent local firearm ordinances to properties located in more than one locality and report its findings to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources by the first day of the 2020 Regular Session.

Requires the Department of State Police (the Department) to accept requests for background checks through the use of a Live Scan device certified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation by any agency or organization located within the Commonwealth that (i) is a business or organization that provides care to children or the elderly or disabled and is authorized to receive criminal history record information and (ii) utilizes a fingerprint background check as a condition of licensure, certification, employment, or volunteer service. The bill states that any such agency or organization transmitting requests for background checks to the Department shall be responsible for all costs associated with capturing, formatting, encrypting, and transmitting all required information in a manner prescribed by the Department. The bill provides that the Department shall only provide the criminal history record information to the extent authorized by state or federal law, rules, and regulations and that the Department may deny any such agency or organization access to criminal history record information if the Department finds that such agency or organization has failed to comply with state or federal law, rules, or regulations.

Requires the owner or operator of any coal combustion residuals (CCR) unit, defined in the bill to include a coal ash pond or landfill, within the Chesapeake Bay watershed at Bremo Power Station, Chesapeake Energy Center, Chesterfield Power Station, and Possum Point Power Station to close such CCR unit by removing all of the CCR for (i) recycling, known as encapsulated beneficial use, or (ii) deposition in a permitted and lined landfill that meets certain federal standards. The measure requires that any owner or operator beneficially reuse no less than 6.8 million cubic yards in aggregate of such removed CCR from no fewer than two of the sites. Such a closure project shall be completed within 15 years of its initiation and shall be accompanied by an offer by the owner or operator to provide connection to a municipal water supply for every residence within one-half mile, or if such connection is not feasible, the owner or operator shall offer to provide water testing for any such residence.

Provides that any person who commits an act of aiding prostitution or illicit sexual intercourse or using a vehicle to promote prostitution or unlawful sexual intercourse, when such act involves a minor, is guilty of a Class 6 felony. Under current law, such acts are punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill adds the two new felony offenses to (i) the definition of "violent felony" for the purposes of sentencing guidelines, (ii) the definition of barrier crimes for the purposes of background checks for employees or volunteers providing care to children or the elderly or disabled, (iii) the definition of predicate criminal acts for street gangs, (iv) the definition of racketeering activity under the Virginia Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organization Act, (v) the list of violations that a multi-jurisdiction grand jury is responsible for investigating, and (vi) the list of offenses requiring registration in the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry. The bill also adds felony prostitution and felony human trafficking offenses to the definition of "violent felony" for the purposes of sentencing guidelines. The bill also provides that each violation of commercial sex trafficking is a separate and distinct felony. The bill as introduced was a recommendation of the Virginia State Crime Commission.

Applies the reduced state sales and use tax rate of 1.5%, which under current law applies only to food purchased for human consumption, to essential personal hygiene products, defined in the bill as (i) nondurable incontinence products such as diapers, disposable undergarments, pads, and bed sheets; and (ii) menstrual cups and pads, pantyliners, sanitary napkins, tampons, and other products used to absorb or contain menstrual flow. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2020. This bill is identical to

Requires health insurers, health care subscription plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder in individuals of any age. Currently, such coverage is required to be provided for individuals from age two through age 10. The provision applies with respect to insurance policies, subscription contracts, and health care plans delivered, issued for delivery, reissued, or extended on or after January 1, 2020. This bill is identical to

Requires (i) the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety to develop a model memorandum of understanding and (ii) the school board in each school division in which the local law-enforcement agency employs school resource officers to enter into a memorandum of understanding with such local law-enforcement agency that is based on such model and sets forth the powers and duties of the school resource officers. The bill requires each such school board and local law-enforcement agency to review and amend or affirm the memorandum at least once every five years or at any time upon the request of either party. This bill is identical to

Directs the Board of Social Services to amend regulations governing staffing of assisted living facility units with residents who have serious cognitive impairment due to a primary psychiatric diagnosis of dementia and are unable to recognize danger or protect their own safety and welfare to require that the following number of direct care staff members be awake and on duty during overnight hours: (i) when 22 or fewer residents are present, at least two direct care staff members; (ii) when 23 to 32 residents are present, at least three direct care staff members; (iii) when 33 to 40 residents are present, at least four direct care staff members; and (iv) when more than 40 residents are present, at least four direct care staff members plus at least one additional direct care staff member for every 10 residents or portion thereof in excess of 40 residents. This bill is identical to