Provision of abortion; parental consent requirement; ultrasound requirement; hospital regulations. Removes the requirement that a pregnant minor seeking an abortion obtain either parental consent or judicial authorization. The bill removes the requirement that a pregnant woman seeking to obtain an abortion undergo a fetal transabdominal ultrasound prior to obtaining an abortion at least 24 hours prior to obtaining an abortion, or at least two hours prior to obtaining an abortion if the pregnant woman lives at least 100 miles from the facility where the abortion is to be performed. The bill also removes language classifying facilities that perform five or more first-trimester abortions per month as hospitals for the purpose of complying with regulations establishing minimum standards for hospitals. This bill was incorporated into SB 733.
Sponsored bills
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. This bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2021. This bill was incorporated into SB 160.
Protective orders; possession of firearms; surrender or transfer of firearms; penalty. Provides that a court shall order a person subject to a permanent protective order (i.e., a protective order with a maximum duration of two years) to (i) within 24 hours, surrender any firearm possessed by such person to a designated local law-enforcement agency, or sell or transfer any firearm possessed by such person to a dealer or to any person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing such firearm, and (ii) certify in writing that such person does not possess any firearms or that all firearms possessed by such person have been surrendered, sold, or transferred and file such certification with the clerk of the court that entered the protective order. The bill provides that any person who fails to certify in writing in accordance with this section that all firearms possessed by such person have been surrendered, sold, or transferred or that such person does not possess any firearms is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill provides procedures for designating a local law-enforcement agency to receive and store firearms, as well as a process to return such surrendered firearms. The bill also makes it a Class 4 felony for any person to sell, barter, give, or furnish any firearm to any person he knows is prohibited from possessing or transporting a firearm who is the subject to a permanent protective order. This bill was incorporated into SB 479.
Firearms; criminal history record information checks; agerequirement; penalty. Provides that a person must be at least 21 years old,or must be at least 18 years old by the effective date of the bill, to purchasea firearm. The bill requires a background check for any firearm transfer andrequires the Department of State Police to establish a process for transferorsof firearms to obtain such a check from licensed firearms dealers. A transferorwho fails to obtain a required background check and transfers the firearm toanother person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill exempts certaintransfers from the required background check. The bill removes the provision thatmakes background checks of prospective purchasers or transferees at firearmsshows voluntary. The bill also provides that any person who recklessly leaves aloaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb ofany person under the age of 18 is guilty of a Class 6 felony and that it is aClass 1 misdemeanor for any person knowingly to authorize a child under the age18 to use a firearm except when the person is under the supervision of anadult. Current law provides that any person who recklessly leaves a loaded,unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any childunder the age of 14 is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and it is a Class 1misdemeanor for any person knowingly to authorize a child under the age 12 touse a firearm except when the person is under the supervision of an adult. Thebill also raises the age from 18 to 21 for any person to knowingly andintentionally possess or transport a handgun or assault firearm anywhere in theCommonwealth.
Constitutional amendment (first resolution);personal reproductive liberty. Amends the Constitution of Virginiaby adding a section establishing the individual right to personalreproductive autonomy. The amendment prohibits the denial or infringementupon this right unless justified by a compelling interest of the Commonwealth and achieved by the least restrictive means.
Celebrating the life of Adolph Schick.
Celebrating the life of Alan Arnold Diamonstein.
Commending the Washington Nationals.
Firearm transfers; criminal history record informationchecks; penalty. Requires a background check for any firearm transferand requires the Department of State Police to establish a processfor transferors of firearms to obtain such a check from licensed firearmsdealers. A transferor who fails to obtain a required background checkand sells the firearm to another person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.The bill exempts transfers (i) between immediate family members; (ii)that occur by operation of law; (iii) by the executor or administratorof an estate or by the trustee of a testamentary trust; (iv) at firearmsshows in accordance with law; (v) that are part of a buyback or give-backprogram; (vi) of antique firearms; (vii) that occur at a shootingrange, shooting gallery, or any other area designed for the purposeof target shooting or for use during target practice, a firearms safetyor training course or class, a shooting competition, or any similarlawful activity; or (viii) that are temporary transfers that (a) occurwithin the continuous presence of the owner of the firearm or (b)are necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm. Thebill removes the provision that makes background checks of prospectivepurchasers or transferees at firearms shows voluntary. This bill wasincorporated into SB 70.
Prohibiting sale, transport, etc., of assaultfirearms and certain firearm magazines; penalties. Expands thedefinition of "assault firearm" and prohibits any person from importing,selling, transferring, manufacturing, purchasing, possessing, ortransporting an assault firearm. A violation is a Class 6 felony.The bill prohibits a dealer from selling, renting, trading, or transferringfrom his inventory an assault firearm to any person. The bill alsoprohibits a person from carrying a shotgun with a magazine that willhold more than seven rounds of the longest ammunition for which itis chambered in a public place; under existing law, this prohibitionapplies only in certain localities. The bill makes it a Class 1 misdemeanorto import, sell, barter, or transfer any firearm magazine designedto hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.