Sen. Jennifer Boysko

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; labor organizations. Repeals enactments adopted in 2018 as part of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) funding bills related to bidders, offers, contractors, and subcontractors to WMATA projects located in the Commonwealth participating with labor organizations. This bill is identical to HB 1635.

Employee misclassification; retaliatory actions prohibited; civil penalty. Prohibits an employer from discharging, disciplining, threatening, discriminating against, or penalizing an employee or independent contractor because the employee or independent contractor reported or plans to report that an employer or any officer or agent has failed to properly classify an individual as an employee and failed to pay required benefits or other contributions. The measure also prohibits such actions against an employee or independent contractor who is requested or subpoenaed by an appropriate authority to participate in an investigation, hearing, or inquiry by an appropriate authority or in a court action. These prohibitions apply only if an employee or independent contractor acts in good faith and upon a reasonable belief that the information is accurate. The measure authorizes the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to institute proceedings against an employer who has taken such prohibited retaliatory action. Available remedies include reinstatement of the employee and recovery of lost wages. An employer that violates these provisions is subject to a civil penalty equal to the employee's lost wages. This bill is identical to HB 1199.

Virginia sexual assault forensic examiner coordination program. Establishes the Virginia sexual assault forensic examinercoordination program within the Department of Criminal Justice Services.The bill provides that the program shall create and coordinate anannual statewide sexual assault forensic nurse examiner trainingprogram; coordinate the development and enhancement of sexual assaultforensic examiner programs across the Commonwealth; coordinate thedevelopment of hospital protocols and guidelines for treatment ofsurvivors of sexual assault; coordinate and strengthen communicationsamong sexual assault nurse examiner medical directors, sexual assaultresponse teams, and hospitals for existing and developing sexualassault nurse examiner programs; provide technical assistance forexisting and developing sexual assault forensic examiner programs;establish best practices for billing and reimbursement for medicalservices provided to survivors of sexual assault; create and maintaina statewide list, updated biannually, that includes pertinent informationregarding sexual assault forensic examiners and nurse examiners;create sexual assault nurse examiner recruitment materials for universitiesand colleges with nursing programs; and support and coordinate communityeducation and public outreach, when appropriate, relating to sexualassault nurse examiner issues for the Commonwealth.

Health insurance; coverage for autism spectrum disorder. Requires health insurers, corporations providing health care subscription plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder under insurance policies, subscription contracts, or health care plans issued in the individual market or small group markets. The existing requirement that such coverage be provided for policies, contracts, or plans issued in the large group market is not affected. 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, 2021. This bill is identical to HB 1503.

Securities Act; crowdfunding exemption.Repeals the sunset provision on the existing measure that authorizesthe State Corporation Commission (the Commission) to adopt an exemption for limited offerings of securities by small and startup companies,known as equity crowdfunding, from the registration provisions ofthe Securities Act. These crowdfunding provisions, which were enactedin 2015, are currently scheduled to expire on July 1, 2020. The measurealso broadens the existing exemption to apply to offerings conductedin accordance with Rule 147A adopted by the U.S. Securities ExchangeCommission (SEC). Because Rule 147A does not require the issuer ofthe securities to be incorporated or organized in the same state where the offering occurs, the measure creates a carve-out for offeringsunder Rule 147A from the existing requirement that the issuer beformed, organized, or existing under the laws of the Commonwealth. Additionally, the measure provides that the crowdfunding exemptionis available for both equity securities and debt offerings, includingsubordinated debt. Current Commission regulations prohibit the useof the exemption for debt offerings.

Health insurance; formula and enteral nutrition products. Requires health insurers, health care subscription plans, and health maintenance organizations whose policy, contract, or plan includes coverage for medicines to classify medically necessary formula and enteral nutrition products as medicine and to include coverage for medically necessary formula and enteral nutrition products for covered individuals requiring treatment for an inherited metabolic disorder. Such coverage is required to be provided on the same terms and subject to the same conditions imposed on other medicines covered under the policy, contract, or plan. The measure provides that the required coverage includes any medical equipment, supplies, and services that are required to administer the covered formula or enteral nutrition products. These requirements apply only to formula and enteral nutrition products that are furnished pursuant to the prescription or order of a physician or other health care professional qualified to make such prescription or order for the management of an inherited metabolic disorder and are used under medical supervision. This bill incorporates SB 654 and is identical to HB 840.

Celebrating the life of Henry J. Abraham.

Commending Bob Brown.

Commending Michael O'Reilly.

Celebrating the life of Katherine Johnson.