Institutions of higher education; hazing; policies. Establishes mandates at nonprofit private institutions of higher education and public institutions of higher education relating to hazing and defines different types of organizations at such institutions to which the mandates apply. The bill requires student organizations officially recognized by an institution of higher education structured in such a way that upon invitation for membership, individuals do not automatically become members of such organization and have a period of time between invitation for membership and being initiated into membership, to have an advisor present at all official events where new members and members of the student organization hosting the event are invited or are instructed to attend, except that such advisors may be asked to leave the room during ceremonies, rituals, or other such events that are only permitted to be attended by the new members and members. Such advisors shall provide extensive, current, and in-person education and information on hazing to all members and new members of such organizations. The bill requires the governing board of each institution to include as part of its policy, code, rules, or set of standards governing sexual violence a provision for immunity from disciplinary action based on hazing or personal consumption of drugs or alcohol where such disclosure is made in conjunction with a good faith report of an act of hazing in advance of or during an incident of hazing that causes injury to a person. Beginning with the 2022–2023 academic year, the bill requires each institution to maintain and publicly report actual findings of violations of the institution's code of conduct or of federal or state laws pertaining to hazing that are reported to campus authorities or local law enforcement. This bill shall be known as Adam's Law.
Sponsored bills
Flood resiliency and protection. Implements recommendations from the first Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan. The bill provides guidelines for the development of a Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan for the Commonwealth and requires that the Coastal Resilience Master Plan be updated by December 31, 2022, and every five years thereafter. The bill establishes the Virginia Coastal Resilience Technical Advisory Committee to assist with the updates and requires the development of a community outreach and engagement plan to ensure meaningful involvement by affected and vulnerable community residents. The bill also requires that the Chief Resilience Officer report every two years, beginning July 1, 2023, on the status of flood resilience in the Commonwealth. This bill incorporates SB 504 and SB 506 and is identical to HB 516.
Virginia Retirement System; Line of Duty Act;medical reviews to be conducted by Virginia practitioners. Providesthat, for any medical review of a claim made pursuant to the provisionsof the Line of Duty Act, the Virginia Retirement System shall requirethat such review be conducted by a doctor, nurse, or psychologistwho is licensed in Virginia or a contiguous state. The bill has adelayed effective date of July 1, 2023.
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Charitable Gaming Board; powers and duties. Changes the Charitable Gaming Board (the Board) from a policy board to an advisory board in the executive branch of state government, decreases the membership from 11 members to nine members, and moves the power and duty to promulgate regulations related to charitable gaming in the Commonwealth from the Board to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (the Department). The bill provides that (i) the current regulations enacted by the Board shall be administered by the Department and remain in full force and effect until the Department promulgates new regulations pursuant to this bill and (ii) notwithstanding clause (i), the regulations promulgated by the Board regarding Texas Hold'em poker games and tournaments, which became effective on March 23, 2021, and were rescinded by the General Assembly pursuant to Item 105 of Chapter 552 of the Acts of Assembly of 2021, Special Session I, shall not take effect, but the Department shall promulgate regulations regarding Texas Hold'em poker games and tournaments consistent with the provisions of Chapter 982 of the Acts of Assembly of 2020 and pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Process Act. The bill contains technical amendments. This bill is identical to HB 765.
Horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering; prohibitionon persons under 21 years of age; penalty. Raises from 18 to21 years of age the minimum age for a person to wager on or conduct any wagering on the outcome of a horse race or to be admitted intoa satellite facility without being accompanied by such person's parentor legal guardian.
Horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering; prohibitionon persons under 21 years of age; penalty. Raises from 18 to21 years of age the minimum age for a person to wager on or conductany wagering on the outcome of a horse race or to be admitted intoa satellite facility without being accompanied by such person's parentor legal guardian.
Workers' compensation; time period for filing claim; certain cancers. Provides that the time period for filing a workers' compensation claim for certain cancers is two years after a diagnosis of the disease is first communicated to the employee or within 10 years from the date of the last injurious exposure in employment, whichever first occurs. The bill provides, however, that such claim for benefits shall be barred if an employee is 65 years of age or older, regardless of the date of diagnosis, communication, or last injurious exposure in employment. This bill is identical to HB 1042.
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; effect of criminal convictions on licensure; data to be included in biennial report. Provides for consideration of certain factors to be made by any regulatory board through an individualized assessment prior to denying an application for licensure, certification, or registration for any occupation or profession regulated by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation where such denial was made in whole or in part upon the existence of the applicant's criminal record. The provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2023 Session of the General Assembly, and the bill requires, beginning July 1, 2025, the Department to include certain data related to the criminal history of applicants to each regulatory board in its biennial report. This bill is identical to HB 282 and contains technical amendments.
Towing; civil penalty. Requires a towing and recovery operator to include the contact information of the Division of Consumer Counsel within the Office of the Attorney General on any invoice charging $10,000 or more for towing and recovery services rendered pursuant to a lawful request for towing by a law-enforcement officer for the towing and recovery of a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of greater than 26,000 pounds. The bill subjects towing and recovery operators in violation of the bill's provisions to a civil penalty of $1,000 per violation.
Broadband service; new residential and commercial development; stakeholder advisory group. Provides that the Department of Housing and Community Development shall convene a stakeholder advisory group for the purpose of evaluating local and state policies, procedures, or ordinances to facilitate the expansion of high-speed broadband service and associated infrastructure in new residential and commercial development. The stakeholder advisory group shall be composed of representatives from the commercial and residential land development and construction industry, local government, high-speed broadband providers, and other stakeholders as determined by the Department and shall report its findings and recommendations to the Broadband Advisory Council no later than September 30, 2022. This bill is identical to HB 445.