Affordable housing dwelling unit ordinances. Allows certain localities to adopt affordable housing dwelling unit ordinances. The governing body of any locality, other than localities to which certain current affordable housing provisions apply, may by amendment to the zoning ordinances of such locality provide for an affordable housing dwelling unit program. Such program shall address housing needs, promote a full range of housing choices, and encourage the construction and continued existence of housing affordable to low-and-moderate-income citizens by providing for increases in density to the applicant in exchange for the applicant's voluntarily electing to provide such affordable housing. Any local ordinance may authorize the governing body to (i) establish qualifying jurisdiction-wide affordable dwelling unit sales prices based on local market conditions, (ii) establish jurisdiction-wide affordable dwelling unit qualifying income guidelines, and (iii) offer incentives other than density increases, such as reductions or waiver of permit, development, and infrastructure fees, as the governing body deems appropriate to encourage the provision of affordable housing.The bill provides that any zoning ordinance establishing an affordable housing dwelling unit program may include reasonable regulations and provisions as to any or all of the following: (a) for application of the requirements of an affordable housing dwelling unit program to any site, as defined by the locality, or a portion thereof at one location that is the subject of an application for rezoning or special exception or site plan or subdivision plat that yields, as submitted by the applicant, at an equivalent density greater than one unit per acre and that is located within an approved sewer area; (b) the waiver of any fees associated with the construction, renovation, or rehabilitation of a structure, including building permit fees, application review fees, and water and sewer connection fees; (c) for standards of compliance with the provisions of an affordable housing dwelling unit program and for the authority of the local governing body or its designee to enforce compliance with such standards and impose reasonable penalties for noncompliance, provided that such local zoning ordinance provide for an appeal process for any party aggrieved by a decision of the local governing body; and (d) various other provisions set out in the bill.Any zoning ordinance establishing such affordable housing dwelling unit program shall adopt the regulations and provisions set out in the bill to establish an affordable housing density bonus and development standards relief program. This bill is identical to HB 1101.
Sponsored bills
Private schools; sexual misconduct; employment assistance prohibited. Requires the governing boards or administrators of private elementary and secondary schools accredited on behalf of the Board of Education by the Virginia Council for Private Education to adopt and implement policies prohibiting any individual who is a governing board member, administrator, employee, contractor, or agent of such school to assist a governing board member, administrator, employee, contractor, or agent of such school in obtaining a new job if such individual knows or has probable cause to believe that the individual seeking new employment engaged in sexual misconduct regarding a minor or student in violation of law.
Voter registration; notification of denial. Requires notice of a denial of an application for voter registration to be provided by the general registrar to the applicant within five days of the denial. This notice is required to be given in writing and in whatever form selected by the applicant on the voter registration application. The bill requires the registration application to request that the applicant provide his telephone number and email address and to allow the applicant to indicate a preferred method of communication. If the general registrar is able to reach the applicant by telephone, corrections may be made by the applicant by telephone. The bill contains technical amendments.
Public institutions of higher education; eligibility for in-state tuition. Provides that any student is eligible for in-state tuition who (i) attended high school for at least two years in the Commonwealth and either (a) graduated on or after July 1, 2008, from a public or private high school or program of home instruction in the Commonwealth or (b) passed, on or after July 1, 2008, a high school equivalency examination approved by the Secretary of Education; (ii) has submitted evidence that he or, in the case of a dependent student, at least one parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis has filed, unless exempted by state law, Virginia income tax returns for at least two years prior to the date of registration or enrollment; and (iii) registers as an entering student or is enrolled in a public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth. The bill states that students who meet these criteria shall be eligible for in-state tuition regardless of their citizenship or immigration status, except students with currently valid visas issued under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15)(F), 1101(a)(15)(H)(iii), 1101(a)(15)(J) (including only students or trainees), or 1101(a)(15)(M). Information obtained in the implementation of the provisions of the bill shall only be used or disclosed to individuals other than the student for purposes of determining in-state tuition eligibility. This bill is identical to HB 1547.
Northern Virginia Transportation Commission;report date. Changes from November 1 to December 15 the annualreporting date of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commissionto the Governor and the General Assembly regarding the performanceof the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
Voter registration; notice and public accessnot required for certain voter registration events. Providesthat voter registration conducted in a high school or at the locationof a naturalization ceremony and voter registration events sponsoredor conducted by an entity or organization that the general registraror an assistant registrar attends as an invitee are not requiredto be open to the public. Currently, opportunities for voter registrationare required to be provided at sites open to the public. The billalso provides that notice is not required for voter registrationevents that are not open to the public that the general registraror an assistant registrar attends or voter registration events thatthe general registrar or an assistant registrar attends as an invitee.
Local school boards; mold testing; parental notification. Requires each local school board to develop and implement a plan to test and, if necessary, a plan to remediate mold in public school buildings in accordance with guidance issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The bill requires each local school board to (i) submit such testing plan and report the results of any test performed in accordance with such plan to the Department of Health and (ii) take all steps necessary to notify school staff and the parents of all enrolled students if testing results indicate the presence of mold in a public school building at or above the minimum level that raises a concern for the health of building occupants, as determined by the Department of Health. The bill has an effective date of July 1, 2021.
Immunity of persons at public hearing; attorneyfees; costs. Allows for the award of reasonable attorney feesand costs to any person who has a subpoena against him quashed inan action for statements made at a public hearing before the governingbody of a locality or other local entity when he is immune from liabilityfor such statements. Current law provides for the award of attorneyfees and costs upon the dismissal of such an action.
Autism Advisory Council; sunset. Extendsthe sunset provision of the Autism Advisory Council from July 1,2020, to July 1, 2022.
Department of Health Professions; conversion therapy prohibited. Prohibits any health care provider or person who performs counseling as part of his training for any profession licensed by a regulatory board of the Department of Health Professions from engaging in conversion therapy, as defined in the bill, with any person under 18 years of age and provides that such counseling constitutes unprofessional conduct and is grounds for disciplinary action. The bill provides that no state funds shall be expended for the purpose of conducting conversion therapy with a person under 18 years of age, referring a person under 18 years of age for conversion therapy, or extending health benefits coverage for conversion therapy with a person under 18 years of age. This bill is identical to HB 386.