Sen. George Barker

Celebrating the life of Carol Ann Myskowski.

Celebrating the life of Vashon A. Jefferson.

Celebrating the life of Mark E. Skiles.

Commending David K. Paylor.

Celebrating the life of Rebecca Kellam Chalmers.

Commending Melicia Brown.

Refundable income tax credit for low-incometaxpayers. Allows low-income individuals and married personsto claim either (i) a nonrefundable income tax credit equal to $300for each individual, his spouse, and any dependents or (ii) a refundableincome tax credit equal to 20 percent of the federal earned incometax credit claimed that year by the individual or married personsfor the same taxable year. Under current law, low-income individualsand married persons may elect either of these amounts; however, bothoptions for claiming the credit are nonrefundable. The provisionsof the bill apply to taxable years 2022 through 2028.

Constitutional amendment (second reference);marriage; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative rightto marry. Repeals the constitutional provision defining marriageas only a union between one man and one woman as well as the relatedprovisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United StatesSupreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015). The amendment provides that the right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of persons and requires the Commonwealthand its political subdivisions and agents to issue marriage licenses,recognize marriages, and treat all marriages equally under the law,regardless of the sex or gender of the parties to the marriage. Religiousorganizations and clergy acting in their religious capacity havethe right to refuse to perform any marriage.

Continuing care providers; requirements for providers; complaint process; report. Requires continuing care providers to include in continuing care contracts between the provider and residents of a continuing care retirement community a description of (i) the resident emergency call systems and other safety-based services, (ii) the criteria for and requirements and procedures applicable to the transfer of a resident between levels of care provided by the provider, and (iii) information about policies and procedures for use of the facility and its services, including any check-in procedures, by residents as well as nonresidents. The bill also guarantees the right of residents to post information about residents' rights in the facilities of the continuing care retirement community and requires a continuing care provider to include on the board of directors or other such governing body of a continuing care retirement community a number of residents that is equal to or greater than 20 percent of the total number of members of the board of directors, or at least one resident, whichever is greater, who shall be elected by the residents of the continuing care retirement community, and to provide a copy of the bylaws of the board of directors or other such governing body to all residents of the continuing care retirement community. The bill also requires the State Corporation Commission to establish a means by which any person may make a complaint regarding a continuing care retirement community or community-based continuing care provider; establish a process for responding to complaints regarding a continuing care retirement community or community-based continuing care provider, including procedures to ensure that the person who filed the complaint receives information regarding the status of such response and the final resolution of the matter; and report annually by October 1 to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committees on Appropriations and Labor and Commerce and the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and Commerce and Labor regarding the complaint process and the number, type, and resolution of complaints received.

Commending Jesse Waltz.