Department of Education; plan to revise specialeducation staffing requirements; report. Directs the Departmentof Education, in collaboration with the Department of BehavioralHealth and Developmental Services and any other individuals withexpertise in special education as the Department of Education deemsappropriate, to develop a plan for revised special education staffingrequirements that addresses staffing needs of individual school divisionsand the needs of students who receive special education and aimsto improve special education teacher recruitment and retention. Thebill requires the Department of Education to submit a report on suchplan to the Governor, the Senate Committee on Education and Health,and the House Committee on Education by November 1, 2024. This bill was incorporated into SB 105.
Sponsored bills
Commending John Ray Grisham, Jr.
Celebrating the life of Shawn Soares.
Commending the Honorable Dr. Luke E. Torian.
Commending Margaret L. Sanner.
Employee protection; prohibited retaliation; prohibited nondisclosure and nondisparagement provisions; civil action. Prohibits the inclusion of a provision in any employment contract that has the purpose or effect of concealing illegal activity or activity an employee believes to be unlawful, including unlawful sexual harassment, discrimination, wage theft, and protected whistleblowing, as those terms are described in existing law. Under the bill's provisions, no employer shall discharge or otherwise retaliate against an employee, prospective employee, or independent contractor for disclosing or discussing conduct that such employee reasonably believes to be discrimination, including harassment, retaliation, a wage or hour violation, sexual assault, fraud against taxpayers, shareholders, the government, consumers, or other employees, or other conduct that is against a clear mandate of public policy. An employer that violates the provisions of the bill shall be liable for the greater of actual damages or statutory damages of $10,000, as well as reasonable attorney fees and costs. The bill also requires employers to include in any settlement agreement or employment agreement with an employee a disclaimer that such agreement does not prohibit an employee from disclosing conduct as protected under the bill. The provisions of the bill apply to contracts entered into, renewed, modified, or amended on or after July 1, 2024.
Celebrating the life of Gloria Randolph-King.
Commending Travis G. Hill.
Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund; Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund; Advisory Review Committees. Requires the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation to convene an Advisory Review Committee to assist in the distribution of loans and grants from the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund (the Preparedness Fund) and adds the Advisory Review Committee to the list of those with whom the Department is required to consult in establishing guidelines regarding the distribution and prioritization of loans and grants from the Preparedness Fund. The bill also requires the Director to convene an Advisory Review Committee to assist in the distribution of loans and grants from the Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund (the Revolving Fund) and adds the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources and the Advisory Review Committee to the list of those with whom the Virginia Resources Authority is required to consult in directing the distribution of grants or loans from the Revolving Fund to particular local governments and establishing the interest rates and repayment terms of such loans. The bill requires the Department to make available for public inspection at the office of the Department and on a publicly accessible website records of each application for grants and loans from the two Funds and the actions taken thereon, post such applications within 15 calendar days of the loan or grant round application deadline, and provide an opportunity for a 30-day public comment period prior to each new loan offering to solicit feedback on proposed revisions to the funds' manuals. This bill was incorporated into HB 1458.
Health insurance; cost sharing for breast examinations.Prohibits health insurance carriers from imposing cost sharing fordiagnostic breast examinations and supplemental breast examinations,as those terms are defined in the bill, under certain insurance policies, subscription contracts, and health care plans delivered, issued fordelivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on and after January 1,2025. The bill provides that such examinations include examinationsusing diagnostic mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging,or breast ultrasound.