Authorizes the Commonwealth to transfer a portion of property previously used as the Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute to the Mount Rogers Community Services Board and a portion of such property currently being leased to Smyth County to the County.
Requires the Board of Education to authorize local school boards to offer as an elective in grades nine through 12 with appropriate credits toward graduation a course on the Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament of the Bible or the New Testament of the Bible or a combined course on both. The bill requires the Board of Education to develop Standards of Learning and curriculum guidelines for such courses. The bill provides that the purpose of such courses is to introduce students to biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture, including literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public policy. The bill prohibits students from being required to use a specific translation of a religious text when taking the courses and provides that such courses shall maintain religious neutrality and shall not endorse, favor, promote, disfavor, or show hostility toward any particular religion or nonreligious perspective.
Provides that the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) shall work with representatives of Carroll and Grayson Counties and the City of Galax, as well as other stakeholders, to develop a plan for the conveyance, sale, or other disposition of the property for the purpose of housing children requiring foster care or as a juvenile residential treatment facility. Any disposition of the property is subject to approval by the General Assembly.
Permits the board of visitors of the University of Virginia to charge reduced rate tuition to any student enrolled at the University of Virginia's College at Wise who resides in the Appalachian Region as defined in relevant federal law, is domiciled in the Appalachian Region, and is entitled to in-state tuition charges at a public institution of higher education in the Appalachian Region provided such entitlement is based on circumstances that when applied to a student who resides in Virginia would result in entitlement to in-state tuition. The bill contains an emergency clause. The bill prohibits the board of visitors from setting such reduced rate below the in-state tuition rate for Virginia students attending the University of Virginia's College at Wise.
Authorizes the Radford University Board of Visitors (the board) to establish the Radford University-Roanoke Division (the Division) through the acquisition of Jefferson College of Health Sciences, a nonprofit private institution wholly owned and operated by Carilion Clinic. The bill authorizes the board, upon establishment of the Division, to (i) exercise the same powers with respect to the operation of the Division as are vested in the board regarding the University and (ii) offer at the Division all programs of instruction offered by Jefferson College of Health Sciences at the time of acquisition, including associate-degree programs. The bill permits Radford University to award merit-based and need-based institutional aid to students enrolled at the Division in a manner that is consistent with practices at the former Jefferson College of Health Sciences. This bill is identical to
Requires the Director of the Department of Corrections, upon receiving a request for information, to disclose to an investigator for the Department of Corrections who has completed the Virginia State Police Drug Diversion School and who has been designated by the Director of the Department of Corrections information relevant to a specific investigation of a specific individual into a possible unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.
Provides that the Department of State Police may operate a handheld photo speed monitoring device, defined in the bill, in or around a highway work zone for the purpose of recording images of vehicles that are traveling at speeds of at least 12 miles per hour above the posted highway work zone speed limit within such highway work zone when (i) workers are present and (ii) such highway work zone is indicated by appropriately placed signs displaying the maximum speed limit and the use of such handheld automated speed monitoring device. The bill also provides that the operator of a vehicle shall be liable for a monetary civil penalty, not to exceed $125, if such vehicle is found to be traveling at speeds of at least 12 miles per hour above the posted highway work zone speed limit by the handheld photo monitoring device.
