Sen. Lynwood Lewis

Commending the Honorable William C. Mims.

Celebrating the life of William Lee Allen, Sr.

Celebrating the life of Peggy Gray Williams.

Celebrating the life of Madison Taylor Wessells.

Probation, revocation, and suspension of sentence; limitations. Limits the amount of active incarceration a court can impose as a result of a revocation hearing for a probation violation. The bill provides that if the court finds the basis of a violation of the terms and conditions of a suspended sentence or probation is that the defendant was convicted of a criminal offense or violated another condition other than a technical violation, the court may pronounce whatever sentence might have been originally imposed. The bill defines "technical violation" and provides specific limitations on the sentence a court may impose depending on whether the violation is a first, second, or third or subsequent technical violation. The bill also provides that a court may fix the period of probation for up to the statutory maximum period for which the defendant might originally have been sentenced to be imprisoned and any period of supervised probation shall not exceed five years from the release of the defendant from any active period of incarceration. The bill also provides that a court must measure any period of suspension of sentence from the date of entry of the original sentencing order.

Carbon Sequestration Task Force; report.Directs the Secretary of Natural Resources, jointly with the Secretaryof Agriculture and Consumer Services, to convene a task force forthe purpose of studying carbon sequestration in the Commonwealthand submit a report of its findings before the first day of the 2022Session of the General Assembly. The bill directs the task force to (i) consider possible methods of increasing carbon sequestrationwithin the natural environment through state land and marine resourcesuse policies; agricultural, aquacultural, and silvicultural practices;and other practices to achieve restoration of natural resources andlong term conservation; (ii) recommend short-term and long-term benchmarksfor increasing carbon sequestration; (iii) develop a standardized methodology to establish baseline carbon levels and account forincreases in carbon sequestration over time; (iv) identify existingcarbon markets and considerations relevant to potential participationby the Commonwealth; and (v) identify other potential funding mechanismsto encourage carbon sequestration practices in the Commonwealth.

Workers' compensation; claims not barred.Provides that an order issued by the Workers' Compensation Commissionawarding or denying benefits shall not bar by res judicata any claimby an employee or cause a waiver, abandonment, or dismissal of anyclaim by an employee if the order does not expressly adjudicate suchclaim.

Broadband services; education. Authorizesschool boards to appropriate funds for the purposes of promoting,facilitating, and encouraging the expansion and operation of broadbandservices for educational purposes. The bill authorizes school boardsto partner with private broadband service providers to promote, implement,and subsidize broadband for educational purposes to the householdsof students who would qualify for (i) a child nutrition program or(ii) any other program recognized or adopted by the local schoolboard as a measuring standard to identify at-risk students.

Limitations on enforcement of judgments; judgment liens; settlement agents. Reduces from 20 years to 10 years from the date of a judgment the period of time within which an execution may be issued or action may be taken on such judgment.  The bill provides that the limitation of the enforcement of a judgment may be extended by a recordation of a certificate prior to the expiration period in the clerk's office in which a judgment lien is recorded. The bill provides that such recordation shall extend the limitations period for 10 years from the date of such recordation. Under current law, such limitation period may be extended on motion of the judgment creditor or his assignee. The bill allows a settlement agent or title insurance company to release a judgment lien, in addition to a deed of trust as provided under current law, provided that the obligation secured by such judgment lien has been satisfied by payment made by the settlement agent and whether or not the settlement agent or title insurance company is named as a trustee under such lien or received authority to release such lien. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2022.

Tourism improvement districts. Authorizesany locality to create a local tourism improvement district plan, consisting of fees charged to businesses and used to fund tourismpromotion activities and capital improvements. Under the bill, thelocality is authorized to contract with a nonprofit entity to administerthe activities and improvements.