Sen. Mark Peake

Commending Virginia's forest products industry.

Celebrating the life of Karen Harrison Jones.

Public schools; open school enrollment policiesand guidance. Requires the Board of Education to develop andmake available to each school board by August 1, 2024, model policiesand guidance relating to open school enrollment detailing certainconditions, limitations, and procedures relating to the open enrollmentprocess and nonresident students, defined as any student who is enrolledin a school within such student's school division but outside ofthe attendance area in which he resides pursuant to an open enrollmentpolicy. The bill requires each school board to establish and implementpolicies to provide for open enrollment in accordance with the model policies and guidelines developed by the Board. Current law permits,but does not require, each school board to establish and implementpolicies providing for open enrollment.

Elementary and secondary schools; athletics;participation in female sports; civil cause of action. Requireseach public elementary or secondary school and each private elementaryor secondary school that competes in sponsored athletic events againstsuch public schools to designate all interscholastic athletic teamsand intramural athletic teams sponsored by such school based on biologicalsex as follows: (i) for "males," "men," or "boys"; (ii) for "females," "women," or "girls"; or (iii) as "coed" or "mixed" if such team isopen to participation by (a) "males," "men," or "boys" and (b) "females," "women," or "girls." The bill prohibits any student whose biologicalsex is male and who has not physically transitioned to female prior to puberty from participating on any school athletic team or squaddesignated for "females," "women," or "girls." Finally, the billcreates a civil cause of action for students and schools that sufferharm as a result of a violation of the provisions of the bill, providedthat such action is initiated within two years of the harm occurring.

Commending John Ray Grisham, Jr.

Commending the Honorable Dr. Luke E. Torian.

Commending Margaret L. Sanner.

Youth Health Protection Act established; civil penalty. Creates the Youth Health Protection Act, which makes it unlawful for any individual to provide gender transition procedures, defined in the bill, for minors and prohibits the use of public funds for gender transition procedures. The bill allows parents, guardians, or custodians to withhold consent for any treatment, activity, or mental health care services that are designed and intended to form their child's conceptions of sex and gender or to treat gender dysphoria or gender nonconformity. The bill prohibits government agents, other than law-enforcement personnel, from encouraging or coercing a minor to withhold information from the minor's parent. The bill establishes a duty for a government agent with knowledge that a minor has exhibited symptoms of gender dysphoria or gender nonconformity or otherwise demonstrates a desire to be treated in a manner incongruent with the minor's sex to immediately notify each of the minor's parents, guardians, or custodians in writing, with descriptions of relevant circumstances. The bill prohibits discrimination against persons (i) providing information regarding violations of the Act to their employer or specified public entities or (ii) who make disclosures under the Act of information that evinces any violation of law, rule, or regulation; any violation of any standard of care or other ethical guidelines for the provision of health care service; or gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. The bill establishes a civil action for any violation of the Act by a clinic, health care system, medical professional, or other responsible person with a two-year statute of limitations. The bill prohibits political subdivisions of the Commonwealth from enacting, adopting, maintaining, or enforcing any measure that interferes with the professional conduct and judgment of a mental health care professional or counselor undertaken within the course of treatment and communication with clients, patients, other persons, or the public. The bill provides for enforcement by the Attorney General or a mental health care professional or counselor through an action for injunctive relief and allows a mental health care professional to recover reasonable attorney fees and reasonable costs incurred in obtaining an injunction. The bill waives sovereign immunity to suit and immunity from liability under this statute.

Income tax subtraction; state police retirementbenefits. Establishes an income tax subtraction for up to $10,000of state police retirement benefits in taxable year 2024 and eachyear thereafter. The bill defines state police retirement benefitsto include retirement income received by a Virginia State Policeofficer who is at least 55 years of age and benefits paid to thesurviving spouse of such officer whose death occurred in the lineof duty.

Commending Travis G. Hill.