Sen. Frank Ruff

Authorizes the dissemination of criminal history record information to the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) for the purpose of investigating individuals for initial licensure, certification, or registration. Under current law, DPOR has that authority only for the initial licensure of real estate brokers and salespersons. The bill permits the Director of DPOR, or his designee, to issue a notice to any person unlawfully engaging in unlicensed practice of an occupation to cease and desist such activity. The bill provides that following the close of any biennium, when the account for any regulatory board within DPOR shows that unspent and unencumbered revenue exceeds $100,000 or 20 percent of the total expenses allocated to the regulatory board for the past biennium, whichever is greater, the regulatory board shall (i) distribute all such excess revenue to current regulants of the board and (ii) reduce fees so that they are sufficient but not excessive to cover expenses. Under current law, these boards are required to adjust their fees when their account shows expenses allocated to it for the past biennium to be more than 10 percent greater or less than moneys collected on behalf of the regulatory board. Current law does not require the boards to distribute excess funds to regulants. The bill requires the Director of DPOR to report, at least annually, the fund status of each of the regulatory boards to the members of such boards. The bill also provides that when any legislative bill requiring DPOR to increase or begin regulation of an occupation is filed during any session of the General Assembly, the Board for Professional and Occupational Regulation shall prepare an evaluation of the legislation using criteria outlined in current law that the Board is required to use whenever the Board determines that a particular occupation should be regulated or that a different degree of regulation should be imposed on a currently regulated occupation. The bill deregulates residential building energy analysts and natural gas automobile mechanics and technicians.

Creates the Major Headquarters Workforce Grant Fund. A qualified e-commerce company that makes a capital investment of at least $2 billion in a major headquarters facility in Arlington County and that creates at least 25,000 new full-time jobs with an average annual wage of $150,000 will be eligible for up to $550 million in grants from the Fund. A qualified company may also be eligible for an additional $200 million in grants for creating an additional 12,850 new full-time jobs. This bill is identical to

Conforms Virginia law to the provisions of the federal 2018 Farm Bill by amending the definitions of cannabidiol oil, marijuana, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to exclude hemp products and industrial hemp that is grown, dealt, or processed in compliance with state or federal law. The bill defines "industrial hemp" as any part of the plant