Sen. Jennifer L McClellan

Expands the types of crimes victims of which are eligible to apply for the address confidentiality program to include sexual violence. The bill provides that such programs may also include specialized services for victims of human trafficking. Current law permits victims of domestic violence and stalking to apply to this program. The bill requires that sexual or domestic violence programs be accredited by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Program Professional Standards Committee to accept applications and authorizes crime victim and witness assistance programs to accept applications. The bill increases program participants' certification period from one to three years. The bill contains technical amendments.

Requires the Department of Health to make information about and resources on palliative care available to the public, health care providers, and health care facilities on its website. This bill is identical to

Provides that it is the policy of the Commonwealth to promote and increase the employment of individuals with disabilities. To further this policy, the bill establishes a goal to increase by five percent the level of individuals with disabilities employed by state government by fiscal year 2023. The bill designates the Secretary of Administration to coordinate efforts to achieve the goal and requires the Secretary to establish a reporting system for tracking and reporting the progress of state agencies toward meeting the employment and contracting goals and to report annually on the number of individuals with disabilities employed by the state. The bill requires each state agency to submit a plan to increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities to the Secretary no later than December 31, 2017, and each July 1 thereafter. This bill is identical to

Authorizes the registration of peer recovery specialists and qualified mental health professionals by the Board of Counseling. The bill defines "qualified mental health professional" as a person who by education and experience is professionally qualified and registered by the Board of Counseling to provide collaborative mental health services for adults or children. The bill requires that a qualified mental health professional provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services or a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The bill defines "registered peer recovery specialist" as a person who by education and experience is professionally qualified and registered by the Board of Counseling to provide collaborative services to assist individuals in achieving sustained recovery from the effects of addiction or mental illness, or both. The bill requires that a registered peer recovery specialist provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, a practitioner licensed by or holding a permit issued from the Department of Health Professions, or a facility licensed by the Department of Health. The bill adds qualified mental health professionals and registered peer recovery specialists to the list of mental health providers that are required to take actions to protect third parties under certain circumstances and notify clients of their right to report to the Department of Health Professions any unethical, fraudulent, or unprofessional conduct. The bill directs the Board of Counseling and the Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of the bill within 280 days of its enactment. This bill is identical to

Authorizes a locality to petition the circuit court to appoint a land bank entity to act as a receiver in certain limited circumstances to repair derelict and blighted buildings that contain residential dwelling units.

Creates a new requirement that purchasers of cigarettes for resale must apply for a special cigarette exemption certificate from the Department of Taxation in order to not be liable for the payment of sales tax at the time of purchase. The bill sets forth numerous requirements that a taxpayer must meet in order to qualify for a cigarette exemption certificate and establishes processes and procedures for the application, renewal, denial, and revocation of the certificates. The bill creates new recordkeeping requirements for the sale or distribution of more than 50 cartons of cigarettes, or with a value greater than $10,000. The bill also makes technical changes. The provisions of the bill requiring the use of a cigarette exemption certificate have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2018. This bill is identical to

Allows a locality to charge owners of property the cost the locality incurred in removing or repairing a building or structure on such property if permitted under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code in the event of an emergency.

Provides that certain Virginia students who were in foster care or in the custody of the Department of Social Services or considered a special needs adoption and are enrolled in a noncredit workforce credential training program in a comprehensive community college may qualify for a grant for the payment of tuition and fees. This bill is identical to

Requires each driver education program in the public school system to include instruction concerning traffic stops, including law-enforcement procedures for traffic stops, appropriate actions to be taken by drivers during traffic stops, and appropriate interactions with law-enforcement officers who initiate traffic stops. The bill requires the Board of Education to collaborate with the Department of State Police in implementing the changes to its driver education program.

Directs the Board of Education to establish guidelines for alternatives to short-term and long-term suspension for consideration by local school boards. This bill is identical to