| Bills |
Committee |
Last action |
Date |
| HB
1581 - Toscano
- Highway logo and tourist-oriented directional sign programs;
VDOT & Transportation Bd. to provide. |
(H) Committee
on Transportation |
(H) Stricken from docket by Transportation |
01/20/09 |
| notes:
Requires the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and
the Commonwealth Transportation Board to revise VDOT's highway
logo sign and tourist-oriented directional sign programs to
provide for signs giving directions to senior centers. |
| HB
1582 - Howell,
A.T. - Home access businesses; owner/operator thereof to
conduct criminal background check of employees. |
(H) Committee
on Militia, Police and Public Safety |
(H) Assigned MPPS sub: #2 |
01/20/09 |
| notes:
Requires the owner or operator of a commercial establishment
that provides a service that requires the establishment's
employees regularly to enter the interior area of the
residence of its customers to conduct a criminal background
check of employees whose regular duties can reasonably be
expected to require entering the interior area of the
residences of establishment's customers. Effective September
1, 2009, employers are required to complete a criminal records
check on prospective employees, but an employer is not
prohibited from hiring an employee on the basis of the results
of the criminal records check. Employers are required to keep
copies of the fingerprints and records check for such
employees. Employers shall provide identification badges to
employees and require the employees to wear the badge when
they are expected to enter customers' homes. Violations
constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor. |
| HB
1661 - Scott,
J.M. - Motor fuels tax; converts rates to percentage that
shall be calculated by DMV Commissioner. |
(H) Committee
on Finance |
(H) Assigned Finance sub: 3 |
01/16/09 |
| notes:
Converts the rates of taxation on motor fuels from cents per
gallon to percentage rates. The percentage rates shall be
calculated by the Commissioner of the Division of Motor
Vehicles in an amount that will most closely yield the amount
of cents per gallon being charged on the applicable motor fuel
prior to the effective date of the bill. Thereafter, the
percentage rates would not change, but would be applied
against the average price per gallon of the fuel, less federal
and state taxes, as determined by the Commissioner of the
Division of Motor Vehicles over rolling six-month periods, to
determine the cents per gallon to be charged. |
| HB
1744 - Pogge
- Natural health care providers; not licensed may provide care
to consumer for use of natural foods. |
(H) Committee
on Health, Welfare and Institutions |
(H) Tabled in Health, Welfare and Institutions |
01/27/09 |
| notes:
Clarifies that an individual who is not licensed, registered,
certified, or permitted by a health regulatory board may
provide health care services, therapies, and methods by
assessing, evaluating, advising, educating, counseling,
informing, or rendering care to consumers regarding the use of
natural foods, dietary supplements, homeopathic remedies and
products, and healing and natural therapies for the
prevention, remedy, or treatment of various health or physical
conditions as long as he discloses to consumers his
qualifications and does not violate existing provisions
governing the health professions. |
| HB
1811 - Morrissey
- Deferred disposition; allows court to defer & dismiss
any criminal case other than Class 4 felonies. |
(H) Committee
for Courts of Justice |
(H) Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely by
voice vote |
01/28/09 |
| notes:
Allows a court to defer and dismiss any criminal case other
than Class 4 felonies or more severe felonies, violent
felonies, crimes that require registration on the sex offender
registry, certain felony sex crimes, manslaughter, and DUI.
Deferred disposition would be available to a person even
though he had previously availed himself of deferred
disposition or had been previously convicted of a crime,
except in the interests of justice. |
| HB
1812 - Morrissey
- Questioning employees about criminal convictions; prohibits
employer from asking about certain. |
(H) Committee
for Courts of Justice |
(H) Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely by
voice vote |
01/19/09 |
| notes:
Prohibits a state agency employer from asking an existing or
prospective employee about the individual's record of arrests
or convictions, unless the question refers to an arrest or
conviction that occurred within the preceding eight years or
was for a violent felony. An employer may not take negative
employment actions against an individual based on a response
to a prohibited question. A violation is punishable by a $500
civil penalty. |
| HB
1814 - Morrissey
- Plastic bags; bans use by retailers at point of sale unless
designed & manufactured for reuse. |
(H) Committee
on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
(H) Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and
Natural Resources |
01/12/09 |
| notes:
Bans the use of plastic carryout bags by retailers at the
point of sale unless such bags are (i) durable plastic bags
with handles; (ii) at least 2.25 mils thick; and (iii)
specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuse. |
| HB
1815 - Morrissey
- Questioning employees about criminal convictions; prohibits
employer from asking about certain. |
(H) Committee
for Courts of Justice |
(H) Stricken from docket by Courts of Justice |
01/21/09 |
| notes:
Prohibits an employer from asking an existing or prospective
employee about the individual's record of arrests or
convictions, unless the question refers to an arrest or
conviction that occurred within the preceding 8 years or was
for a violent felony. An employer may not take negative
employment actions against an individual based on a response
to a prohibited question. A violation is a Class 1
misdemeanor. |
| HB
1829 - Fralin
- Health insurance, individual; requires SCC establish, by
regulation, etc., for underwriting thereof. |
(H) Committee
on Commerce and Labor |
(H) Stricken from docket by Commerce and Labor |
01/27/09 |
| notes:
Requires the State Corporation Commission to establish, by
regulation, classes, and tiers with each class, for the
underwriting of health insurance coverage in the individual
market. Classes and tiers shall recognize the risk associated
with an individual's health condition or diagnosis, while
differentiating among individuals diagnosed with or treated
for a specific illness, disease, or condition based upon
factors including the individual's current health condition
and diagnosis; the current severity of the illness, disease,
or condition; the prognosis for increased severity during the
term of the coverage; projections of medical treatments and
services expected to be required during the term of the
coverage; and the extent to which the symptoms or pathologies
associated with the illness, disease, or condition are
adequately controlled through such measures as medication,
diet, and exercise. Health insurers are required to underwrite
such individual health insurance coverage, and to rate insured
individuals, in a manner that ensures that the individual is
placed in the appropriate class or tier. Insurers are required
to provide an internal review procedure, and individuals
aggrieved by the insurer's decision may appeal to the
Commission, which may modify, affirm, or reverse the
decision. |
| HB
1846 - Lingamfelter
- Motor fuels tax; converts rates to percentage that shall be
calculated by DMV Commissioner. |
(H) Committee
on Finance |
(H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table by voice
vote |
01/28/09 |
| notes:
Eliminates the current seventeen and one-half cents per gallon
motor fuels tax and replaces it with a 5% sales and use tax,
while retaining the collection of the replacement tax at the
%93rack%94 or terminal (wholesale level) where the current
cents per gallon tax is collected. |
| HB
1849 - Lingamfelter
- Post-Disaster Anti-Price Gouging Act; expands definition of
disaster for purposes thereof. |
(H) Committee
on Commerce and Labor |
(H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table by voice
vote |
01/27/09 |
| notes:
Expands the definition of "disaster" for purposes of the
Virginia Post-Disaster Anti-Price Gouging Act to include any
resource shortage in the Commonwealth that results from a
disaster for which the President has declared a state of
emergency and for which the Governor has issued an executive
order proclaiming that a shortage exists. A resource shortage
is an absence, unavailability or reduced supply of any raw or
processed natural resource, or any commodities, goods or
services of any kind that bear a substantial relationship to
the health, safety, welfare and economic well-being of the
citizens of the Commonwealth. The measure also revises the
definition of "supplier" to delete the condition that a
manufacturer, distributor or licensor advertise the goods or
services that are to be resold, leased, or sublicensed in a
consumer transaction. The definition of a "time of disaster"
is clarified and amended to include the period of time during
which a Governor's proclamation provides that a resource
shortage exists. |
| HB
1895 - Watts
- Estate tax; reinstates federal credit amount State would
receive payments from deaths. |
(H) Committee
on Finance |
(H) Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely |
01/28/09 |
| notes:
Reinstates the federal credit amount so that the Commonwealth
would receive payments from those estates of persons dying on
or after July 1, 2009. No estate tax would be imposed on a
gross estate if the majority of the assets of the total estate
were an interest in a closely held business or a working farm.
The revenues from the estate tax would first be used for
funding staffing standards in nursing homes required to be
established under the bill, which staffing standards would
require a minimum of direct care services to each resident per
24-hour period. |
| HB
1968 - Massie
- Sentencing order; guilty of Class 1 misdemeanor for failing
to comply. |
(H) Committee
for Courts of Justice
(S) Committee
for Courts of Justice |
(S) Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
01/28/09 |
| notes:
Creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for willfully and knowingly
violating a sentencing order by failing to surrender to jail
at the time ordered by the court. |
| HB
2009 - Ebbin
- Incandescent light bulbs; bans sale or distribution in
State, effective July 1, 2010. |
(H) Committee
on Commerce and Labor |
(H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table by voice
vote |
01/29/09 |
| notes:
Bans the sale or distribution in the Commonwealth, effective
July 1, 2010, of any general purpose incandescent light bulb.
The Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services is authorized
to adopt regulations to exempt types of light bulbs from the
ban if it finds that the ban creates a significant hardship on
the user or is unreasonable because of the lack of an adequate
substitute. A violation of the ban is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
|
| HB
2010 - Ebbin
- Paper and plastic bags; imposes fee on those used by
purchasers to carry tangible personal property. |
(H) Committee
on Finance |
(H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table by voice
vote |
01/28/09 |
| notes:
Imposes a fee of $0.05 on paper and plastic bags used by
purchasers to carry tangible personal property from the place
of purchase. Durable, reusable plastic bags and bags used for
ice cream, meat, fish, and poultry are exempt from the fee.
The revenues raised by the fee will be deposited in the Water
Quality Improvement Fund. |
| HB
2012 - Ebbin
- Appliances, certain; bans sale or distribution in State of
any clothes washer, dehumidifer, etc. |
(H) Committee
on Commerce and Labor |
(H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table by voice
vote |
01/29/09 |
| notes:
Bans the sale or distribution in the Commonwealth, effective
July 1, 2011, of any clothes washer, dehumidifier, dishwasher,
refrigerator, or room air conditioner that is designed for
residential, non-commercial use, which has not been designated
by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the
United States Department of Energy as meeting or exceeding
each such agency's requirements under the federal Energy Star
program. The Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services is
authorized to adopt regulations to exempt appliances from the
ban if it finds that the ban creates a significant hardship on
the user or is unreasonable because of the lack of an adequate
substitute. A violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor. |
| HB
2013 - Ebbin
- Alcoholic mixed beverages; ABC Board to grant annual special
events licenses to local governments. |
(H) Committee
on General Laws |
(H) Stricken from docket by General Laws |
01/29/09 |
| notes:
Permits the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to grant annual
mixed beverage special events licenses to local governments
for use in a building owned by a local government and listed
on the National Historic Landmarks Survey. |
| HB
2014 - Ebbin
- Alcoholic mixed beverages; ABC Board to grant annual special
events licenses to local governments. |
(H) Committee
on General Laws |
(H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table by voice
vote |
01/22/09 |
| notes:
Permits the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to grant annual
mixed beverage special events licenses to local governments
for use in a building owned by a local government and listed
on the National Historic Landmarks Survey. The bill also
increases from 12 to 16 the number of events in any one year
that a mixed beverage limited caterer licensee may sell and
serve alcoholic beverages. |
| HB
2054 - Lohr
- Novelty cigarette lighters; prohibiting purchase,
distribution, etc. to persons under age of 18. |
(H) Committee
for Courts of Justice |
(H) Incorporated by Courts of Justice (HB2578-Howell,
A.T.) |
01/30/09 |
| notes:
Provides that any person who sells to, distributes to,
purchases for or knowingly permits the purchase by any person
less than 18 years of age, knowing or having reason to believe
that such person is less than 18 years of age, any cigarette
lighter that is not readily identifiable as such, is subject
to a fine of no more than $100 and that any person less than
18 years of age who attempts to purchase a cigarette lighter
that is not readily identifiable as such is likewise subject
to a fine of no more than $100. |
| HB
2076 - Oder
- Tolls; prohibits imposition & collection of tolls for
use of portions of I-64 & I-664. |
(H) Committee
on Transportation |
(H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table by voice
vote |
01/29/09 |
| notes:
Prohibits imposition and collection of tolls for use of (i)
Interstate Route 64 between the Virginia Route 143 (Jefferson
Avenue) interchange in the City of Newport News and the
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and (ii) Interstate Route 664
between Interstate Route 64 and the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial
Bridge-Tunnel. |
| HB
2087 - Melvin
- Alcoholic beverages; Class 3 misdemeanor when person permits
underage person to consume. |
(H) Committee
for Courts of Justice |
(H) Subcommittee recommends striking from the docket |
01/28/09 |
| notes:
Provides that anyone who knowingly permits underage
consumption of alcoholic beverages in his dwelling or on his
private real property, or who knows that such behavior is
occurring but fails to make reasonable efforts to halt it, is
guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. |
| HB
2153 - Rust
- BPOL tax; allows towns to levy on any person, firm, etc., in
business of renting real property. |
(H) Committee
on Finance |
(H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table by voice
vote |
01/28/09 |
| notes:
Allows the Towns of Herndon and Leesburg to levy the BPOL tax
on any person, firm, or corporation engaging in the business
of renting real property. |
| HB
2161 - Toscano
- Retail Sales and Use Tax; additional tax authorized in City
of Charlottesville & Albemarle County. |
(H) Committee
on Finance |
(H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table by voice
vote |
01/28/09 |
| notes:
Permits the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County to
impose an additional sales and use tax at a rate not exceeding
one percent, provided that all revenue generated from the
additional tax is used solely for transit or other
transportation projects. |
| HB
2194 - Watts
- Motor fuels tax; rate increase used for transportation
purposes. |
(H) Committee
on Finance |
(H) Subcommittee failed to recommend reporting |
01/28/09 |
| notes:
Increases the motor fuels tax by $0.10 per gallon, minus $0.01
for each $0.20 that the average price of gasoline exceeds
$3.00. The tax will be indexed every two years beginning July
1, 2010, by an amount equal to the percentage change in the
U.S. Department of Labor's Producer Price Index for Highway
and Street Construction. The revenue generated is used for
transportation purposes as required by existing law, and
allocates primary system highway construction funds among the
nine highway construction districts on the basis of the ratio
of vehicle miles traveled on primary highways divided by the
lane miles of primary highways in each highway construction
district, weighted 90 percent, and a need factor, weighted 10
percent |
| HB
2205 - Frederick
- BPOL taxes; repeals local business taxes. |
(H) Committee
on Finance |
(H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table by voice
vote |
01/21/09 |
| notes:
Repeals local business license (BPOL) taxes. |
| HB
2249 - Barlow
- Cigarette tax, local; any county to impose not to exceed
$0.05 per pack or amount levied by State. |
(H) Committee
on Finance |
(H) Subcommittee failed to recommend reporting |
01/28/09 |
| notes:
Authorizes any county to impose a local cigarette tax at a
rate not to exceed $0.05 per pack or the amount levied under
state law, whichever is greater. |
| HB
2376 - Englin
- Estate tax; reinstates federal credit amount State will
receive payments from deaths after Jan. 1. |
(H) Committee
on Finance |
(H) Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely |
01/28/09 |
| notes:
Reinstates the federal credit amount so that the Commonwealth
will receive payments from those estates owing federal estate
tax, for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2009. It does
exempt estates valued at $5 million or less, working farms,
and closely held businesses. The revenues raised from the tax
shall be distributed equally to the Tuition Assistance Grant
program, the Virginia Preschool Initiative, and the Healthy
Families Virginia program. |
| HB
2379 - Englin
- Cigarette tax rate; funding education and Medicaid. |
(H) Committee
on Finance |
(H) Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely |
01/28/09 |
| notes:
Increases the cigarette tax by $0.89 per pack (from $0.30
cents per pack to $1.19 per pack). Of the $0.89 increase, the
additional revenue attributable to $0.30 is dedicated to
funding for the Medicaid program, and (ii) the increase in
revenue attributable to the remaining $0.59 is dedicated to
funding for public schools. |
| HB
2389 - Brink
- Cigarette tax and tobacco products tax; increased. |
(H) Committee
on Finance |
(H) Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely |
01/28/09 |
| notes:
Increases the state cigarette tax from 1.5 cents per cigarette
to 3 cents per cigarette, adds a $0.25 per ounce tax on each
can or package of moist snuff, and eliminates the stamping
agent discount and the dealer discount. |
| HB
2440 - Poisson
- Alcoholic beverage control; privatization of ABC stores. |
(H) Committee
on General Laws |
(H) Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely |
01/29/09 |
| notes:
Provides for the issuance of a "package store" license to
authorize the retail sale of alcoholic beverages for
off-premises consumption. The bill also requires the ABC Board
to dispose of all real estate used as ABC stores, and to
terminate leased property upon which the ABC Board has
operated a government store. The bill requires the ABC Board
to complete an implementation study by December 31, 2009, on
how it will privatize government stores. The bill has a
delayed effective date of January 1, 2010, to achieve full
retail privatization of government stores. The bill provides
that persons holding a retail off-premises wine and beer
license are eligible to obtain a package store license. The
bill contains numerous technical amendments. |
| SB
916 - Stuart
- Fees in civil cases; increases fee for filing in general
district court and in circuit court. |
(S) Committee
for Courts of Justice |
(S) Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (12-Y
3-N) |
01/21/09 |
| notes:
Increases the fee for filing any civil action in general
district court to $100 (currently $27); and increases the fees
for filing a civil action in circuit court to a sliding scale
(currently, between $60 and $160): in cases seeking recovery
up to $50,000 - fee is $150; up to $100,000 - $200; up to
$250,000 - $300; up to $500,000 - $400; up to $1,000,000 -
$500; and above $1,000,000 - $750. |
| SB
964 - Blevins
- Health insurance; requires health insurer, etc., to
calculate amount based on actual charge. |
(S) Committee
on Commerce and Labor |
(S) Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor (11-Y
0-N) |
01/26/09 |
| notes:
Requires a health insurer, health services plan, or health
maintenance organization, when calculating the coinsurance
obligation or other percentage of the cost of covered services
provided to its insured, subscriber, or enrollee, to calculate
the amount based on an amount not to exceed the provider's
actual charge for the service when (i) the health insurer,
health services plan, or health maintenance organization has
agreed to pay the provider a fixed rate or charge for the
covered service without regard to the provider's actual charge
for the service and (ii) the provider's actual charge for the
service is less than the fixed rate or charge for the covered
service that the insurer, health services plan, or health
maintenance organization has agreed to pay to the provider. In
addition, persons covered under a managed care health
insurance plan shall not be liable to the provider for any
amount, other than any required copayment, in excess of the
specified percentage of the cost of the covered service that
is calculated based upon an amount not to exceed the
provider's actual charge for the service provided to the
covered person. Currently, a health insurer, health services
plan, or health maintenance organization is required to
calculate such amount based upon an amount that does not
exceed the amount paid or payable to the provider. |
| SB
971 - Blevins
- Plastic bags; requires that certain stores provide
on-premises recycling, therefor. |
(S) Committee
on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources |
(S) Stricken at request of Patron in Agriculture,
Conservation and Natural Resources (14-Y 0-N) |
01/19/09 |
| notes:
Requires that, effective January 1, 2010, certain stores
provide on-premises recycling for plastic bags. Stores that
are part of a chain or occupy more than 5,000 square feet and
distribute plastic bags to consumers must provide reusable
bags for sale and take back and recycle used plastic bags. If
requested by a store owner, the manufacturer of plastic bags
must offer to arrange for the transportation and recycling
services. Any violation is punishable by a civil penalty of up
to $100. |
| SB
976 - Stuart
- Basic health benefit plans; requires health insurer, etc.,
to offer to eligible individuals. |
(S) Committee
on Commerce and Labor |
(S) Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor (11-Y
0-N) |
01/26/09 |
| notes:
Requires every health insurer, health maintenance
organization, and corporation providing accident and sickness
subscription contracts, as a condition of transacting business
in Virginia, to offer to eligible individuals a basic health
benefit plan. Eligible individuals are residents of the
Commonwealth that have a family income that does not exceed
150 percent of the federal poverty level, have not been
insured within the preceding six months, and are not eligible
for coverage under certain government-sponsored health plans.
Coverage under a basic health insurance policy provides
benefits of at least 75 percent of necessary, reasonable, and
customary charges for medical care, including hospitalization,
surgery, physician services, emergency services, diagnostic
tests, with a minimum annual deductible of $5,000 for the
eligible individual and $10,000 for the eligible individual
and dependent coverage, with maximum annual amount
out-of-pocket limits for co-payments, co-insurance,
deductibles, and other cost-sharing arrangement of $10,000 for
the eligible individual and $20,000 for the eligible
individual and dependents, and with maximum lifetime benefits
of at least $1 million. Such a policy will not provide
benefits for routine physician visits, prescription drugs, or
dental treatment, or for any mandated benefit. |
| SB
1018 - Miller,
J.C. - Hampton Roads Transportation Authority; taxes,
fees, etc. dedicated to financing its operation. |
(S) Committee
on Transportation |
(S) Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) |
02/03/09 |
| notes:
Removes the Counties of James City and York and the Cities of
Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg from the
Hampton Roads Transportation Authority. |
| SB
1273 - Vogel
- Electric utility regulation; SCC to determine rates of
investor-owned electric utilities. |
(S) Committee
on Commerce and Labor |
(S) Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor (11-Y
0-N) |
01/26/09 |
| notes:
Revises the procedures for setting the rates of investor-owned
electric utilities. The State Corporation Commission (SCC)
shall determine rates, for each investor-owned incumbent
utility, that are just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory.
Proceedings shall be governed by the provisions of Chapter 10
of Title 56 and shall provide fair rates of return on common
equity applicable to the generation and distribution services
of the utility. The SCC may use any methodology to determine
rates of return it finds is consistent with the public
interest. In subsequent biennial reviews, the SCC may order
changes in the utility%92s rates to ensure that such rates
continue to be just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory. Rates,
terms and conditions for each service shall be reviewed
separately on an unbundled basis, and such reviews shall be
conducted in a single, combined proceeding. In the initial
rate proceeding, the SCC is required to direct each incumbent
electric utility to refund to retail customers the amount by
which its actual stranded cost recoveries under capped rates
exceeded the stranded costs actually incurred by the utility,
which refunds shall be based on customer usage in 2008.
Provisions applicable to rate caps shall not be applicable to
incumbent electric utilities after the SCC's establishment of
new rates. The measure repeals provisions that (i) established
parameters in setting the rate of return on equity, (ii)
authorize utilities to seek rate adjustment clauses for
specific costs on a stand-alone basis, (iii) direct the SCC to
approve an enhanced rate of return for certain generation
facilities, and (iv) establish various other checks on the
utility's rates.
|