Virginia 2023 Regular Session All Bills (Page 130)
Page 130 of 202
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1069
Introduced
1/9/23
Refer
1/9/23
Report Pass
1/19/23
Report Pass
2/2/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/10/23
Report Pass
2/16/23
Enrolled
2/24/23
Chaptered
3/21/23
Passed
3/21/23
Drivers stopping for pedestrians; certain signs; stops. Requires the driver of a vehicle on a highway approaching a pedestrian who is crossing such highway to stop when such pedestrian is within the driver's lane or within an adjacent lane and approaching the driver's lane. Currently, a driver is required to yield the right-of-way to such pedestrian by stopping and remaining stopped. The bill also provides that localities that are already authorized to install signs directing motor vehicles to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing or attempting to cross a highway may also install signs directing motor vehicles to stop for such pedestrians. Drivers stopping for pedestrians; certain signs; stops. Requires the driver of a vehicle on a highway approaching a pedestrian who is crossing such highway to stop when such pedestrian is within the driver's lane or within an adjacent lane and approaching the driver's lane. Currently, a driver is required to yield the right-of-way to such pedestrian by stopping and remaining stopped. The bill also provides that localities that are already authorized to install signs directing motor vehicles to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing or attempting to cross a highway may also install signs directing motor vehicles to stop for such pedestrians.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1070
Introduced
1/9/23
Refer
1/9/23
Parental access to minor's medical records. Prohibits denial of parental access to the medical records of such parent's minor child, unless federal law requires the minor child's consent.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1071
Introduced
1/9/23
Refer
1/9/23
Report Pass
1/18/23
Report Pass
2/2/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/8/23
Report Pass
2/9/23
Enrolled
2/16/23
Chaptered
3/22/23
Passed
3/22/23
Department of Veterans Services; mental health and rehabilitative services; Military Spouse Liaison. Adds military service members transitioning from military to civilian life to the list of persons supported by the program for mental health and rehabilitative services administered by the Department of Veterans Services. The bill requires the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services to include in the Department's annual report data related to such transitioning service members and an overview of the activities of the Military Spouse Liaison, including any legislative recommendations.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1072
Introduced
1/9/23
Refer
1/9/23
Report Pass
1/26/23
Engrossed
1/30/23
Refer
2/10/23
Report Pass
2/13/23
Engrossed
2/17/23
Engrossed
2/20/23
Enrolled
2/23/23
Chaptered
3/23/23
Passed
3/23/23
Public schools; codes of student conduct; policies and procedures prohibiting bullying; parental notification. Requires each local school board to require the principal of each public school or his designee to notify the parent of any student who is involved in an alleged bullying incident of the alleged incident within 24 hours of learning of such allegation. Current law only requires the principal to notify any such parent of the status of any investigation into an alleged incident of bullying within five school days of when such allegation was made.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1073
Introduced
1/9/23
Refer
1/9/23
Report Pass
1/18/23
Engrossed
1/23/23
Refer
2/8/23
Report Pass
2/13/23
Engrossed
2/16/23
Engrossed
2/20/23
Enrolled
2/23/23
Chaptered
3/16/23
Passed
3/16/23
Unmanned aircraft systems; trespass over correctional facilities; penalty. Prohibits any unmanned aircraft system from (i) dropping any item within the boundaries of or (ii) obtaining any videographic or still image of any identifiable inmate or resident at any state or local correctional facility or juvenile correctional center without consent or authorization. A violation of this prohibition is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1074
Introduced
1/9/23
Refer
1/9/23
Report Pass
1/24/23
Report Pass
2/1/23
Engrossed
2/3/23
Refer
2/8/23
Report Pass
2/8/23
Enrolled
2/15/23
Chaptered
3/22/23
Passed
3/22/23
Use of subaqueous beds; nontidal waters; permit requirements; penalty. Authorizes any person to build, dump, trespass, encroach upon or over, or take or use any materials from subaqueous beds that are the property of the Commonwealth, provided that such activity is conducted in nontidal waters and such person obtains a Virginia Water Protection Permit and complies with all requirements of the Virginia Water Resources and Wetlands Protection Program. A violation of the provisions of the bill is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1075
Introduced
1/9/23
Refer
1/9/23
Report Pass
1/23/23
Engrossed
1/26/23
Refer
2/8/23
Report Pass
2/16/23
Engrossed
2/22/23
Engrossed
2/23/23
Enrolled
3/7/23
Chaptered
4/12/23
Phase I Utilities; deferred fuel costs; biennial reviews. Authorizes Appalachian Power to petition the State Corporation Commission (the Commission) for a financing order for deferred fuel costs. The bill sets forth specific transaction terms and other provisions related to the financing order. Before granting a financing order, the Commission is required to find that (i) the proposed issuance of deferred fuel cost bonds is in the public interest and the associated deferred fuel cost charges are just and reasonable and (ii) the structuring and pricing of the deferred fuel cost bonds are reasonably expected to result in reasonable deferred fuel cost charges consistent with market conditions at the time the deferred fuel cost bonds are priced and the terms set forth in such financing order. The bill requires the financing order to include, among other things: (a) the amount of deferred fuel costs to be financed using deferred fuel cost bonds; (b) a requirement that deferred fuel cost charges authorized under a financing order are non-bypassable and paid by all retail customers of the electric utility, irrespective of the generation supplier of such customer, except for certain exempt customers; (c) a formula-based true-up mechanism for making annual adjustments to the deferred fuel cost charges; and (d) a method of tracing funds collected as deferred fuel cost charges. The bill requires the utility to permit certain retail customers to opt out of financing the customer's pro rata obligation for the deferred fuel cost charges through deferred fuel cost bonds. Under the bill, the financing order is irrevocable. Phase I Utilities; deferred fuel costs; biennial reviews. Authorizes Appalachian Power to petition the State Corporation Commission (the Commission) for a financing order for deferred fuel costs. The bill sets forth specific transaction terms and other provisions related to the financing order. Before granting a financing order, the Commission is required to find that (i) the proposed issuance of deferred fuel cost bonds is in the public interest and the associated deferred fuel cost charges are just and reasonable and (ii) the structuring and pricing of the deferred fuel cost bonds are reasonably expected to result in reasonable deferred fuel cost charges consistent with market conditions at the time the deferred fuel cost bonds are priced and the terms set forth in such financing order. The bill requires the financing order to include, among other things: (a) the amount of deferred fuel costs to be financed using deferred fuel cost bonds; (b) a requirement that deferred fuel cost charges authorized under a financing order are non-bypassable and paid by all retail customers of the electric utility, irrespective of the generation supplier of such customer, except for certain exempt customers; (c) a formula-based true-up mechanism for making annual adjustments to the deferred fuel cost charges; and (d) a method of tracing funds collected as deferred fuel cost charges. The bill requires the utility to permit certain retail customers to opt out of financing the customer's pro rata obligation for the deferred fuel cost charges through deferred fuel cost bonds. Under the bill, the financing order is irrevocable. The bill creates the deferred fuel cost charge and provides that the revenues generated by this charge, known as deferred fuel cost property, are a property right that can be transferred and pledged as security for the deferred fuel cost bonds. The bill establishes the procedures for creating, perfecting, and enforcing the security interest in deferred fuel cost property. The bill includes a state non-impairment obligation. Under the bill, if the deferred fuel cost bonds are issued, the Commonwealth and its agencies, including the Commission, agree not to take any action that would limit or alter the deferred fuel cost charges until the deferred fuel cost bonds have been paid and performed in full. The bill makes various changes to procedures under which the Commission reviews the earnings and sets the rates of Appalachian Power. The bill provides that, in lieu of the triennial review proceedings required under current law, Appalachian Power will be subject to biennial reviews of their rates, terms, and conditions for generation and distribution services, with the first review commencing on March 31, 2024. The bill requires the Commission, in each biennial review, to conduct a proceeding to review all rates, terms, and conditions for generation and distribution services, with such proceeding utilizing the two successive 12-month test periods ending December 31 immediately preceding the year in which such proceeding is conducted. The bill provides that in each biennial review proceeding, the Commission will set the fair rate of return on common equity applicable to the generation and distribution services of the utility for the two such services combined and for certain approved rate adjustment clauses. The bill provides that the Commission may use any methodology it finds consistent with the public interest to determine Appalachian Power's fair rate of return on common equity. Additionally, the bill provides that the Commission may increase or decrease the combined rate of return for generation and distribution services by up to 50 basis points based on the reliability, generating plant performance, customer service, and operating efficiency of a utility, as compared to nationally recognized standards determined by the Commission to be appropriate for such purposes. The bill requires the Commission, before December 31, 2023, to direct the initiation of a proceeding to review and determine the appropriate protocols and standards applicable to implementing any such performance-based adjustments. The bill provides that if the Commission determines in its sole discretion that the utility's existing rates for generation and distribution services will, on a going-forward basis, either produce (1) revenues in excess of the utility's authorized rate of return or (2) revenues below the utility's authorized rate of return, then the Commission is required to order any reductions or increases, as applicable and necessary, to such rates for generation and distribution services that it deems appropriate to ensure the resulting rates for generation and distribution services (A) are just and reasonable and (B) provide the utility an opportunity to recover its costs. The bill provides that, if in any biennial review, the Commission finds that, during the test period under review, the utility has earned more than 100 basis points above the authorized fair combined rate of return on its generation or distribution services, the Commission will direct that 100 percent of the amount of such earnings that were more than 100 basis points above such fair combined rate of return be credited to customers' bills. The bill requires the Commission to authorize deferred recovery for reasonable (I) actual costs associated with severe weather events and (II) actual costs associated with natural disasters, not currently in rates, and provides that the Commission shall allow the utility to amortize and recover such deferred costs over future periods as determined by the Commission. The bill provides that the Commission is authorized to determine during any biennial review the reasonableness or prudence of any cost subject to the rate review incurred or projected to be incurred by the utility. The bill removes the requirement for Appalachian Power to file an integrated resource plan with the Commission.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1076
Introduced
1/9/23
Refer
1/9/23
Certain institutions of higher education; financial assistance; noncredit workforce training program; student grants; reimbursement. Increases from $3,000 to $4,000 the maximum amount for which the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia shall reimburse an eligible institution of higher education per completed noncredit workforce training program per eligible student pursuant to the New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program. Current law provides that the Council shall reimburse an eligible institution an amount equal to one-third of the cost of the noncredit workforce training program, not to exceed $3,000, per eligible student upon such eligible student's completion of the program.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1077
Introduced
1/9/23
Refer
1/9/23
Report Pass
1/19/23
Report Pass
2/1/23
Engrossed
2/3/23
Refer
2/10/23
Report Pass
2/13/23
Refer
2/13/23
Richard Bland College; governance. Removes the authority of the board of visitors of The College of William and Mary in Virginia to supervise, manage, and control Richard Bland College and establishes the 12-member board of visitors of Richard Bland College to generally direct the affairs of the College, including appointing all teachers and fixing their salaries, providing for the employment of other personnel as required, and caring for and preserving all property belonging to Richard Bland College. The bill provides for the transfer of relevant property and rights thereto, contracts, and duties from the board of visitors of The College of William and Mary in Virginia to the board of visitors of Richard Bland College. The bill also requires the board of visitors of Richard Bland College to focus its efforts on preparing students for academic and career success and permits the board to take several enumerated actions in furtherance of such efforts. Finally, the bill provides that the audit conducted by the Auditor of Public Accounts for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2023, will be the last audit for which Richard Bland College is treated as a consolidated entity of the board of visitors of The College of William and Mary in Virginia and that beginning with the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2024, the Auditor of Public Accounts shall submit its audit report on Richard Bland College to the board of visitors of Richard Bland College.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1078
Introduced
1/9/23
Refer
1/9/23
Siting of data centers; impacts on resources; site assessment. Provides that any local government land use application required for the siting of a data center shall only be approved in areas where the data center (i) will have a minimal impact on historic, agricultural, and cultural resources and (ii) will not be within one mile of a national park or state park or other historically significant site. The bill also requires that prior to any such approval, a site assessment shall be performed to examine the effect of the data center on water usage and carbon emissions as well as any impacts on agricultural resources.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1079
Introduced
1/9/23
Refer
1/9/23
Report Pass
1/25/23
Engrossed
1/27/23
Refer
2/10/23
Report Pass
2/14/23
Engrossed
2/17/23
Engrossed
2/20/23
Enrolled
2/23/23
Chaptered
3/23/23
Passed
3/23/23
Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund. Allocates 3.5 percent of the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund to commuter rail systems jointly operated by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission and excludes such commuter rail systems from receiving allocations pursuant to other distributions of the Fund. The bill requires such commuter rail systems to submit reports to the Commonwealth Transportation Board. The bill limits allocations by the NVTC for distribution to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to 50 percent of the total operating and capital assistance required to be provided by NVTC or other Virginia entities in the approved WMATA budget and establishes reporting requirements for WMATA. The bill codifies requirements for WMATA to adopt and submit certain planning documents first required pursuant to the eighth enactment of Chapter 854 and the eighth enactment of Chapter 856 of the Acts of Assembly of 2018 and repeals the original requirements.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1080
Introduced
1/9/23
Refer
1/9/23
Report Pass
1/30/23
Juvenile and domestic relations district courts; Department of Juvenile Justice; adjudication of delinquency. Raises the maximum age for delinquency matters in juvenile and domestic relations district courts from persons under 18 years of age to persons under 21 years of age. The bill defines "underage person" as an individual who is 18 years of age or older but younger than 21 years of age. The bill adds underage persons to all provisions regarding delinquency proceedings in juvenile and domestic relations district courts, the transfer of delinquency matters to circuit courts, and criminal procedure as currently applies to juveniles only. The bill differentiates between juveniles and underage persons in specific circumstances, including consent for medical or mental health records or procedures, mental health screenings in secure detention facilities, and provisions regarding release on bail or recognizance. The bill also specifies that a delinquent child is a child 11 years of age or older who has committed a delinquent act. Currently, there is no minimum age for a child to be adjudicated delinquent. The bill provides that if a juvenile younger than 11 years of age is found to have committed a delinquent act, the juvenile shall not be proceeded upon as delinquent; however, the court may make any orders of disposition authorized for a child in need of services or a child in need of supervision. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1081
Introduced
1/9/23
Refer
1/9/23
Report Pass
1/25/23
Engrossed
1/30/23
Refer
2/10/23
Report Pass
2/14/23
Enrolled
2/22/23
Chaptered
4/12/23
Office of the Children's Ombudsman. Repeals the Children's Advocacy Fund, created to support the Office of the Children's Ombudsman (Office), as general funds are used to fund the Office. The definition of "abused and neglected child" is amended to match the definition in Title 63.2. The bill removes the authority previously granted to the Office to investigate "adoption attorneys." The bill also clarifies that the Office is exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Finally, the bill contains several technical amendments.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1082
Introduced
1/9/23
Refer
1/9/23
Report Pass
1/25/23
Report Pass
2/1/23
Engrossed
2/3/23
Refer
2/10/23
Report Pass
2/16/23
Refer
2/16/23
Report Pass
2/20/23
Enrolled
3/7/23
Chaptered
3/26/23
Passed
3/26/23
Department of Veterans Services; post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury treatments; data collection. Allows the Department of Veterans Services to contract with any hyperbaric clinic providing medical-grade 100 percent oxygen in U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved chambers in the Commonwealth or any hospital that furnishes a comprehensive treatment program that includes medication, psychotherapy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, from an accredited program, to any veteran in the Commonwealth who has been certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any branch of the United States Armed Forces as having post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury. The Department shall include in any contract with such clinic or hospital the requirement that data be collected to assess the efficacy of such treatments for veterans and any other information deemed relevant by the Department. Department of Veterans Services; post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury treatments; data collection. Allows the Department of Veterans Services to contract with any hyperbaric clinic providing medical-grade 100 percent oxygen in U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved chambers in the Commonwealth or any hospital that furnishes a comprehensive treatment program that includes medication, psychotherapy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, from an accredited program, to any veteran in the Commonwealth who has been certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any branch of the United States Armed Forces as having post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury. The Department shall include in any contract with such clinic or hospital the requirement that data be collected to assess the efficacy of such treatments for veterans and any other information deemed relevant by the Department.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1083
Introduced
1/9/23
Refer
1/9/23
Report Pass
2/6/23
Engrossed
2/7/23
Refer
2/10/23
Shared solar programs; Phase I Utility; report. Requires the State Corporation Commission to establish by regulation a shared solar program that allows customers of a Phase I Utility to purchase electric power through a subscription in a shared solar facility, defined in the bill as a facility that, among other criteria, generates electricity by means of a solar photovoltaic device with a nameplate capacity that does not exceed 5,000 kilowatts. The bill provides that a customer's net bill for participation in the shared solar program shall not exceed the minimum bill that the Commission is required to establish, provides considerations for the Commission in establishing such minimum bill, such as minimizing the costs shifted to nonparticipating customers, and provides that the calculation of a customer's minimum bill each month shall be based on kilowatt hours billed by the utility rather than the subscriber's portion of shared solar utility generation. The bill provides that the Commission shall approve a shared solar program of 150 megawatts with a minimum requirement of 30 percent low-income customers and that an additional 50 megawatts shall be approved by the Commission upon determining that at least 45 megawatts of the aggregated shared solar capacity in the Commonwealth are subscribed to by low-income customers. The bill requires that any rule or utility implementation filings approved by the Commission shall allow all jurisdictional and nonjurisdictional customer classes to participate in the program, create a stakeholder work group to facilitate low-income customer and low-income service organization participation in the program, and encourage public-private partnerships to further the Commonwealth's clean energy and equity goals among other requirements. Shared solar programs; Phase I Utility; report. Requires the State Corporation Commission to establish by regulation a shared solar program that allows customers of a Phase I Utility to purchase electric power through a subscription in a shared solar facility, defined in the bill as a facility that, among other criteria, generates electricity by means of a solar photovoltaic device with a nameplate capacity that does not exceed 5,000 kilowatts. The bill provides that a customer's net bill for participation in the shared solar program shall not exceed the minimum bill that the Commission is required to establish, provides considerations for the Commission in establishing such minimum bill, such as minimizing the costs shifted to nonparticipating customers, and provides that the calculation of a customer's minimum bill each month shall be based on kilowatt hours billed by the utility rather than the subscriber's portion of shared solar utility generation. The bill provides that the Commission shall approve a shared solar program of 150 megawatts with a minimum requirement of 30 percent low-income customers and that an additional 50 megawatts shall be approved by the Commission upon determining that at least 45 megawatts of the aggregated shared solar capacity in the Commonwealth are subscribed to by low-income customers. The bill requires that any rule or utility implementation filings approved by the Commission shall allow all jurisdictional and nonjurisdictional customer classes to participate in the program, create a stakeholder work group to facilitate low-income customer and low-income service organization participation in the program, and encourage public-private partnerships to further the Commonwealth's clean energy and equity goals among other requirements.