Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 1, 1991 TAG: 9102010457
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
School uniforms: The House voted 78-21 to pass a bill allowing public school boards to require students to wear uniforms.
VMI admissions: A bill that would force Virginia Military Institute to admit women was defeated in the Senate Education and Health Committee. Story on B1.
School mandates: The Education and Health Committee defeated with a 7-7 vote a bill that would have waived mandates for local schools hurt by state budget cuts.
School disparity: The Education and Health Committee approved a bill that would establish a legislative commission to study school disparity.
Sales tax: A bill that would raise the sales tax from 4.5 percent to 5 percent was referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
Theft hotline: The Senate voted 38-0 to approve a bill that would set up a hotline for catching car thieves.
Land prices: The Senate voted 24-12 to approve a Wilder administration bill that would have juries of citizens and landowners decide the fair price of land to be condemned for highway projects.
Pet controls: The Senate voted 29-8 to approve a bill that would set up procedures for controlling dangerous or vicious pets.
Speed limit: The Senate Transportation Committee voted 8-7 for a bill that would raise the speed limit for trucks from 55 mph to 65 mph.
Young riders: The Senate Transportation Committee voted 7-6 to kill a bill that would have forbidden children younger than 16 from riding in the backs of pickup trucks on highways with speed limits of 55 mph or higher.
Clemency requested: Nineteen General Assembly members asked Gov. Douglas Wilder to intervene to halt the scheduled Feb. 22 execution of Joseph Giarratano, who was convicted in a double slaying in Norfolk. Questions have been raised about his guilt.
Early retirement: The House Appropriations Committee endorsed a bill establishing an early retirement program for state workers.
Train stock: The Appropriations Committee voted 12-3 to send to the House floor a bill authorizing the state retirement system to sell its stock in RF&P Corp.
Building jails: The House Courts of Justice Committee voted 12-7 to endorse three bills authorizing the state to contract with private companies for construction and operation of six correctional facilities.
Financial aid: The House sent to its Education Committee a bill withholding payments for aid to dependent children if the applicant does not comply with thestate's compulsory school attendance law.
Criminal checks: The House adopted an amendment expanding the criminal background check on firearms purchases to make it apply to all guns other than antiques, then gave the measure preliminary approval.
by CNB