ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, January 30, 1996 TAG: 9601300053
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Legislative Journal
Del. Tommy Baker, R-Pulaski County, reports this week that he has co-sponsored a bill that will instruct the Department of Education and the attorney general's office to develop guidelines to reintroduce the daily recital of the Pledge of Allegiance in our public schools.
Baker remains opposed to a bill allowing private liquor stores to replace state-run ABC stores in jurisdictions that approve such by referendum. "I continue to believe that alcohol should be controlled by the state to help prevent organized crime's illegal sales and sales to minors," he said.
He also remains opposed to a bill that would mandate seat-belt use by all automobile passengers and would allow "police to ticket you at any time when their see you are not wearing a seat belt. This bill last made it to the House floor in 1991, and was defeated. At that time, your calls and correspondence were against this measure and I also voted to help defeat it at that time. ... We should all have the common sense to wear a safety belt, but we shouldn't be fined if we forget or choose not to wear one."
Budget requests Baker will handle this session include "amendments to provide funding to help develop Radford University's presence in the Roanoke Valley through development of certain bachelor degree programs to be offered by Radford University at Virginia Western Community College. I will also be patroning a number of measures to provide funds for construction at Radford University."
State Sen. Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, R-Fincastle, is chaperoning the following bills through the assembly this year:
Three study resolutions for the Alleghany Highland Economic Development Authority, Dabney Lancaster Community College and Douthat State Park.
Education bills regarding special education, state education assistance, the Virginia Student Assistance Authority and the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center.
"My emphasis this year will be ... items that benefit the educational opportunity of our students in both higher education, community colleges and public education," he says.
Del. Jim Shuler, D-Blacksburg, takes time out this week to laud the work of volunteer firefighters and rescue squads, today's "unsung heroes.
"In an effort to give them a small reward, I am co-sponsoring legislation requesting the Virginia Retirement System provide a study on the feasibility of establishing a retirement fund for volunteer firefighters and rescue squad personnel."
Other legislation he is sponsoring includes:
A bill "that would allow any part-time employee of the state, who works at least 20 hours per week, the ability to purchase the same health insurance that full-time employees currently receive. This would not cost the state any money, but would give these employees access to health care at a much reduced rate."
A budget amendment "that would prevent any loss to our schools due to changes in the funding formula. This amendment would provide an additional $130,000 for Giles County and $363,000 for Montgomery County." Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville is sponsoring the same measure on the Senate side.
Budget amendments that would help cover costs for Giles County's Department of Social Services, which just moved into a new building, and Montgomery County's Department of Social Services, which has begun construction on a new building.
An amendment that would provide $44,450 for the Giles County Historical Society. The society raised $238,000 to preserve the historical Johnston House and attached doctor's office and erect a county museum. Completing the renovations will require an additional $44,450.
State Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville, highlights three of his measures this week:
A resolution proposing a constitutional amendment that would add one member to the Virginia Senate and one member to the House of Delegates. In addition to solving the problem of potential deadlock, this would serve to reduce the tremendous size of the Senate districts and improve representation of Virginia's citizens.
A bill that would allow properly licensed nursing facilities, including hospitals and nursing homes, to offer certain other operations within their facilities, such as adult day-care services. That way, older citizens could live in their own homes until later in life because they could take advantage of supervised day programs.
A bill that, if the Supreme Court considers the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership an adequate alternative to Virginia Military Institute, would make VWIL students eligible for state cadetships.
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