ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 6, 1996 TAG: 9602060045
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Legislative Journal
Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, talks about voting against a bill that would affect the rights of gun owners:
The bill "if passed, would prohibit the purchase of a handgun under a variety of scenarios," said Griffith. "If for any reason you were ever dishonorably discharged from the military, even if that was 30 years ago, you would never be allowed to legally purchase a handgun. Even a conviction of drunk in public would ban you from purchasing a handgun for three years."
Griffith was one of two subcommittee members to vote against the bill, which now goes to the full committee.
The legislator, who represents part of Montgomery County, also says he will support legislation to protect the state's student loan program.
Del. Tommy Baker, R-Pulaski County, said he couldn't believe it when representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union testified against a bill he sponsored concerning the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom. He criticized the ACLU's stand as defending a student's constitutional right to "doodle" while others recite the pledge.
"Notwithstanding their objections, the bill easily left the committee by a vote of 19-3. The measure passed by a 91-8 vote before the full House on Wednesday."
Baker also spoke of compromise this week on juvenile justice legislation.
Members of legislative and gubernatorial task forces agreed that a 14-year-old charged with murder or rape will be automatically tried as an adult. Commonwealth's attorneys will have the option to request that juveniles who commit other serious offenses, such as malicious wounding and robbery, be tried as adults. And juvenile felony trials will now be open to the public.
Del. Jim Shuler, D-Blacksburg, also talks this week about the overhaul planned for the juvenile justice system, the first major overhaul in 20 years. "It is a fact that kids are committing more serious crimes at an earlier age," he says. "However, 87 percent of the juvenile court cases deal with youngsters accused of nonviolent crimes. The 13 percent who commit serious, violent crimes are invariably kids who have had numerous previous contacts with the juvenile system."
The new legislation involves a two-pronged approach for dealing with them, he said. "It includes severe penalties for juveniles accused of violent crimes and the construction of new prison facilities to house them. It also gives judges more tools to deal with those accused of nonviolent crimes. Strong intervention at an early age can help prevent more serious crimes as the youth ages.
"We cannot discard the children; our only hope is that we can reach them at an early age and give them the tools to redirect their lives."
The House of Delegates is debating two measures that could offer significant aid to the New River Valley. The first establishes an incentive fund for localities to plan and develop regional services. The New River Valley already has a regional Economic Development Alliance. Its regional Planning District Commission is also conducting a Vision 2000 project to look toward the future.
"The proposed fund would begin with $50 million in 1997 and eventually reach $200 million. A companion measure would permit localities to invest jointly in economic development projects with all revenues shared between the localities. ... Cooperative efforts to address issues such as water and sewer, transportation, and economic development can provide significant savings to taxpayers."
Sen. Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, R-Fincastle, is working on a number of issues related to economic development and education.
Two of his budget amendments include:
$50,000 for planning the Virginia Institute for School Leadership and Teacher Training for Technology Utilization. It would provide planning funds for an institute to train principals and teachers on using computer and telecommunications technology.
that the superintendent of public instruction and the state treasurer study establishing an Elementary and Secondary Education Equipment Trust Fund to pay for educational technology equipment and infrastructure in Virginia's public schools.
Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville, was never one to hide his age. As a senior member of the General Assembly, he has introduced two bills pertaining to his peers: retirees.
The first would help retired teachers with health insurance costs. Retired teachers with at least 15 years of service under the Virginia Retirement System would receive a monthly credit for health insurance, paid by the state, to help defray costs of health premiums. The bill also allows localities to provide similar benefits.
The second bill is for the federal military employees who paid state taxes prior to the recent court ruling that they should not have been required to do so. Many of those employees who were eligible for a settlement from the state missed the deadline for filing for those funds. The bill establishes an additional 60-day period for these individuals to file claims.
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1996by CNB