ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 16, 1996 TAG: 9602160019
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: INFORMATION COMPILED BY DAVID M. POOLE AND ROBERT LITTLE
This week - halfway through the 60-day Virginia legislative session - representatives acted on hundreds of proposed laws.
In the General Assembly, a bill becomes law if it passes the House of Delegates and the Senate and is signed by the governor.
Some bills are introduced in both houses, others originate in only one. If different versions of the same bill pass in the two houses, lawmakers meet in "conference committees" to reach compromise before the March 9 adjournment. A bill that passes one house moves to the other during this "crossover" week.
BUSINESS
Trigon Conversion (HB 1471, SB 590)
Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield is seeking blessing of its conversion to a for-profit stock company. The assembly would get at least $175 million; Trigon would get assurances that the State Corporation Commission could not amend key provisions of its plan.
Status: Pending on House and Senate floor.
BPOL (HB 293, SB 587)
Would exempt some small businesses from the paperwork involved in local taxes on gross receipts.
Status: Passed House and Senate.
AFDC Preference (SB 452)
Would recommend that state contractors give preference to welfare recipients when hiring.
Status: Passed the Senate.
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
Violent Juveniles Tried as Adults (HB 251, SB 44)
Part of a broad juvenile justice reform package. Senate version would treat all violent juveniles as adults; House version, only murderers and some others.
Status: Passed both houses. Differences still need to be reconciled.
Public Access to Juvenile Records (HB 207, SB 57)
Would open juvenile court proceedings and juvenile records to the public in criminal cases.
Status: Passed both houses.
Death Penalty for Serial Killers (SB 513)
Adds serial killing to the capital punishment laws. Multiple killings are already addressed, but not if they don't occur at the same time.
Status: Passed the Senate.
Feticide (SB 495)
Would make killing a viable fetus - except by legal abortion - the equivalent of first-degree murder.
Status: Passed the Senate.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Direct incentives (HB 493, HB 495,SB 238, SB 253)
Changes state policy to provide direct payments to Motorola and IBM/Toshiba consortium if the companies meet performance standards at proposed computer chip plants near Richmond and Manassas, respectively. Motorola could qualify for $60 million; IBM/Toshiba could get $38.4 million
Status: Passed House and Senate.
Urban Partnership (HB 1515)
Provides the framework for promoting cooperation betweeen urban, suburban and rural governments. Proponents want funding for a $50 million incentive package.
Status: Passed House and Senate; Funding still pending.
EDUCATION
Teacher Immunity (SB 472)
Would codify Supreme Court decision giving teachers immunity from lawsuits when acting in good faith in their normal duties.
Status: Passed in Senate.
Charter Schools (HB 776)
Would allow school boards to contract with private groups to operate experimental, public schools funded by the public but free of many state regulations.
Status: Defeated in House committee.
Parental Responsibility Fines (HB 1199)
Repeals the law fining parents $50 when they don't sign a contract supporting the public schools' disciplinary policies.
Status: Passed the House.
Assaults on Teachers (SB 20)
Would impose a mandatory 10-day jail term for any juvenile convicted of assaulting a teacher or correctional officer.
Status: Passed the Senate.
School for Deaf and Blind (SB 522)
Would close the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Hampton, merging it with a similar school in Staunton.
Defeated in the Senate.
National Business College (HJR 310)
Would allow students at the Salem-based chain of for-profit schools to receive $1,500 tuition assistance grants now given only to students at private, non-profit colleges.
Status: Killed in House committee.
ELECTIONS
Motor Voter (HB 206, SB 101)
Implements the National Voter Registration Act, allowing citizens to register to vote at the Department of Motor Vehicles or other state agencies.
Status: Passed the House.
Limits on Contributions (HB 864)
Would cap the amount individuals and corporations may contribute to state political groups or election campaigns.
Status: Action deferred to 1997.
ENVIRONMENT
Citizen Lawsuits (HB 1412)
Would bring Virginia into conformity with federal law allowing citizens to challenge air pollution permits in court.
Status: Passed the House.
Public Comment on Permits (SB 337)
Would limit public participation in setting standards for general pllution permits covering broad categories of businesses.
Status: Passed the Senate.
FAMILY AND CHILDREN
Domestic Violence Arrests (SB 112)
Allows police to automatically arrest suspects of domestic violence without an arrest warrant.
Status: Passed the Senate.
Joint Custody Presumption (SB 496)
Says that judges hearing child custody cases will start with the presumption that there will be joint custody among the parents.
Status: Passed the Senate.
Parental Notification (HB 267, SB 25)
Requiring doctors to notify the parents or guardians of anyone younger than 18 who wants an abortion.
Status: Passed the House. Defeated in Senate committee.
Photo ID for Tobacco Sales (HB 1416)
Would require store clerks to ask for a driver's license or other photo identification before selling cigarettes to persons who appear under 18.
Status: Passed the House.
GAMBLING
Powerball and Keno (HB 458)
Would prohibit the Lottery Department from creating two new games, Powerland keno.
Status: Amended by a House committee to prohibit only keno, then carried over until next year.
Riverboat Gambling (HB 1132)
Orders a statewide referendum for approval of riverboat casino gambling in Hampton Roads.
Status: Defeated in the House.
GUNS
Concealed Weapons (SB 102)
Would overturn the 1995 law making it easier for Virginians to get permits to carry concealed weapons.
Status: Defeated in Senate committee.
Concealed Weapons in Bars (SB 436)
Repeals a law prohibiting carrying concealed weapons into any place with an on-premises ABC license.
Status: Passed the Senate.
Clerks of Courts and Concealed Weapons (SB 403)
Would allow court clerks to issue concealed weapon permits when applicants qualify, rather than wait for a judge to issue the permit.
Status: Passed the Senate.
Guns in Park (HB 221)
Would allow Roanoke City Council to ban guns in city parks.
Status: Killed in House
HEALTH CARE
Maternity Stay (HB 87)
Would prevent insurance companies from automatically making women leave hospital within 24 hours of giving birth.
Status: Passed the House.
OB-GYN Access (HB 442)
Would allow women to visit gynecologists without first getting permission of primary care physician.
Status: Passed the House.
HMO Disclosure (HB 1393)
Would require managed care companies to disclose when doctors have incentives not to refer patients to specialists.
Status: Passed the House.
Point of Service
The assembly will study whether insurance companies should give people affordable option of seeing any physician, not just those in managed care plan.
Status: Action delayed until 1997.
Mammograms and Pap tests (SB 431, SB 432)
Requiring that all health care providers in Virginia cover annual mammograms and regular Pap tests for women customers
Status: Passed the Senate.
TRANSPORTATION
Speed Limits (HB 1242; SJR 7)
Would establish speed limits as high as 70 mph on some highways, as allowed by new federal laws.
Status: Defeated in House; Senate asks for task force study.
Learners Permits (HB 1462)
Would raise from 18 to 21 the age of front-seat passengers allowed with teen-ager with learner's permit license.
Status: Passed the House.
Pickup Truck Passengers (HB 931)
Would ban children under 16 from riding in the open bed of pickups on interstate highways. Gov. George Allen vetoed the bill last year.
Status: Passed the House.
OTHER
Edward William Honaker Relief (HB 222)
Pays $500,000 in damages to a Roanoke man imprisoned 10 years for a rape he didn't commit.
Status: Passed the House 98-1.
For more details on specific bills:
Call Legislative Information at 804-786-6530.
Access the General Assembly's database on the Internet at: http://www.state.va.us/dlas/welcome.htm
To leave a message for a legislator:
Call 1-800-889-0229 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
LENGTH: Long : 256 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1996by CNB