ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 20, 1996 TAG: 9602200026
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Legislative Journal
Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, offers a little background this week as to why he introduced legislation naming April 26 Virginia's Organ Donor Day.
The suggestion started with former Del. Ward Teel, who represented the New River Valley for 10 years.
"Ward and I had discussed getting together for lunch in November 1994, but I was unable to reach him," Griffith said. "Then, in January 1995, he walked into my office and said he had undergone a heart transplant."
Teel and other locals are examples of how Virginians can benefit from organ donation. Those who died waiting for transplants are more tragic examples of the need for organ donors, Griffith said. "If you are not currently enrolled as an organ donor, you may go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to change your status. You also must make sure your next of kin knows of your desire so they can give authorization at the time of death."
Also last week, the Agriculture Committee reached a compromise on the language of a bill concerning wolf/canine hybrids. "After numerous discussions domestic dogs which are bred with wolves and coyotes."
Del. Jim Shuler, D-Blacksburg, talks this week about the "Patient Protection Act," a managed care bill that has been the subject of debate and compromise in his subcommittee. The new legislation, which passed the House and is before the Senate, would:
Require insurers and HMOs to give 60 days notice to providers and patients before terminating a provider (physician, therapist clinic, etc.)
Require insurers and HMOs to disclose any financial incentives to providers that limit the amount or type of health service.
Require all plans to be written in "understandable language with practical applications."
Prohibit any contract that prevents discussion of medical treatment options.
Prohibit any contract that requires providers to waive their rights to take legal action when they believe they have been wronged.
"We also approved a companion bill that will require managed care plans to allow women unlimited visits to their OB/GYN," Shuler said.
Also before the Senate is a piece of legislation that would amend the Business, Professional and Occupational License Tax to protect the smallest businesses. Businesses that took in less than $100,000 in localities with more than 50,000 population would be exempt, Shuler said. In localities of less than 50,000, a business that had gross revenues of $50,000 or less would be exempt.
Del. Tommy Baker, R-Pulaski County, plans to support the Senate bill known as "feticide" legislation. "This bill will make it a felony to kill a mother's unborn child," Baker said. He expects the bill to receive some opposition in the House.
A parental notification bill, though, passed the House by a significant margin. The bill was amended to remove the ability to give abortion notice to adult brothers, sisters or grandparents, Baker said. "Thus parents will now be the ones that must be notified." The governor has indicated he would sign the bill as passed by the House.
Baker also voted against the riverboat gambling measure, which was killed in the House by an unexpectedly large margin.
He voted against a bill to raise speed limits, as did the majority of the delegates, and for a bill requiring photo ID's to purchase cigarettes. The bill passed 82-17.
Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville, is chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources. He talks this week about some of the varied bills he's considered this year - everything from protection for the blue crab to the wolf/canine hybrid bill Griffith spoke about earlier.
One of those bills exempts Virginia residents under the age of 12 from having to obtain a hunting license. It also establishes a combined license for youths, ages 12-15, for hunting bear, deer and turkey. The same license would cover archery and special muzzleloading. "This bill seems to eliminate many unnecessary steps for young hunters who are most likely hunting with their parents or another adult," Marye said. This bill passed the committee and the Senate unanimously and is well on its way to passage in the House of Delegates.
Another Senate bill proposes transferring the responsibility for administering the Virginia Natural Area Preserves Act and the Cave Protection Act from the Department of Conservation and Recreation to the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries. "While this might seem to be nothing more than a bureaucratic shuffle, the proposed change produced a great deal of comment from people in favor and opposed," Marye said
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1996by CNB