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What is the Legislative Alert?                Position codes:     S= VPFF Support    O= VPFF Opposed  M= VPFF Monitoring Bill  
Bill #
Patron
Committee

Pos

Description

Comm Action Chamber Action Opp/ Chamber Comm Comm Action Chamber Action
H.B.33
Militia/Police
Tata 
S Military laws; leaves of absence for employees of the Commonwealth.  Eliminates the conflict between federal law (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) and state law. Federal law grants an employee up to 15 workdays to serve in the military or reserves, and to return only after safe transportation back to his residence and eight hours of rest. Current Virginia law grants only 15 days of leave.

Reported Out
22-Y 0-N

Passed House
99-Y 0-N

Senate
General Laws
Technology

Reported Out
15-Y 0-N
W/Substitute

Passed Senate
40-Y 0-N
House agreed to Substitute
93-Y 0-N

H.B. 37
Appropriations
Tata
S Retirement benefits; local emergency medical technicians.  Adds local emergency medical technicians to the list of local employees for whom localities may provide retirement benefits equivalent to those provided to State Police officers( H.B. 60 is an identical bill) Reported Out
17-Y 5-N

Passed House
83-Y 13-N

Senate

Reported Out
15-Y 0-N

Passed Senate
39-Y 0-N

H.B. 60
Appropriations
Albo
S Law-Enforcement Officers Retirement System; emergency medical technicians.  Adds full-time salaried emergency medical technicians to the list of those who may receive benefits equivalent to those provided under the State Police Officers' Retirement System Left In Appropriations XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX

H.B. 161
Finance
Ligamfelter

S Income tax; subtraction of federal, state, or local government employee retirement payments.  Reduces taxable income by the amount of any federal, state, or local government employee retirement payments received Left in Finance XXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
H.B. 208
Gen Laws
Cox
S Fire Services Board; payment of per diem.  Provides that members of the Fire Services Board shall receive compensation for the performance of their duties. Funding for the compensation and costs of expenses of the members is to be provided from the Fire Programs Fund established pursuant to § 38.2-401.  Reported Out
21-Y 1-N

Passed House
97-Y 0-N

Senate General Laws
Technology

Reported Out
15-Y 0-N

Passed Senate
40-Y 0-N

H.B. 255
Militia/Police
Cosgrove
S Line of Duty Act; mandatory training.  Requires the Secretary of Public Safety to develop training guidelines to be distributed to agencies and localities with employees covered by the Line of Duty Act. Each agency or locality shall be required to provide a minimum of one hour of training concerning the Act to its eligible employees. The training will count towards in-service credit requirements for law-enforcement officers Reported Out
W/Amendments
22-Y 0-N

VPFF introduced 
Amendments

Passed House
99-Y 0-N
W/Amends

Senate
Courts/Justice

Reported Out
9-Y 6-N

Passed Senate As Amended
40-Y 0-N

Bill #
Patron
Committee

Pos

Description

Comm Action Chamber Action Opp/ Chamber Comm Comm Action Chamber Action
H.B. 451
Tata
Appropriations
O Virginia Retirement System; forfeiture of eligibility.  Clarifies the process when a member who is terminated because of dishonesty, malfeasance, or misfeasance forfeits his eligibility for retirement benefits. Left in Appropriations XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
H.B. 501
Armstrong
Gen Laws
M Teachers, Deputies and Local Government Employees Health Insurance Relief Act.  Provides that employees of local governments, local officers, sheriff’s deputies, teachers, and retirees, and the dependents of such employees, officers, sheriff’s deputies, teachers, and retirees may participate, with the approval of the local government, in the plan established pursuant to § 2.2-2818 to provide health and related insurance coverage for state employees. The local government shall be responsible for whatever portion of the cost of such insurance is not paid by the employee. The Commonwealth shall not be obligated to pay all or any portion of the cost thereof. Rereferrd to Appropriations

Sub-Committee
Comp/Retirement
(Putney)

Continued to 2007

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H.B. 539
Comm/Labor
Callahan

S Minimum wage.  Increases the minimum wage from its current federally mandated level of $5.15 per hour to $6.15 per hour effective July 1, 2006; to $7.15 per hour effective July 1, 2007; and to $8.15 per hour effective July 1, 2008. For subsequent years, the minimum wage will be adjusted annually on July 1 to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for the preceding calendar year, as determined by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry. Left in Commerce
Labor
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H.B. 565
Comm/Labor
Nixon
O Workers' compensation; temporary partial disability benefits.  Requires an injured employee who is released to return to work, as a condition of eligibility for partial disability benefits, to prove that he made a reasonable effort to market his residual work capacity during the period for which he seeks compensation. The measure also provides that compensation for a temporary partial disability of 13 weeks or less shall be calculated based on post-injury average weekly wages over the entire period of partial disability. If the duration of the partial disability is longer than 13 weeks, it will be calculated quarterly, provided that if the partial disability period ends before the end of a 13-week interval, the calculation for the final interval shall be as if the period of partial disability was for less than 13 weeks. Sub-Comm
Utilities & Employment

Rolled into
HB 865

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H.B. 610
O'Bannon
Courts/Justice
S Facilitating an emergency medical services quality of care initiative; civil immunity and privileged communications. Facilitates the development of a quality of care initiative in the emergency medical services system by providing civil immunity for members of entities monitoring such care and rendering their communications privileged in the same manner as provided to other professional groups Reported Out
21-Y 0-N

Passed House
94-Y 2-N

 

Senate Courts/Justice

Reported Out
15-Y 0-N

Passed Senate
39-Y 0-N

H.B. 639
Militia/Police
Phillips
S Local emergency directors and coordinators; emergency response training.  Requires local emergency directors and coordinators to be certified in emergency management, pursuant to guidelines and standards promulgated by the Department of Emergency Management Left in MPP XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
H.B. 781
Albo
C.C.T
S Rights of residents and employees to contact elected officials.  Provides that every local government employee has the right to express opinions to state or local elected officials on matters of public concern. Retaliation based upon a local government employee's exercise of such right is unlawful. Reported Out
21-Y 1-N
W/Amends

Passed House
99-Y 1-N

Senate
Local Goverment

Reported out
13-Y 0-N

Passed Senate
40-Y 0-N

H.B. 865
Comm/Labor
Byron

O Workers' compensation; temporary partial disability benefits.  Provides that the post-injury average weekly wage, in the case of a temporary partial disability of 13 weeks or less, to be computed by dividing the employee's total earnings during the first two weeks of partial incapacity by two, and that such average is subject to retroactive adjustment for the 90 days preceding an application for an adjustment.  If the duration of the partial disability is longer than 13 weeks, it will be computed by dividing the total earnings during the period of partial incapacity by the number of weeks in the period. Reported Out
w/Substitute
19-Y 3-N

Passed House
58-Y 35-N

Senate Commerce Labor

Reported Out With Amend
14-Y 0-N

Passed Senate
40-Y 0-N
House agreed to Amends
95-Y 3-N

H.B. 866
Comm/Labor
Byron
O Workers' compensation; temporary partial disability benefits; marketing standards.  Requires an injured employee who is released to return to work, as a condition of eligibility for partial disability benefits, to prove that he made a reasonable effort to market his residual work capacity during the period for which he seeks compensation Stricken from
Docket 
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H.B. 999
Toscano
C.C.T
M Local grievance procedure.  Allows localities to utilize an administrative hearing officer rather than a three-member panel to hear cases involving employee grievances. Reported Out
22-Y 0-N
W/Substitute
pertains only to
Albemarle Co

Passed House
97-Y 0-N

Senate
Local Government

Reported Out
15-Y 0-N

Passed Senate
39-Y 0-N

H.B. 1004
Sherwood
Milita/Police

S Office of Commonwealth Preparedness.  Makes permanent the Office of Commonwealth Preparedness and provides for the appointment of a director by the Governor to serve a five-year term. The bill sets out the duties of the Office and also creates the Secure Commonwealth Panel and sets out its membership and duties.  The bill contains technical amendments. Reported Out
22-Y 0-N
W/Substitute

Passed House
W/floor sub
97-Y 0-N

Senate
Gen Laws
Technology

Reported Out
15-Y 0-N

Passed Senate
40-Y 0-N

Bill #
Patron
Committee
Pos


Description

 

Comm Action Chamber Action Opp/ Chamber Comm Comm Action  
H.B. 1180
Carrico
Milita/Police
VPFF Bill
S Powers of Governor during emergency; public safety employee hardship.  Allows the Governor, in his discretion, to provide up to $2,500 per month for up to three months to a public safety employee responding to a natural or manmade disaster who has suffered an extreme personal or family hardship in the affected area 
(VPFF Legislation)
Reported Out
22-Y 0-N
W/Substitute

Passed House
97-Y 0-N

Senate
Gen Laws
Technology

Reported Out
15-Y 0-N

Passed Senate
40-Y 0-N

H.B. 1331
Bell
Appropriations
O Virginia Retirement System; defined contribution plan.  Creates a new defined contribution plan for all employees who enter on or after July 1, 2006, into any position covered by any retirement plan administered by the Virginia Retirement System. The employee has 90 days after entering into such a position to elect to participate in the defined contribution plan or the retirement plan for which he is otherwise eligible. Left in Appropriations XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
H.B. 1362
Bell
Appropriations
S Virginia Retirement System; E-911 employees.  Adds local employees operating an E-911 system to the list of local law-enforcement employees eligible for retirement benefits equivalent to those provided to State Police Officers. Left in Appropriations XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
H.B. 1363
Comm/Labor
Toscano
S Minimum wage.  Increases the minimum wage from its current federally mandated level of $5.15 per hour to $6.15 per hour effective January 1, 2007, to $7.15 per hour effective January 1, 2008, and to $8.15 per hour effective January 1, 2009, unless a higher minimum wage is required by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Left in Commerce
Labor
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H.B. 1387
Callahan
Appropriations
VPFF Bill
S

Line of Duty Act.  Creates the Line of Duty Disability Fund and funds it by imposing an additional $50 cost for certain traffic violations. The Fund is to be used to pay the costs of continued health benefits coverage provided to employees and their families under the Line of Duty Act (the Act). The bill also provides that any local employee who meets the definition of a deceased or disabled person under the Act who was disabled on or after January 1, 1972, not otherwise already receiving the continued health insurance coverage benefit under this section, shall be entitled to the continued health insurance coverage benefit beginning July 1, 2006. (VPFF Legislation)

Continued to 2007 XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
Bill #
Patron
Committee

 

Pos

 

Description

Comm Action Chamber Action Opp/ Chamber Comm Comm Action  
H.B. 1402
Sickles
Milita/Police
VPFF Bill
S Powers of Governor during emergency; public safety employee hardship.  Allows the Governor, in his discretion, to provide up to $2,500 per month for up to three months to a public safety employee responding to a natural or manmade disaster who has suffered an extreme personal or family hardship in the affected area (VPFF Legislation) Rolled into
HB 118O
Carrico
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H.B. 1418
Suit
Appropriations
VPFF Bill
S Line of Duty Act; payment of benefits.  Increases from $75,000 to $100,000 the amount for which a beneficiary of a deceased person whose death occurred while in the line of duty as the direct or proximate result of the performance of his duty is eligible to receive
(VPFF Legislation; substitute bill pending)
Reported Out
23-Y 0-N

Passed House
100-Y

Senate Finance

Reported Out
15-Y 0-N

Passed Senate
39-Y 0-N

Bill #
Patron
Committee

 

Pos

Description

Comm Action Chamber Action Opp/ Chamber Comm Comm Action  
S.B. 9
Local Gov.
Reynolds
M Health insurance for local government employees. Provides that employees of local governments, local officers, teachers, and retirees, and the dependents of such employees, officers, teachers, and retirees, may participate, with the approval of the local government, in the state employee health plan established pursuant to § 2.2-2818. The local government shall be responsible for whatever portion of the cost of such insurance that is not paid by the employee, except any portion that the General Assembly elects to pay. Continued to 2007 XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
S.B. 75
Ed/Health
Houck
S School crisis, emergency management, and medical emergency response plan; required.  Requires each school to implement a "medical emergency response plan" as part of their school crisis and emergency management plan. The Department of Education must provide assistance in the development of the plan by referring to the scientific statements prepared by the American Heart Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other various national emergency response organizations, regarding the components of an emergency medical response plan. The Department must also prepare a model plan. Reported Out
11-Y 0-N

Passed Senate
39-Y 0-N

House Committee
Education

Reported Out
W/Amend
22-Y 0-N

Passed House
99-Y 0-N
S.B. 175
Finance
Wampler
S Virginia Retirement System; retirement allowances. Increases the retirement allowances for future state and local retirees of the Virginia Retirement System (VRS), Law Enforcement Officers' Retirement System (LEOs), State Police Officers' Retirement System (SPORS), and the Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System (VaLORS) by gradually increasing, over a six-year period, the percentage of average final compensation that is multiplied by the amount of creditable service (i) from two percent to 2.3 percent for certain members of the Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System who are not eligible for the supplemental allowance and (ii) from 1.7 percent to two percent for all other such state and local employees.The bill also increases by three percent (phased in over a six-year period) the annual retirement allowance of current retirees of VRS, LEOs, SPORS, and VaLORS. Rolled into
SB 393
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S.B. 361
Comm/Labor
Edwards
VPFF Bill
S Workers' compensation coverage for first responders.  Exempts first responders injured during a declared state of emergency from the requirement that the physician treating the employee be chosen from a three-physician panel provided by the employer. The measure provides that a first responder injured during a state of emergency shall be taken forthwith to any available health care facility and be furnished medical treatment at the employer's expense. It also provides that if certain first responders become ill due to an exposure to a radioactive, chemical or biologic agent, and thereafter transmits the illness to a family member, the family member is entitled to employer-provided medical care. (VPFF Legislation) Stricken From Docket by Patron XXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
S.B. 363
Gen Laws
Wampler
M Office of Commonwealth Preparedness.  Makes permanent the Office of Commonwealth Preparedness and provides for the appointment of a director by the Governor to serve a five-year term. The bill sets out the duties of the Office and also creates the Secure Commonwealth Panel and sets out its membership and duties.  The bill contains technical amendments. Reported Out
14-Y 0-N
W/Substitute

Passed Senate
39-Y 0-N

House Militia
Police/Public Safety

Reported Out
22-Y 0-N

Passed House
98-Y 0-N

S.B. 377
Gen Laws
McDougle
S Reservists called to active duty; health insurance.  Requires the Commonwealth and political subdivisions of the Commonwealth to continue to provide health insurance benefits to any employee who is a reservist or member of the National Guard and is called to active duty, as well as to any dependents covered under the employee's health insurance plan prior to the employee's being called to duty. In addition, if such employee is killed while on active duty, the employee's dependents shall be allowed to continue the health insurance benefits for a period of 12 months after the employee's death. Reported Out
14-Y 0-N

Rereferred
Finance

Reported Out
15-Y 0-N

Passed Senate
39-Y 0-N

House Militia
Police/Public Safety

Continued to 2007

XXXXXXXX
S.B. 393
Finance
Stolle
S Retirement; benefits for certain state and local public safety officers.  Makes several changes to the retirement benefits of state and local public safety officers and the funding of such benefits. Reported Out W/Substitute
15-Y 0-N

Passed Senate
40-Y 0-N

House Appropriations

Left in Appropriations

XXXXXXXX
S.B. 480
Comm/Labor
Colgan
S Minimum wage.  Increases the minimum wage from its current federally mandated level of $5.15 per hour to $6.15 per hour effective July 1, 2006; to $7.15 per hour effective July 1, 2007; and to $8.15 per hour effective July 1, 2008. For subsequent years, the minimum wage will be adjusted annually on July 1 to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for the preceding calendar year, as determined by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry. Defeated in Committee
5-Y 10-N
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S.B. 498
Gen/Laws
Puckett
S Fire Programs Fund.  Authorizes the Virginia Fire Services Board to revise allocations to eligible localities. Reported from Gen/Laws
14-Y 0-N

Passed Senate
39-Y 0-N

House Committee
Gen Laws
Sub#1
Suit

Reported Out
22-Y 0-N

Passed House
100-Y

S.B. 515
Courts/Justice
Puckett
S Line of Duty Act; disabled state employees.  Extends the Act's benefits to any state public safety employee whose disability occurred prior to January 1, 1972. Reported Out
14-Y 0-N
Rereferred to
Finance
Reported Out
15-Y 0-N
With Amend

Passed Senate
38-Y 0-N

House Militia
Police/Public Safety

Reported Out
22-Y 0-N

Passed House
98-Y 0-N

S.B. 550
Finance
Blevins
S Law-Enforcement Officers Retirement System; emergency medical technicians.  Adds full-time, salaried emergency medical technicians to the list of those who may receive benefits equivalent to those provided under the State Police Officers' Retirement System. Reported Out
15-Y 0-N

Passed Senate
39-Y 0-N

House Sub/Comm
Putney

Left in Appropriations

XXXXXXXX
S.B. 600
Rehab/Social Services
Colgan
M Alcoholic beverage tax. Increases the tax on alcoholic beverages by 3% with the revenues to be used for the operational support of volunteer rescue squads and fire-fighting organizations. Reported Out
13-Y 0-N
Rereferred to
Finance

Continued to
2007

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S.B. 636
Courts Justice
Quayle
VPFF Bill
S Line of Duty Act.  Creates the Line of Duty Disability Fund and funds it by imposing an additional $50 cost for certain traffic violations. The Fund is to be used to pay the costs of continued health benefits coverage provided to employees and their families under the Line of Duty Act (the Act). The bill also provides that any local employee who meets the definition of a deceased or disabled person under the Act who was disabled on or after January 1, 1972, not otherwise already receiving the continued health insurance coverage benefit under this section, shall be entitled to the continued health insurance coverage benefit beginning July 1, 2006. (VPFF Legislation) Reported Out
13-Y 0-N
Rerefrred to Finance

Rolled into
SB 393

15-Y 0-N

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