Virginia Division
VAPBA Legislative Update
Feb 4, 2013
On Thursday January 31 VAPBA President, Joe Woloszyn and I traveled to Richmond to meet with our legislators about the issues important to our membership, and to share with them our position on HB 2188 and SJ 290. During the day we attended a meeting with other public safety organizations to discuss our opposition to HB 2188 and how we should deal with the bill when it came up for discussion in committee later that day. At 5pm the House Appropriations Sub Committee: Compensation and Retirement met to take up House bill 2188 on the Line of duty benefit changes. Representatives from many labor groups were present. It quickly became apparent that the emails and phone calls from our combined membership had an impact on the patron of HB 2188, Delegate Cris Jones, and the other sub-committee members. After a short speech from Delegate Jones about the bill the he concluded the meeting without bringing the bill forward for any type of motion. This action appears to be the end of HB 2188, which will die in committee. I want to thank all our PBA members, family and friends who took the time to contact the legislators on Appropriations Committee and let them know how we stood on the attack on our line of duty benefits. Without your help we may have been faced with dramatic changes to the Line of Duty Act.
On February 1, 2013 at 9AM, Senate Committee on Rules took up SJ 290. Senator Deeds spoke to the bill before the committee, followed by me, then Conservation Police Officer PBA Chapter board Member Rich Goszka. Committee Chairman Senator McDougle repeated the same statement he had given to me and President Joe Woloszyn the day before when we met with him about this bill. Senator McDougle cited the limited number of studies that will be sent to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, (JLARC). Senator McDougle asked Senator Deeds if he would like to have a letter written from the committee to ask the Governors Reform Commission to study this issue. Senator Deeds agreed that the study was a good option if JLARC was not an option. SJ 290 was passed by indefinitely with a letter to be sent to the Governors Reform Commission requesting a study on the consolidation of State law enforcement officers. Again I believe that moving this bill forward with a study resulted from our members letting the legislators on Senate Rules know that SJ 290 was important to law enforcement officers in Virginia.
| Bills | Committee | Last action | Date |
| HB 1305 - Habeeb - Workers' compensation; injuries presumed to be in course of employment, unless evidence to contrary. |
(H) Committee on Commerce and Labor (S) Committee on Commerce and Labor |
(S) Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor | 01/24/13 |
| HB 1331 - Farrell - Local employees; retirement benefits. | (H) Committee on Appropriations | (H) Assigned App. sub: Compensation and Retirement | 01/08/13 |
| HB 1347 - Wright - Workers' compensation; injuries to public safety officers. | (H) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (H) Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB1347H1 | 02/01/13 |
| HB 1356 - Yost - Health insurance; local government employees eligibile to participate in state employee plan. | (H) Committee on Appropriations | (H) Assigned App. sub: Compensation and Retirement | 01/22/13 |
| HB 1372 - Head - Unemployment compensation; disqualification from benefits due to loss of license or certification. |
(H) Committee on Commerce and Labor (S) Committee on Commerce and Labor |
(S) Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor | 01/24/13 |
| HB 1376 - Merricks - Controlled substances; law-enforcement officer's testimony regarding field-test identification. |
(H) Committee for Courts of Justice (S) Committee for Courts of Justice |
(S) Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice | 01/23/13 |
| HB 1379 - Yost - Law-Enforcement Assistance Program; DCJS to develop a peer-counseling program. | (H) Committee on Appropriations | (H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table | 01/31/13 |
| HB 1380 - Yost - Assault and battery; includes campus police officers within enhanced penalty provision. | (H) Committee for Courts of Justice | (H) Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice | 12/10/12 |
| HB 1382 - Webert - Unemployment compensation; disqualification from benefits due to loss of license or certification. | (H) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (H) Stricken from docket by Commerce and Labor | 01/17/13 |
| HB 1385 - Comstock - Labor organization representation; right to vote by secret ballot. |
(H) Committee on Commerce and Labor (S) Committee on Commerce and Labor |
(S) Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor | 01/30/13 |
| HB 1459 - Tyler - Law-Enforcement Officers Procedural Guarantee Act; definition of law-enforcement officer. | (H) Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety | (H) Tabled in Militia, Police and Public Safety | 01/18/13 |
| HB 1494 - Dance - Sheriffs; expands authority to deputize persons to direct traffic, training required. |
(H) Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety (S) Committee on Transportation |
(S) Referred to Committee on Transportation | 01/31/13 |
| HB 1506 - Lewis - Service firearms; minimum years of service. |
(H) Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety (S) Committee for Courts of Justice |
(S) Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice | 01/17/13 |
| HB 1526 - Rust - HOT lanes; emergency vehicles and law-enforcement vehicles cannot use when commuting to work place. |
(H) Committee on Transportation (S) Committee on Transportation |
(S) Referred to Committee on Transportation | 01/23/13 |
| HB 1532 - Bulova - Virginia Retirement System; benefits for certain local employees. | (H) Committee on Appropriations | (H) Read first time | 02/02/13 |
| HB 1557 - Marshall, R.G. - School boards; training for persons designated to carry concealed handguns on school property. | (H) Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety | (H) Subcommittee recommends referring to Governor's School Safety Task Force | 01/17/13 |
| HB 1561 - Garrett - Private police departments, certain; consolidation, etc. agreements with local police departments. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns | (H) Read first time | 02/02/13 |
| HB 1567 - Head - Suspended or revoked license; driving recklessly causing death of another person, penalty. | (H) Committee for Courts of Justice | (H) Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice | 01/04/13 |
| HB 1568 - Miller - Virginia Retirement System; retirees hired as school board security personnel. | (H) Committee on Appropriations | (H) Assigned App. sub: Compensation and Retirement | 01/09/13 |
| HB 1569 - Garrett - Criminal justice training academies; sovereign immunity of trainers. |
(H) Committee for Courts of Justice (S) Committee for Courts of Justice |
(S) Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice | 01/23/13 |
| HB 1582 - Cole - Armed security officers; protection of schools and child day centers. |
(H) Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety (S) Committee on Education and Health |
(S) Referred to Committee on Education and Health | 01/31/13 |
| HB 1604 - Farrell - Private security services businesses; carrying firearm in course of duties. |
(H) Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety (S) Committee for Courts of Justice |
(S) Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice | 01/24/13 |
| HB 1626 - Tata - Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System; General Assembly may add certain full-time employees. | (H) Committee on Appropriations | (H) Assigned App. sub: Compensation and Retirement | 01/09/13 |
| HB 1636 - Cosgrove - Workers' compensation; presumptions, members of enforcement division of DMV. | (H) Committee on Appropriations | (H) Assigned App. sub: Compensation and Retirement | 01/22/13 |
| HB 1762 - Ramadan - Hunting; allowed on Sunday in certain counties. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources | (H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table | 01/16/13 |
| HB 1826 - Villanueva - Law-enforcement officers; exceptions to territorial limits. |
(H) Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety (S) Committee on Local Government |
(S) Referred to Committee on Local Government | 01/24/13 |
| HB 1842 - Rust - License plates, special; issuance for firefighters and auxiliaries; Fraternal Order of Police; etc. | (H) Committee on Transportation | (H) Stricken from docket by Transportation | 01/22/13 |
| HB 1992 - McClellan - State grievance procedure; review of hearing decisions. | (H) Committee on General Laws | (H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table | 01/29/13 |
| HB 1997 - Sickles - Labor unions; privileged communications and information. | (H) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (H) Tabled in Commerce and Labor | 01/22/13 |
| HB 2036 - Webert - Hunting with bow and arrow or crossbow; allows persons to hunt birds or animals on Sunday. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources | (H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table | 01/16/13 |
| HB 2037 - Webert - Hunting; lawful to hunt or kill nuisance species on Sunday. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources | (H) Assigned ACNRsub: Natural Resources | 01/14/13 |
| HB 2112 - Lingamfelter - Hunting; allowed on Sunday on state and federal military bases, etc. with approval of officer. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources | (H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table | 01/16/13 |
| HB 2121 - Herring - Law-enforcement officers; grounds for decertification, etc. |
(H) Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety (S) Committee on Local Government |
(S) Referred to Committee on Local Government | 02/01/13 |
| HB 2134 - Keam - Virginia Freedom of Information Act; state agencies to post schedule of costs for producing records. | (H) Committee on General Laws | (H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table | 01/24/13 |
| HB 2160 - Kilgore - Virginia Workers' compensation; limitations period and balance billing. | (H) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table | 01/31/13 |
| HB 2168 - Howell, W.J. - Virginia Retirement System; hybrid retirement program. | (H) Committee on Appropriations | (H) Assigned App. sub: Compensation and Retirement | 01/14/13 |
| HB 2169 - Cole - Grievance procedure, local; removes requirement. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns | (H) Read first time | 02/02/13 |
| HB 2173 - Lewis - Virginia Retirement System; retirees hired as school board security personnel. | (H) Committee on Appropriations | (H) Subcommittee recommends incorporating (HB1568-Miller) (8-Y 0-N) | 01/31/13 |
| HB 2188 - Jones - Line of Duty Act; certain employees to make irrevocable election to self-fund benefits. | (H) Committee on Appropriations | (H) Assigned App. sub: Compensation and Retirement | 01/14/13 |
| HB 2244 - Spruill - School Resource Officer Grants Program and Fund; proceeds may be disbursed to award matching grants. | (H) Committee on Appropriations | (H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table | 01/31/13 |
| HB 2247 - Ware, R.L. - Assault and battery; changes conditions for applying aggravated penalty. | (H) Committee for Courts of Justice | (H) Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice | 01/14/13 |
| HB 2277 - Gilbert - School security officers; officers shall be retired law-enforcement officers. | (H) Committee for Courts of Justice | (H) Tabled in Courts of Justice | 01/23/13 |
| HB 2278 - Gilbert - State Police, Department of; variable housing allowance. | (H) Committee on Appropriations | (H) Referred to Committee on Appropriations | 01/29/13 |
| HB 2340 - Marshall, R.G. - Agency, political subdivision, etc., of VA; prevents assisting federal government in investigation. | (H) Committee on Appropriations | (H) Referred to Committee on Appropriations | 01/30/13 |
| HJ 536 - Bell, Richard P. - Constitutional amendment; right to work (first reference). |
(H) Committee on Privileges and Elections (S) Committee on Privileges and Elections |
(S) Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections | 01/31/13 |
| SB 694 - Black - Reckless driving; removes driving in excess of 80 mph, etc. | (S) Committee on Transportation | (S) Failed to report (defeated) in Transportation (7-Y 7-N) | 01/16/13 |
| SB 704 - Puckett - Workers' compensation; disease presumption, corrections officers. | (S) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (S) Incorporated by Commerce and Labor (SB774-Blevins) (15-Y 0-N) | 01/28/13 |
| SB 727 - Carrico - Workers' compensation; presumptions, members of enforcement division of DMV. | (S) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (S) Read third time and passed Senate (32-Y 6-N) | 02/01/13 |
| SB 774 - Blevins - Workers' compensation; disease presumption, corrections officers. | (S) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (S) Failed to report (defeated) in Commerce and Labor (7-Y 8-N) | 01/28/13 |
| SB 803 - Garrett - Hunting; lawful to hunt or kill coyotes on Sunday. | (S) Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | (S) Read third time and defeated by Senate (13-Y 26-N) | 01/23/13 |
| SB 818 - Puckett - Prisoners; establish compact for control of those receiving emergency medical care outside of VA. | (S) Committee on Privileges and Elections | (S) Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) | 01/28/13 |
| SB 839 - Carrico - Local boundaries for law-enforcement; organizing for purpose of 911 dispatch and response. |
(H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government |
(H) Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns | 01/25/13 |
| SB 854 - Petersen - Virginia Retirement System; benefits for certain local employees. |
(H) Committee on Appropriations (S) Committee on Finance |
(H) Referred to Committee on Appropriations | 02/02/13 |
| SB 896 - Reeves - Workers' compensation; weather as risk of public safety officer's employment,injuries incurred. | (S) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (S) Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N) | 02/01/13 |
| SB 915 - Ruff - Workers' compensation; injuries to public safety officers. | (S) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (S) Incorporated by Commerce and Labor (SB896-Reeves) (16-Y 0-N) | 01/28/13 |
| SB 929 - Vogel - State Police, Department of; variable housing allowance. | (S) Committee on Finance | (S) Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N) | 02/01/13 |
| SB 940 - Stuart - School resource officers; school board to coordinate with local law-enforcement agency to provide. | (S) Committee on Finance | (S) Incorporates SB1240 | 01/29/13 |
| SB 995 - Watkins - VRS; technical changes regarding retirement plans. |
(H) Committee on Appropriations (S) Committee on Finance |
(H) Referred to Committee on Appropriations | 02/02/13 |
| SB 1026 - Howell - Law-enforcement officers; grounds for decertification. |
(H) Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety (S) Committee on General Laws and Technology |
(H) Referred to Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety | 01/25/13 |
| SB 1045 - Newman - Criminal justice training academies; sovereign immunity of trainers certified by DCJS, etc. |
(H) Committee for Courts of Justice (S) Committee for Courts of Justice |
(H) Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice | 01/25/13 |
| Bills | Committee | Last action | Date |
| SB 1045 - Newman - Criminal justice training academies; sovereign immunity of trainers certified by DCJS, etc. |
(H) Committee for Courts of Justice (S) Committee for Courts of Justice |
(H) Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice | 01/25/13 |
| SB 1047 - Newman - Private police departments, certain; consolidation, etc. agreements with local police departments. | (S) Committee for Courts of Justice | (S) Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) | 02/01/13 |
| SB 1113 - McDougle - State or local employees; filing fraudulent liens or encumbrances against, penalty. | (S) Committee for Courts of Justice | (S) Incorporated by Courts of Justice (SB811-Garrett) (13-Y 0-N) | 01/21/13 |
| SB 1240 - Deeds - School resource officers; local law-enforcement agencies to provide. | (S) Committee on Finance | (S) Incorporated by Finance (SB940-Stuart) (15-Y 0-N) | 01/29/13 |
| SB 1244 - Colgan - Virginia Retirement System, etc.; retirement allowance for certain retired persons. | (S) Committee on Finance | (S) Referred to Committee on Finance | 01/09/13 |
| SB 1251 - Barker - Retirement System; law-enforcement officer retirees hired as school board security personnel. |
(H) Committee on Appropriations (S) Committee on Finance |
(H) Referred to Committee on Appropriations | 02/02/13 |
| SJ 290 - Deeds - State law-enforcement agencies; JLARC to study reorganizing under Virginia State Police. | (S) Committee on Rules | (S) Passed by indefinitely in Rules with letter | 02/01/13 |
| SJ 319 - Ebbin - Constitutional amendment; contributions to defined benefit retirement plans. | (S) Committee on Privileges and Elections | (S) Read second time and engrossed | 02/01/13 |
| SJ 332 - Reeves - Celebrating the life of Chris Yung. | (S) Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ332ER) | 01/15/13 |
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