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VAPBA Legislative Update

Feb 13, 2013

On Tuesday, VAPBA President Joe Woloszyn, Fairfax Chapter Board member Tom Tilden, and I traveled to Richmond to attend a press conference put on by public safety stakeholders groups at the General Assembly Building.  The press conference was aimed public awareness of our continued fight to preserve the Virginia Line of Duty benefits.  As a group, and individually, we addressed the media representatives giving reasons why the benefit is so important and deserved.  Our support for a budget amendment providing funding for the Line of Duty Benefit was repeated.  Hopefully, public awareness will help support our efforts to maintain the Line of Duty Act for Public Safety workers and their families.

Later in the day, we visited the office of the Secretary of Transportation Connaughton and met with a representative of his staff. We discussed issues important to some of our members who work at agencies that fall under the Transportation Secretariat.  Senator Deeds met with us, as did Delegate Jackson Miller.

House Bill 2169 was on the docket in Senate Committee on Local Governments.  This bill would have changed the grievance procedure, doing away with the three person panel and leaving it up to a single representative for a final grievance decision.  This bill would have given the employer an unfair advantage in a system that is already slanted to favor the employer. Art Lipscomb from the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters and Kevin Caroll from the Fraternal Order of Police both approached me and said they were unable to attend the hearing on HB 2169.  Both of these organizations asked me to speak on their behalf and gave me the authority to speak to the committee for their organizations in opposition to HB 2169.

Before the Senate Committee meeting Tom Tilden, Joe Woloszyn, and I approached our endorsed Senators and other important Senators who sat on the committee. Senator Herring, Lucas and Marsden all gave the indication they would help us oppose HB 2169.

The bill was called and Delegate Cole gave his argument supporting the bill.  A representative from an organization representing the localities also spoke in support of the bill. I then spoke in opposition to the bill representing the VAPBA and mentioning the other organizations who oppose the bill.  Joe Woloszyn spoke representing the VAPBA and Tom Tilden spoke representing the Fairfax Chapter of the VAPBA.

A motion was made to kill HB 2169, followed by a substitute motion to "report the bill." The motion to report was seconded and the vote was taken.  The bill failed to report by a vote of nine to six.  The bill was passed by indefinitely.  Meaning it will receive no more consideration this legislative session.
 
I want to extend my thanks to Joe Woloszyn and Tom Tilden for helping on these important legislative items.  This bad bill may very well have made it out of committee if the PBA had not been there to stop it!

Please see the link to view the list of bills we continue to monitor. For your information, the terms in the last action column, "left in committee," "tabled," "failed to report," Passed by indefinitely, PBI, and "striken from the docket," usually means that the bill is dead for this year.
 
Bills
Committee
Last action
HB 1305 - Habeeb - Workers' compensation; injuries presumed to be in course of employment, unless evidence to contrary.
(S) Reported from Commerce and Labor (14-Y 0-N)
02/11/13
HB 1331 - Farrell - Local employees; retirement benefits.
(H) Left in Appropriations
02/05/13
HB 1347 - Wright - Workers' compensation; weather as risk of public safety officer's employment,injuries incurred.
(S) Reported from Commerce and Labor (15-Y 0-N)
02/11/13
HB 1356 - Yost - Health insurance; local government employees eligibile to participate in state employee plan.
(H) Left in Appropriations
02/05/13
HB 1372 - Head - Unemployment compensation; disqualification from benefits due to loss of license or certification.
(S) Reported from Commerce and Labor (10-Y 4-N 1-A)
02/11/13
HB 1376 - Merricks - Controlled substances; law-enforcement officer's testimony regarding field-test identification.
(S) Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/12/13
HB 1379 - Yost - Law-Enforcement Assistance Program; DCJS to develop a peer-counseling program.
(H) Left in Appropriations
02/05/13
HB 1380 - Yost - Assault and battery; includes campus police officers within enhanced penalty provision.
(H) Left in Courts of Justice
02/05/13
HB 1382 - Webert - Unemployment compensation; disqualification from benefits due to loss of license or certification.
(H) Stricken from docket by Commerce and Labor
01/17/13
HB 1385 - Comstock - Labor organization representation; right to vote by secret ballot.
(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) Tabled in Militia, Police and Public Safety
01/18/13
HB 1494 - Dance - Sheriffs; expands authority to deputize persons to direct traffic, training required.
(S) Referred to Committee on Transportation
01/31/13
HB 1506 - Lewis - Service firearms; minimum years of service.
(H) Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1506ER)
02/13/13
HB 1526 - Rust - HOT lanes; emergency vehicles and law-enforcement vehicles cannot use when commuting to work place.
(S) Referred to Committee on Transportation
01/23/13
HB 1532 - Bulova - Virginia Retirement System; benefits for certain local employees.
(S) Reported from Finance with amendments (15-Y 0-N)
02/12/13
HB 1557 - Marshall, R.G. - School boards; training for persons designated to carry concealed handguns on school property.
(H) Left in Militia, Police and Public Safety
02/06/13
HB 1561 - Garrett - Local police departments; cooperation agreements with private police departments certified by DCJS.
(S) Reported from Local Government (14-Y 0-N)
02/12/13
HB 1567 - Head - Suspended or revoked license; driving recklessly causing death of another person, penalty.
(H) Left in Courts of Justice
02/05/13
HB 1568 - Miller - Virginia Retirement System; retirees hired as school board security personnel.
(H) Left in Appropriations
02/05/13
HB 1569 - Garrett - Criminal justice training academies; sovereign immunity of trainers certified by DCJS, etc.
(H) Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1569ER)
02/13/13
HB 1582 - Cole - Armed security officers; protection of schools and child day centers.
(H) Placed on Calendar
02/12/13
HB 1604 - Farrell - Private security services businesses; carrying firearm in course of duties.
(S) Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/11/13
HB 1626 - Tata - Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System; General Assembly may add certain full-time employees.
(H) Left in Appropriations
02/05/13
HB 1636 - Cosgrove - Workers' compensation; presumptions, members of enforcement division of DMV.
(H) Left in Appropriations
02/05/13
HB 1762 - Ramadan - Hunting; allowed on Sunday in certain counties.
(H) Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
02/05/13
HB 1826 - Villanueva - Law-enforcement officers; exceptions to territorial limits.
(S) Reported from Local Government (15-Y 0-N)
02/12/13
HB 1842 - Rust - License plates, special; issuance for firefighters and auxiliaries; Fraternal Order of Police; etc.
(H) Stricken from docket by Transportation
01/22/13
HB 1992 - McClellan - State grievance procedure; review of hearing decisions.
(H) Left in General Laws
02/05/13
HB 1997 - Sickles - Labor unions; privileged communications and information.
(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) Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
02/05/13
HB 2037 - Webert - Hunting; lawful to hunt or kill nuisance species on Sunday.
(H) Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
02/05/13
HB 2112 - Lingamfelter - Hunting; allowed on Sunday on state and federal military bases, etc. with approval of officer.
(H) Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
02/05/13
HB 2121 - Herring - Law-enforcement officers; grounds for decertification, etc.
(S) Reported from Local Government (15-Y 0-N)
02/12/13
HB 2134 - Keam - Virginia Freedom of Information Act; state agencies to post schedule of costs for producing records.
(H) Left in General Laws
02/05/13
HB 2160 - Kilgore - Virginia Workers' compensation; limitations period and balance billing.
(H) Left in Commerce and Labor
02/05/13
HB 2168 - Howell, W.J. - Virginia Retirement System; hybrid retirement program.
(H) Left in Appropriations
02/05/13
HB 2169 - Cole - Grievance procedure, local; removes requirement.
(S) Passed by indefinitely in Local Government (9-Y 6-N)
02/12/13
HB 2173 - Lewis - Virginia Retirement System; retirees hired as school board security personnel.
(H) Left in Appropriations
02/05/13
HB 2188 - Jones - Line of Duty Act; certain employees to make irrevocable election to self-fund benefits.
(H) Left in Appropriations
02/05/13
HB 2244 - Spruill - School Resource Officer Grants Program and Fund; proceeds may be disbursed to award matching grants.
(H) Left in Appropriations
02/05/13
HB 2247 - Ware, R.L. - Assault and battery; changes conditions for applying aggravated penalty.
(H) Left in Courts of Justice
02/05/13
HB 2277 - Gilbert - School security officers; officers shall be retired law-enforcement officers.
(H) Tabled in Courts of Justice
01/23/13
HB 2278 - Gilbert - State Police, Department of; variable housing allowance.
(H) Left in Appropriations
02/05/13
HB 2340 - Marshall, R.G. - Agency, political subdivision, etc., of VA; prevents assisting federal government in investigation.
(H) Left in Appropriations
02/05/13
HJ 536 - Bell, Richard P. - Constitutional amendment; right to work (first reference).
(S) Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 7-N)
02/12/13
SB 694 - Black - Reckless driving; removes driving in excess of 80 mph, etc.
(S) Failed to report (defeated) in Transportation (7-Y 7-N)
01/16/13
SB 704 - Puckett - Workers' compensation; disease presumption, corrections officers.
(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.
(H) Assigned App. sub: Compensation and Retirement
02/13/13
SB 774 - Blevins - Workers' compensation; disease presumption, corrections officers.
(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) 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.
(H) VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (100-Y 0-N)
02/12/13
SB 839 - Carrico - Local boundaries for law-enforcement; organizing for purpose of 911 dispatch and response.
(H) Incorporates SB1314
02/12/13
SB 854 - Petersen - Virginia Retirement System; benefits for certain local employees.
(H) Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)
02/11/13
SB 896 - Reeves - Workers' compensation; weather as risk of public safety officer's employment,injuries incurred.
(H) Reported from Commerce and Labor (22-Y 0-N)
02/12/13
SB 915 - Ruff - Workers' compensation; injuries to public safety officers.
(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.
(H) Referred to Committee on Appropriations
02/06/13
SB 940 - Stuart - School resource officers; school board to coordinate with local law-enforcement agency to provide.
(S) Passed by indefinitely in Finance (12-Y 3-N)
01/29/13
SB 995 - Watkins - VRS; technical changes regarding retirement plans.
(H) Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)
02/11/13
SB 1026 - Howell - Law-enforcement officers; grounds for decertification.
(H) VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (100-Y 0-N)
02/12/13
SB 1045 - Newman - Criminal justice training academies; sovereign immunity of trainers certified by DCJS, etc.
(S) Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1045ER)
02/13/13
 
More...
Bills
Committee
Last action
Date
SB 1045 - Newman - Criminal justice training academies; sovereign immunity of trainers certified by DCJS, etc.
(S) Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1045ER)
02/13/13
SB 1047 - Newman - Local police departments; cooperation agreements with private police departments certified by DCJS.
(H) VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (100-Y 0-N)
02/12/13
SB 1113 - McDougle - State or local employees; filing fraudulent liens or encumbrances against, penalty.
(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) 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) Left in Finance
02/06/13
SB 1251 - Barker - Retirement System; law-enforcement officer retirees hired as school board security personnel.
(H) Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/11/13
SB 1264 - Stuart - VA. FOIA; access to criminal and other records.
(H) Assigned GL sub: #2 FOIA/Procurement
02/11/13
SJ 290 - Deeds - State law-enforcement agencies; JLARC to study reorganizing under Virginia State Police.
(S) Passed by indefinitely in Rules with letter
02/01/13
SJ 319 - Ebbin - Constitutional amendment; contributions to defined benefit retirement plans.
(S) Rejected by Senate (16-Y 24-N)
02/04/13
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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