Investor-owned water and water and sewer utilities; ratemaking proceedings. Requires the State Corporation Commission, in any ratemaking proceeding for an investor-owned utility authorized to furnish water or water and sewer service initiated after January 1, 2022, to evaluate such utility on a stand-alone basis and, for purposes of establishing any revenue requirement and rates, utilize such utility's actual end-of-test period capital structure and cost of capital without regard to the cost of capital, capital structure, or investments of any other entities with which such utility may be affiliated. If the Commission finds that the debt to equity ratio of the actual end-of-test period capital structure of such utility is unreasonable, the bill authorizes the Commission to utilize a debt to equity ratio that it finds to be reasonable. The bill requires the Commission, in all proceedings initiated after January 1, 2022, in which the Commission reviews the rates and associated earnings of an investor-owned utility authorized to furnish water or water and sewer service, to conduct such review utilizing the same cost of capital and capital structure adopted in the utility's most recent rate case in which such rates were set, without regard to any later changes in the cost of capital or capital structure.

Contracts; payment clauses to be included in certain contracts; right to payment of subcontractors. Requires construction contracts awarded by state or local government agencies as well as certain private construction contracts in which there is at least one general contractor and one subcontractor to include a payment clause that obligates the contractors to be liable for the entire amount owed to any subcontractor with which it contracts. The bill provides that a contractor shall not be liable for amounts otherwise reducible due to the subcontractor's noncompliance with the terms of the contract; however, the contractor must notify the subcontractor in writing of the contractor's intent to withhold all or a part of the subcontractor's payment with the reason for such nonpayment. Payment by the party contracting with the contractor shall not be a condition precedent to payment to any lower-tier subcontractor. The bill also requires a payment clause to be included in any construction contract between an owner and a general contractor that requires (i) the owner to pay the general contractor within 60 days of receipt of an invoice following satisfactory completion of the contracted-for work, and (ii) a higher-tier contractor to pay a lower-tier subcontractor within the earlier of 60 days of satisfactory completion of the work for which the subcontractor has invoiced or seven days after receipt of amounts paid by the owner to the general contractor for work performed. Lastly, the bill provides that the Department of General Services shall convene the Public Body Procurement Workgroup to review whether the issue of nonpayment between general contractors and subcontractors necessitates legislative corrective action and report its findings and legislative recommendations to the General Assembly on or before December 1, 2022. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2023, and shall apply to construction contracts executed on or after January 1, 2023. Contracts; payment clauses to be included in certain contracts; right to payment of subcontractors. Requires construction contracts awarded by state or local government agencies as well as certain private construction contracts in which there is at least one general contractor and one subcontractor to include a payment clause that obligates the contractors to be liable for the entire amount owed to any subcontractor with which it contracts. The bill provides that a contractor shall not be liable for amounts otherwise reducible due to the subcontractor's noncompliance with the terms of the contract; however, the contractor must notify the subcontractor in writing of the contractor's intent to withhold all or a part of the subcontractor's payment with the reason for such nonpayment. Payment by the party contracting with the contractor shall not be a condition precedent to payment to any lower-tier subcontractor. The bill also requires a payment clause to be included in any construction contract between an owner and a general contractor that requires (i) the owner to pay the general contractor within 60 days of receipt of an invoice following satisfactory completion of the contracted-for work, and (ii) a higher-tier contractor to pay a lower-tier subcontractor within the earlier of 60 days of satisfactory completion of the work for which the subcontractor has invoiced or seven days after receipt of amounts paid by the owner to the general contractor for work performed. Lastly, the bill provides that the Department of General Services shall convene the Public Body Procurement Workgroup to review whether the issue of nonpayment between general contractors and subcontractors necessitates legislative corrective action and report its findings and legislative recommendations to the General Assembly on or before December 1, 2022. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2023, and shall apply to construction contracts executed on or after January 1, 2023.

Task Force on Services for Survivors of Sexual Assault; hospital policies and procedures related to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; work group; report. Directs the Task Force on Services for Survivors of Sexual Assault (the Task Force) to convene a work group to develop best practices for hospital policies and procedures related to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The bill requires the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1, 2022. Task Force on Services for Survivors of Sexual Assault; hospital policies and procedures related to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; work group; report. Directs the Task Force on Services for Survivors of Sexual Assault (the Task Force) to convene a work group to develop best practices for hospital policies and procedures related to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The bill requires the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1, 2022.

Consumer Data Protection Act; nonprofit organizations. Provides, for the purposes of the Consumer Data Protection Act, that the definition for "nonprofit organization" includes certain nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under § 501 (c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Standards of Quality; specialized student support. Requires each school board to provide at least four specialized student support positions per 1,000 students. Under current law, each school board is required to provide at least three such positions per 1,000 students. Standards of Quality; specialized student support. Requires each school board to provide at least four specialized student support positions per 1,000 students. Under current law, each school board is required to provide at least three such positions per 1,000 students.

Children's Services Act; parent representatives; community policy and management teams; family assessment and planning teams. Removes provisions that prohibit a parent representative from serving as a member of a community policy and management team (CPMT) or a family assessment and planning team (FAPT) if such parent representative is employed by a public or private program that receives funds pursuant to the law or agencies represented on a FAPT or CPMT and interacts directly on a regular and daily basis with children or supervises employees who interact directly on a regular basis with children; however, the bill directs prioritization of participation by parent representatives who are not employed by a public or private program that receives funds pursuant to the law or agencies represented on a FAPT or CPMT. The bill directs the State Executive Council for Children's Services to inventory current efforts to recruit and retain parent representatives on CPMTs and FAPTs and compile a list of best practices for including and elevating parent voices within CPMTs and FAPTs for distribution to local Children's Services Act programs. The bill requires the State Executive Council for Children's Services to provide a copy of this report to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services and the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions no later than November 1, 2022.

Science Museum of Virginia; conveyance of easement; Children's Museum of Richmond; City of Richmond. Authorizes the Science Museum of Virginia to convey certain right-of-way easements to the Children's Museum of Richmond.

Employee protections; candidacy for or service in the General Assembly. Prohibits an employer from discharging, disciplining, threatening, discriminating against, or penalizing an employee, or taking other retaliatory action regarding an employee's compensation, terms, conditions, location, or privileges of employment, because the employee is a candidate for the General Assembly or serves as a member of the General Assembly. The bill provides that a person who alleges a violation of this prohibition may bring a civil action seeking injunctive relief, reinstatement, and compensation for lost wages, benefits, and other remuneration.

Sealing of offenses resulting in a deferred and dismissed disposition or conviction by petition; defendant with a disorder or disability. Provides that a defendant with a disorder or disability, as defined in the bill, may file a petition that requests the sealing of the criminal history record information and court records of a Class 4 felony conviction or deferred and dismissed disposition. Under current law, Class 4 felony convictions or deferred and dismissed dispositions are ineligible to be sealed. Sealing of offenses resulting in a deferred and dismissed disposition or conviction by petition; defendant with a disorder or disability. Provides that a defendant with a disorder or disability, as defined in the bill, may file a petition that requests the sealing of the criminal history record information and court records of a Class 4 felony conviction or deferred and dismissed disposition. Under current law, Class 4 felony convictions or deferred and dismissed dispositions are ineligible to be sealed.

Modification of sentence for marijuana related offenses. Creates a process by which persons convicted of certain felony marijuana-related offenses committed prior to July 1, 2021, who remain incarcerated or on community supervision on July 1, 2022, may receive an automatic hearing to consider modification of such person's sentence. The bill also allows persons convicted of any felony offense committed prior to July 1, 2021, who remain incarcerated or on community supervision on July 1, 2022, and whose sentence may have been enhanced because of a previous felony marijuana offense or without the involvement of marijuana such felony offense conviction or felony sentence enhancement would not have been possible, as the involvement of marijuana was necessary to satisfy the elements of the charged offense or the sentence enhancement, to petition the circuit court for modification of such person's sentence. The bill requires such petition to be filed by July 1, 2024. The provisions of this bill sunset on July 1, 2025.

Civil action for the dissemination of sexually explicit visual material to another. Provides that any person 18 years of age or older who knowingly transmits an intimate image, as defined in the bill, by computer or other electronic means to the computer or electronic communication device of another person 18 years of age or older when such other person has not consented to the use of his computer or electronic communication device for the receipt of such material or has expressly forbidden the receipt of such material shall be considered a trespass and shall be liable to the recipient of the intimate image for actual damages or $500, whichever is greater, in addition to reasonable attorney fees and costs. Civil action for the dissemination of sexually explicit visual material to another. Provides that any person 18 years of age or older who knowingly transmits an intimate image, as defined in the bill, by computer or other electronic means to the computer or electronic communication device of another person 18 years of age or older when such other person has not consented to the use of his computer or electronic communication device for the receipt of such material or has expressly forbidden the receipt of such material shall be considered a trespass and shall be liable to the recipient of the intimate image for actual damages or $500, whichever is greater, in addition to reasonable attorney fees and costs.

Campaign finance; prohibited personal use of campaign funds, complaints, hearings, civil penalty. Prohibits any person from converting contributions to a candidate or a candidate's campaign committee for his personal use. Current law only prohibits such conversion of contributions with regard to disbursement of surplus funds at the dissolution of a campaign or political committee. The bill provides that a contribution is considered to have been converted to personal use if the contribution, in whole or in part, is used to fulfill any commitment, obligation, or expense that would exist irrespective of the person's seeking, holding, or maintaining public office but excepts from "personal use" the ordinary and accepted expenses related to campaigning for or holding elective office, including the use of campaign funds to pay for the candidate's child care expenses that are incurred as a direct result of campaign activity. Any person subject to the personal use ban may request an advisory opinion from the State Board of Elections on such matters. The bill directs the State Board of Elections to provide an updated summary of Virginia campaign finance law that reflects the Attorney General's opinion and any regulations promulgated by the State Board of Elections. Campaign finance; prohibited personal use of campaign funds, complaints, hearings, civil penalty. Prohibits any person from converting contributions to a candidate or a candidate's campaign committee for his personal use. Current law only prohibits such conversion of contributions with regard to disbursement of surplus funds at the dissolution of a campaign or political committee. The bill provides that a contribution is considered to have been converted to personal use if the contribution, in whole or in part, is used to fulfill any commitment, obligation, or expense that would exist irrespective of the person's seeking, holding, or maintaining public office but excepts from "personal use" the ordinary and accepted expenses related to campaigning for or holding elective office, including the use of campaign funds to pay for the candidate's child care expenses that are incurred as a direct result of campaign activity. Any person subject to the personal use ban may request an advisory opinion from the State Board of Elections on such matters. The bill directs the State Board of Elections to provide an updated summary of Virginia campaign finance law that reflects the Attorney General's opinion and any regulations promulgated by the State Board of Elections.

Late Onset Hearing Loss Awareness Week. Designates May 4 through 10, in 2022 and in each succeeding year, as Late Onset Hearing Loss Awareness Week in Virginia.

Guardianship and conservatorship of incapacitated persons. Makes several changes to the provisions of adult guardianships and conservatorships, including (i) requiring a guardian ad litem appointed to represent a respondent to a guardianship proceeding to notify the court as soon as practicable if the respondent requests counsel, regardless of whether the guardian ad litem recommends counsel; (ii) requiring the notice of hearing on a guardianship or conservatorship petition to include notice that any adult individual or entity required to receive a copy of such notice may become a party to the proceeding by filing a pleading with the circuit court in which the case is pending; and (iii) requiring an appointed guardian to include in his annual report to the local department of social services certain additional information. Guardianship and conservatorship of incapacitated persons. Makes several changes to the provisions of adult guardianships and conservatorships, including (i) requiring a guardian ad litem appointed to represent a respondent to a guardianship proceeding to notify the court as soon as practicable if the respondent requests counsel, regardless of whether the guardian ad litem recommends counsel; (ii) requiring the notice of hearing on a guardianship or conservatorship petition to include notice that any adult individual or entity required to receive a copy of such notice may become a party to the proceeding by filing a pleading with the circuit court in which the case is pending; and (iii) requiring an appointed guardian to include in his annual report to the local department of social services certain additional information.

Wage or salary history inquiries prohibited; civil penalty. Prohibits a prospective employer from (i) seeking the wage or salary history of a prospective employee; (ii) relying on the wage or salary history of a prospective employee in determining the wages or salary the prospective employee is to be paid upon hire; (iii) relying on the wage or salary history of a prospective employee in considering the prospective employee for employment; (iv) refusing to interview, hire, employ, or promote a prospective employee or otherwise retaliating against a prospective employee for not providing wage or salary history; and (v) failing or refusing to provide a prospective employee the wage or salary range for the position for which the prospective employee is applying prior to discussing compensation and at any time upon the prospective employee's request. The bill establishes a cause of action for an aggrieved prospective employee or employee and provides that an employer that violates such prohibitions is liable to the aggrieved prospective employee or employee for statutory damages between $1,000 and $10,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater, reasonable attorney fees and costs, and any other legal and equitable relief as may be appropriate. The bill also provides for civil penalties for violations not to exceed $1,000 for a first violation, $2,000 for a second violation, and $4,000 for a third or subsequent violation. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2023. Wage or salary history inquiries prohibited; civil penalty. Prohibits a prospective employer from (i) seeking the wage or salary history of a prospective employee; (ii) relying on the wage or salary history of a prospective employee in determining the wages or salary the prospective employee is to be paid upon hire; (iii) relying on the wage or salary history of a prospective employee in considering the prospective employee for employment; (iv) refusing to interview, hire, employ, or promote a prospective employee or otherwise retaliating against a prospective employee for not providing wage or salary history; and (v) failing or refusing to provide a prospective employee the wage or salary range for the position for which the prospective employee is applying prior to discussing compensation and at any time upon the prospective employee's request. The bill establishes a cause of action for an aggrieved prospective employee or employee and provides that an employer that violates such prohibitions is liable to the aggrieved prospective employee or employee for statutory damages between $1,000 and $10,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater, reasonable attorney fees and costs, and any other legal and equitable relief as may be appropriate. The bill also provides for civil penalties for violations not to exceed $1,000 for a first violation, $2,000 for a second violation, and $4,000 for a third or subsequent violation. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2023.