Board of Education; high school graduation; alternative pathways to the advanced studies diploma. Directs the Board of Education to establish two pathways to the advanced studies high school diploma, and associated diploma seals for students who successfully follow and demonstrate excellence on such pathways: one pathway that requires advanced coursework in a career and technical education field but does not require coursework in world language and another pathway that requires advanced coursework in world language but does not require coursework in a career and technical education field. Board of Education; high school graduation; alternative pathways to the advanced studies diploma. Directs the Board of Education to establish two pathways to the advanced studies high school diploma, and associated diploma seals for students who successfully follow and demonstrate excellence on such pathways: one pathway that requires advanced coursework in a career and technical education field but does not require coursework in world language and another pathway that requires advanced coursework in world language but does not require coursework in a career and technical education field.

Minimum wage. Repeals certain provisions of the Code of Virginia related to increasing the state minimum wage to more than $11.00 per hour. The bill also repeals provisions related to increasing the state minimum wage based on an annual adjusted minimum wage determined by the Department of Labor and Industry.

Public employees; independent bargaining. Permits independent bargaining by public employees who are employed by a county, city, or town that has adopted an ordinance or resolution providing for collective bargaining by public employees. The bill prevents agreements between employee associations and employers from applying to employees who are not members of the association and states that there shall be only one designated bargaining representative for each collective bargaining unit in a county, city, or town that has adopted an ordinance or resolution providing for collective bargaining by public employees.

Peer Recovery Support Fund. Establishes the Peer Recovery Support Fund (the Fund) to provide payment for the cost of peer-to-peer substance abuse recovery support services provided by individuals other than state or local government employees. The bill requires that 10 percent of the net profits of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority derived from the sale of marijuana be appropriated to the Fund in the general appropriation act. The bill also directs the Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to develop regulations setting forth criteria for payments for peer-to-peer substance abuse recovery support services provided by individuals other than state or local government employees from the Fund.

Special license plates; localities. Authorizes localities to pay the initial issuance fee costs for the development and issuance of special license plates displaying the seal, symbol, emblem, or logotype of the locality in lieu of collecting 350 paid applications for such license plates.

Death of the parent or guardian of a child resulting from driving under the influence; child support. Provides that in any case where a person was convicted of involuntary manslaughter as a result of driving a motor vehicle or operating a watercraft under the influence where the victim was the parent or legal guardian of a child, the person who has custody of such child may petition the sentencing court to order that the defendant pay child support.

Comprehensive plan approval. Allows a planning commission to extend the 60-day period during which it makes a recommendation to the governing body on a comprehensive plan amendment if an applicant agrees to such extension. The bill also allows the extension to such longer period as agreed to by an applicant of the period of time during which the governing body shall hear and determine an appeal from a planning commission decision. Comprehensive plan approval. Allows a planning commission to extend the 60-day period during which it makes a recommendation to the governing body on a comprehensive plan amendment if an applicant agrees to such extension. The bill also allows the extension to such longer period as agreed to by an applicant of the period of time during which the governing body shall hear and determine an appeal from a planning commission decision.

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; county and city enforcement. Provides that any county or city may bring an action to enforce the provisions of the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act related to health and safety, provided that (i) the property where the violations occurred is within the jurisdictional boundaries of the county or city; (ii) the county or city has notified the landlord who owns the property directly or through the managing agent of the nature of the violations and the landlord has not remedied the violations within a reasonable time after receiving such notice to the satisfaction of the county or city; and (iii) such enforcement action may include seeking an injunction, damages, or both.

Potomac River Bridge Towing Compact. Adds the Arland D. Williams Jr. Memorial Bridge to the Potomac River bridges subject to the Potomac River Bridge Towing Compact to facilitate the prompt and orderly removal of disabled and abandoned vehicles from the bridges by giving the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia appropriate authority anywhere on the bridges. This amendment to the Compact shall not become effective until a substantially similar amendment is enacted by the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia. Potomac River Bridge Towing Compact. Adds the Arland D. Williams Jr. Memorial Bridge to the Potomac River bridges subject to the Potomac River Bridge Towing Compact to facilitate the prompt and orderly removal of disabled and abandoned vehicles from the bridges by giving the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia appropriate authority anywhere on the bridges. This amendment to the Compact shall not become effective until a substantially similar amendment is enacted by the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Public Guardianship and Conservator Ombudsman Office. Directs the Commissioner of the Department for Aging and Rehabilitation Services to establish a Public Guardianship and Conservator Ombudsman Office within the Department to (i) assist members of the public in understanding the public guardianship process and make available to the public information regarding public guardianship, including the rights and responsibilities of public guardians and individuals subject to public guardianship; (ii) provide information to the public regarding local and regional public guardian and conservator programs in the Commonwealth; (iii) receive complaints regarding public guardians, provide referrals to public and private agencies and other entities for assistance in resolving the issue giving rise to the complaint, and provide information regarding how to navigate the complaint process; and (iv) collect data regarding the number of inquiries and complaints received, the types of assistance provided, and the disposition of the matter, if known. The bill directs the Department to make information regarding the Office available on its website and to disseminate information regarding the Office to all adults for whom a public guardian is appointed and all adults residing in various congregate care settings. Public Guardianship and Conservator Ombudsman Office. Directs the Commissioner of the Department for Aging and Rehabilitation Services to establish a Public Guardianship and Conservator Ombudsman Office within the Department to (i) assist members of the public in understanding the public guardianship process and make available to the public information regarding public guardianship, including the rights and responsibilities of public guardians and individuals subject to public guardianship; (ii) provide information to the public regarding local and regional public guardian and conservator programs in the Commonwealth; (iii) receive complaints regarding public guardians, provide referrals to public and private agencies and other entities for assistance in resolving the issue giving rise to the complaint, and provide information regarding how to navigate the complaint process; and (iv) collect data regarding the number of inquiries and complaints received, the types of assistance provided, and the disposition of the matter, if known. The bill directs the Department to make information regarding the Office available on its website and to disseminate information regarding the Office to all adults for whom a public guardian is appointed and all adults residing in various congregate care settings.

Adult protective services; central registry. Creates a central registry of substantiated complaints of adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation to be maintained by the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services. The bill establishes (i) investigation requirements for local departments of social services related to reports of adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation; (ii) record retention and disclosure requirements for the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services and local departments of social services; (iii) notice requirements related to findings by local departments and central registry entries; and (iv) an appeals process to contest the findings of a local department related to substantiated reports of adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

Prescriptions; off-label use. Provides that a prescriber may prescribe, administer, or dispense and a pharmacist may dispense a drug that has been approved for a specific use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for an off-label use when the prescriber or pharmacist determines, in his professional judgment, that such off-label use is appropriate for the standard of care and such prescribing, administering, or dispensing is to improve health care outcomes. The bill also prohibits a hospital from denying, revoking, terminating, diminishing, or curtailing in any way any professional or clinical privilege of any licensed health care provider with prescriptive authority or authority to dispense drugs solely on the grounds that such health care provider prescribes, administers, or dispenses a drug that has been approved for a specific use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for an off-label use, provided that such prescribing, administering, or dispensing is in accordance with laws of the Commonwealth and is to improve health care outcomes. Prescriptions; off-label use. Provides that a prescriber may prescribe, administer, or dispense and a pharmacist may dispense a drug that has been approved for a specific use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for an off-label use when the prescriber or pharmacist determines, in his professional judgment, that such off-label use is appropriate for the standard of care and such prescribing, administering, or dispensing is to improve health care outcomes. The bill also prohibits a hospital from denying, revoking, terminating, diminishing, or curtailing in any way any professional or clinical privilege of any licensed health care provider with prescriptive authority or authority to dispense drugs solely on the grounds that such health care provider prescribes, administers, or dispenses a drug that has been approved for a specific use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for an off-label use, provided that such prescribing, administering, or dispensing is in accordance with laws of the Commonwealth and is to improve health care outcomes.

Continuing education; funeral service licensees, funeral directors, and embalmers. Provides that approved continuing education courses for funeral service licensees, funeral directors, and embalmers shall include either one hour of compliance with laws and regulations governing the profession or one hour of preneed funeral arrangements per year, provided that at least one hour of continuing education regarding preneed funeral arrangements is completed every three years. Current law requires at least one hour of compliance with laws and regulations governing the profession and at least one hour of preneed funeral arrangements per year. The bill contains technical amendments. Continuing education; funeral service licensees, funeral directors, and embalmers. Provides that approved continuing education courses for funeral service licensees, funeral directors, and embalmers shall include either one hour of compliance with laws and regulations governing the profession or one hour of preneed funeral arrangements per year, provided that at least one hour of continuing education regarding preneed funeral arrangements is completed every three years. Current law requires at least one hour of compliance with laws and regulations governing the profession and at least one hour of preneed funeral arrangements per year. The bill contains technical amendments.

Adult protective services investigations; financial institutions; furnishing of records and information. Requires financial institutions to cooperate in any investigation of alleged adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation conducted by a local department of social services and to make any financial records or information relevant to such investigation available to the local department of social services upon request. Financial institutions may also voluntarily report information relevant to an adult protective services investigation to the local department of social services or to a court-appointed guardian ad litem for the adult under investigation. The bill provides that, absent gross negligence or willful misconduct, a financial institution is immune from civil or criminal liability for providing such information to a local department of social services or a court-appointed guardian ad litem. Adult protective services investigations; financial institutions; furnishing of records and information. Requires financial institutions to cooperate in any investigation of alleged adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation conducted by a local department of social services and to make any financial records or information relevant to such investigation available to the local department of social services upon request. Financial institutions may also voluntarily report information relevant to an adult protective services investigation to the local department of social services or to a court-appointed guardian ad litem for the adult under investigation. The bill provides that, absent gross negligence or willful misconduct, a financial institution is immune from civil or criminal liability for providing such information to a local department of social services or a court-appointed guardian ad litem.

Nursing homes; regulations; electronic monitoring. Directs the Board of Health to include in regulations governing nursing homes a provision prohibiting a nursing home from refusing to admit, transferring, or discharging a patient on the grounds that the patient has implemented or requested to implement electronic monitoring, provided such request and electronic monitoring is in accordance with regulations of the Board.