Disposition of the unrestorably incompetent defendant; aggravated murder charge; sexually violent offense charge. Provides that if a defendant is ordered to undergo treatment to restore his competency to stand trial and the initial evaluator has found that the defendant has an ongoing and irreversible medical condition causing him to likely remain incompetent for the foreseeable future or that the defendant has been found to be unrestorably incompetent in the past two years, the initial evaluator shall send a report to the court and the court shall proceed with a competency determination.

Health insurance; coverage for audio-only telehealth services. Requires health insurers, health care subscription plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage beginning January 1, 2024, for the cost of health care services provided through audio-only telehealth services, defined in the bill as counseling interventions designed to facilitate a patient's achievement of human development goals and remediate mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and associated distresses that interfere with mental health and development by a mental health professional delivered to a patient via audio-only means when no other means of real-time two-way audio-visual or other telecommunications or electronic communications are available and operational to the patient or the patient does not have the capability to use such real-time two-way means of communication. The bill requires that prescribing of controlled substances via audio-only telehealth services comply with state requirements for prescribing controlled substances and all applicable federal law. Health insurance; coverage for audio-only telehealth services. Requires health insurers, health care subscription plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage beginning January 1, 2024, for the cost of health care services provided through audio-only telehealth services, defined in the bill as counseling interventions designed to facilitate a patient's achievement of human development goals and remediate mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and associated distresses that interfere with mental health and development by a mental health professional delivered to a patient via audio-only means when no other means of real-time two-way audio-visual or other telecommunications or electronic communications are available and operational to the patient or the patient does not have the capability to use such real-time two-way means of communication. The bill requires that prescribing of controlled substances via audio-only telehealth services comply with state requirements for prescribing controlled substances and all applicable federal law.

Storage of firearms in a residence where a minor is present; penalty. Requires any person who possesses a firearm in a residence where such person knows that a minor under 18 years of age or a person who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm resides shall store such firearm and the ammunition for such firearm in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet that is inaccessible to such minor or prohibited person. The bill provides that a violation is a Class 4 misdemeanor. The bill exempts any person in lawful possession of a firearm who carries such firearm on or about his person, the storage of antique firearms, and the lawful authorization of a minor to access a firearm. The bill also requires firearm dealers to post a notice stating such firearm storage requirements and the penalty for not properly storing such firearms. Storage of firearms in a residence where a minor is present; penalty. Requires any person who possesses a firearm in a residence where such person knows that a minor under 18 years of age or a person who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm resides shall store such firearm and the ammunition for such firearm in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet that is inaccessible to such minor or prohibited person. The bill provides that a violation is a Class 4 misdemeanor. The bill exempts any person in lawful possession of a firearm who carries such firearm on or about his person, the storage of antique firearms, and the lawful authorization of a minor to access a firearm. The bill also requires firearm dealers to post a notice stating such firearm storage requirements and the penalty for not properly storing such firearms.

Study; State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; offering reduced rate in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth to dependents of public elementary and secondary school teachers in the Commonwealth; report. Requests the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to study, in collaboration with the Department of Education, the feasibility and efficacy of offering the dependents of public elementary and secondary school teachers in the Commonwealth reduced rate in-state tuition at public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth for the purpose of improving retention rates of public school teachers in the Commonwealth.

Elections administration; acceptance of certain services permitted. Provides that (i) the acceptance of technical assistance, research, or subject matter expertise regarding election law, policies, and administration by any state or local elections officials; (ii) the acceptance or use of money or grants given by a private individual or nongovernmental entity when such money or grant is received and disbursed by the treasurer for the locality or provided through the regular process for appropriating public funds; and (iii) voter registration drives are not prohibited under the general prohibition on the solicitation or acceptance by such officials of money, grants, property, or services given by a private individual or nongovernmental entity for the purpose of funding voting-related programs. Elections administration; acceptance of certain services permitted. Provides that (i) the acceptance of technical assistance, research, or subject matter expertise regarding election law, policies, and administration by any state or local elections officials; (ii) the acceptance or use of money or grants given by a private individual or nongovernmental entity when such money or grant is received and disbursed by the treasurer for the locality or provided through the regular process for appropriating public funds; and (iii) voter registration drives are not prohibited under the general prohibition on the solicitation or acceptance by such officials of money, grants, property, or services given by a private individual or nongovernmental entity for the purpose of funding voting-related programs.

Vaccine requirements for state agency employees; exemption. Creates an exemption to vaccine requirements implemented by state agencies for any state agency employees who are philosophically opposed to receiving such vaccination.

Prohibition of killing contests. Prohibits contests and competitions that offer cash or prizes for the capture or killing of coyotes or fur-bearing animals.

Bank franchise tax; report. Provides for the electronic filing of bank franchise tax returns through a secure online portal maintained by the Department of Taxation and extends the time to file such tax return by 60 days. The bill also requires localities to provide banks access to real estate assessment records upon request. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025, and directs the Department to convene a work group to assess potential alternative methods for the filing and allocation of bank franchise tax revenues.

Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services; training; powers and duties of guardian; annual reports by guardians; information required. Directs the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services to develop and provide training for court-appointed guardians by July 1, 2024. The bill requires an appointed guardian, except a guardian who is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth, and any staff employed by such guardian to perform guardianship duties to complete the initial training developed by the Department within four months of the date of the initial court order of appointment and guardians and such staff appointed prior to July 1, 2024, shall complete such training by January 1, 2026. The bill further requires a guardian to include in his annual report to the local department of social services a statement as to whether such training has been completed. Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services; training; powers and duties of guardian; annual reports by guardians; information required. Directs the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services to develop and provide training for court-appointed guardians by July 1, 2024. The bill requires an appointed guardian, except a guardian who is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth, and any staff employed by such guardian to perform guardianship duties to complete the initial training developed by the Department within four months of the date of the initial court order of appointment and guardians and such staff appointed prior to July 1, 2024, shall complete such training by January 1, 2026. The bill further requires a guardian to include in his annual report to the local department of social services a statement as to whether such training has been completed.

Adult adoptee access to original birth certificate. Grants adoptees 18 years of age or older access to their original birth certificate.

Study; Joint Subcommittee on Recurrent Flooding; membership increase. Increases the total membership of the Joint Subcommittee on Recurrent Flooding from 11 to 17 by increasing the number of nonlegislative members from three to seven. The additional nonlegislative members include representatives from the environmental, development, and business communities, a certified floodplain manager, and three local elected officials representing three of Virginia's flood-prone communities.

Standards of Learning assessment revision work group; consideration of effectiveness of assessments for students with disabilities. Requires the work group established by the Secretary of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction to study and develop a plan relating to revisions to Standards of Learning assessments to consider the effectiveness of assessments for students with disabilities, including the Virginia Alternate Assessment Program for those students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, and the use of those assessments to improve and individualize instruction. Standards of Learning assessment revision work group; consideration of effectiveness of assessments for students with disabilities. Requires the work group established by the Secretary of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction to study and develop a plan relating to revisions to Standards of Learning assessments to consider the effectiveness of assessments for students with disabilities, including the Virginia Alternate Assessment Program for those students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, and the use of those assessments to improve and individualize instruction.

Carrying assault firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty. Prohibits the carrying of certain semi-automatic center-fire rifles, pistols, and shotguns on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, or public right-of-way or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public. Under current law, the current prohibition on carrying certain shotguns and semi-automatic center-fire rifles and pistols applies to a narrower range of firearms, only in certain localities, and only when such firearms are loaded. Carrying assault firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty. Prohibits the carrying of certain semi-automatic center-fire rifles, pistols, and shotguns on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, or public right-of-way or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public. Under current law, the current prohibition on carrying certain shotguns and semi-automatic center-fire rifles and pistols applies to a narrower range of firearms, only in certain localities, and only when such firearms are loaded.

Crimes by gangs. Provides that the definition of "predicate criminal act" includes all violent felony offenses for purposes of predicate criminal acts for street gangs. The bill also increases various penalties for gang crimes.

Absentee voting; availability of absentee voting in person. Limits absentee voting in person to the two weeks immediately preceding an election. Under current law, absentee voting in person is available beginning on the forty-fifth day prior to an election. Absentee voting; availability of absentee voting in person. Limits absentee voting in person to the two weeks immediately preceding an election. Under current law, absentee voting in person is available beginning on the forty-fifth day prior to an election.