Commending Oak Grove Baptist Church.

Public utility regulation; Internet service providers; certificate to furnish broadband service. Provides that Internet service providers are public utilities for the purposes of services and rates that are regulated by the State Corporation Commission. Under the bill, an Internet service provider does not include any agency, municipality, school board, or other political subdivision of the Commonwealth that provides broadband service. Beginning January 1, 2024, the bill requires an Internet service provider to seek a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Commission for furnishing broadband service, extending its broadband service, or constructing, enlarging, or acquiring any new facilities for use in the provision of broadband service. The bill directs the Commission to promulgate rules and regulations to establish the requirements and process for an Internet service provider to seek such certificates by January 1, 2024.

Celebrating the life of John Tilghman Hazel, Jr.

Fee for solid waste disposal; Prince Edward County. Adds Prince Edward County to the list of counties that may by ordinance, and after a public hearing, levy a fee for the (i) disposal of solid waste not to exceed the actual cost incurred by the county in procuring, developing, maintaining, and improving the landfill and for such reserves as may be necessary for capping and closing such landfill in the future and (ii) management of solid waste not to exceed the actual cost incurred by the county in removing and disposing of solid waste. The bill also grants Prince Edward County various powers with regard to collection of the fee, including to levy penalties and interest for late payment and unpaid fees, to require payment of the fee prior to approval of certain land use applications, and to provide discounts to the standard fee rates for certain older and disabled persons based on ability to pay.

Special conservators of the peace; use of word police on badge. Provides that a court, upon request and for good cause shown, may authorize a special conservator of the peace who meets all requirements for law-enforcement officers and is employed by the Roanoke College Office of Campus Safety or the Dinwiddie Airport and Industrial Authority to use the word "police" on any badge, uniform, or vehicle in the performance of his duties or the seal of the Commonwealth on any badge or credential in the performance of his duties. Special conservators of the peace; use of word police on badge. Provides that a court, upon request and for good cause shown, may authorize a special conservator of the peace who meets all requirements for law-enforcement officers and is employed by the Roanoke College Office of Campus Safety or the Dinwiddie Airport and Industrial Authority to use the word "police" on any badge, uniform, or vehicle in the performance of his duties or the seal of the Commonwealth on any badge or credential in the performance of his duties.

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; Department of State Police; mobile applications; mental health and public safety. Requires the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to develop or obtain a mental health mobile application for suicide prevention and the provision of educational materials related to suicide prevention. The bill requires the mobile application to provide a means to directly connect to the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Secretary of Education to promote, market, and advertise the use of such application using existing resources. The bill also requires the Department of State Police to (i) develop or obtain a public safety mobile application to enable individuals in the Commonwealth to furnish confidential tips to the Department of State Police through text, audio, images, or video concerning a suspected, anticipated, or completed criminal violation or a school-related safety concern and (ii) develop a referral system to ensure that such confidential tips are referred to the chief law-enforcement officer of the relevant jurisdiction for proper coordination of response and investigation. The bill directs the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to promote, market, and advertise the use of such application using existing resources. The provisions of the bill related to an application developed by DBHDS have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2023. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act. Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; Department of State Police; mobile applications; mental health and public safety. Requires the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to develop or obtain a mental health mobile application for suicide prevention and the provision of educational materials related to suicide prevention. The bill requires the mobile application to provide a means to directly connect to the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Secretary of Education to promote, market, and advertise the use of such application using existing resources. The bill also requires the Department of State Police to (i) develop or obtain a public safety mobile application to enable individuals in the Commonwealth to furnish confidential tips to the Department of State Police through text, audio, images, or video concerning a suspected, anticipated, or completed criminal violation or a school-related safety concern and (ii) develop a referral system to ensure that such confidential tips are referred to the chief law-enforcement officer of the relevant jurisdiction for proper coordination of response and investigation. The bill directs the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to promote, market, and advertise the use of such application using existing resources. The provisions of the bill related to an application developed by DBHDS have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2023. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.

Virginia Retirement System; increased retirement allowance for certain judges. Increases, for the purposes of determining benefits provided under the Judicial Retirement System, the retirement multiplier from 1 percent to 1.7 percent. The increase would apply only to judges appointed on or after July 1, 2022, who are participants in the hybrid retirement program, and who are at least age 55 at the time of appointment.

Nursing home standards of care and staff requirements; regulations. Requires the State Board of Health to establish staffing and care standards in nursing homes to require a minimum of direct care services to each resident per 24-hour period as follows: (i) a minimum of 2.8 direct care hours provided by a nurse aide per resident, per day; (ii) a minimum of 1.3 direct care hours provided by a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse per resident, per day; and (iii) a minimum of 0.75 hours out of total 4.1 required direct hours provided by a registered nurse per resident, per day. The bill requires nursing homes to provide quarterly staff training on first aid, medication administration, and compliance with nursing home policies and procedures. Additionally, the bill removes language requiring that each hospital, nursing home, and certified nursing facility establish protocols for patient visits from a rabbi, priest, minister, or clergy of any religious denomination or sect during a declared public health emergency related to a communicable disease of public health threat.

Motor vehicle sales and use tax; definition of sale price. Excludes from the sale price for determining motor vehicle sales and use tax the amount of any credit given by the seller for any motor vehicle taken as a trade-in.

Family caregiver tax credit. Creates a nonrefundable income tax credit for taxable years 2022 through 2026 for expenses incurred by an individual in caring for an eligible family member, defined in the bill, who requires assistance with one or more activities of daily living, also defined in the bill. The credit equals 50 percent of eligible expenditures incurred by the caregiver up to $1,000. In order to qualify for the credit, the family caregiver must (i) not receive any compensation or reimbursement for the eligible expenditures and (ii) have federal adjusted gross income that is no greater than $100,000 for an individual or $200,000 for married persons. The bill requires the Tax Commissioner to establish guidelines for claiming the credit and provides that any unused credit may be carried forward by the taxpayer for five taxable years following the taxable year for which the credit was issued. The bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care. Family caregiver tax credit. Creates a nonrefundable income tax credit for taxable years 2022 through 2026 for expenses incurred by an individual in caring for an eligible family member, defined in the bill, who requires assistance with one or more activities of daily living, also defined in the bill. The credit equals 50 percent of eligible expenditures incurred by the caregiver up to $1,000. In order to qualify for the credit, the family caregiver must (i) not receive any compensation or reimbursement for the eligible expenditures and (ii) have federal adjusted gross income that is no greater than $100,000 for an individual or $200,000 for married persons. The bill requires the Tax Commissioner to establish guidelines for claiming the credit and provides that any unused credit may be carried forward by the taxpayer for five taxable years following the taxable year for which the credit was issued. The bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care.

Possession of certain naturally occurring hallucinogens or psychoactive substances; civil penalty. Provides that any person 21 years of age or older who knowingly or intentionally possesses peyote, ibogaine, psilocybin, or psilocyn shall be punished by a civil penalty of no more than $100 and such civil penalties shall be deposited into the Drug Offender Assessment and Treatment Fund. Under current law, a person who knowingly or intentionally possesses such substances is guilty of a Class 5 felony. Possession of certain naturally occurring hallucinogens or psychoactive substances; civil penalty. Provides that any person 21 years of age or older who knowingly or intentionally possesses peyote, ibogaine, psilocybin, or psilocyn shall be punished by a civil penalty of no more than $100 and such civil penalties shall be deposited into the Drug Offender Assessment and Treatment Fund. Under current law, a person who knowingly or intentionally possesses such substances is guilty of a Class 5 felony.

Governor's Office; creation of a Secretary of Disability Services Coordination. Creates the position of Secretary of Disability Services Coordination to be appointed by the Governor. The bill provides for the responsibilities of the Secretary.

Use of canines in correctional facilities; prohibited acts. Prohibits any correctional officer, jail officer, or other employee of a state, local, or juvenile correctional facility from using a canine to extract a prisoner or juvenile from his cell unless there is a threat of death or serious bodily injury to the prisoner or juvenile, other prisoners or juveniles, or any officer or employee of the facility.

Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim Fund; purpose; fee apportionment. Provides that the Department of Criminal Justice Services shall adopt guidelines to make funds from the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim Fund, which is used to support the prosecution of domestic violence cases and victim services, available to sexual assault service providers and hospitals for the purpose of funding the cost of salaries and equipment for sexual assault forensic examiners, sexual assault nurse examiners, and pediatric forensic nurses, with priority for funding such costs given to such forensic examiners, nurse examiners, and forensic nurses serving rural and underserved communities. The bill also increases the amount apportioned to the Fund from the fixed-fee assessments for misdemeanors and traffic infractions tried in district court.

Marijuana criminal history information; disclosure to state and local governments by job applicants. Allows the Commonwealth or a locality to require a job applicant or other applicant who is seeking a license, permit, registration, or other government service to disclose his prior criminal history for marijuana offenses. Under current law, the Commonwealth and its localities are prohibited from requiring the disclosure of such information for such purposes.