Communications between ministers of religion and persons they counsel or advise. Clarifies that no minister of religion shall be required to give testimony or evidence in a civil or criminal proceeding that would disclose confidential information provided to him by a person seeking spiritual counsel or advice unless such person seeking spiritual counsel or advise requests or consents to such disclosure from such minister of religion.

Campaign finance; fundraising during special sessions prohibited. Prohibits campaign fundraising on any day the General Assembly is scheduled to meet during a special session. Currently, campaign fundraising is prohibited only during regular sessions of the General Assembly.

Crime victim rights; notification from the attorney for the Commonwealth. Requires an attorney for the Commonwealth to consult with a crime victim in a felony case to (i) inform the victim of the contents of a proposed plea agreement and (ii) obtain the victim's views about the disposition of the case. The bill provides that the victim shall be notified of any proceeding in which the plea agreement will be tendered to the court. The bill also provides that the attorney for the Commonwealth may satisfy his notification responsibilities by consulting with a parent or guardian of an unemancipated minor victim, if the parent or guardian is not a suspect, person of interest, or defendant in the criminal investigation of the proceeding. Under current law, such consultation and notification is required only upon the victim's request.

Board of Education; Child Care Subsidy Program; extending scope of eligibility to certain foster parents. Directs the Board of Education to amend its regulations for the Child Care Subsidy Program to expand the scope of eligibility to apply for the Program to any foster parent of a child placed in the foster parent's home if, at the time of eligibility determination or redetermination, the child (i) meets the criteria for eligibility currently set forth in the Board's regulations or (ii) is between the ages of 13 and 17 but otherwise meets the criteria for eligibility set forth in the Board's regulations, provided that there is documented evidence that such child between the ages of 13 and 17 has exhibited tendencies toward self-harm or harm to others.

Waterworks and wastewater works operators; license reciprocity. Requires the Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals, upon application by an individual, and without examination, to recognize licenses or certificates issued by another state as fulfillment of qualifications for licensure in the Commonwealth if certain conditions are met.

Guardianship and conservatorship; periodic review hearings. Requires the court to set up a schedule for periodic review hearings in the order of appointment of a guardian or conservator, unless the court makes a determination that such hearings are unnecessary or impracticable. The bill further provides that any periodic review hearing shall include the following assessments by the court: (i) the likelihood that the respondent's condition will improve or the respondent will regain capacity, (ii) whether concerns or questions were raised about the suitability of the person appointed as a guardian or conservator at the time of the initial appointment, and (iii) whether the appointment of a guardian or conservator or the appointment of the specifically appointed guardian or conservator was contested by the respondent or another party.

Health care; decision making; end of life; penalties. Health care; decision making; end of life; penalties. Allows an adult diagnosed with a terminal condition to request and an attending health care provider to prescribe a self-administered controlled substance for the purpose of ending the patient's life in a humane and dignified manner. The bill requires that a patient's request for a self-administered controlled substance to end his life must be given orally on two occasions and in writing, signed by the patient and one witness, and that the patient be given an express opportunity to rescind his request at any time. The bill makes it a Class 2 felony (i) to willfully and deliberately alter, forge, conceal, or destroy a patient's request, or rescission of request, for a self-administered controlled substance to end his life with the intent and effect of causing the patient's death; (ii) to coerce, intimidate, or exert undue influence on a patient to request a self-administered controlled substance for the purpose of ending his life or to destroy the patient's rescission of such request with the intent and effect of causing the patient's death; or (iii) to coerce, intimidate, or exert undue influence on a patient to forgo a self-administered controlled substance for the purpose of ending the patient's life. The bill also grants immunity from civil or criminal liability and professional disciplinary action to any person who complies with the provisions of the bill and allows health care providers to refuse to participate in the provision of a self-administered controlled substance to a patient for the purpose of ending the patient's life.

Single-use plastic carrier bags; local prohibition. Authorizes a locality to prohibit by ordinance the purchase, sale, or provision, whether free or for a cost, of any single-use plastic carrier bag that is not recyclable from grocery stores, retail stores, and convenience stores.

Lights on other vehicles; animal-drawn vehicles. Clarifies that the existing requirements for vehicles to display white lights in the front and red lights in the rear or approved reflectors applies to animal-drawn vehicles. The bill also provides that such lights may be battery-operated. Lights on other vehicles; animal-drawn vehicles. Clarifies that the existing requirements for vehicles to display white lights in the front and red lights in the rear or approved reflectors applies to animal-drawn vehicles. The bill also provides that such lights may be battery-operated.

Department of Medical Assistance Services; services for individuals with developmental disabilities; financial flexibility; report. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to take steps to amend the Family and Individual Supports, Community Living, and Building Independence waivers to provide greater financial flexibility to individuals with developmental disabilities who are receiving waiver services. The bill requires the Department to report on its progress to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2023.

Emergency Department Care Management Grant Program and Fund; report. Establishes the Emergency Department Care Management Grant Program and the Emergency Department Care Management Grant Fund. The bill provides that the Program is established to provide grants to eligible hospitals that provide care management and medical services to frequent users of hospital emergency departments, with grants to be awarded to (i) reduce patient usage of emergency departments for routine, nonurgent, primary medical care; (ii) support emergency department case management staff; (iii) identify and analyze the comprehensive health care needs of patients; (iv) identify social determinants of health and barriers to care; (v) facilitate collaboration with providers and payers to develop a plan for community care; and (vi) improve the ability of patients to manage their care in the community. The bill directs the Department of Health to evaluate the effectiveness of the Program and requires the State Health Commissioner to report the Department's findings to the General Assembly and the Joint Commission on Health Care by October 1, 2027. The provisions of the bill sunset on July 1, 2028, and are contingent on funding in the general appropriation act. Emergency Department Care Management Grant Program and Fund; report. Establishes the Emergency Department Care Management Grant Program and the Emergency Department Care Management Grant Fund. The bill provides that the Program is established to provide grants to eligible hospitals that provide care management and medical services to frequent users of hospital emergency departments, with grants to be awarded to (i) reduce patient usage of emergency departments for routine, nonurgent, primary medical care; (ii) support emergency department case management staff; (iii) identify and analyze the comprehensive health care needs of patients; (iv) identify social determinants of health and barriers to care; (v) facilitate collaboration with providers and payers to develop a plan for community care; and (vi) improve the ability of patients to manage their care in the community. The bill directs the Department of Health to evaluate the effectiveness of the Program and requires the State Health Commissioner to report the Department's findings to the General Assembly and the Joint Commission on Health Care by October 1, 2027. The provisions of the bill sunset on July 1, 2028, and are contingent on funding in the general appropriation act.

Public high schools; special education; identification of faculty member responsible for school transition planning and coordination. Requires each public high school in the Commonwealth to publicly identify on its official website the faculty member responsible for special education transition planning and coordination at such high school.

Claims; Michael Haas; compensation for wrongful incarceration. Provides relief in the amount of $1,530,653 to Michael Haas, who was wrongly convicted of forcible sodomy.

Transit Ridership Incentive Program; on-demand microtransit operations. Includes the development and implementation of on-demand microtransit operations, defined in the bill, to incentivize and promote transit ridership, as part of the goal of the Transit Ridership Incentive Program. The bill provides that an approved initiative or service is eligible to continue receiving funding for the duration of the Program on an annual basis, for up to 80 percent of costs, from funds that are available to the urbanized area in which the initiative or service is located.

Firearm in unattended motor vehicle; civil penalty. Provides that no person shall leave, place, or store a handgun in an unattended motor vehicle, as defined in the bill, unless the vehicle is locked. The bill provides that any person violating such prohibition is subject to a civil penalty of no more than $500 and that such unattended motor vehicle may be subject to removal for safekeeping. Firearm in unattended motor vehicle; civil penalty. Provides that no person shall leave, place, or store a handgun in an unattended motor vehicle, as defined in the bill, unless the vehicle is locked. The bill provides that any person violating such prohibition is subject to a civil penalty of no more than $500 and that such unattended motor vehicle may be subject to removal for safekeeping.