An Act to amend and reenact §§ 9.1-101, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 18.2-268.3, 18.2-270.1, 18.2-271.1, 18.2-271.5, and 46.2-507, as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 an article numbered 2.1, consisting of sections numbered 18.2-273.1 through 18.2-273.9; and to repeal §§ 18.2-270.2, 18.2-271.2, and 18.2-271.4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Commission on the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP).
HB862 reorganizes Virginia’s laws governing the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP) and the Commission on VASAP. The bill amends several DUI- and alcohol-safety-related Code sections, adds a new Article 2.1 in Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 with sections 18.2-273.1 through 18.2-273.9, and repeals older provisions that are being replaced or consolidated. It also updates the definition of “criminal justice agency” in § 9.1-101 so that programs certified by the Commission on VASAP under the new article are expressly included within that category.
In practical terms, the bill appears to modernize and restructure the statutory framework for VASAP programs, likely clarifying program authority, administration, and related offenses or procedures tied to alcohol safety intervention. Because the text amends multiple sections dealing with DUI-related sanctions and VASAP administration, it affects the Department of Criminal Justice Services, the Commission on VASAP, certified VASAP programs, and individuals subject to alcohol-related driving offenses or court-ordered intervention.
The available legislative history shows no recorded committee transcript excerpts or vote details, so there is little direct evidence of debate or opposition in the provided materials. The bill was ultimately enacted as Chapter 686, which suggests it moved successfully through the process and received enough support for passage.
Based on the bill’s structure and enactment, the general sentiment appears to have been favorable or at least noncontroversial, with the legislature accepting a technical and administrative update to the VASAP framework. Any contention would likely have centered on how the new article changes program oversight, the scope of criminal justice agency status for VASAP-certified programs, or the repeal of prior sections, but no specific objections are documented in the supplied record.
HB862 amends Virginia’s criminal and traffic safety statutes by revising VASAP-related provisions, creating a new statutory article for the program, and repealing superseded sections. It expands the definition of “criminal justice agency” to include programs certified by the Commission on VASAP under the new article, which may affect access to criminal history information, agency reporting, and administrative treatment of those programs under state law. The bill primarily impacts the Commission on VASAP, the Department of Criminal Justice Services, courts, and individuals participating in alcohol safety intervention programs.
No committee transcripts or vote tallies were provided, so there is no direct record of floor or committee debate in the supplied materials. The bill’s enactment as Chapter 686 indicates it was approved by the General Assembly and signed into law, suggesting overall support. The available record points to a largely administrative or technical measure rather than a highly divisive policy change.
The bill’s likely points of contention, if any, would involve the restructuring of VASAP statutes, the repeal of older provisions, and the decision to classify Commission-certified VASAP programs as criminal justice agencies. Those changes could raise questions about program authority, data access, oversight, and the scope of criminal justice record handling. However, the provided materials do not identify any specific opponents, amendments, or disputed provisions.