Session Update - Week 6
As we conclude this week of meetings, it is apparent to everyone that we are heading into the final stretch of the 2011 General Assembly Session. The days are very long as we all are working overtime to ensure the final passage of our bills through both chambers. Sometimes it is as easy as simply accepting changes made by the other chamber, or it can be as hard as having a conference committee work out a compromise version of the bill that suits both chambers. One of the more significant bills heading to conference appears to be the Governor’s Transportation Funding Plan (HB2527). If this ends up in conference, I hope to be asked to serve on that conference committee so I can insure the bill remains a strong proposal for funding transportation projects in Virginia.
As of this writing, nearly 400 Senate and House Bills have passed both chambers and have been sent to Governor McDonnell’s desk for his approval. Governor McDonnell has already approved two bills and has reportedly made amendments to several other bills.
Spotlight On: Overdue help for people with disabilities
Late last week, the Department of Justice issued a report regarding Virginia’s services for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and developmental disabilities (DD) who are in institutions or at imminent risk of institutionalization. The report essentially requires Virginia to develop a plan to move those who are in institutions to community-based care in order to comply with federal laws. The report also calls for Virginia to strengthen its commitment to eliminate the waiting lists for community-based services.
You might not be aware, but we have 3,123 people who are on the “urgent” waiting list for community-based care– this is unacceptable. For years, many have fought to increase the number of ID and DD waiver slots to help keep more people in our communities and out of institutions. In this year’s House budget, we have added 375 ID waivers and 270 DD waivers while the State Senate’s budget only added 175 ID waivers and 100 DD waivers. Even though we have made some progress, we still are a long way away from the goal of eliminating the waiting list.
At the request of Governor McDonnell, Delegate Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) introduced House Bill 2533, a bill that sets up a fund to begin the process of increasing the availability of community-based services for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. While the fund will require an initial investment of around $30 million, additional funds will come from the savings captured when we begin to phase out of the state’s training centers. I am proud to report that we have broad bipartisan support for this bill in the House with fifty-eight delegates, myself included, co-patroning this much-needed legislation.
I believe that this report will be the push Virginia needs to start the process of transitioning from institutional care to community-based care.
Legislation
The original language of my HJ 511, which would constitutionally require the Transportation Trust Fund to be kept permanent and separate so that it could not end up being used on anything other than transportation, was rejected in the Senate. Instead, the Senate proposed an amendment to the bill which creates a terminal flaw. I will now be working in a conference committee to save the bill.
Another bill that I have been working hard on this week is SB1367, patroned by Senator Saslaw (D-Fairfax), which expands car title lending in Virginia. Currently, car title lenders can only loan to cars that are titled in Virginia. However, this legislation would allow them to loan to cars that are titled in other states as well. This is despite the fact that our neighbors, like Maryland and Washington, D.C., have taken steps to curb car title lenders from lending in their states and to their citizens. This is a giant step back in my ongoing battle to reduce predatory lending in Virginia. I will be fighting this bill on the floor of the House on Monday and implore all of my fellow Members to not support the proposal to expand predatory lending in Virginia.
Lastly, the ABC Board recently signed a consent order allowing outdoor advertising of alcohol in Virginia. Current ABC regulations prohibited alcohol advertising on billboards anywhere other than stadiums, coliseums and race tracks. Additionally, stores licensed to sell alcohol in Virginia have extremely limited ability to advertise alcohol outside of the confines of their store. The consent decree suspends those regulations and requires the ABC Board to come up with new rules. The abolishment of the current regulations by this consent decree removes the long standing policy of very limited advertising of alcohol outside of a store. Just imagine that all of the promotional advertising you see in the store for alcohol will now be outside of the store, on signs and billboards.
As a result of working to find an immediate solution to this problem, I offered an amendment to another ABC-related bill, HB1457, which would attempt to retain as many of the current restrictions on alcohol advertising as possible. In order to remain within the bounds of the law, my proposal mirrors an ordinance in Baltimore that has been upheld as constitutional in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The amendment allows some alcohol advertising on billboards in commercial and industrial areas, but does not allow advertising in residential neighborhoods or rural areas. The proposal, with this amendment, passed the House General Laws Committee 16 -0 voted and is now heading to the Floor of the House of Delegates.
Visitors
I was glad to host a group from Denbigh Baptist Christian School this week and was able to spend some time speaking to them about how the General Assembly works. The students also had an opportunity to view Session from the House Gallery, where I introduced them to the Members of the House, and take a tour of the Capitol and the Governor’s Mansion. It is rewarding for me to be able to host the students here in the General Assembly where they can see the principles they learn in the classroom take form in our day-to-day routines here at the state legislature.
Closing
As always, Jesica, Carol and I are here to serve you. We want to hear what you think about the legislation pending before the House and we are glad to help you in dealing with state government agencies. Our office can be reached at (804) 698-1094 or via the email at DelGOder@house.virginia.gov.
Thank you again for allowing me to serve as your Delegate.
