February 8, 2008
February 8, 2008 |
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House and Senate Racing to Complete Their Bills Before "Crossover" on February 13 Assembly Faces Budget Week House and Senate Versions of Database Breach Bills Moving Forward NoVa Delegation Briefed on Governor's Higher Education Bond Package, Status of Metro to Dulles Update on Dulles Rail House Decides Not to Move Forward with New Immigration Reporting Requirements for Government Contractors Nanotechnology Day at the General Assembly Virginia's Semiconductor Industry Is Competitive with Overseas Manufacturers We Want to Hear from YOU: Join the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee!
Biotechnology and Nanotechnology Center for Innovative Technology Technology and Computer Crimes Economic Development and Entrepreneurship E-government Electronic Medical Records Green Technology and Energy Homestead Exemption Immigration Transportation Trust Fund Safeguards Northern VA Transportation Funding Education Technology Privacy, Database Breach and Identity Theft Procurement and Outsourcing Real ID Research STEM Education (K-12 and Higher Ed) Technology Tax Policy Telework, Telecommunications and Broadband Transportation Funding Workforce |
"Arduous" Week of Legislating Ahead: "Crossover" Is on February 13
Both the House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia are racing to complete work on their own bills before the February 13 deadline know as "Crossover." Beginning next Wednesday, each house may consider only legislation and amendments of the other house, except for bills pertaining to the budget, appropriations, debt, revenue and the state's retirement system. Because there have been more than 2,900 pieces of legislation introduced during the session and because action is still pending on more than 1,900 of them, legislators will be working long hours in committee and in extended floor sessions through February 12.Learn About the Hottest Legislative
Discuss legislative developments that affect the Northern Virginia technology business community during the current General Assembly session by taking part in the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee calls. The calls take place every Friday at 3:00 p.m. during the session. To learn more, contact Allison Glatfelter, Public Policy Manager, at aglatfelter@nvtc.org.Developments in Richmond that Can Affect YOUR Business Participate in the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee Calls on Friday Afternoons |
NVTC Public Policy Links
You can also browse and/or locate specific bills and their status by visiting the Virginia General Assembly's Legislative Information System Web site at http://leg1.state.va.us/.Public Policy Steering Committee Contact Committee Leadership Contact NVTC Lobbying Team NVTC TechPAC Legislative Links Who Are My Legislators State Senators State Delegates Virginia Governor Virginia Lieutenant Governor Virginia Attorney General Virginia Secretary of Technology |
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House and Senate Racing to Complete Their Bills Before "Crossover" on February 13
Both the House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia are racing to complete work on their own bills before the February 13 deadline know as "Crossover." After next Wednesday, each house may consider only legislation and amendments of the other house, except for bills pertaining to the budget, appropriations, debt, revenue and the state's retirement system.Because there have been more than 2,900 pieces of legislation introduced and because action is still pending on more than 1,900 of them, legislators will be working long hours in committee and in extended floor sessions through February 12. Members of committees with high volumes of bills, such as the House Courts and Appropriations committees and the Senate Courts and Finance committees, will be busier than most. Many of the bills involve the most controversial of subjects—raising taxes on gasoline to fund transportation, restrictions on services for illegal immigrants, education, and smoking bans—so discussions may be as heated as they are long. Senate Minority Leader Thomas K. Norment, Jr. (R-James City) told reporters that " ... next week is going to be arduous. Tensions are going to erupt a little bit on some legislation that's been percolating towards the halfway point." - Back to top - Assembly Faces Budget Week  Virginia Governor Tim Kaine Governor Kaine will release his new budget estimates on February 11, but already has begun to trim the state workforce and instructed his cabinet officials to hire only the most essential new workers. Health, safety and university personnel now are exempt from that order, but Governor Kaine's Press Secretary Gordon Hickey is telling reporters, "Anything is possible; everything is on the table." The budget that Kaine called "stand in place" last December already incorporates a round of efficiencies and savings and a $261 million drawdown from the $1.2 billion revenue stabilization fund. And it will be extremely difficult to find more savings before the fiscal year ends June 30. The Governor's revenue re-estimates will add to the pressure already being felt by the House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees, which must report their own set of budget amendments for FY 2007-2008 and FY 2008-2009 by February 17. That includes saying "no" to most of the more than $3 billion in additional spending proposed by members of the House and Senate in their own budget amendments. Budget conferees and staff have been exploring options for several weeks.
House and Senate Versions of Database Breach Bills Moving Forward Bills Are Similar, but Differences Remain 
The House and Senate are both in the process of approving their own bills (HB 1469 and SB 307) to establish consumer notification procedures for companies that experience database security breaches where sensitive consumer information is compromised. Governor Tim Kaine and legislative leaders have identified enactment of database breach notification laws as a priority for the 2008 General Assembly Session. NVTC is working to ensure that both the House and Senate bills provide a reasonable and workable framework for businesses of all sizes and that the bills reflect NVTC's Position Statement on Database Breach Security Legislation.Differences do remain between the two bills, including provisions governing the circumstances when businesses and public agencies can utilize e-mail to notify consumers of a database breach. These differences probably will not get reconciled until a conference committee is convened later in the legislative process. - Back to top - NoVa Delegation Briefed on Governor's Higher Education Bond Package, Status of Metro to Dulles Twenty-one members of Northern Virginia's General Assembly Delegation were briefed on Monday, February 4, by Kaine Administration cabinet secretaries. Finance Secretary Jody Wagner and Education Secretary Tom Morris detailed the "Governor's $1.6 Billion Higher Education Bond Package" and outlined the differences between the Governor's proposal and the "21st Century Capital Improvement Program," sponsored by House Appropriations Committee Chairman Lacey Putney (I-Bedford) and endorsed by a majority of House members. Following the briefing, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Colgan (D-Prince William) informed the Delegation that House and Senate budget conferees would get together this week to begin reconciling the two approaches and seek compromise between the two proposals. Also during the meeting, Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer updated the Delegation on the status of discussions between Virginia officials and the Federal Transit Administration on the Dulles Rail Project. Secretary Homer indicated that Governor Kaine recently submitted a letter to federal transportation officials along with an eight-inch thick binder of supporting materials in an attempt to respond to FTA concerns about the project. To view a side-by-side comparison of the "21st Century Capital Improvement Program" and "Governor's $1.6 Billion Higher Education Bond Package", click here. To view Speaker of the House Bill Howell's (R-Fredericksburg) news release on the 21st Century Capital Improvement Program, click here. - Back to top - Update on Dulles Rail 
Governor Tim Kaine this week sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters to address Federal Transit Administration (FTA) new concerns about funding for the Dulles Rail Project. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, and other parties also have sent binders of information answering FTA’s new questions about the project.Of particular note is a Feb. 1, 2008 letter from MWAA President & CEO Jim Bennett to the FTA Administrator that responds to questions about the project's cost effectiveness, financial plan, risks and uncertainties, and management. Bennett further documents the $242 million in cost reductions suggested in late 2007, reinforces the predictability of Dulles Toll Road revenues that would finance revenue bonds for the project and reiterates the management experience of MWAA, which is in the middle of its own $7.2 billion capital improvements effort for Dulles International and Reagan National Airports. MWAA's Bennett concludes, "(W)e believe that the project qualifies for an overall 'Medium' rating and for entry into Final Design." But this week, President Bush's fiscal year 2009 budget recommended only $1.62 billion in transit project funding nationwide, including $200 million for the "Small Starts" program and $160 million to begin two larger projects in Denver and Seattle. The remainder of the funds proposed would go to support projects already underway in the "New Starts" program, including a Norfolk, Virginia rail project and another Metro project in the District. - Back to top - House Decides Not to Move Forward with New Immigration Reporting Requirements for Government Contractors Bill Would Have Required Use of Federal Database to Verify Employee Eligibility to Work The House Rules Committee this week decided not to proceed with Delegate Ben Cline's (R-Amherst) HB 1558 requiring state government contractors to register and participate in a federal Electronic Work Verification (EWV) Program or similar electronic verification program to determine that their employees and individual contractors are legally eligible for employment in the United States. Instead, the committee members decided to "carry over" the bill for consideration during the next legislative session. HB 1558 would have required state contractors and subcontractors to use a federal database to verify the employment status of their employees and independent contractors, in addition to the federal I-9 process, and would have prohibited them from employing or contracting with an individual determined not to be legally eligible for employment in the United States. It is important to note that NVTC member companies already participate in the I-9 work verification program, and this pending legislation would have added another layer of verification requirements for our companies to contend with. NVTC Board members shared their practical concerns regarding implementation with key House leaders during their trip to Richmond last week. 
Earlier this session, similar legislation was "killed" in the Senate following testimony from members of the business community highlighting a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office report that stated the current voluntary federal pilot project database is not ready for mandatory use. The GAO report indicates that "Although efforts to reduce the employment of unauthorized workers in the United States necessitate a strong employment eligibility verification process and a credible worksite enforcement program and other immigration reforms may be dependent on it, a number of challenges face its successful implementation." The report concludes that "Implementing an EWV system, to ensure that all individuals working in this country are doing so legally and that undue burdens are not placed on employers or employees, will not be an easy task within the timelines suggested in reform proposals."- Back to top - Nanotechnology Day at the General Assembly  (l-r) Denyse Carroll and Amy Harris of Micron, an NVTC member company, exhibit during this week's Nanotechnology Day at the General Assembly in Richmond. Throughout the day, numerous senators, delegates and their staff perused the exhibits of nanotechnology companies, federal entities and universities and stopped by the nanotechnology information table in the lobby of the General Assembly building. The NVTC Nanotechnology Committee had a strong presence throughout the day, and NVTC member exhibitors included 4Wave, Inc., Luna Innovations, Micron Technology and nanoTITAN, Inc., as well as George Mason University, Old Dominion University, University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. "On behalf of our advisory committee, I am so excited by the response we received by the General Assembly on Nanotechnology Day," said Lisa E. Friedersdorf, Ph.D., JCOTS Nanotechnology Advisory Committee Member, NVTC Nanotechnology Committee Member, and Research Program Manager, Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Virginia. "The day represented a great step toward building awareness of the Commonwealth's significant nanotechnology activities and the current and potential impact of nanotechnology on the economy of Virginia—especially in areas such as microelectronics, alternative energy and medicine." To view a list of pending nanotechnology-related legislation, click here. - Back to top - Virginia's Semiconductor Industry Is Competitive with Overseas Manufacturers NVTC Policy Team Briefed on Status of Virginia's Semiconductor Industry at Breakfast in Richmond  Delegate Joe May (R-Loudoun), JCOTS Chairman, serves as emcee of the breakfast briefing. At the breakfast hosted by Micron and Qimonda, the 63 attendees, which included NVTC Vice President for Policy Josh Levi and NVTC Public Policy Manager Allison Glatfelter, also had the opportunity to listen to remarks by Virginia Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra, Delegate Joe May (R-Loudoun), Chairman, Joint Commission on Science and Technology, and Oktay Baysal, Ph.D., P.E., Dean, Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology, Old Dominion University. All the speakers highlighted the collaboration among Micron, Qimonda and universities across the Commonwealth in the areas of semiconductor research and innovation. In addition to Secretary Chopra, Delegate May and Baysal, other special guests at the breakfast included:
We Want to Hear from YOU: Join the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee! 
Are you interested in legislative issues that can directly impact your business? Do you want to make a difference in the future viability of the technology industry in our region and the Commonwealth? Then, join the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee!The NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee collects, discusses and evaluates issues and initiatives important to Northern Virginia's technology community and then prioritizes these issues to produce the annual NVTC Legislative Agenda. Our Legislative Agenda provides guidance and structure to our voice in Richmond during each session of the General Assembly. The steering committee is a committee of the NVTC Board of Directors. However, all NVTC members are encouraged to participate in meetings and activities and to raise issues with the committee and present their views. On each Friday during the General Assembly session, the steering committee hosts conference calls to discuss legislative developments and other issues of importance and to provide input and direction to NVTC's on-the-ground lobbying team. If you are interested in becoming active in the Public Policy Steering Committee and participating in these calls, please contact Allison Glatfelter, Public Policy Manager, at aglatfelter@nvtc.org. - Back to top - |
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LEGISLATION Biotechnology and Nanotechnology HB 125 Nanotechnology Subordinated Debt and Equity Investment Tax Credit Harry R. Purkey Provides a tax credit for individual investments in certain nanotechnology businesses. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations HB 909 Virginia Nanotechnology Authority; established Harry R. Purkey Establishes Virginia Nanotechnology Authority to promote development of nanotechnology in Virginia. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HB 910 Technology, Nanotechnology and Biotechnology Investment Fund created Harry R. Purkey Creates the Technology, Nanotechnology and Biotechnology Investment Fund to attract technology or biotechnology companies to, or assist those companies located in, the Commonwealth. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HB 911 Classification of certain items as intangible personal property Harry R. Purkey Classifies as intangible personal property idle equipment, hardware or software, of an R&D or technology, high technology or nanotechnology business. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 1092 Virginia Biotechnology Investment Tax Credit Mark D. Sickles Creates an R&D tax credit for biotechnology companies in Virginia. Status: House: Incorporated by Finance (HB 125 - Purkey) by voice vote HB 1095 Virginia Commission on Bioscience and Biotechnology Mark D. Sickles Establishes the Virginia Commission on Bioscience and Biotechnology within the legislative branch for studying and advancing the development and enhancement of the biosciences and biotechnology. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules HJ 248 Biosciences and biotechnology; joint subcommittee to study and advance development and enhancement. Mark D. Sickles Creates a study to develop and enhance biosciences and biotechnology. Status: House: Reported from Rules Committee SB 787 Bioscience and Biotechnology, Commission on; created, report. Mark R. Herring Establishes the Virginia Commission on Bioscience and Biotechnology for the purpose of studying and advancing the development and enhancement of the biosciences and biotechnology in the Commonwealth. Status: On Senate Floor - Back to top - Center for Innovative Technology HB 416 Innovative Technology Authority; repealed Robert G. Marshall Eliminates the Innovative Technology Authority and the Center for Innovative Technology. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Science and Technology HB 578 Innovative Technology Authority; Powers of Board of Directors John A. Cosgrove Gives power to the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) Board of Directors to name the president and staff of the CIT. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on General laws and Technology HB 748 Innovative Technology Authority; Board of Directors C. Charles Caputo Removes the Secretaries of Education and Commerce and Trade, as well the Director of the State Council of Higher Education, from the CIT Board of Directors. Status: House: Reported from General Laws HJ 2 Requesting the Governor to implement recommendations of 2002 Governor's Commission on Efficiency Robert G. Marshall Requests that Governor Tim Kaine implement the recommendations of the Governor's Commission on Efficiency and Effectiveness. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules HJ 237 Center for Innovative Technology; innovation index; report. Thomas Davis Rust Requests the Center for Innovative Technology to establish a Commonwealth Innovation Index to foster the formation, retention, and expansion of technology-based economic development opportunities. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules - Back to top - Technology and Computer Crimes HB 39 Wireless telecommunications device; prohibits use of text messaging while driving certain vehicles James M. Scott Prohibits text messaging while driving. Status: Passed by in Transportation with Letter by Voice Vote HB 384 Computer trespass; alters elements of crime R. Lee Ware, Jr. Changes the elements needed to commit a crime of computer trespass by eliminating the "malicious" requirement. Status: House: Assigned to Committee for Courts of Justice Subcommittee: Criminal HB 385 Computer invasion of privacy; personal information R. Lee Ware, Jr. Expands the definition of personal information when determining if a computer invasion of privacy has occurred. Status: House: Assigned to Committee for Courts of Justice Subcommittee: Criminal HB 386 Computer crimes; exclusion of evidence R. Lee Ware, Jr. Requires that information gathered illegally via computer cannot be used as evidence in a civil or criminal trial or proceeding Status: House: Assigned to Committee for Courts of Justice Subcommittee: Criminal HB 409 Unauthorized use of person's name in Web site address; damages H. Morgan Griffith Provides civil cause of action for using a person's name in a Web site address without written consent. Status: House: Assigned to Committee for Courts of Justice Subcommittee: Civil HB 609 Wireless telecommunications device; prohibits use of text messaging while driving certain vehicles Albert C. Eisenberg Prohibits text messages while driving. Status: House: Passed by in Transportation with Letter by Voice Vote HB 904 Use of mobile telephone and other wireless electronic devices while driving Robert W. Mathieson Requires hands-free mobile communications while driving. Status: Referred to Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety - Back to top - Economic Development and Entrepreneurship HB 125 Nanotechnology subordinated debt and equity investment tax credit Harry R. Purkey Provides a tax credit for angel investments in certain nanotechnology businesses. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations HB 166 Venture capital investments, investment return guarantees Harry R. Purkey Creates a program for Virginia to make investment return guarantees for some investments in venture capitol funds that invest in technology companies based in Virginia. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations HB 910 Technology, Nanotechnology and Biotechnology Investment Fund created Harry R. Purkey Creates the Technology, Nanotechnology and Biotechnology Investment Fund to attract technology or biotechnology companies to, or assist those companies located in, the Commonwealth. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Development/Administrative Process HJ 75 Businesses, private; joint subcommittee to study local incentives provided for economic development Mark L. Cole Establishes a joint subcommittee to study local incentives for economic development. Status: House: Reported from Committee on Rules HJ 119 Small business; Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study impact of eVirginia thereon David A. Nutter Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the impact of eVirginia (eVA procurement system) on small businesses in the Commonwealth. Status: House: Reported from Committee on Rules - Back to top - E-government HB 1020 Freedom of Information Act; electronic meetings; interim study committees Timothy D. Hugo Permits interim study committees of the General Assembly to conduct meetings using electronic communications without meeting physical presence requirements for a quorum. Status: House: Referred to Committee on General Laws SB 116 DMV service charges Ryan T. McDougle Imposes a fee on consumers who use a DMV consumer service center when a transaction is available electronically. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance - Back to top - Electronic Medical Records HB 247 Hospital emergency departments; ability to access electronic health records John M. O'Bannon, III Requires all hospitals with emergency services to have the ability to access electronic medical records. Status: House: Continued to 2009 in Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions by Voice Vote - Back to top - Green Technology and Energy HB 56 Retail sales and use tax exemption; certain energy-efficient products L. Scott Lingamfelter Adds second sales tax holiday for certain energy-efficient products. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 139 Income tax, state; tax credit for certain biodiesel fuels producers in State. Christopher K. Peace Allows tax credit for biodiesel fuel producers. Status: On House Floor HB 164 Department of General Services, Division of Engineering; use of compact fluorescent light bulbs David E. Poisson Requires all state-owned buildings to use compact fluorescent light bulbs by Jan. 1, 2011. Status: House: Referred to Committee on General Laws HB 171 Virginia Resources Authority financing. Terry G. Kilgore Allows Virginia Resource Authority to finance local government energy efficiency projects. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources HB 219 Sales and use tax; Energy Star products tax holiday Terry G. Kilgore Adds second four-day tax holiday for certain Energy Star products. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 239 Classification of real property; energy-efficient buildings John A. Cosgrove Allows energy efficient buildings that meet LEED standards to be a separate class of real estate for property tax purposes. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 643 Air emissions; operators of major stationary sources of air pollution to comply with NAAQS Clarke N. Hogan Requires companies with stationary sources of air pollution to comply with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Status: House: Assigned to Committee ACNR Subcommittee: 2, Natural Resources HB 646 Electrical transmission lines; State Corporation Commission review Clarke N. Hogan Requires the State Corporation Commission to consider the environmental impact electrical transmission lines will have and establish conditions to minimize adverse environmental impact. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on Commerce and Labor Subcommittee: 3 Energy HB 647 Energy production; renewable and alternative tax credit Clarke N. Hogan Provides tax credit for alternative energy production at commercial facilities. Status: House: Incorporated by Finance (HB 139 – Peace) by voice vote HB 732 Income tax; energy-efficient equipment tax credit C. Charles Caputo Provides income tax credit for individuals and corporations who purchase energy-efficient equipment for heating, cooling and electricity for commercial property. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 3 HB 793 Secretary of Natural Resources; development of strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions David L. Englin Requires the Secretary of Natural Resources to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on General Laws Subcommittee: FOIA HB 794 Sales and use tax; Energy Star sales tax holiday David L. Englin Enables businesses to participate in the Energy Star sales tax holiday. Status: House: Continued to 2009 in Finance by voice vote HB 795 Sales and Use tax; Energy Star sales tax holiday David L. Englin Adds WaterSense-qualified products to the items that qualify for the exemption provided during the Energy Star sales tax holiday. Status: House: Continued to 2009 in Finance by voice vote HB 796 Commission on Climate Change David L. Englin Establishes a Commission on Climate Change in the legislative branch of government. Status: House: Passed by Indefinitely in Rules HB 1014 HOV lanes; clean special fuel vehicles Timothy D. Hugo Extends the provision allowing vehicles bearing clean special fuel license plates to use HOV lanes regardless of number of passengers. Status: On House Floor HB 1019 Telecommuting; state agencies to keep savings Timothy D. Hugo Authorizes state agencies to retain the unappropriated balance in the General Appropriation Act realized as a direct result of implementing a telecommuting program within each individual agency. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HB 1137 Green roof incentive programs William H. Fralin, Jr. Requires the Board of Housing and Community Development to create guidelines for incentive programs for use by localities to encourage the use of green roofs in the construction and remodeling of residential and commercial buildings. Status: House: Referred to Committee on General Laws HB 1195 Department of General Services; Green Buildings Act Brian J. Moran Requires major facility projects of state agencies to be constructed to meet LEED standards. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on General Laws Subcommittee: FOIA HB 1229 Sales and use tax; energy conservation products tax holiday Margaret G. Vanderhye Adds WaterSense products and additional Energy Star products to the Energy Star products sales tax holiday and provides for a second sales and use tax holiday. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 1230 Greenhouse gas emissions; mandatory reporting Margaret G. Vanderhye Requires that the State Air Pollution Control Board adopt regulations requiring reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources. Status: House: On House Floor HB 1434 Sales and use tax exemption; energy-efficient light bulbs. (Green Technology and energy) Timothy D. Hugo Exempts from sales and use tax Energy Star-rated light bulbs. Status: House: Assigned Finance subcommittee: 1 HB 1533 Television Waste Recycling Act; established. Kenneth R. Plum Bans the disposal of covered televisions and component parts, such as solid waste. Status: House: Continued to 2009 in Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources by Voice Vote HB 1539 Income tax, state; tax credit for certain biodiesel fuels producers in State. Brian J. Moran Gives an income tax credit to biodiesel fuels producers in Virginia. Status: House: Incorporated by Finance (HB 139 - Peace) by voice vote HJ 68 LEED; DGS to adopt standards for new state office buildings Kenneth R. Plum Encourages the Department of General Services to adopt the LEED rating system for procurement of design and construction services for new state office buildings. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules HJ 77 Resolution; Commending "Cool Cities" and "Cool Counties" of the Commonwealth Kenneth R. Plum Commends localities that have joined the "Cool Cities" and "Cool Counties" initiatives. Status: House: Agreed to by Senate by Voice Vote HJ 106 Fluorescent light bulbs; Recycling Markets Development Council to study costs and benefits of recycling Shannon R. Valentine Requests the Virginia Recycling Markets Development Council to study the costs and benefits of recycling fluorescent light bulbs that contain mercury. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules HJ 116 Energy-efficient office buildings and public buildings; joint subcommittee to study options Timothy D. Hugo Establishes joint subcommittee to study options for energy-efficient office buildings and public buildings. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules SB 242 Financing of energy conservation projects Mamie Locke Authorizes the Virginia Resources Authority to finance energy conservation and energy-efficient building projects. Status: Referred to Committee on Finance SB 280 Sales and use tax exemption; energy-efficient light bulbs John C. Miller Exempts from sales and use tax Energy Star-rated light bulbs. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance SB 320 Covenants restricting solar energy collection devices Frank W. Wagner Declares that any restrictive agreement that restricts the installation or use of any solar energy collection device on real property in the Commonwealth void and contrary to the public policy of the Commonwealth. Status: Senate: Passed by Senate SB 321 Environmental impact of renewable energy electric generating facilities Frank W. Wagner Requires the Department of Environmental Quality to consult with other state agencies that have expertise in natural resource management when considering the cumulative impact of new and proposed renewable energy electric generating facilities. Status: Senate: Passed by Senate SB 322 Renewable energy source Frank W. Wagner Defines municipal solid waste as source of renewable energy under the Virginia Electric Utility Restructuring Act. Status: Senate: Passed by Senate SB 324 Utility Facilities Act; renewable energy facilities Frank W. Wagner Excludes from the definition of a public utility any company if it is not organized as a public service company and generates and distributes renewable electric energy from a small generation facility of not more than 50 megawatts. The measure exempts such companies from the requirements of the Utility Facilities Act. Status: Senate: Continued to 2009 in Committee on Commerce and Labor SB 445 Funding for transportation and transportation-related alternatives J. Chapman Petersen Increases gas tax by $0.01 per gallon with the revenues deposited into the Biofuels Production Fund to fund grants for biofuels production. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance SB 446 Clean energy future J. Chapman Petersen Comprehensive clean energy proposal that includes renewable energy generation requirements, incentives, tax credits and green jobs training program. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor SB 447 Department of General Services; capital outlay projects; LEED standards applicable to certain buildings J. Chapman Petersen Requires many state-owned buildings to meet LEED standards. Status: Senate: Passed by Senate SB 464 Virginia Commission on Energy Mary Margaret Whipple Establishes the Virginia Commission on Energy as a legislative commission. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Rules SJ 32 Study; options for energy efficient office buildings and public buildings Linda T. Puller Establishes a joint subcommittee to study options for promoting energy efficient buildings. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Rules - Back to top - Homestead Exemption HB 11 Constitutional amendment; exempts certain homeowners from taxation (voter referendum) David B. Albo Authorizes legislation allowing local governments to exempt for property tax purposes up to 20 percent of the value of residential or farm property that is the owner- occupant's primary dwelling and lived in continuously. Status: Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections HJ 3 Constitutional amendment; exempts certain homeowners from taxation (second reference) Robert H. Brink Authorizes legislation allowing local governments to exempt for property tax purposes up to 20 percent of the value of residential or farm property that is the owner-occupant's primary dwelling and lived in continuously. Status: House: Incorporated by Committee on Privileges and Elections (HJ 4 - Albo) HJ 4 Constitutional amendment; exempts certain homeowners from taxation (second reference) David B. Albo Authorizes legislation allowing local governments to exempt for property tax purposes up to 20 percent of the value of residential or farm property that is the owner-occupant's primary dwelling and lived in continuously. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections HJ 121 Constitutional amendment; exempts certain homeowners from taxation (second reference) Brian J. Moran Authorizes legislation allowing local governments to exempt for property tax purposes up to 20 percent of the value of residential or farm property that is the owner- occupant's primary dwelling and lived in continuously. Status: House: Incorporated by Committee on Privileges and Elections (HJ 4 - Albo) SB 9 Constitutional amendment; exempts certain homeowners from taxation (voter referendum) Mary Margaret Whipple Authorizes legislation allowing local governments to exempt for property tax purposes up to 20 percent of the value of residential or farm property that is the owner-occupant's primary dwelling and lived in continuously. Status: Senate: Referred to the Committee on Finance SJ 6 Constitutional amendment; exempts certain homeowners from taxation (second reference) Mary Margaret Whipple Authorizes legislation allowing local governments to exempt for property tax purposes up to 20 percent of the value of residential or farm property that is the owner-occupant's primary dwelling and lived in continuously. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance - Back to top - Immigration HB 90 Public Procurement Act; verification of legal presence for eligibility of employment Paul F. Nichols Requires all public contractors and their subcontractors to register and participate in a federal Electronic Work Verification Program or similar electronic verification of work authorization program to determine that their employees and individual independent contractors are legally eligible for employment in the United States. Would have the effect of restricting offshore outsourcing. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules HB 1558 Public Procurement Act; verification of legal presence of contractors for employment. Benjamin L. Cline Requires all public contractors and their subcontractors to register and participate in a federal Electronic Work Verification Program or similar electronic verification of work authorization program to determine that their employees and individual independent contractors are legally eligible for employment in the United States. Would have the effect of restricting offshore outsourcing. Status: House: Continued to 2009 in Rules by a voice vote SB 426 Public Procurement Act; verification of legal presence George L. Barker Requires all public contractors and their subcontractors to register and participate in a federal Electronic Work Verification Program or similar electronic verification of work authorization program to determine that their employees and individual independent contractors are legally eligible for employment in the United States. Would have the effect of restricting offshore outsourcing. Status: Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice - Back to top - Transportation Trust Fund Safeguards HJ 29 Constitutional amendment; transportation funds (first reference) Brian J. Moran Attempts to safeguard the Transportation Trust Fund. Status: House: Continued to 2009 by Committee on Privileges and Elections by Voice Vote HJ 48 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); transportation funds Robert G. Marshall Attempts to safeguard the Transportation Trust Fund. Status: House: Continued to 2009 by Committee on Privileges and Elections by Voice Vote - Back to top - Northern VA Transportation Funding HB 451 Composition of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Thomas Davis Rust Increases the number of seats on the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority from 16 to 17 by adding a town representative. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns HJ 20 Constitutional amendment; restriction on entities that may impose taxes (first reference) Robert G. Marshall Creates a constitutional amendment restricting any entity other than the Commonwealth and local governments from imposing taxes. Would eliminate taxing authority of Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. Status: House: Continued to 2009 in Committee on Privileges and Elections by Voice Vote HJ 21 Constitutional amendment; restriction on entities that may impose taxes (first reference) Robert G. Marshall Creates a constitutional amendment restricting any entity other than the Commonwealth and local governments from imposing taxes. Would eliminate taxing authority of Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. Status: House: Continued to 2009 in Committee on Privileges and Elections by Voice Vote SB 1 Civil remedial fees on certain drivers; repealed. (Northern Virginia) R. Edward Houck Repeals certain abusive driver fees, increases the state motor fuels tax rate by $0.02 per gallon and repeals the sales tax on charges for labor or services in automobile repairs recently implemented as part of the Northern Virginia transportation package. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Transportation SB 469 Transportation funding Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. Repeals certain abusive driver fees, increases the state motor fuels tax rate by $0.02 per gallon and repeals the sales tax on charges for labor or services in automobile repairs recently implemented as part of the Northern Virginia transportation package. Status: Senate: Incorporated by Finance (SB 1 - Houck) SB 729 Retail Sales & Use Tax; Northern Virginia Transportation Authority authorized to impose. Richard L. Saslaw Authorizes the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority to impose a 0.50 percent retail sales and use tax in the counties and cities embraced by the Authority with revenues going to the Authority. Status: Senate: Reported from Finance - Back to top - Education Technology HB 137 Textbook purchases; permits local school boards to enter into contracts with publishers Christopher K. Peace Permits local school boards to enter into contracts with publishers for the purchase of textbooks. The bill expands the definition of textbook to include print, electronic, online and other manipulative-based programs. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health HJ 43 Higher education institutions, online; Council of Higher Education to study establishment thereof David E. Poisson Asks the State Council on Higher Education to study the feasibility of establishing an online university. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules SB 356 Textbook purchasing contracts John C. Watkins Permits local school boards to enter into contracts with publishers for the purchase of textbooks. The bill expands the definition of textbook to include print, electronic, online and other manipulative-based programs. Status: Senate: Communicated to House - Back to top - Privacy, Database Breach and Identity Theft HB 390 Compromised Data Notification Act; created David L. Bulova Creates the Comprised Data Notification Act requiring state agencies that discover a loss of personal information to give notice of the information loss. Status: House: Incorporated by Committee on Science and Technology (HB 1469 - Byron) by voice vote HB 971 Database breach notification Stephen C. Shannon Requires individuals and companies to disclose breaches of data security that may compromise the confidentiality of personal information. Status: House: Incorporated by Committee on Science and Technology (HB 1469 - Byron) by voice vote HB 1052 Database breach notification Kenneth R. Plum Requires individuals and companies to disclose breaches of data security that may compromise the confidentiality of personal information. Status: House: Incorporated by Committee on Science and Technology (HB 1469 - Byron) by voice vote HB 1469 Database breach notification. Kathy J. Byron Requires individuals and companies to disclose breaches of data security that may compromise the confidentiality of personal information. Status: On House Floor HB 1504 Compromised Data Notification Act. Samuel A. Nixon, Jr. Creates the Comprised Data Notification Act requiring state agencies that discover a loss of personal information to give notice of the information loss. Status: House: House: Assigned Incorporated by Committee on Science and Technology (HB 1469 - Byron) by voice vote SB 307 Database breach notification W. Roscoe Reynolds Requires individuals and companies to disclose breaches of data security that may compromise the confidentiality of personal information. Status: Senate: Assigned to Committee for Courts Subcommittee: Criminal - Back to top - Procurement and Outsourcing HB 90 Public Procurement Act; verification of legal presence for eligibility of employment Paul F. Nichols Requires all public contractors and their subcontractors to register and participate in a federal Work Verification Program or similar electronic program to ensure that their employees are eligible for employment in the United States. Would have the effect of restricting offshore outsourcing. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules HB 955 Public Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002; technology projects; gain sharing Samuel A. Nixon, Jr. Authorizes a responsible public entity to include a gain-sharing component in any interim or comprehensive agreement for a qualifying project consisting of technology infrastructure, services or applications under the Public Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor HB 1030 Procurement contracts; state contractors to offer telecommuting to employees Jeffrey M. Frederick Requires the contractor to make every effort to offer telecommuting or alternative work schedules to its employees based on the state telecommuting and alternative work schedule guidelines except where there is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the contractor. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HB 1246 Sales and use tax; taxability of certain transactions by government contractors Timothy D. Hugo Codifies Tax Department regulations that address Virginia's tax policies as applied to government contractors under the "true object test." Codifies that the true object test will apply to each separate work order, statement of work and task order, rather than the true object of the underlying contract between a government entity and a contractor. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 1358 Procurement of services by certain state agencies Benjamin L. Cline Requires state agencies to list all procurements that were completed with the private sector every two years and promotes further outsourcing. Status: On House Floor HB 1390 Public institutions of higher education; operational authority Lacey E. Putney Provides operational authority for public institutions of higher education in the areas of information technology, procurement and capital outlay pursuant to the Restructuring Act of 2005. Status: On House Floor HB 1554 Public Procurement Act; awarding of contracts to small, women-, or minority-owned businesses. Jennifer L. McClellan Requires the development of a program that insures that at least 15 percent of state procurement contracts be awarded to small and women- and minority-owned businesses located in historically underutilized business zones (HUB Zones) that meet certain requirements. The bill defines the HUB Zone. Status: House: Referred to Committee on General Laws HB 1558 Public Procurement Act; verification of legal presence of contractors for employment. Benjamin L. Cline Requires all public contractors and their subcontractors to register and participate in a federal Electronic Work Verification Program or similar electronic verification of work authorization program to determine that their employees and individual independent contractors are legally eligible for employment in the United States. Would have the effect of restricting offshore outsourcing. Status: House: Continued to 2009 in Rules by voice vote HJ 119 Small business; Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study impact of eVirginia thereon David A. Nutter Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to study the impact of eVirginia (eVA procurement system) on small businesses in the Commonwealth. Status: House: Committee substitute printed SJ 129 Study; JLARC to study cost of VITA services; report. Kenneth W. Stolle Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to study services provided to state agencies and public bodies by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA). Status: House: Reported from Committee on Rules SB 426 Public Procurement Act; verification of legal presence George L. Barker Requires all public contractors and their subcontractors to register and participate in a federal Electronic Work Verification Program or similar electronic verification of work authorization program to determine that their employees and individual independent contractors are legally eligible for employment in the United States. Would have the effect of restricting offshore outsourcing. Status: Senate: Passed by Indefinitely in Committee on Courts and Justice SB 442 Public institutions of higher education; operational authority R. Edward Houck Provides operational authority for public institutions of higher education in the areas of information technology, procurement and capital outlay pursuant to the Restructuring Act of 2005. Status: Senate: Assigned to Committee on Education and Health Subcommittee: Higher Education SB 749 Public-Private Partnership Advisory Commission; changes primary staff to DGS. Walter A. Stosch Changes the primary staff of the Commission to the Department of General Services. Status: Senate: Communicated to House - Back to top - Real ID HJ 42 Real ID Act; memorializing Congress to repeal or amend Christopher K. Peace Expresses opposition to the federal Real ID program without additional federal funding. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules SB 492 Real ID; alternative verification system Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. Requires Virginia agencies to develop and implement a plan to provide Virginia resident verification, as an alternative to the requirements of the federal Real ID Act of 2005. The measure specifies that Virginia shall not comply with the unfunded mandates of the Real ID Act. Status: Senate: Re-referred to Committee on Transportation - Back to top - Research HB 234 Commonwealth Technology Research Fund (CTRF); sensor sciences John A. Cosgrove Adds sensor sciences to the eligible research programs in the CTRF. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology HB 987 State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; creation of nonstock corporation to support research David A. Nutter Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to establish a nonprofit, nonstock corporation to assist the Council in supporting academic research in Virginia, encouraging research initiatives to support Virginia industry and directing the disbursement of funds for such research initiatives based on established scientific criteria from the Academic Research Initiative Fund. Status: House: Continued to 2009 in Appropriations by voice vote HB 1092 Virginia Biotechnology Investment Tax Credit Mark D. Sickles Creates a research and development tax credit for biotechnology companies in Virginia. Status: House: Incorporated by Finance (HB 125 - Purkey) by voice vote HB 1194 Corporate income tax; higher education research and development tax credit Brian J. Moran Provides tax credit for businesses that invest in R&D in Virginia's institutions of higher education. Status: House: Incorporated by Finance (HB 125 - Purkey) by voice vote SB 319 Commonwealth Technology Research Fund (CTRF); sensor sciences Frank W. Wagner Adds sensor sciences to the list of fields eligible to receive awards from the CTRF. Status: Senate: Communicated to House - Back to top - STEM Education (K-12 and Higher Ed) HB 92 Standards of Quality; requires that average teacher salary not be less than annual national salary Brian J. Moran Requires that the average teacher salary not be less than the annual national average teacher salary. Status: House: Assigned to the Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee: Elementary and Secondary Education HB 97 Diploma, advanced technical; Board of Education to establish requirements therefore Harry R. Purkey Allows the Board of Education to differentiate between an advanced studies diploma and an advanced technical diploma. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health HB 594 Educational Facilities Bond Act of 2008; created Phillip A. Hamilton Authorizes the issuance of $1.5 billion bond package for higher education and research subject to voter approval. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations HB 614 Charter school, public; definition David E. Poisson Expands the definition of a public charter school to include individual charter programs in a public school that deal with math, science or other areas with shortages. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Education HB 898 Local sales and use tax; additional one-half percent authorized James M. Scott Permits any locality to impose additional one-half percent sales and use tax provided that all revenue generated from the additional tax is used solely for public educational purposes. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 3 HB 984 Math specialist pilot program; Department of Education to establish, report David A. Nutter Requires the Department of Education to establish a math specialist grant program to provide grants to six geographically diverse school divisions across the Commonwealth for the purposes of hiring math specialists. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee: Elementary and Secondary Education HB 1161 Income tax exemption; education outreach programs Christopher B. Saxman Allows income tax exemption for expenses incurred as part of a science-, math- or technology-related education outreach program in elementary or secondary schools. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 2 HB 1165 Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program Christopher B. Saxman Expands Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program to include those teacher candidates pursuing an endorsement in a math or science discipline. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Education HB 1547 21st Century Capital Improvement Program; created, report. Lacey E. Putney Summary: Creates the 21st Century Capital Improvement Program that will provide financing for capital projects throughout the Commonwealth from a list of projects issued by the Virginia College Building Authority and the Virginia Public Building Authority, and a list of projects whose planning costs will be appropriated in the Budget Bill. Status: House: Reported from Appropriations HJ 115 Science and engineering graduates, Joint subcommittee studying shortage of; continued Harry R. Purkey Continues the joint subcommittee to study science and technology education in business, law and policy graduate programs in state institutions of higher education. Status: House: Incorporated by Rules (HJ 90 - Cosegrove) by voice vote HJ 127 Project Lead the Way Launch program; encouraging school divisions to consider launching David A. Nutter Encourages the school divisions of the Commonwealth to consider launching a Project Lead the Way program in high schools. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules SB 148 Two-year College Transfer Grant Walter A. Stosch Clarifies that College Transfer Grants are to institutions and not to students and eliminates the requirement to off set student financial aid by the size of grant received. Status: Senate: Communicated to House SB 326 Career and technical education; industry certification Frank W. Wagner Requires the Board of Education to develop a plan for increasing the number of students receiving industry certification and state licensure as part of their career and technical education. Status: Senate: Communicated to House SB 581 General obligation bonds; educational facilities Charles J. Colgan Authorizes the issuance of $1.5 billion bond package for higher education and research subject to voter approval. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance - Back to top - Technology Tax Policy HB 57 Retail Sales and Use Tax exemption; adds computers and computer-related equipment thereto L. Scott Lingamfelter Adds the sales of computers and computer-related equipment with a sales price of $1,500 or less to the school supplies and clothing tax-free holiday period in August. Status: On House Floor HB 106 Utility Transfers Act; acquisition or disposal of assets or of control of telephone companies Terry G. Kilgore Eliminates the requirement that the State Corporation Commission approve the acquisition, disposal or of control of a telephone company. Status: House: Stricken from docket by Commerce and Labor by Voice Vote HB 125 Nanotechnology subordinated debt and equity investment tax credit Harry R. Purkey Provides a tax credit for angel investments in certain nanotechnology businesses. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations HB 170 Corporate tax subtraction and sales tax exemption for space flight entities Terry G. Kilgore Provides a tax exemption for ticket purchases for suborbital space flight. Status: House: Incorporated by Finance (HB 238 - Cosegrove) by voice vote HB 238 Income tax exemption for launch services and payload John A. Cosgrove Grants a tax exemption for income resulting from the sale of launch services for or relating to space flight. Status: On House Floor HB 442 Sales and use tax exemption; computers and computer-related equipment Thomas Davis Rust Adds sales of computers and computer-related equipment with a sales price of $1,500 or less to the school supplies and clothing tax-free holiday period in August. Status: House: Incorporated by Finance (HB 57 - Lingamfelter) by voice vote HB 629 VDOT regulations; fiber optic facilities Joe T. May Allows communication providers who are building fiber optic lines to connect to existing aerial copper lines. Status: House: Committee on Transportation HB 630 VDOT regulations; placement of customer service drop cables Joe T. May Requires VDOT to allow communication companies to place service lines where their customers are located. Status: House: Stricken from the docket by Transportation by voice vote HB 632 Resource Authority; provisions of broadband services Joe T. May Allows the Virginia Resource Authority to be a funding source for all broadband services. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources HB 636 Insurance notices; electronic delivery Joe T. May Allows insurance companies to communicate with their customers via e-mail rather than traditional mail. Status: House: Continued to 2009 in Commerce and Labor by voice vote HB 874 Income tax exemption for launch services and payload Joseph P. Johnson, Jr. Grants an income tax exemption for income resulting from the sale of launch services to space flight participants or launch services intended to provide individuals the training or experience of a launch, without performing an actual launch. Status: House: Incorporated by Finance (HB 238 - Cosegrove) by voice vote HB 911 Classification of certain items as intangible personal property Harry R. Purkey Classifies as intangible personal property (for property tax purposes) idle equipment, hardware or software, of a R&D or technology, high technology or nanotechnology business. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 924 Income tax and sales and use tax; credit and exemption for certain telecommunications service Kathy J. Byron Creates an income tax credit and sales and use tax exemption for wireless and broadband equipment purchased by telecommunications providers for use within rural areas. Status: House: Continued to 2009 in Finance by voice vote HB 1092 Virginia biotechnology investment tax credit Mark D. Sickles Creates a research and development tax credit for biotechnology companies in Virginia. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 3 HB 1151 Corporate tax subtraction and sales tax exemption for space flight entities Clarence E. Phillips Allows tax incentives for space flight entities. Status: House: Incorporated by Finance (HB 238 - Cosegrove) by voice vote HB 1433 Sales and use tax exemption; telecommunications companies. Timothy D. Hugo Provides a sales and use tax exemption for telecommunication companies. Status: House: Assigned Finance Subcommittee: 3 SB 117 Income tax and sales and use tax; credit and exemption for certain telecom. service providers John S. Edwards Creates a tax credit exemption for wireless and broadband equipment purchased by telecommunications providers within rural areas. Status: Senate: Stricken from docket at request of patron SB 286 Income tax, state; exemption for launch services and payload to space flight participants. William C. Wampler, Jr. Grants an income tax exemption for income resulting from the sale of launch services to space flight participants or launch services intended to provide individuals the training or experience of a launch, without performing an actual launch. Status: Senate: Communicated to House SB 401 Income tax exemption for launch services and payload Phillip P. Puckett Grants an income tax exemption for income resulting from the sale of launch services to space flight participants or launch services intended to provide individuals the training or experience of a launch, without performing an actual launch. Status: Senate: Incorporated by Committee on Finance (SB 286 - Wampler) - Back to top - Telework, Telecommunications and Broadband HB 1017 Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance; codified; sunset Timothy D. Hugo Codifies Executive Order 35 (2006) creating the Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance under the Secretary of Technology. The office will encourage telework as a family-friendly, business-friendly public policy that promotes workplace efficiency and reduces strain on transportation infrastructure. Status: On House Floor HB 1018 Definition of telecommuting Timothy D. Hugo Defines telecommuting as a work arrangement in which supervisors direct or permit employees to perform their usual job duties away from their central workplace at least one day per week and in accordance with work agreements. Status: On House Floor HB 1019 Telecommuting; state agencies to keep savings Timothy D. Hugo Authorizes state agencies to retain the unappropriated balance in the general appropriation act realized as a direct result of implementing a telecommuting program within the agency. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HB 1021 State employee telecommuting goal Timothy D. Hugo Establishes a goal for state agencies to have 20 percent of their eligible workforce telecommuting by Jan, 1, 2010. Status: On House Floor HB 1030 Procurement contracts; state contractors to offer telecommuting to employees Jeffrey M. Frederick Requires the contractor to make every effort to offer telecommuting or alternative work schedules to its employees, based on the state telecommuting and alternative work schedule guidelines, except where there is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the contractor. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HB 1031 Income tax; telework expenses tax credit Jeffrey M. Frederick Provides a tax credit to employers for expenses incurred in allowing employees to telework pursuant to a signed telework agreement. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 3 HB 1563 Telecommuting; Secretary of Technology report annually to General Assembly. James M. Scott Requires the Secretary of Technology to work in conjunction with the Secretary of Administration and Secretary of Transportation in advising about telecommuting. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules SB 117 Income tax and sales and use tax; credit and exemption for certain telecommunications service providers John S. Edwards Creates a tax credit exemption for wireless and broadband equipment purchased by telecommunications providers with in rural areas. Status: Senate: Stricken at request of patron - Back to top - Transportation Funding HB 41 Motor fuels tax; modifies rates of taxation thereof James M. Scott Allows the Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles to adjust gas tax rate every six months based on formula. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 2 HB 94 Secondary highway system; allocates construction funds among counties based on population Paul F. Nichols Allocates construction funds among counties based solely on county population. Status: House: Continued to 2009 in Transportation by voice vote HB 1108 Primary system highway construction funds allocation Thomas Davis Rust Changes road funding formula to reflect the ratio of vehicle miles traveled on primary highways divided by the lane miles of primary highways in each highway construction district and also need. Status: House: Stricken from docket by Transportation by voice vote HB 1385 Allocation of primary and secondary highway construction funds Jackson H. Miller Revises road funding formulas to allocated funding based on population. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Transportation SB 1 Civil remedial fees on certain drivers; repealed. (Northern Virginia) R. Edward Houck Repeals certain abusive driver fees, increases the state motor fuels tax rate by $0.02 per gallon and repeals the sales tax on charges for labor or services in automobile repairs recently implemented as part of the Northern Virginia transportation package. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Transportation SB 2 Retail Sales and Use Tax; eliminates exemption for certain fuels Linda T. Puller Extends the state and local sales taxes to gas and designates proceeds for transportation funding purposes. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance SB 411 Transportation funding; motor fuels tax and abusive driver fees Phillip P. Puckett Repeals certain abusive driver fees and increases the motor fuels tax rate by $0.025 per gallon from $0.175 to $0.20. Status: Senate: Incorporated by Finance (SB 1 - Houck) SB 444 Funding for transportation and transportation-related alternatives J. Chapman Petersen Repeals certain abusive driver fees and increases the state motor fuels tax rate by $0.02 per gallon with one-half of the revenues deposited into the Biofuels Production Fund to fund grants for biofuels production and one-half of the revenues deposited into the Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund. Status: Senate: Incorporated by Finance (SB 1 - Houck) SB 469 Transportation funding Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. Repeals certain abusive driver fees, increases the state motor fuels tax rate by $0.02 per gallon, and repeals the sales tax on charges for labor or services in automobile repairs recently implemented as part of the Northern Virginia transportation package. Status: Senate: Incorporated by Finance (SB 1 - Houck) - Back to top - Workforce HB 731 Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; board of directors; membership C. Charles Caputo Adds the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System to the Board of Directors of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority to help better coordinate workforce development in Virginia. Status: On House Floor HB 1312 Workforce development; Governor's responsibilities Kathy J. Byron Provides that the strategic plan for workforce development shall be developed in coordination with the development of each Governor's comprehensive economic development policy. Designates community colleges as primary staff for Virginia Workforce Council. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor SB 756 Virginia Career Readiness Certification Program; created, report. Frank M. Ruff Creates the Virginia Career Readiness Certification Program to certify the workplace and college readiness skills of Virginians. Status: Communicated to House - Back to top - NVTC Business Partners AOL | Center for Innovative Technology | CGI Group Inc. | Deloitte | EDS | Ernst & Young | KPMG LLP | Lee Technologies | Microsoft | Northrop Grumman | Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP | PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | SAIC | Sprint | Unisys |Venable LLP | ||||||
