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SPONSORED LEGISLATION
HB1001 - Collective bargaining by public employees; labor organization representation.
Kathy K.L. Tran, Dan I. Helmer, Destiny LeVere Bolling
Last updated 9 months ago
8 Co-Sponsors
Collective bargaining by public employees; labor organization representation. Repeals the existing prohibition on collective bargaining by public employees. The bill creates the Public Employee Relations Board, which shall determine appropriate bargaining units and provide for certification and decertification elections for exclusive bargaining representatives of state employees and local government employees. The bill requires public employers and employee organizations that are exclusive bargaining representatives to meet at reasonable times to negotiate in good faith with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. The bill repeals a provision that declares that, in any procedure providing for the designation, selection, or authorization of a labor organization to represent employees, the right of an individual employee to vote by secret ballot is a fundamental right that shall be guaranteed from infringement.
STATUS
Introduced
HB737 - Paid family and medical leave insurance program; notice requirements, civil action.
Briana D. Sewell, Charniele L. Herring, Kathy K.L. Tran
Last updated 9 months ago
26 Co-Sponsors
Paid family and medical leave insurance program; notice requirements; civil action. Requires the Virginia Employment Commission to establish and administer a paid family and medical leave insurance program with benefits beginning January 1, 2027. Under the program, benefits are paid to covered individuals, as defined in the bill, for family and medical leave. Funding for the program is provided through premiums assessed to employers and employees beginning January 1, 2026. The bill provides that the amount of a benefit is 80 percent of the employee's average weekly wage, not to exceed 80 percent of the state weekly wage, which amount is required to be adjusted annually to reflect changes in the statewide average weekly wage. The bill caps the duration of paid leave at 12 weeks in any application year and provides self-employed individuals the option of participating in the program. Paid family and medical leave insurance program; notice requirements; civil action. Requires the Virginia Employment Commission to establish and administer a paid family and medical leave insurance program with benefits beginning January 1, 2027. Under the program, benefits are paid to covered individuals, as defined in the bill, for family and medical leave. Funding for the program is provided through premiums assessed to employers and employees beginning January 1, 2026. The bill provides that the amount of a benefit is 80 percent of the employee's average weekly wage, not to exceed 80 percent of the state weekly wage, which amount is required to be adjusted annually to reflect changes in the statewide average weekly wage. The bill caps the duration of paid leave at 12 weeks in any application year and provides self-employed individuals the option of participating in the program.
STATUS
Introduced
HB825 - At-Risk Program; established, public school funding.
Rae C. Cousins, Jackie H. Glass, Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker
Last updated 7 months ago
16 Co-Sponsors
Public school funding; At-Risk Program established. Establishes the At-Risk Program for the purpose of supporting programs and services for students who are educationally at risk, including prevention, intervention, or remediation activities required pursuant to Standard 1 (§ 22.1-253.13:1); teacher recruitment programs and incentives; Dropout Prevention; community and school-based truancy officer programs; Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID); Project Discovery; programs for English language learners; the hiring of additional school counselors, testing coordinators, and licensed behavior analysts; and programs relating to increasing the success of disadvantaged students in completing a high school degree and providing opportunities to encourage further education and training and requires a portion of the state funding provided for such At-Risk Program to be allocated to school divisions on a flat per-student percentage rate set out in the general appropriation act and a portion of such funding to be allocated to school divisions on a variable rate set out in the general appropriation act based on the concentration of poverty in the school division. Public school funding; At-Risk Program established. Establishes the At-Risk Program for the purpose of supporting programs and services for students who are educationally at risk, including prevention, intervention, or remediation activities required pursuant to Standard 1 (§ 22.1-253.13:1); teacher recruitment programs and incentives; Dropout Prevention; community and school-based truancy officer programs; Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID); Project Discovery; programs for English language learners; the hiring of additional school counselors, testing coordinators, and licensed behavior analysts; and programs relating to increasing the success of disadvantaged students in completing a high school degree and providing opportunities to encourage further education and training and requires a portion of the state funding provided for such At-Risk Program to be allocated to school divisions on a flat per-student percentage rate set out in the general appropriation act and a portion of such funding to be allocated to school divisions on a variable rate set out in the general appropriation act based on the concentration of poverty in the school division.
STATUS
Engrossed
HB1495 - Film and television industry; apprenticeship program.
Rae C. Cousins, Nadarius E. Clark, Jackie H. Glass
Last updated 8 months ago
6 Co-Sponsors
Apprenticeship program; film and television industry. Requires the Director of Workforce Development and Advancement to establish a program to promote apprenticeships in the film and television industry. The Director may provide financial incentives to employers who hire and retain an apprentice in the film and television industry for at least six months. In consultation with the Virginia Film Office, the Director shall establish guidelines and criteria for the program. Apprenticeship program; film and television industry. Requires the Director of Workforce Development and Advancement to establish a program to promote apprenticeships in the film and television industry. The Director may provide financial incentives to employers who hire and retain an apprentice in the film and television industry for at least six months. In consultation with the Virginia Film Office, the Director shall establish guidelines and criteria for the program.
STATUS
Engrossed
HB285 - Uniform Statewide Building Code; construction of bus shelters.
Delores L. McQuinn, Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Nadarius E. Clark
Last updated 5 months ago
12 Co-Sponsors
Uniform Statewide Building Code; bus shelters. Delegates enforcement of the Uniform Statewide Building Code to the local building official for bus shelters that do not exceed 256 square feet that are to be constructed for transit agencies receiving state money. The bill exempts the state from liability for any such bus shelter constructed on state-owned property. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2027. Uniform Statewide Building Code; bus shelters. Delegates enforcement of the Uniform Statewide Building Code to the local building official for bus shelters that do not exceed 256 square feet that are to be constructed for transit agencies receiving state money. The bill exempts the state from liability for any such bus shelter constructed on state-owned property. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2027.
STATUS
Passed
HB102 - Court-appointed counsel; raises the limitation of fees.
Atoosa R. Reaser, Jason S. Ballard, Patrick A. Hope
Last updated 6 months ago
33 Co-Sponsors
Compensation of court-appointed counsel. Raises the limitation of fees that court-appointed counsel can receive for representation on various offenses in district and circuit courts. The bill also limits the fees charged for the cost of court-appointed counsel or public defender representation to persons determined to be indigent to an amount no greater than the amount such person would have owed if such fees had been assessed on or before June 30, 2024. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025.
STATUS
Passed
HB1405 - Prisoners; Department of Corrections- and jailer-issued identification.
Rae C. Cousins, Wendell Scott Walker, Nadarius E. Clark
Last updated 8 months ago
6 Co-Sponsors
Prisoners; Department of Corrections-issued and jailer-issued identification. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall establish a procedure for securing a government-issued identification card, birth certificate, or Social Security card through the Department of Motor Vehicles and that the Department of Motor Vehicles shall expedite the processing of an application submitted by a prisoner for such government-issued identification card and the issuance of such identification. The bill also requires the Department of Corrections, in coordination with the State Board of Local and Regional Jails, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the State Registrar of Vital Records, to (i) review the processes involved in assisting a prisoner in applying for and obtaining a government-issued identification card, birth certificate, or Social Security card; (ii) identify any obstacles that may interfere with a prisoner obtaining such identification or documents prior to such prisoner's release or discharge; and (iii) issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2024. Prisoners; Department of Corrections-issued and jailer-issued identification. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall establish a procedure for securing a government-issued identification card, birth certificate, or Social Security card through the Department of Motor Vehicles and that the Department of Motor Vehicles shall expedite the processing of an application submitted by a prisoner for such government-issued identification card and the issuance of such identification. The bill also requires the Department of Corrections, in coordination with the State Board of Local and Regional Jails, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the State Registrar of Vital Records, to (i) review the processes involved in assisting a prisoner in applying for and obtaining a government-issued identification card, birth certificate, or Social Security card; (ii) identify any obstacles that may interfere with a prisoner obtaining such identification or documents prior to such prisoner's release or discharge; and (iii) issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2024.
STATUS
Engrossed
HB570 - Prescription Drug Affordability Board; established, drug cost affordability review, report.
Karrie K. Delaney, Nadarius E. Clark, Dan I. Helmer
Last updated 6 months ago
27 Co-Sponsors
Prescription Drug Affordability Board established; drug cost affordability review. Establishes the Prescription Drug Affordability Board for the purpose of protecting the citizens of the Commonwealth and other stakeholders within the health care system from the high costs of prescription drug products. The bill requires the Board to meet in open session at least four times annually, with certain exceptions and requirements enumerated in the bill. Members of the Board are required to disclose any conflicts of interest, as described in the bill. The bill also creates a stakeholder council for the purpose of assisting the Board in making decisions related to drug cost affordability. The bill tasks the Board with identifying prescription, generic, and other drugs, as defined in the bill, that are offered for sale in the Commonwealth and, at the Board's discretion, conducting an affordability review of any prescription drug product. The bill lists factors for the Board to consider that indicate an affordability challenge for the health care system in the Commonwealth or high out-of-pocket costs for patients. The bill also provides that any person aggrieved by a decision of the Board may request an appeal of the Board's decision and that the Attorney General has authority to enforce the provisions of the bill. The bill provides that the Board shall establish no more than 12 upper payment limit amounts annually between January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2028. Prescription Drug Affordability Board established; drug cost affordability review. Establishes the Prescription Drug Affordability Board for the purpose of protecting the citizens of the Commonwealth and other stakeholders within the health care system from the high costs of prescription drug products. The bill requires the Board to meet in open session at least four times annually, with certain exceptions and requirements enumerated in the bill. Members of the Board are required to disclose any conflicts of interest, as described in the bill. The bill also creates a stakeholder council for the purpose of assisting the Board in making decisions related to drug cost affordability. The bill tasks the Board with identifying prescription, generic, and other drugs, as defined in the bill, that are offered for sale in the Commonwealth and, at the Board's discretion, conducting an affordability review of any prescription drug product. The bill lists factors for the Board to consider that indicate an affordability challenge for the health care system in the Commonwealth or high out-of-pocket costs for patients. The bill also provides that any person aggrieved by a decision of the Board may request an appeal of the Board's decision and that the Attorney General has authority to enforce the provisions of the bill. The bill provides that the Board shall establish no more than 12 upper payment limit amounts annually between January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2028. The bill requires the Board to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly twice annually, beginning on July 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. Provisions of the bill shall apply to state-sponsored and state-regulated health plans and health programs and obligate such policies to limit drug payment amounts and reimbursements to an upper payment limit amount set by the Board, if applicable, following an affordability review. The bill specifies that Medicare Part D plans shall not be bound by such decisions of the Board. The bill also requires the nonprofit organization contracted by the Department of Health to provide prescription drug price transparency to provide the Board access to certain data reported by manufacturers. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025, and is identical to
STATUS
Vetoed
HB1446 - Real property tax; assessment of real property used for affordable housing.
Carrie Emerson Coyner, Chris S. Runion, Rae C. Cousins
Last updated 8 months ago
3 Co-Sponsors
Real property tax; assessment of real property used for affordable housing. Requires the duly authorized real estate assessor of a locality to appraise affordable rental housing in accordance with the income approach, as described by the bill. The bill provides that, should the duly authorized real estate assessor fail to follow generally accepted appraisal practices, the assessment will not be entitled to a presumption of correctness, and if the owner then successfully appeals such assessment, the locality shall reimburse the owner for attorney fees and costs incurred.
STATUS
Introduced
HB1085 - PFAS Expert Advisory Committee; established, monitoring sources.
Sam Rasoul, David L. Bulova, Katrina E. Callsen
Last updated 6 months ago
17 Co-Sponsors
Department of Environmental Quality; Department of Health; PFAS; identification; monitoring; PFAS Expert Advisory Council established; report. Requires, for every public water system, as defined in the bill, the Department of Health (VDH) to assist the Department of Environmental Quality (the Department) by transferring to the Department quarterly all validated monitoring results available to VDH that indicate PFAS maximum containment level, as defined in the bill, exceedances. In such circumstances, the bill provides that the Department is required to develop and implement a plan to prioritize and conduct PFAS assessments for identifying significant sources of PFAS in such public water system's raw water source or sources. The bill requires any facility, if deemed by the Department to be a potentially significant source of PFAS in the public water system's raw water source, (i) to perform and promptly report the results of quarterly discharge monitoring for one year and (ii) to report to the Department, within 90 days after being directed by the Department, its manufacture or use of PFAS. The bill establishes a PFAS Expert Advisory Committee to assist the Department and VDH in its PFAS-related efforts and requires the Committee to meet at least two times per year through June 30, 2027. The bill requires the Department to annually report certain information to the Governor and the General Assembly by October 1.
STATUS
Passed
BIOGRAPHY
INCUMBENT
Representative from Virginia district HD-079
COMMITTEES
Virginia House
BIRTH
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ABOUT
Rae C. Cousins is from Leland Grove, Illinois. He attended Springfield High School and received his diploma. After graduation, he went on to Illinois College before transferring to Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1997. After college, Rae began working for the Department of Corrections as a youth supervisor at Illinois Youth Center in Harrisburg. He was then promoted to youth counselor in 1999. In 2001, he moved to the Illinois Department of Human Services as a child welfare specialist.read less
OFFICES HELD
Virginia House from Virginia
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