Virginia Police Benevolent Association, Inc.
 Legislative Update 01-28-11
 

Members and Friends,

 
The pace at the General Assembly has picked up as crossover rapidly approaches.  Our bill and retirement issue update follows.

Senate Bill SB1402 would bring correctional officers into the definition of law enforcement officers in code section 9.1-500.  On Jan 27, I visited this the office of this bills patron, Senator McEachin, to offer the support of the PBA and my availability to speak in committee if needed.  I spoke to Senator McEachins legislative assistant who forwarded the message to the Senator.

Also on Jan 27, I attended the House Appropriations Committee Compensation and Retirement Subcommittee meeting at 3:30 p.m.  The opening statement from the Committee Chair was that no votes would be taken on any of the bills on the docket.  Several retirement bills were listed on the docket but were not called.

Delegate Bulova presented HB 2104, a bill that allows a lower retirement age for some participants in the Virginia Retirement System. I joined the State Police Association representative and Virginia Fire Fighters in speaking to the committee in support of this bill.  Delegate Bulova thanked us for the support.

Delegate Iaquinto's bill, HB 1594, would bring Commonwealth Attorney employees into the Virginia Retirement System.  This bill was on the docket for the House Appropriations Sub Committee and  was not called.  I spoke to Delegate Iaquinto about his bill and he advised that since it was not called, and the bill has a fiscal impact, that it will likely be left to die without a hearing.  I spoke with representatives for the Commonwealth Attorneys Association who have a long term plan to revisit this bill in upcoming sessions. Our members who work for the office of Commonwealth Attorney are in favor of this bill.

At 7:30 a.m. on Jan 28, I attended the Militia, Police and Public Safety Sub committee 3 meeting where our bill, HB 1678 was on the docket.  Delegate Englin and I both spoke to the bill which would force jurisdictions to compensate our correctional officers the same way as other law enforcement officers. Joining us in speaking in favor of this bill were representatives from the National Coalition of Public Safety Officers and the Communications Workers of America.  The bill passed out of committee and was sent to full committee which met at 0900 am. I attended the full committee meeting where HB 1678 was sent to Appropriations.  There is a fiscal impact with this bill, so its future is uncertain.  I will be notified as soon as HB 1678 is placed on the docket for Appropriations and will advise. Officers from correctional facilities were present to support this bill. I took the opportunity to invite them to join the PBA and to tell their co workers about the benefits of being a member of the PBA.

I spoke to Delegate Tyler who has filed HB 2432, a bill that also brings correctional officers into the definition of law enforcement officer.  Delegate Tyler's bill was on the docket for Sub Committee 3 of Militia, Police and Public Safety.  The committee ran short on time, and the bill was not called.  Delegate Tyler told me HB2432 would probably be placed on the docket next week.  I offered the support of the PBA on this bill.

I have been approached by representatives from the Commonwealth Attorneys Association asking for the PBA to join them in supporting a bill introduced by Delegate Gilbert, HB 2513.  This bill would limit the ability of a judge to defer the finding of guilt or dismiss a case. The argument is that without this bill a judge can ignore minimum sentencing guidelines. I will attempt to meet with Delegate Gilbert Monday to discuss this bill.

Delegate Fuller-Corn and Delegate Englin asked for PBA support of HB 2430.  This bill adds line of duty leave benefits for law enforcement officers and fire fighters injured in the line of duty.  This bill will probably go to committee next week.  I have offered the help of the PBA.
 
Be sure to see the chart below that tracks the bills of interest.  FYI, when the action taken is "Laying on the Table" or "Passed by Indefinitely," the bill is most probably dead.

 

Sean McGowan
Executive Director, Virginia Division
Southern States Police Benevolent Association
Cell Phone -703 501-1283
 

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