2009 General Assembly Update
End Session Report

The 2009 session of the Virginia General Assembly adjourned Saturday February 28. There were 40 bills of interest to the Virginia PBA membership tracked. Of those bills, 4 were voted down or stricken, 24 were left to die in various committees and 9 bills were passed into law. Three bills remain uncertain, as they were passed by both chambers but still not engrossed (SB 994, 1529, 1539).

Included below is a short summary of the bills. A copy of the passed bills can be viewed by clicking on the bill number.

PASSED Bills:

HB 1678: Single hearing officer on local grievance procedures

HB 1799: State employee “whistleblower” protection

HB 2065: Regional jail Superintendents and sworn officers included in VRS

HB 2557: Mandatory state health benefits

HB 2585: (incorporated into HB 2638)

HB 2626: Line of duty death/disability investigation conducted by local agency

HB 2638: Auxiliary officers added to capital murder

SB 877: Exemption of retired officer from some concealed carry restrictions

SB 1073: Risk management application to deputy sheriffs

Bills Defeated or stricken:

HB 1801 (stricken): Blue lights for Special Conservators of Peace

HB 1815 (stricken): Prevent asking about arrests (see HB 1812)

SB 821 (defeated): Workers comp presumption of injury

SB 1330 (defeated): Release of protected personal information

Bills left to die:

HB 1632: Add all VML and VAC to VRS

HB 1651: State Police disability supplement

HB 1673: Add deputies to Procedure Act

HB 1743: Define auxiliary deputies

HB 1812: Prevent from asking applicants/employees about arrests

HB 1854: Single hearing officer on local grievance procedures (see HB 1678 passed)

HB 1959: Prohibit dismissal from line of duty injury

HB 1960: Healthcare for survivors of officers killed line-of-duty

HB 1996: Witness available in step 2 & 3 of grievence procedure

HB 1998: Remove cap on retirement purchase

HB 2154: VRS change to “defined contribution” plan for new hires

HB 2280: VALORS supplement to Social Security age

HB 2542: Move over law

HB 2574: Line of duty death coverage to include heart attack and stroke

HB 2630: Provide for law enforcement personal info to be removed from public domain

HB 2633: Felony assault on campus law enforcement officer

SB 400: Retired disability for deputies

SB 402: VALORS supplement to Social Security age

SB 619: VRS multiplier change to 1.85% through member contributions

SB 925: Witnesses in grievance

SB 1193: VALORS reemployment

SB 1388: Regional jails included in VRS

SB 1522: State officers’ disability supplement

SB 1541: Penalty for notice failure in Procedure Act


Also followed was a Constitutional amendment on “Right to Work” (HJ 640 /SJ 347) and the selection of judges (HR 44, 45, 46 / SR 22, 23, 24).