2018 Office of EMS Legislative Grid

March 2, 2018

HB 9 Safety restraints; all occupants of motor vehicles required to utilize.

Chief patron: Krizek

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1094 of the Code of Virginia, relating to safety restraint use in motor vehicles.

18100423D

Summary as introduced:
Safety restraint use in motor vehicles. Requires all occupants of motor vehicles to utilize safety restraints. Current law requires safety belt use only by occupants under the age of 18, drivers, and passengers 18 years of age or older occupying the front seat.

11/20/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18100423D
11/20/17 House: Referred to Committee on Transportation
01/16/18 House: Assigned Transportation sub: Subcommittee #1
01/23/18 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (6-Y 4-N)
02/13/18 House: Left in Transportation

HB 135 Dissemination of juvenile record information; emergency medical services agency applicants.

Chief patron: Bell, John J.

An Act to amend and reenact § 19.2-389.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to dissemination of juvenile record information; emergency medical services agency applicants.

Summary as passed House:

Dissemination of juvenile record information; emergency medical services agency applicants. Provides that juvenile record information maintained in the Central Criminal Records Exchange may be disseminated (i) to the State Health Commissioner or his designee for the purpose of screening any person who applies to be a volunteer with or an employee of an emergency medical services agency and (ii) to the chief law-enforcement officer of a locality, or his designee who shall be an individual employed as a public safety official of the locality, that has adopted an ordinance to conduct investigations of employment applicants for the purpose of screening any person who applies to be a volunteer with or an employee of an emergency medical services agency. This bill is identical to SB 109.

02/21/18 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB135ER)
02/21/18 House: Signed by Speaker
02/23/18 Senate: Signed by President
02/26/18 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on February 26, 2018
02/26/18 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 5, 2018

HB 175 Hospital licenses, certain; effective date.

Chief patron: Poindexter

An Act to make certain hospital licenses effective until December 1, 2018.

Summary as introduced:

Certain hospital licenses; effective date. Provides that a license issued to an acute care hospital located in Patrick County that was valid on September 1, 2017, and remained valid on December 31, 2017, despite the closure of such hospital prior to December 31, 2017, shall continue to remain valid until December 31, 2018. The bill is effective retroactively to December 31, 2017. The bill contains an emergency clause and is identical to SB 866.

EMERGENCY

02/14/18 Senate: Signed by President
02/15/18 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/15/18
02/15/18 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, February 22, 2018
02/16/18 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1 (effective 2/16/18)
02/16/18 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0001)

HB 250 Virginia Fire Services Board; changes membership.

Chief patron: Guzman

A BILL to amend and reenact § 9.1-202 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Virginia Fire Services Board; membership.

18103201D

Summary as introduced:
Virginia Fire Services Board; membership. Changes the membership of the Virginia Fire Services Board by removing a member of the Virginia Society of Fire Service Instructors and the State Fire Marshall and adding a fire service instructor and a nonlegislative citizen member with fire service experience.

01/02/18 House: Referred to Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety
01/15/18 House: Assigned MPPS sub: Subcommittee #2
01/24/18 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB250)
02/01/18 House: Subcommittee failed to recommend reporting (3-Y 3-N)
02/13/18 House: Left in Militia, Police and Public Safety

HB 374 Controlled substances; exposure, bodily injury to law-enforcement officers, etc., penalty.

Chief patron: Yancey

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 18.2-51.1 and 18.2-144.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to exposure to controlled substances; bodily injury to law-enforcement officers, etc.; penalty.

18102005D

Summary as introduced:
Exposure to controlled substances; bodily injury to law-enforcement officers, etc.; penalty. Provides that if a law-enforcement officer, firefighter, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel is exposed to a controlled substance while engaged in the performance of his official duties and such exposure causes bodily injury, the person who knowingly or intentionally possessed such controlled substance is guilty of a Class 6 felony. This provision also applies to exposure to a controlled substance by a police animal performing its lawful duties or being kept in a kennel, pen, or stable while off duty.

01/05/18 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18102005D
01/05/18 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
01/08/18 House: Impact statement from VCSC (HB374)
01/19/18 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB374)
02/15/18 House: Left in Courts of Justice

HB 519 Violent felony; definition, assault and battery against a law-enforcement officer, etc.

Chief patron: Bell, Robert B.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 17.1-805 of the Code of Virginia, relating to definition of violent felony; assault and battery against a law-enforcement officer, etc.

18102556D

Summary as introduced:
Definition of violent felony; assault and battery against a law-enforcement officer, etc. Adds to the list of violent felonies assault and battery against a judge, magistrate, law-enforcement officer, correctional officer, firefighter, or other public safety personnel. The consequences when an offense falls under the definition of violent felony include increased sentencing ranges, enhanced punishment for certain other offenses, restricted eligibility for participation in a drug treatment court, a presumption against bail for persons illegally present in the United States, and an expansion of the definition of victim for the purpose of compensation of crime victims.

01/08/18 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18102556D
01/08/18 House: Impact statement from VCSC (HB519)
01/08/18 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
02/01/18 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB519)
02/15/18 House: Left in Courts of Justice

HB 549 State agency; legislation requiring an agency to adopt regulations.

Chief patron: Freitas

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 30-19.03:1.3, relating to state agency regulations; legislation requiring a state agency to adopt regulations that are likely to have a significant adverse economic impact.

18102006D

Summary as introduced:
State agency regulations; legislation requiring a state agency to adopt regulations that are likely to have a significant adverse economic impact. Provides that no bill that directly or indirectly requires a state agency to adopt new or to amend existing regulations that are likely to have a significant adverse economic impact shall be considered by the General Assembly unless the bill contains a second or final enactment clause (i) directing the state agency to develop proposed regulatory requirements by December 1 of the year in which the bill is introduced and (ii) providing that the first enactment of the bill that would directly or indirectly require the state agency to adopt new or to amend existing regulations shall not become effective unless reenacted by the following year's session of the General Assembly. The bill requires the General Assembly to thereafter reconsider the bill during the following year's session of the General Assembly along with and in light of the proposed regulatory requirements developed and put forth by the state agency. The bill defines "significant adverse economic impact" to mean that the estimated cost to citizens, professions, trades, or occupations to comply with the regulations is in excess of $500. The bill provides that determination of whether regulations are likely to have a significant adverse economic impact shall be made by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.

01/08/18 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18102006D
01/08/18 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
01/22/18 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB549)
01/26/18 House: Passed by indefinitely in Rules (16-Y 0-N)

HB 563 Motor vehicles, certain; flashing red or red and white warning lights.

Chief patron: Fowler

An Act to amend and reenact § 46.2-1023 of the Code of Virginia, relating to flashing red or red and white warning lights.

Summary as introduced:

Flashing red or red and white warning lights. Allows vehicles of the National Guard Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Yield Explosive (CBRNE) Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) to utilize flashing, blinking, or alternating red or red and white combination warning lights when responding to an emergency.

02/21/18 House: Signed by Speaker
02/22/18 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB563ER)
02/23/18 Senate: Signed by President
02/26/18 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on February 26, 2018
02/26/18 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 5, 2018

HB 595 Overdoses; safe reporting.

Chief patron: Carr

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-251.04, relating to safe reporting of overdoses.

18101655D

Summary as introduced:
Safe reporting of overdoses. Extends to an individual experiencing a drug-related or alcohol-related overdose the affirmative defense to prosecution for (i) simple possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, or controlled paraphernalia; (ii) intoxication in public; or (iii) the unlawful purchase, possession, or consumption of alcohol, if another individual, in good faith, sought or obtained emergency medical attention for the individual experiencing the overdose. Under current law, the affirmative defense applies only to an individual who sought or obtained emergency medical attention for another individual experiencing an overdose or to an individual who sought or obtained emergency medical attention for himself.

01/08/18 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18101655D
01/08/18 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
01/16/18 House: Assigned Courts sub: Subcommittee #1
01/17/18 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (7-Y 1-N)
02/15/18 House: Left in Courts of Justice

HB 633 Driver's licenses; suspensions for certain non-driving related offenses.

Chief patron: Krizek

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 18.2-251, 46.2-395, 46.2-410.1, and 46.2-1200.1 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal §§ 18.2-259.1 and 46.2-390.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to driver's license suspensions for certain non-driving related offenses.

18102698D

Summary as introduced:
Driver's license suspensions for certain non-driving related offenses. Removes the existing provisions that a person's driver's license is suspended (i) when he is convicted of or placed on deferred disposition for a drug offense or (ii) for nonpayment of fines and court costs for offenses not pertaining to the operator or operation of a motor vehicle. The provisions of this bill that affect the Code of Virginia have a delayed effective date of September 1, 2018.

01/09/18 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18102698D
01/09/18 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
01/30/18 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB633)
02/15/18 House: Left in Courts of Justice

HB 643 First responders; reduced rate tuition.

Chief patron: Hope

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 23.1-508.2, relating to first responders; reduced rate tuition.

18100194D

Summary as introduced:
First responders; reduced rate tuition. Requires each public institution of higher education to reduce by a rate of five percent the tuition charged to any enrolled student who is a first responder or the child of a first responder, regardless of the domicile of any such individual. The bill defines "first responder" as any emergency medical services agency employee, firefighter, law-enforcement officer, member of a search and rescue organization, member of a regional hazardous materials emergency response team, member of a community emergency response team, or member of a medical reserve corps who responds to and provides assistance during an emergency.

01/09/18 House: Referred to Committee on Education
01/19/18 House: Assigned Education sub: Subcommittee #3
01/19/18 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB643)
02/06/18 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (8-Y 0-N)
02/13/18 House: Left in Education

HB 672 Driver's licenses; suspension of license for unsatisfied judgments and after certain accidents.

Chief patron: Kilgore

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 5.1-88.3, 5.1-88.9, 46.2-361, 46.2-411, 46.2-412, and 46.2-708 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal Article 13 (§§ 46.2-417 through 46.2-429) of Chapter 3 of Title 46.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to suspension of license for unsatisfied judgments and after certain accidents.

18102021D

Summary as introduced:
Suspension of license for unsatisfied judgments and after certain accidents. Repeals the suspension of license requirement for unsatisfied judgments and after certain accidents. The bill further provides that the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles shall return or reinstate any person's driver's license that was suspended solely for such purposes.

02/14/18 Senate: Referred to Committee on Transportation
02/21/18 Senate: Rereferred from Transportation (13-Y 0-N)
02/21/18 Senate: Rereferred to Courts of Justice
02/26/18 Senate: Committee amendments
02/26/18 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (8-Y 6-N)

HB 729 Virginia Fire Services Board; powers & duties, modular training program for volunteer firefighters.

Chief patron: Head

A BILL to amend and reenact § 9.1-203 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Virginia Fire Services Board; powers and duties; modular training program for volunteer firefighters.

18104370D

Summary as introduced:
Virginia Fire Services Board; powers and duties; modular training program for volunteer firefighters. Directs the Virginia Fire Services Board to develop a modular training program for volunteer firefighters for adoption by local volunteer fire departments that shall include (i) Firefighter I and Firefighter II certification pursuant to standards developed by the National Fire Protection Association and (ii) an online training program.

03/02/18 Senate: Read third time
03/02/18 Senate: Reading of amendment waived
03/02/18 Senate: Committee amendment agreed to
03/02/18 Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended
03/02/18 Senate: Passed Senate with amendment (38-Y 0-N)

HB 777 Emergency air medical transportation; informed decision.

Chief patron: Ransone

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 32.1-111.4:9, relating to emergency air medical transportation; informed decision.

18102247D

Summary as introduced:
Emergency air medical transportation; informed decision. Requires emergency medical services personnel, prior to initiating contact with an emergency air medical transportation provider for air transport of a patient, to obtain written consent from the patient after disclosing certain information. The bill provides that emergency medical services personnel shall be exempt from such requirements if compliance might jeopardize the health or safety of the patient or the patient is unable to provide consent.

01/29/18 House: Motion to rerefer to committee agreed to
01/29/18 House: Rereferred to Health, Welfare and Institutions
01/30/18 House: Impact statement from VDH (HB777)
02/01/18 House: Impact statement from VDH (HB777H1)
02/06/18 House: Continued to 2019 in Health, Welfare and Institutions

HB 778 Health benefit plan networks; informed decision.

Chief patron: Ransone

An Act to amend and reenact § 32.1-127 of the Code of Virginia, relating to air medical transportation; informed decision.

Summary as passed:

Air medical transportation; informed decision. Requires each hospital to establish a protocol requiring that, before a health care provider arranges for air medical transportation services for a patient who does not have an emergency medical condition, the hospital provide the patient or his authorized representative with written or electronic notice that the patient (i) may have a choice of transportation by an air medical transportation provider or medically appropriate ground transportation by an emergency medical services provider and (ii) will be responsible for charges incurred for such transportation in the event that the provider is not a contracted network provider of the patient's health insurance carrier or such charges are not otherwise covered in full or in part by the patient's health insurance plan. The provisions of such requirement become effective on March 1, 2019. The bill directs the Office of Emergency Medical Services to develop a mechanism no later than January 1, 2019, to disclose to a patient, prior to services provided by an out-of-network air transport provider, a good faith estimate of the range of typical charges for out-of-network air transport services provided in that geographic area.

02/26/18 House: Impact statement from VDH (HB778ER)
02/26/18 House: Signed by Speaker
02/28/18 Senate: Signed by President
03/02/18 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 2, 2018
03/02/18 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 9, 2018

HB 815 Individuals receiving services; right to unmonitored communication and access to 911.

Chief patron: Levine

A BILL to amend and reenact § 37.2-400 of the Code of Virginia, relating to individuals receiving services; right to unmonitored communication.

18103748D

Summary as introduced:
Individuals receiving services; right to unmonitored communication and access to 911. Provides that each individual receiving services in a hospital, training center, or other facility or program operated, funded, or licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall be allowed to send and receive sealed letter mail and make and receive at least one telephone call per week without such mail or call being monitored by the staff and shall be afforded access in emergency situations to a telephone to place 911 emergency service calls.

01/09/18 House: Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions
01/17/18 House: Assigned HWI sub: Subcommittee #2
01/19/18 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB815)
01/23/18 House: Subcommittee recommends striking from docket (10-Y 0-N)
02/13/18 House: Left in Health, Welfare and Institutions

HB 842 Controlled paraphernalia; possession or distribution, hypodermic needles and syringes, naloxone.

Chief patron: LaRock

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 54.1-3466 and 54.1-3467 of the Code of Virginia, relating to possession or distribution of controlled paraphernalia; hypodermic needles and syringes; naloxone.

Summary as passed House:

Possession or distribution of controlled paraphernalia; hypodermic needles and syringes; naloxone. Provides that a person who is authorized by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to train individuals on the administration of naloxone for use in opioid overdose reversal and who is acting on behalf of an organization that provides services to individuals at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose or training in the administration of naloxone for overdose reversal and that has obtained a controlled substances registration from the Board of Pharmacy may dispense or distribute hypodermic needles and syringes in conjunction with such dispensing of naloxone and that a person to whom naloxone has been distributed by such individual may possess hypodermic needles and syringes in conjunction with such possession of naloxone. The bill also allows the dispensing or distributing of hypodermic needles and syringes by persons authorized to dispense naloxone. The bill contains an emergency clause.

EMERGENCY

02/21/18 House: Signed by Speaker
02/22/18 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB842ER)
02/23/18 Senate: Signed by President
02/26/18 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on February 26, 2018
02/26/18 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 5, 2018

HB 872 Hospitals and nursing homes; frequency of inspections.

Chief patron: Orrock