Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 27, 1993 TAG: 9301270036
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: THOMAS G. BAKER JR.
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
AIDS ATTACK ALTERED BILL ON PROTECTION
A very serious situation occurred at the Camp I Correctional Unit in Dublin about a month ago. A number of correctional officers were attacked and bitten by an inmate infected with the HIV virus.During the 1992 session of the General Assembly, two bills were before the Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee requiring those people asking for services of a law enforcement officer to handle a known AIDS patient to advise the law enforcement officer that the person had AIDS.
These bills were carried over to the 1993 session and were taken up last Thursday. I was not satisfied that the language "law enforcement officer" was broad enough to include correctional officers. In order to help guards be better able to protect themselves, I offered an amendment to the bills to expand the definition of those that would have to be told they were being asked to handle, or come in contact with, AIDS patients. The amendments I offered were adopted by a subcommittee on Thursday morning and by the full Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee later in the day after I had testified about the situation at Camp I.
The measures were merged into one bill and approved by the committee on a 14-6 vote. This bill should be taken up by the full House of Delegates this week.
I was very pleased by the success of the amended bill and I plan to continue my support for it on the floor. Hopefully, we can get the bill passed and offer some additional security to our law enforcement and correctional officers.
Another gambling bill proceeded forward last week. The concept of allowing riverboat gambling was advanced by a subcommittee and at least one bill will be filed to allow casino gambling on Virginia waterways.
There has been an ongoing study of this concept since the end of the 1992 session. Proponents claim that riverboat gambling will raise considerable revenue for the Commonwealth. Opponents argue that local governments will lose money due to a reduction in sales tax and that such gambling can lead to organized crime.
I don't believe that the extension of this sort of gambling is in the best interests of the Commonwealth and I plan to vote against the bill.
Also this week, I join Del. Steve Agee, R-Salem, in sponsoring the "3 Strikes and You're Out" bill.
Basically, this bill provides that if someone is convicted of three violent felonies, upon conviction of the third the defendant would receive a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Those who argue against more stiff sentences generally argue that it will cost the Commonwealth too much. However, financial-impact statements indicate there will be no significant increase in costs to the state until at least 2005.
In my way of thinking, the time has come to stop the "revolving door" criminal. This is a good way to do it and I am lending my full support to this legislation.
Last week I also filed a resolution calling for the Commission on Youth to study the feasibility of tracing and following up on juvenile sex offenders for 10 years after the offense.
Under current law, the authorities have no real control over the offender once he or she becomes an adult. If approved, the Commonwealth would be able to track such offenders beyond age 21 in an effort to further prevent them from committing additional assaults.
This legislation is another outgrowth of the Commission to Reduce the Incidence of Sexual Violence in the Commonwealth. I served on this commission with Lt. Gov. Don Beyer and I have been delighted to be asked to carry this and other legislation coming out of our year-long study.
I can be reached in Richmond at Room 446, General Assembly Building, Capitol Square, P.O. Box 406, Richmond, Va. 23203. Call (804) 786-6605, or my Dublin office at 674-4081.
Thomas G. Baker Jr., R-Radford, represents Radford, Pulaski County and part of Giles County in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1993