Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 27, 1993 TAG: 9301270266
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
HOUSE APPROVES FREE-TEXTBOOK BILL
Public school students throughout Virginia would get free textbooks - with the state paying the entire cost - under a bill tentatively approved Tuesday by the House of Delegates.The bill would not take effect until the 1994 school year, so it would be up to the next governor and General Assembly to find money to pay for the books.
"The most fundamental part of education is reading and writing from a textbook," said Del. Vince Callahan, R-McLean. "It's time we joined the 20th century."
The bill by Del. Karen Darner, D-Arlington, originally required localities to share in the cost. The state's share would have been more than $2 million.
However, the House adopted an amendment by Majority Leader Richard Cranwell of Vinton to require the state to pay the entire cost - estimated at $12 million. Some delegates had complained about imposing another unfunded mandate on localities.
A final vote will be taken today.
The House also voted 79-14 for a state constitutional amendment to leave the lieutenant governor in charge during the governor's absence.
The state constitution now provides for the lieutenant governor to take charge only at the governor's death, disqualification or resignation, or in the event the governor "is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office."
In the Senate, a bill increasing the highway speed limit for school buses from 45 mph to 55 mph was approved.
The Senate also passed a bill allowing people convicted of minor offenses such as writing bad checks to be employed by nursing homes. A bill passed last year prohibits those convicted of a number of crimes from such employment.
The Senate Finance Committee approved a measure that would give tax credits to industries that move to the state or existing state businesses that increase their investments or number of workers. Senate Majority Leader Hunter Andrews, D-Hampton, is sponsoring the bill.
"It seems to be it would be a big incentive for industries to locate in Virginia," said Sen. Richard Holland, D-Windsor.
The committee also endorsed a bill that would allow localities to increase the penalties for people who fail to pay their property taxes from the current ceiling of 10 percent. The bill would allow localities to levy fines of 10 percent a year or $10, whichever is greater, for three years after the tax is due.
newspaper's Richmond bureau contributed to this report.