ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, January 21, 1995                   TAG: 9501240043
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MORGAN GRIFFITH
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CONSTITUENTS' IDEAS HEARD

While I have many ideas on ways to improve state government, I often find the best legislation comes from suggestions from constituents who call me or whom I meet on the street or by knocking on doors.

Listed below are pieces of legislation suggested by constituents in my district, which includes parts of Roanoke and Montgomery counties, that I will be supporting this session.

Tom Leggett, a newly elected Roanoke County School Board member, suggested legislation that would allow the Cave Spring Softball League to be exempt from sales and use tax. Leggett had the financial analysis performed on the legislation's impact, and this bill has already been submitted and referred to the House Finance Committee.

Safety on our highways is important. When I met Roanoke County Police Officer Barry Mills and his wife while knocking on doors, they expressed their concern about drinking, and suggested ways to address this problem. The DUI disfigurement bill, which I will present, creates a Class 6 felony punishment for a person who commits a DUI violation that causes the maiming, disfigurement or disabling of another.

The state needs to address the increase in sex-related crimes. I submitted a sexual predator study resolution last year, which was referred to the Sexual Offender Commission. Dr. Isaac Van Patton, a Roanoke psychologist who served on the commission, suggested that I close a loophole on other sexual deviant behavior, and as a result I have legislation pending on both his suggestion and the original sexual predator concept. The latter is being submitted with the approval of the Governor's Sexual Offender Commission.

Additionally, Chance Crawford, Roanoke County's circuit court clerk, suggested a bill relating to court costs. This bill provides that whenever a felony defendant's suspended sentence and probation are revoked he shall pay the same court costs as a defendant charged with a felony conviction.

To contact Del. Griffith, call (804) 786-7296. To register an opinion, call constituent services at (800) 889-0229. His office is Room 447 in the General Assembly Building.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1995 


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