ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Monday, March 11, 1996                 TAG: 9603120045
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-3  EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: The Associated Press 

SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 1996 GENERAL ASSEMBLY:

The Budget

A political fight over how many senators could sit at the bargaining table delayed talks and forced legislators to extend the session through Monday. The proposed two-year, $35 billion budget compromise emphasized more funding for education.

Business Lawmakers approved bills authorizing Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield to convert from a mutual company to a for-profit company, allowing Virginia Power greater regulatory freedom, more than doubling a coal-tax credit and scaling back a gross receipts tax on business.

Gambling

Legislation allowing voters to decide whether to allow riverboat gambling was killed in the House of Delegates.

Abortion

Parental notification for minors' abortions was rejected, despite a late push by Gov. George Allen.

Education

Allen got a scaled-back version of his program to test students on new, tougher academic standards, but his proposals to establish charter schools and give teachers civil immunity when they discipline students were rejected.

Health Care

The assembly approved longer hospital stays for maternity patients, direct access to obstetricians and gynecologists and disclosure of doctors' contracts with health maintenance organizations.

Power-sharing

Republicans gained majorities or chairmanships of five Senate committees in an unprecedented power-sharing agreement after forging a 20-20 tie with Democrats in the November elections. The parties shared the chairmanship of the powerful Finance Committee.

The Tone

The harsh rhetoric that marked the 1995 election-year session was toned down considerably.

LENGTH: Medium:   53 lines
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1996