ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 4, 1997 TAG: 9702040079
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: general assembly 1997
There's three weeks to go in this year's 45-day "short session" of the Virginia General Assembly. Three local legislators update their work:
Del. Tommy Baker, R-Pulaski County
Represents Pulaski County, Pearisburg and western Giles County. Richmond phone number: (804) 786-6605.
The most controversial legislation introduced this year has been a proposed constitutional amendment designed to ensure parents' rights in the upbringing and education of their children. I am in agreement with the basic premise. Parents should have the final say on issues dealing with their children. However, very legitimate concerns were raised about whether or not, for instance, a parent would be able to control a teacher's classroom. The possibility for endless numbers of lawsuits to interpret the amendment would have also been a realistic possibility. The Senate, on Jan. 28, defeated this measure by a vote of 24-15.
In continuing to follow the parental notice bill, the Senate passed its version earlier last week. In prior years, the Senate had always defeated the requirement of parental notice as it regards a minor's attempt to obtain an abortion. This should increase the chance for passage this year. The bill will now come to the House where I continue to support it.
Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem
Represents Christiansburg and eastern Montgomery County, along with western Roanoke County and Salem. Richmond office, (804) 786-7296.
I introduced a bill this year relating to collection of child support arrearage. This was the result of a letter from a constituent about the collection of the debt owed to the state before collecting the debt owed to the custodial parent. The state is entitled to receive the child support owed during the time that the custodial parent received aid for dependent children. Many times the noncustodial parent doesn't pay.
Currently, the state collects for past due amounts owed to it from the noncustodial parent while the custodial parent is on welfare. If the state ever gets its full arrearage satisfied, then it pays the support owed to the single parent before or after that parent was on welfare. My measure, at the writing of this, passed out of the Courts of Justice committee on Jan. 27 and moved on to the Appropriations Committee, which on Friday tabled it for at least a year for more study of the costs involved.
The irony is that if a single parent stays on welfare then there is no problem. It is only the single parent who uses the welfare system for a period of time and then tries to improve his or her lot in life and no longer receives welfare who gets caught in this situation. My bill would reverses the situation to provide that the single parent will be paid back before the state's general fund.
Del. Jim Shuler, D-Blacksburg
Represents Blacksburg, much of Montgomery County and eastern Giles County. Richmond office: (804) 786-8425.
I am proposing that graduate students at Virginia colleges and universities be allowed to become part of the state's health insurance pool. Graduate students tend to be in the unique situation of no longer being able to obtain health benefits through their parents' plan, and are financially unable to afford health insurance on their own. They also may have left jobs in order to return to school, and with that, given up insurance coverage for their families. My bill would allow them to buy into the state plan and receive its substantial coverage. The bill was scheduled to come up for a vote Monday afternoon.
My initial interest In the issue came through my knowledge of the problem at veterinary and medical schools. In the medical, health and science fields, students are often exposed through their school requirements to serious diseases, dangerous chemicals, bacteria and viruses that jeopardize their health; yet they often choose not to buy health insurance for financial seasons. I believe the commonwealth has a responsibility to these students to ensure they have access to high quality, affordable health care.
Because graduate students as a group are generally young and very healthy, adding them to the insurance pool actually benefits the fund for everyone. They increase the number of individuals and families paying into the system yet they will create only a limited, small drain on the resources.
Other New River Valley legislators include:
Del. Allen Dudley, R-Rocky Mount, represents Floyd County, (804) 786-6895.
Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville, represents Montgomery County and part of Pulaski County, (804) 786-6986.
Sen. Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, R-Fincastle, represents Radford, Giles County and part of Pulaski County, (804) 786-6884.
The toll-free number to leave your opinion on an issue is: (800) 889-0229.
Write any delegate by using their name and: P.O. Box 406; Richmond, VA 23218
Write any senator by name: General Assembly Building; 910 Capitol St.; Richmond, VA 23219
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) Baker, Griffith, Shulerby CNB