THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 1, 1996 TAG: 9603010053
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E12 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
THIS YEAR'S 60-day Virginia General Assembly session has less than a month to go. Here's a status report of 16 bills that could directly affect Virginia teenagers.
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
Violent Juveniles tried as Adults (HB 251, SB 44): Part of a broad juvenile justice reform package. Senate version would treat all violent juveniles as adults; House version only murderers and some others.
Status - Passed both houses. Goes to committees to settle differences.
Public Access to Juvenile Records (HB 207, SB 57 died in senate courts): Would open juvenile court proceedings and juvenile records to the public in criminal cases.
Status - Passed both houses.
CARS AND DRIVING
Speed Limits (HB 1242, SJR 7): Would establish speed limits as high as 70 mph on some state highways, as allowed by new federal laws.
Status - House bill died. Senate approved task force study.
Learners Permits (HB 1462): Would raise from 18 to 21 the age of front-seat passengers allowed with teen-ager with learner's permit license.
Status - Passed both houses.
Pickup Truck Passengers (HB 931): Would ban children under 16 from riding in the open bed of pickup trucks on interstate highways. Gov. George F. Allen vetoed the bill last year.
Status - Passed the House. Also in the Senate transportation committee.
FAMILY
Domestic Violence Arrests (SB 112): Allows police to automatically arrest suspects of domestic violence without an arrest warrant.
Status - Passed the Senate. Sent to House subcommittee.
Joint Custody Presumption (SB 496): Says that judges hearing child custody cases will start with the presumption that there will be joint custody among the parents.
Status - Passed the Senate. Sent to House subcommittee.
ABORTION
Parental Notification (HB 267, SB 25): Requiring doctors to notify the parents or guardians of anyone younger than 18 who wants an abortion.
Status - Passed the House; defeated in Senate committee.
TOBACCO
Photo ID for Tobacco Sales (HB 1416): Would require store clerks to ask for a driver's license or other photo identification before selling cigarettes to persons who appear under 18.
Status - Passed both houses.
SCHOOLS
Teacher Immunity (SB 472): If a student sued a teacher, the teacher would be protected from the lawsuit under this legislation as long as the teacher was acting within the realm of his/her duties to maintain class order, etc. It would protect teachers from civil lawsuits only, arising during the course of the school day.
Status - Passed the Senate. In House committee.
Parental Responsibility Fines (HB 1199): Repeals the law fining parents $50 when they don't sign a contract supporting the public schools' disciplinary policies.
Status - Passed the House. In Senate committee.
Employee Background Checks (HB 703): Would require criminal background checks of prospective school system employees.
Status - Action deferred to 1997.
Assaults on Teachers (SB 20): A mandatory 10-day jail term for any juvenile convicted of assaulting a teacher or correctional officer.
Status - Passed the Senate. In House committee.
VOTER REGISTRATION
Motor Voter (HB 206, SB 101): Allows citizens to register to vote at the Department of Motor Vehicles or other state agencies.
Status - Passed both houses and awaiting the governor's signature.
OTHER
Brew-Thru (HB 865): Bans operations like the ``Brew-Thru'' drive through convenience store proposed at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
Status - Passed the House. Action deferred until 1997.
For more information, call the General Assembly Information number: (804) 786-6530.
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROPOSED BILLS TEENAGER by CNB