THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 24, 1997 TAG: 9701240580
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 80 lines
During a lull Thursday, a moderate legislator from western Virginia chatted about the crowd of 500 people that turned out Wednesday for a hearing on a bill that would enshrine ``parents' rights'' in the state Constitution.
Del. W.W. ``Ted'' Bennett, D-Halifax, also expressed relief that the measure probably won't reach the House of Delegates this year.
The proposed amendment is slated to be voted on by the full Senate Monday. Republicans supporting the measure said they may reword the amendment to ease Democrats' concerns. House members did not expect the amendment to be referred out of committee to them.
While Bennett said he supported the bill's thrust, he was not convinced that such language belongs in the state Constitution.
``We all want to direct our children through life,'' Bennett said. ``But then you think about that crazy neighbor.''
Bennett said the parents' rights amendment could allow parents to ignore laws about compulsory education.
ALSO THURSDAY
Speeding fines could rise
Since 1992, drivers who sped through construction zones risked a $250 fine while those who zipped past schools or around stopped school buses faced a much lighter penalty.
Virginia legislators finally took notice of that Thursday, as two committees unanimously endorsed separate bills to increase fines for speeding in school zones or illegally passing a stopped bus to $250.
``The bill sends a message to the courts that those who would speed in school zones should be given different treatment than other speeders,'' said Del. William C. Mims, R-Leesburg. He said he submitted the bill after he realized state law does more to protect workers in hard hats than schoolchildren.
A House committee revived a bill that would would make small college loans more available - but more expensive. The bill would lift the 2 percent cap that banks and savings institutions can charge in fees when making installment loans of less than $5,000 for tuition purposes. Banks say they cannot compete with out-of-state institutions exempt from the 2 percent cap.
NOTICED & NOTED
Perinatal care pushed
On the annual Motherhood and Apple Pie Day, citizen activists often come bearing the all-American dessert along with their legislative interest list.
The name may be cute, but the purpose of the day's sponsor, the Virginia Perinatal Association, is as serious as life and death, and the quality of life.
Bills the group supports would:
Require HMOs to provide doctors who are no more than 20 minutes public transit time from the patient's home.
Allow state workers to use sick leave for Family and Medical Leave Act time.
Create a plan to improve access to perinatal care in rural and underserved areas.
WHAT'S NEXT
Floor sessions open at noon Friday. . . . House of Delegates committees meet Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. . . . Also Saturday, the General Assembly convenes in the reconstructed Capitol at Williamsburg in an annual commemorative session.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
``And I would say to this side of the room: I feel fine, so don't get your hopes up.''
- House Speaker and Norfolk Democrat Thomas W. Moss Jr., addressing Republican delegates after announcing to the House that ``a medical appointment'' necessitates his absence from the General Assembly Friday. MEMO: Staff writers David M. Poole and Laura LaFay, and The Associated
Press, contributed to this report. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Thomas Moss