THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 11, 1997 TAG: 9702110276
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: From The Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: 119 lines
Motorists who zip by a school bus that is picking up children may soon face more than a guilty conscience.
The Senate and House both passed bills Monday that would raise the fine for passing a stopped school bus from $50 to $250. The rate was raised to equal what drivers have to pay for speeding in a construction zone.
The legislation was prompted by the death of an 8-year-old boy who was hit by a passing car as he prepared to board a school bus in Cumberland County.
ALSO MONDAY
The Senate voted to repeal a law that allows doctors to prescribe limited amounts of heroin for pain relief in terminally ill patients.
The General Assembly passed a law in 1988 allowing doctors to prescribe heroin if the appropriate legislation was passed by the U.S. Congress. But Congress never passed such a law.
The House of Delegates voted to repeal the law on Jan. 30.
The bill is similar to another initiative repealing a state law that allows doctors to prescribe marijuana for cancer and glaucoma patients.
The House passed a bill allowing localities to reduce speed limits in residential school zones from 25 to 15 mph.
The Senate approved a bill requiring that school boards inform students that they can be prosecuted as adults for certain crimes.
NOTICED & NOTED Bill requires parents to be with teens who tattoo
A Richmond dermatologist could lose more than half his patients if the General Assembly passes one new law. But he's not complaining.
Dr. Lawrence E. Blanchard III often sees furious parents dragging their teen-agers into his office for lengthy and expensive tattoo removal.
The House of Delegates gave 94-3 approval last Tuesday to a bill requiring parents to be in the tattoo shop with their kids. The bill is now before a Senate committee.
Despite the absence of a law on the books, many tattoo parlors are already leery of inking anyone under 18, even if they bring in a signed note.
Suzanne Hall, a 14-year-old from Charlottesville who was visiting the legislature Monday, wants a small sun tattooed on her shoulder but doesn't want her parents watching the inked needle dip into her skin.
``I'm totally not for having my parents there,'' she said. ``It's my body.''
Blanchard has seen the results of quick tattooing decisions and he fully supports the bill.
It can take up to 10 painful treatments, each costing from $300 to $600, to remove a black, blue or brown tattoo. If other colors are used the procedure is even more difficult, Blanchard said.
The treatments are about 80 percent successful. Because they are considered cosmetic surgery, medical insurance will not cover the cost.
``If you think of tattoos as a passing fad, then the law will probably minimize the total number of people who obtain tattoos, many of whom will wish in 15 years they didn't have them,'' he said.
Joe Kaplan, president of the Mt. Vernon, N.Y.-based Professional Tattoo Artists Guild, said 13 states have laws restricting the minors' access to tattoos.
WHAT'S NEXT
House and Senate sessions begin at noon today.
KEY DATES
Today: Last day for each house to act on the other chamber's budget bill and appoint members of the budget conference committee.
Feb. 17: Deadline for committee action on legislation.
Feb. 18: Midnight deadline for conference committee to reach compromise on budget.
Feb. 20: Vote on budget.
Feb. 22: Adjournment.
March 24: Last day for governor to sign, veto or amend legislation.
April 2: One-day reconvened session to act on governor's amendments and vetoes.
TO GET IN TOUCH
CONSTITUENT VIEWPOINTS - A toll-free hotline to provide the citizens of the commonwealth the opportunity to express their views on issues before the General Assembly: 1-800-889-0229
For more information:
The Clerk's Office
House of Delegates
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, Va. 23218
804-786-6530
The Clerk's Office
Senate of Virginia
P.O. Box 396
Richmond, Va. 23218
804-786-3838
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY