THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 20, 1997 TAG: 9702200141
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: 189 lines
The General Assembly will have the chance to reconsider compensating a mentally disabled Culpeper man who spent 15 months in prison for a crime he didn't commit.
Sen. Kevin G. Miller, R-Harrisonburg, introduced a bill Wednesday that would pay 21-year-old Christopher Prince $45,000 to cover the fees his family spent getting him out of prison.
Prince was convicted of breaking into a 12-year-old girl's house to rape her, but was released by Gov. George F. Allen last year after the girl admitted she lied at the trial.
The Senate Finance Committee killed a bill earlier this year to give Prince $50,000. But publicity about that vote has prompted some lawmakers to reconsider. By submitting the bill directly to the Senate floor, Miller bypassed the finance committee. Senators will vote on the measure today. ALSO WEDNESDAY Lots of work remains to iron out new budget
For the second straight day, House and Senate conferees haggled late into the night in search of consensus on changes to the 1996-98 state budget.
Sources said one major sticking point was matching funds for a federal grant for 1,000 new police officers, a priority of Lt. Gov. Donald Beyer, the all-but certain Democratic nominee for governor.
Democrats who control the House have provided $7 million to cover the state's match, while Republicans who share power in the Senate want localities to pick up a portion of the cost.
The budget writers must resolve a slew of other differences, including a House plan to exempt welfare recipients from work requirements if they are enrolled as full-time students and a Senate proposal to give lawmakers an office allowance increase that amounts to a $3,000 a year raise.
House Appropriations Chairman Earl Dickinson said he thought the differences could be resolved by late Wednesday or early today.
If the budget talks linger any longer, the General Assembly could run the risk of missing its scheduled Saturday adjournment for the second year in a row.
Sen. Stanley Walker, D-Norfolk, co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said one problem this year is that budget matters at times have taken a back seat to a dispute over judicial appointments, which has required members to huddle in party caucuses.
``It takes the budget conferees away when they could be up here working,'' Walker said.
GAMING COMMISSION REGULATIONS: An amendment that would allow localities to easily opt out of the Charitable Gaming Commission's regulations was narrowly approved Wednesday by the state Senate.
Sen. Joseph V. Gartlan, D-Fairfax, said the amendment would leave the regulatory system ``broken, bleeding and dying'' but failed to convince his colleagues, who voted 20-19 to accept it.
The amendment was added to legislation aimed at reforming the commission, which has infuriated many volunteer organizations that raise funds with bingo since its creation last year. After the amendment was approved, the Senate voted 34-4 to pass the bill.
The amendment replaced a provision that would have allowed localities to opt out only after receiving the commission's permission. The changed bill still has to be approved by the House before it can be sent to the governor.
PARENTAL NOTICE DEBATE: Lawmakers delayed their perennial clash over abortion rights Wednesday, putting off a final vote on parental notification for minors who seek abortions.
The House adjourned Wednesday about halfway through its schedule of legislation to interview judicial candidates. The bill that would prohibit doctors from performing an abortion on a minor unless one of her parents is notified is now scheduled for debate today.
CAR SALES: Despite dramatic rhetoric from half a dozen members, the delegates sent into legislative limbo a bill that would have banned auto tent sales sponsored by credit unions.
Auto tent sales are ``designed to whip up the average consumer into a buying frenzy. . . like sharks circling a tank,'' proclaimed Del. William P. Robinson, Jr., D-Norfolk, one of the bill's proponents.
``Out-of-town dealers will sell you their cars and then skulk into the night,'' he warned.
``What's the problem?'' countered Del. Thomas M. Jackson, Jr. D-Carroll. ``If the consumer can get a better deal at the dealership, then the consumer should get a better deal at the dealership. It's a free country.''
In the end, the legislation - born of a fight between credit unions and car dealerships over the lucrative car-financing business - was sent back to the House Committee on Corporations, Insurance and Banking for further study. That committee, however, is not expected to meet for another year.
BACKSEAT BELTS: The Senate passed a bill requiring adult drivers to make backseat passengers under 16 use seat belts, but opponents say the governor is expected to veto it.
Supporters of the bill said it would save lives, but critics said it was an attempt to legislate personal responsibility. A spokesman in Allen's office said the governor will consider signing it, but said Allen has already expressed ``several concerns'' about the bill's merits.
ASSISTED SUICIDE: A bill that would impose stiff fines on anyone who assisted a suicide was passed 80-14 by House.
Under the legislation, a person found guilty of a first offense would be subject to a maximum $10,000 fine. Anyone found guilty of assisting a second suicide or more would be subject to a maximum $100,000 fine for each incident.
Also, physicians and nurses found guilty of aiding suicides would lose their medical licenses.
Identical legislation already has been approved by the Senate. The bill, however, must be passed by the General Assembly again next year to be enacted.
The legislation was introduced by Sen. Mark L. Earley, R-Chesapeake.
HYBRID CANINES: Virginia's lawmakers barked and growled Wednesday before approving a Senate bill authorizing the death penalty for dogs who are part wolf or coyote and who ``commit'' certain ``depredations.''
Among those depredations: killing or injuring poultry and livestock and not having a permit or a tag. IN OTHER ACTION
Hotel owners who had seven years to install sprinklers will get another six months. Delegates voted 100-0 to extend until Sept. 1 the deadline for installing sprinklers in any hotel taller than three stories.
The bill was submitted because of 20 or more oceanfront hotels in Virginia Beach that will not meet the current March 1 deadline. But the House offered the extension to hotels statewide, a change that will require Senate approval before the bill goes to the governor for his signature.
The Senate approved Virginia Beach Del. Frank Wagner's bill to open the HOV lanes to all traffic when accidents close the main highways. But the House of Delegates will have to consider the bill again because the Senate changed it to apply only in Hampton Roads.
The House amended a Senate bill that would have allowed people who get public assistance to seek court review of decisions about the grant or denial of aid.
Under the amendment, proposed by Fairfax Republican David Albo, no court review is possible.
People who accept ``our charity'' shouldn't have the right to complain about it, Albo told the House.
The governor will decide whether lawyers are the only people who can oversee real estate closings. A bill that would allow title insurance agents and real estate brokers to conduct closings passed the Senate 36-1 Wednesday and goes to the governor for his consideration.
A bill requiring parental permission for minors to receive tattoos passed the Senate 40-0. The measure goes back to the House for approval. NOTICED & NOTED 38-0 Senate vote pushes ``Carry Me Back'' into yore
The General Assembly carried Virginia's state song into history Wednesday, voting to retire ``Carry Me Back to Old Virginia'' and give it a new distinction: state song emeritus.
By a 30-8 vote, the Senate delivered a final blow to the controversial song whose references to ``darkeys'' and ``ole massa'' have made legislators squirm since then-Sen. Douglas Wilder denounced it in 1979. The bill retiring the song was sent to Gov. Allen for his signature.
At the last minute, Augusta Sen. Emmett W. Hanger Jr. asked members to reconsider, since the House of Delegates refused to create a committee to find a replacement song.
But other senators said that the song's lyrics are too offensive these days, and belong in the history books not the law books.
``Finally,'' said state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, who co-sponsored efforts to sink the song.
As for a replacement ditty, no one wants to pick one out. WHAT'S NEXT
The Senate put aside many of the bills it was planning to consider Wednesday to give legislators time to work out a compromise on the already overdue budget.
Budget conferees from the House of Delegates and Senate overshot a Tuesday midnight deadline without coming to an agreement. The Senate and the House of Delegates both agreed Wednesday to a 24-hour extension.
The Senate broke after meeting for only about 2 hours.
The 29 bills not taken up included a bill to require health insurers to cover prescription contraceptives, a bill revamping the State Council of Higher Education and a bill that would make it a capital crime to knowingly kill a pregnant woman.
Unless the session is extended, which would require two-thirds approval in each house, all the bills have to be dealt with by Thursday. MEMO: Robert Little, Laura LaFay, Warren Fiske and The Associated Press
contributed to this report.
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY