Virginia Press Association positions
Reauthorization of the FOIA office won unanimous approval of the House and Senate, and has been signed into law by Gov. Warner. (SB208, HB173)
At least six (cq) new FOIA exemptions gained final approval; at least nine (cq) others were broadened to permit added confidentiality. Three involve records or meetings dealing with specific anti-terrorist plans. A Code amendment also was approved to encourage public disclosure of anthrax-type dangers. Assuming the governor signs all of the legislation, Virginia’s FOIA will have at least 110 exceptions to its open-government law: 81 in the records section, 29 in the meetings section.
Approved in the final week:
• full disclosure of purchasers of political advertising (HB558).
• a confidential database to track purchasers of OxyContin and similar drugs.
(SB425)
• broadband-access services by local governments (SB245)
• a rule to block aggregating of public data by/for the Worker’s Compensation
Board (SB669)
• a far-reaching effort to privatize school construction and other projects
with less public disclosure, less competitive bidding; more flexibility to get
projects off the ground. (SB681)
Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine’s proposal for televised General Assembly floor sessions was killed by House Rules, 10-7. Speaker Wilkins led the opposition. But in the State Senate, Sen. Bo Trumbo led efforts to write rules that will get Senate sessions televised and/or Web-cast within the next year or so. (SR13)
Attorney General Kilgore’s proposals for quick online posting of draft and official minutes gained unanimous approval in House and Senate; conferee action is posted (HB587, SB416)
Also approved:
• Several measures to try to stop disclosure of Social Security numbers.
(SB153, HB564, HB1209, HB652)
• Clear-cut language aimed at the Virginia Supreme Court to clarify that
commonwealth’s attorneys and all other constitutional offices are subject to
FOIA rules. (HB729)
• A FOIA amendment requiring immediate and full disclosure of nonexempt
sections of a consultant’s report prior to any official action or whenever it’s
been disclosed or distributed, whichever occurs first. (HB235)
• Two more years to experiment with relaxed FOIA rules for teleconferencing
by U.Va. Board of Visitors and videoconferencing by other designated state entities.(SB38)
• Opt-out confidentiality of citizens’ e-mail addresses, but only when linked
to requested e-mail notifications from a public entity. (SB308)
• Del. Devolites’ one-year study to establish guidelines for access to online
court information (HJ89)
Legislation backed by clerks of courts kept the Technology Trust Fund in existence at least two more years to help modernize clerks’ handling of land-use records. A related measure, HB675, got amended to require that up-to-date technology plans be in place before funds can be diverted to handle court records electronically. One problem: the 2003-04 budget diverts $5 million to help cut the General Fund deficit (HB857, SB83)
A bill to end the confusion about public access to complaints against doctors won unanimous backing from the legislature. Unfounded complaints will be confidential, but the Board of Medicine’ rules dictate that its Internet site will signal whenever a disciplinary action is to begin (or has occurred) (SB59)
Del. Bob Purkey’s scary HB 900 was sent to the FOI Advisory Council for a year of study. This was the bill that would allow the government to haul record requesters into court on a slippery charge of “harrassment” and then slap them with government attorney costs. The measure grew out of a mishandled, long-running dispute between an animal-rights group and backers of a proposed Virginia Beach dolphin tank.
Del. Devolites pulled HB 529 (personal information exemption) and HB532 from the docket. The press association showed her a letter from washingtonpost.com saying it has a policy of redacting police info from the Internet if someone requests it. Del. Almand’s comparable bill was carried over one year, at his request.
Uniform health standards to trigger online posting of restaurant inspections
got carried over a year (HB425)
HB 914, the Tobacco Settlement Foundation exemption for underage smoking
research data, was killed by General Laws.
The Senate blocked an ill-considered attempt by the House to write an unusual FOIA exemption just for the legislature (involving written requests by lawyer-legislators for court continuances during General Assembly sessions).
Del. Welch’s bill (HB92) to force General Assembly candidates to file campaign finance reports electronically was killed by the House Privileges and Elections Committee. Opponents (including Del. Chip Woodrum, D-Roanoke,) complained that filing software was unreliable, hard to use, or both. Del. Jim Dillard, R-Fairfax, said the continued use of paper reports would “self-correct” as software improved “and dinosaurs pass.”
HB9
Sponsor: Del. Phil Hamilton, R-Newport News
Purpose: Changes name in FOIA exemption 73 of “Virginia Department for Rights
of Virginians with Disabilities” to proposed “Virginia Office for Protection
and Advocacy.”
Status: Approved
HB19
Sponsor: Del. Bob Tata, R-Va. Beach
Purpose: Eastern Virginia Medical School wants name change and extensive FOIA
exemptions. Bill amended to match those already granted to health-related institutions
at UVa and MCV.
Status: Approved by House, 90-9; by Senate, 40-0
HB28
Sponsor: Del. Vince Callahan
Purpose: Prohibits Department of Human Resource Management “from enforcing
any policy that has the effect of denying an expectation of privacy in electronic
communications to students, faculty and professional staff of those public institutions
of higher education in the Commonwealth that have previously adopted acceptable
use of computing policies approved by the State Council of Higher Education of
Virginia (SCHEV). § 2. That SCHEV shall have the duty, responsibility, and
authority to review acceptable use of computing policies submitted to it pursuant
to this act and notify the institution whether such policy is approved.”
Status: Referred by Committee on Technology and Science to Joint Commission on
Technology and Science for year-long study.
HB92
Sponsor: Del. John Welch, R-Va. Beach
Purpose: Mandates electronic filing of campaign-finance disclosure reports by
members of the General Assembly
Status: Killed by Committee on Privileges and Elections, 13-9
HB107
Sponsor: Del. Marshall
Requires judges to post “national motto, In God We Trust” (Similar
bills call for such postings in schools and other government buildings)
Status: Approved by legislature; fate uncertain because of a lack of funding
HB112
Sponsor: Del. Bob Marshall
Purpose: Require tighter conflict of interest rules for local government
Status: Approved unanimously by House, as amended in committee; killed in Senate
General Laws at 11th hour request of Prince William prosecutor.
HB173
Sponsor: Del. Chip Woodrum, D-Roanoke; McQuigg co-sponsor
Purpose: Reauthorizes FOI Council as a permanent agency (the 2002-04 Gilmore
budget proposals include $295,682 and 1 1/2 staff positions for continued operation
of the Council, compared with the $329,000 provided for start-up in 2000-02).
Status: Approved unanimously; signed by governor
FOIA
Council’s 2001 report (PDF)
HB235
Sponsor: Del. Tom Gear, R-Hampton
Purpose: Provides that reports of consultants hired by or on behalf of a local
public body and in the possession of the mayor or chief executive officer of
such public body must be disclosed when disseminated, described or subject to
a vote. It got overhauled in a Senate subcommittee, establishing rules for disclosure
– while leaving the working papers section silent on the question of whether
these reports can ever be withheld by executive privilege.
Status: Often amended, overwhelmingly approved
HB263
Sponsor: Del. McQuigg, R-Prince William
Purpose: Requires electronic filing of political contributions by PACS and political-party
committees
Status: Approved unanimously by Privileges and Elections Committee; passed by
House, 90-6; killed by Senate Privileges and Elections
HB309
Sponsor: Del. Howell
Purpose: Requires competitive bidding when attorney general hires outside counsel
costing more than $100,000
Status: Approved by legislature
HB312
Sponsor: Del. Howell
Purpose: Creates new FOIA law-enforcement records exemption: “All records
of adult persons under investigation or supervision by a local pretrial services
agency . . . (or) investigation, probation supervision or monitoring by a local
community-based probation program . . . or investigation or supervision by state
probation and parole services”
Status: Withdrawn
HB331
Sponsor: Del. Darner
Purpose: Permits any member of the General Assembly to obtain information on
the race, gender and national origin of the governor’s appointees; continues
existing Code language that “personally identifiable information collected
under this section shall be confidential and shall be exempt from disclosure
under the Freedom of Information Act”
Status: Killed by General Laws
HB395
Sponsor: Del. Scott Lingamfelter, R-Prince William
Purpose: Creates new FOIA exemption for investigators’ notes, correspondence, other
information complainants’ names/addresses furnished in confidence with
respect to an investigation of individual zoning enforcement complaints made
to a local governing body. Creates new FOIA record exemption.
Status: Amended, approved
HB425
Sponsor: Del. McQuigg
Purpose:Coordinates Dept.of Health and Dept. of Agriculture guidelines for inspection
of public restaurants and take-out food stores. (Health-department restaurant
inspections are expected to go online later this year.)
Status: Approved by House, 86-14; sidetracked a year by the Senate
HB450
Sponsor: Del. Dillard, R-Fairfax
Purpose: Creates the Virginia Administrative Dispute Resolution Act, which authorizes
public bodies to use dispute resolution proceedings. State agencies are required
to adopt policies to address the use of dispute resolution proceedings within
the agency and for the agency’s programs and operations. Each state agency must
designate a dispute resolution coordinator. The bill establishes the Interagency
Dispute Resolution Advisory Council as an advisory council to the Secretary of
Administration. Amends FOIA to protect confidentiality of communications and
materials required to be kept confidential in mediation proceedings
Status: Amended to keep settlements, expenses a public record; approved by House;
approved by Senate General Laws. Creates new FOIA record exemption.
HB454
Sponsor: Del. Griffin, R-Salem
Purpose: Establish rules for use of facial-recognition technology
Status: Passed House, 74-25; killed in Senate
HB483
Sponsor: Del. Terry Suit, R-Virginia Beach
Purpose: Requires school boards and local governing bodies to allow public comment
at public meetings
Status: killed in C ommittee of Counties, Cities and Towns (only 2 votes in support)
HB514
Sponsor: Del. Marrs
Purpose: Any public-owned system that accesses the Internet would be considered “a
non-public forum. Opposed by Va. Library Assn.
Status: Killed by House Committee on Technology and Science
HB529
Sponsor: Del. Devolites, R-Vienna
Purpose: Adds a FOIA records exemption for those portions of records containing
identifying information of a personal, medical or financial nature provided to
a public body where the release of such information would jeopardize the safety
of any person.
Status: Withdrawn
HB532
Sponsor: Del. Devolites
Purpose: If requested by a law-enforcement officer, “publisher shall redact
all personal information as defined in § 2.2-3801 (including name, address,
telephone number, electronic mail address and social security number) about him
contained in records and papers of the circuit courts that are made public pursuant
to § 17.1-208 and published and disseminated by means of . . . the Internet.
A violator would be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Status: Withdrawn
HB545
Sponsor: Del. Kilgore
Purpose: New FOIA exemption for “all data, records, and reports relating
to the prescribing and dispensing of (controlled) substances . . . and any abstracts
from such data, records, and reports that are in the possession of the (proposed)
Prescription Monitoring Program.”
Status: see Wampler SB425
HB555
Sponsor: Del. S. C. Jones
Purpose: Mandates e-filing of campaign finance disclosure reports by political
committees (over $25,000) and legislators (more than $10,000)
Status: Killed, 15-7, Privileges and Elections
HB558
Sponsor: Del. S. C. Jones
Purpose: Imposes new disclosure requirements for political advertising; amended
and combined with HB1041
Status: Approved
HB564
Sponsor: Del. Byron, R-Lynchburg
Purpose: Forces DMV to drop use of SS# for drivers’ licenses — unless somebody
specifically wants to use a SS#
Status: Approved by legislature
HB602
Sponsor: Del. Black, Loudoun
Purpose: Requires that libraries install Internet filters on computers accessible
to children to block Internet access to child pornography as set out in § 18.2-374.1C1,
obscenity as defined in § 18.2-372 and materials deemed harmful to juveniles
as defined in § 18.2-390.
Status: Killed by Commitee on Technology and Science
HB652
Sponsor: Del. Allen Dudley, R-Rocky Mount
Purpose: Amends Consumer Protection Act to prohibit vendors from using S.S. numbers
as account numbers when buyer opts out in writing.
Status: Approved by House and Senate
HB664
Sponsor: Del. Cox
Purpose: Keeps State Police investigations of anthrax-type attacks confidential;
encourages disclosure when in the public interest
Status: Approved.
HB675
Sponsor: Del. Reese
Purpose: Allows use of clerks’ Technology Fund for handling of court records
once an approved technology plan is in place (heretofore, funds have been earmarked
solely for modernizing land-records; also extends fund for three years); technology
plans for land-use records must be kept up to date.
Status: Approved
HB700
Sponsor: Del. Chris Jones
Purpose: Expands FOIA exemptions related to terrorism (this is the compromise
language that was worked out in a subcommittee of the FOI Advisory Council.);
combined with Woodrum’s HB728
Status: Approved by House and Senate
HB728
Sponsor: Del. Woodrum
Purpose: Expands FOIA exemptions related to terrorism (this is the compromise
language that was worked out in a subcommittee of the FOI Advisory Council.);
combined with Chris Jones’ HB700
HB729
Sponsor: Del. Woodrum
Purpose: Reverses Va. Supreme Court ruling, explicitly brings prosecutors and
other constitutional officers under FOIA
Status: Approved
HB731
Sponsor: Del. Woodrum
Purpose: Lets you keep your e-mail address confidential if you sign up for electronic
newsletters from a public
body. Introduces the opt-out concept. Creates new FOIA record exemption.
Status: Approved
HB733
Sponsor: Del. Sears
Purpose: Tried to create a FOIA open-record exemption, allowing lawyers’ requests
for court continuances during legislative sessions to be kept confidential.
Conferees’ report. approved on final day, killed the proposed exemption
HB753
Sponsor: Del. Amundson
Purpose: Requires State Board of Elections to post all campaign finance reports
on the Internet with 24 hours of filing deadline (sponsors include at least one
foe of mandatory e-filings by House members!)
Status: Carried over to 2203, House Privileges and Elections Committee
HB812
Sponsor: Del. Almand
Purpose: Identical to HB532
Status: Carried over one year by Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee,
at sponsor’s request
HB884
Sponsor: Del. Hamilton, R-Newport News
Purpose: Directs the Board of Education to include, in its annual fall report
on public education needs and schools failing to meet the Standards of Quality
(SOQ), a complete listing of the current SOQ, justification for each standard,
how long each such standard has been in its current form, and whether the Board
recommends any changes to the SOQ.
Status: Passed
HB900
Sponsor: Del. Purkey, R-Va. Beach
Purpose: Overturns 33 years of open-government rules in Virginia: Permits government
to get a court order to stop “harrassment” by citizens trying to obtain
government information; if request for records is “unreasonable,” citizen
can be forced to pay government’s legal bills. (Note: FOIA already prohibits “fishing
expeditions” for non-specific records, permits government to seek extended
compliance time if record requests are complex, andallows government to charge
for copying and search time). We strongly oppose this measure.
Status: Sent to FOIA Council for year-long study
HB973
Sponsor: Del. Pollard
Purpose: Mandates disclosure of any record involving use of legislators’ office
allowances
Status: Killed by Rules Committee
HB1021
Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville
Purpose: Allows localities to offer telecommunications services
Status: House approved, 96-3; see SB245
HB1041
Sponsor: Del. Scott, D-Fairfax
Purpose: Requires that ads naming a candidate clearly identify the sponsor of
the ad
Status: Combined with HB558, approved
HB1099
Sponsor: Del. Scott
Purpose: Prohibits disclosure of Va. election results until presidential voting
ends on the West Coast
Status: Passed House, 88-12; sidetracked in Senate committee for one year (at
least)
HB1203
Sponsor: Del. Parrish
Purpose: Extends U.Va’s audio/video meeting rules for another 2 years
Status: Approved by House
HB1209
Sponsor: Del. Kirk Cox
Purpose: Ends public access of military discharge papers filed with clerks of
circuit courts; amended to allow access for bona fide research purposes if the
subject of the record is deceased. .
Status: Approved
HB1221
Sponsor: Del. Albo
Purpose: Amends rules for monitoring tobacco importers; recommended version does
not remove a FOIA confidentiality provision.
Status: Approved
HB1250
Sponsor: Watts, D-Annandale
Purpose: Freedom of Information Act; exemptions related to the Public-PrivateTransportation
Act of 1995. Expands the existing records exemption for confidential proprietary
records submitted in confidence to an affected local jurisdiction, as that term
is defined in the Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995. Currently, this
exemption applies only to records submitted to a responsible public entity under
the Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995. Amends a record exemption;
adds a meeting exemption.
Status: Approved by House, 94-4
SB12
Sponsor: Sen. Mims, R-Loudoun
Purpose: Code housekeeping measure; one section continues language allowing House
and Senate to adopt rules for committee votes (House allows same-day voting for
committee members who miss a meeting; Senate allows proxy voting if a member
assigns the proxy before leaving a meeting)
Status: Approved
SB28
Sponsor: Sen. Trumbo, R-Botetourt
Purpose: Protects confidentiality of proposed legislation and drafts of revisions;
provides access for legislative staffs
Status: Approved
SB35
Sponsor: Sen. Stolle, R-Va. Beach
Purpose: Eastern Virginia Medical School added to FOIA exemptions. Bill amended
to conform with existing UVa language.
Status: Approved
SB38
Sponsor: Sen. Newman, R-Lynchburg
Purpose: Extends for another two years a special FOIA pilot project for electronic
communication meetings for a limited number of public bodies in state government.
Special rules, dating from 1999, relax some of FOIA’s tough restrictions
for electronic meetings. Though seldom used, these rules require no more than
seven days prior notice and permit any member to participate anywhere, as long
as public access is offered, the equipment works and a quorum is available within
the state. Usage is to be closely tracked to determine whether the experiment
is working. Companion study by JCOTS in 2002 also envisioned. Electronic meetings
by local government remain prohibited.
Status: Approved
SB59
Sponsor: Sen. Watkins
Purpose: Clarifies rules for posting disciplinary actions against Virginia doctors
(regulations will require online notice of pending actions; initial complaints
will not be online.
Status: Approved
SB83
Sponsor: Sen. Wampler, R-Bristol
Purpose: Extends for another two years a $3 “Technology Fund” filing
fee for clerks of courts
Status: Approved by Senate, 39-0; by House, 93-6
SB87
Sponsor: Sen. Marsh, D-Richmond
Purpose: Bans use of cell phones when vehicles are moving, except in emergencies
Status: Carried over to 2003 by Transportation Committee
SB111
Sponsor: Sen. Yvonne Miller
Purpose: To find a constitutional way to outlaw cross-burnings
Status: Amended, approved
SB134
Sponsor: Sen. Stolle
Purpose: Expands FOIA exemptions related to terrorism (this is the compromise
language that was worked out in a subcommittee of the FOI Advisory Council.)
Status: Approved unanimously by House and Senate
lSB144
Sponsor: Sen. Ticer
Purpose: New campaign-disclosure rules
Status: withdrawn
SB153
Sponsor: Sen. Norment
Purpose: Clarifies that Social Security number is to be kept confidential on
marriage registers (access to the SS number on marriage
applications ended a year ago)
Status: Approved
SB206
Sponsor: Sen. Houck, D-Spotsylvania
Purpose: Amends open-records exemption #47, providing confidentiality for certain
investment information held by the Virginia Retirement System and other retirement
systems
Status: Approved
SB208
Sponsor: Sen. Houck, D-Spotsylvania
Purpose: Identical to House bill, reauthorizing FOI Advisory Council
Status: Approved unanimously by House and Senate; see HB 173
SB245
Sponsor: Sen. Wampler, R-Bristol
Purpose: Repeals rule that prohibits localities from establishing their own broadband
communication systems
Status: Approved
SB264
Sponsor: Sen. Lambert, D-Richmond
Purpose: Declares the coordination of prevention and control of disease, injury,
or disability and delivery of health care benefits to be (i) necessary public
health activities; (ii) necessary health oversight activities for the integrity
of the health care system; and (iii) necessary to prevent serious harm and serious
threats to the health and safety of individuals and the public. The Departments
of Health, Medical Assistance Services, Mental Health, Mental Retardation and
Substance Abuse Services, and Social Services must establish a secure system
for sharing protected health information that may be necessary for the coordination
of prevention and control of disease, injury, or disability and the delivery
of health care benefits
Status: Passed
SB308
Sponsor: Sen. Edwards, D-Roanoke
Purpose: Provides an opt-out process for citizens to keep e-mail addresses confidential
when subscribing to electronic mail from a public body (endorsed by the FOI Advisory
Council
Status:Approved
SB329
Sponsor: Sen. Wagner, R-Va. Beach
Purpose: Campaign finance disclosure rules would be extended to all towns with
populations exceeding 10,000 (currently, the threshold is 25,000; other changes
)Status: Approved by Senate, 36-2-2; killed by House
SB350
Sponsor: Sen. Howell, D-Reston
Purpose: Directs the Board of Education to include, in its annual fall report
on public education needs and schools failing to meet the Standards of Quality
(SOQ), a complete listing of the current SOQ, justification for each standard,
how long each such standard has been in its current form, and whether the Board
recommends any changes
to the SOQ. Also see identical HB884. Legislation sought by Lt. Gov. Kaine.
Status: Approved
SB398
Sponsor: Sen. Martin
Purpose: Creates closed-meeting exemption for “meetings of health regulatory
boards or conference committees of such boards to consider settlement proposals
in pending disciplinary actions or modifications to previously issued board orders
as requested by either of the parties.” Creates new FOIA meeting exemption.
Status: Approved
SB415
Sponsor: Sen. Rerras, R-Norfolk
Purpose: Requires written requests when General Assembly lawyers seek court continuances
during legislative sessions. No FOIA exemption
Conferees’ report approved on final day; Senate position upheld.
SB416
Sponsor: Sen. Rerras, R-Norfolk
Purpose: Requires boards, commissions, councils, and other public bodies created
in the executive branch of state government to post draft minutes of their meetings
on the Internet within 10 working days of the conclusion of the meeting; official
minutes must be posted within 3 days (proposed by Attorney General Kilgore)
Status: Approved
SB423
Sponsor: Sen. Byrne
Purpose: Restricts telephone solicitations
Status: Carried over to 2003
SB425
Sponsor: Sen. Wampler
Purpose: New FOIA exemption for “all data, records, and reports
relating to the prescribing and dispensing of (controlled) substances . . . and
any abstracts from such data, records, and reports that are in the possession
of the (proposed) Prescription Monitoring Program.”
Status: Amended to apply only to Southwest Virginia; approved
SB486
Sponsor: Sen. Newman, R-Lynchburg
Purpose: Authorizes localities to impose 1% sales taxes on home-delivered newspapers
if a publisher petitions the local government to impose the tax. (That should
muzzle those editorial pages that keep pushing for tax increases!)
Status: Withdrawn
SB543
Sponsor: Sen. Mims, R-Loudoun
Extends for two years the pilot project encouraging videoconferning by some state
entities
Status: Approved; see SB38
SB567
Sponsor: Sen. Byrne
Purpose: Makes some types of unsolicited commercial e-mail unlawful
Status: Amended, passed Senate; carried over to 2003 by House committee
SB669
Sponsor: Sen. Williams
Purpose: Bars Workmen’s Compensation Board from aggregating public information.
Status: Passed
SB681
Sponsor: Sen. Stosch
Purpose: Permits privatization of infrastructure projects including: (i) school
buildings; (ii) any building for use by any public entity; (iii) any equipment
or improvements necessary to enhance public safety and security of buildings
to be principally used by a public entity; (iv) utility and telecommunications
and other communications infrastructure; (v) recreational facility; or (vi) any
other facility, or a portion thereof, that serves a public purpose. Broadens
FOIA exemption now existing only for highway partnerships.
Status: Passed
SB687
Sponsor: Sen. Stolle
Purpose: clarifies that jail-canteen profits are public funds
Status: Approved
HJ24
HJ25
HJ26
HJ27
HJ28
HJ29
Sponsor: Del. R. G.Marshall
Purpose: Six different study proposals to broaden the electronic communication
infrastructure across Northern Virginia and/or across the state.
Status: Carried over one year by Rules Committee
HJ31
Sponsor: Del. R.G. Marshall, R-Manassas
Purpose: Proposes legislative study of state’s confict of interest law
Status: Approved by House and by Senate Rules Committee
HJ61
Sponsor: Del. McDonnell, R-Virginia Beach
Purpose: Proposes interim study of conflict of interest law
Status: Incorporated in HJ31
HJ72
Sponsor: Del. Hamilton, R-Newport News
Purpose: Directs the Virginia Commission on Youth to study the need for consistency
in state laws governing the collection, dissemination, and disclosure of confidential
juvenile records.
Status: Killed by Rules Committee
HJ89
Sponsor: Del. Devolites, R-Vienna
Purpose: Again establishes a joint subcommittee to study “protection of
information contained in the records, documents and cases filed in the courts
of the Commonwealth.”
Status: Approved
HJ100
Sponsor: Del. Devolites
Purpose: Endorses e-gov efforts to create a secure PIN (personal identification
number) for on-line use by each Virginia citizen
Status: Passed
HJ128
Sponsor: Del. Chapman Petersen, D-Fairfax
Purpose: Provides for television coverage of future sessions of the House of
Delegates and the Senate (Tim Kaine legislation)
Status: Carried over one year by Rules Committee, 11-6
HJ155
Sponsor: Del. Pollard
Purpose: Declares April 22-28 “TV Turn-Off Week’
Status: Approved by House, 52-43; killed in Senate committee
HJ234
Commends Warren Carmichael, retiring director of public information,
Fairfax County
SJ39
Sponsor: Sen. Bolling, R-Hanover
Purpose: Encourages Secretary of Technology and Secretary of Public Safety to
develop policies, procedures and standards for the analysis of the Commonwealth’s
critical infrastructure and coordinate this analysis with the federal government
and the private sector.
Status: Approved by Senate; advanced in House
SR13
Sponsor: Sen. Trumbo, R-Botetourt
Purpose: Provides for television/Internet coverage of future sessions of the
Senate (Tim Kaine legislation)
Status: Approved by Senate
SJ82
Sponsor: Sen. Newman, R-Lynchburg
Purpose: Amended to develop guidelines for private-sector sponsorship of government
websites.
Status: Approved by Senate
Here’s the House General Laws subcommittee that heard FOIA legislation:
Chris Jones (chairman), Chip Woodrum, Kirk Cox, Michele McQuigg, Danny Marshall, Tom
Bolvin and Bud Phillips. If you go on the legislative Web site and click on General
Laws Committee, this is subcommittee 2.
In the Senate, Houck/Bolling/Potts considered FOIA bills for the General Laws Committee.