2010 Legislative Roundup

Last update: 3/6/10, 3:00 p.m.

This is the site of VCOG's list of access-related bills it will follow during the 2010 General Assembly session. Feel free to forward information about bills that we may have missed.

ACTIVE HOUSE BILLS

Bill Number: HB7
Sponsor: Tata
Committee: Senate Education & Health
Summary: Provides that when performing its duty to develop a uniform, comprehensive data information system designed to gather all information necessary to the performance of the Council's duties, the Council may contract with private entities to create de-identified student records for the purpose of assessing the performance of institutions and specific programs relative to the workforce needs of the Commonwealth.
Status: Passed House & Senate

Bill Number: HB27 (Similar to SB12)
Sponsor: Johnson
Committee: Senate Local Government
Summary: In creating the Bristol Virginia Utility Authority: "Records of the Authority that contain confidential proprietary information or trade secrets pertaining to the provision of telecommunications service, and proprietary information or trade secrets received from another entity pursuant to a nondisclosure agreement, shall be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.). As used in this subsection, a public record contains confidential proprietary information or trade secrets if its acquisition by a competing provider of telecommunications services would provide the competing provider with a competitive benefit.."
Status: Passed House & Senate

Bill Number: HB79
Sponsor: L. Ware
Committee: Senate Courts of Justice, special subcommitte
Summary: Prohibits a clerk of court from providing public access to concealed handgun permit applications and information regarding identifiable permittees without the written consent of the applicant or permittee. The applications and information would be available to law-enforcement agencies, and the clerk of court would be authorized to release aggregate information that does not identify individual applicants or permittees.
Status: Senate CJ subcommittee refused to report (full committee meetings 3/8)

Bill Number: HB211
Sponsor: Bulova
Committee: Senate General Laws
Summary: Includes in FOIA's definition of scholastic records, those records of an applicant for admission that are maintained by a public body that is an educational agency or institution or by a person acting for such agency or institution.
Status: Passed House & Senate

Bill Number: HB283
Sponsor: Albo
Committee: Senate Courts of Justice, Civil Subcommittee
Summary: Requires the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court to permit an electronic interface with the case management system for general district courts to enable private vendors to electronically file civil actions. Private vendors would not have any access to the information in the case management system. Any action electronically filed would be submitted on forms provided by the Executive Secretary.
Status: Passed House & Senat

Bill Number: HB389
Sponsor: Janis
Committee: House Commerce & Labor
Summary: Specifically affirms that the Virginia Offshore Wind Project Development Authority is subject to FOIA, and that "Information supplied by or maintained on persons or entities applying for or receiving allocations of federal loan guarantees, as well as specific information relating to the amount and identity of recipients of such distributions, shall be subject to disclosure in accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.)."
Status: (See also SB577 and SB393)
Passed Senate with substitute  (may go to conference)

Bill Number: HB431
Sponsor: Griffith
Committee: Senate General Laws
Summary: Clarifies that a FOIA action may be brought in the name of a person notwithstanding that a request for public records was made by the person's attorney in his representative capacity. The bill also clarifies that costs and reasonable fees for expert witnesses may be recovered by the petitioner in a FOIA action.
Status: Passed House & Senate

Bill Number: HB432
Sponsor: Griffith
Committee: Senate General Laws
Summary: Provides an exemption from the mandatory disclosure requirements of FOIA for the working papers and correspondence of the Clerks of the House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia.
Status: Passed House & Senate

Bill Number: HB433
Sponsor: Griffith
Committee: Senate General Laws
Summary: Sets out the original date (January 1, 1975) when social security numbers were authorized to be collected/required by state and local agencies under federal law. This bill is clarifying in nature and is a recommendation of the Freedom of Information Advisory Council.
Status: Passed House & Senate

Bill Number: HB434
Sponsor: Griffith
Committee: Senate General Laws
Summary: Exempts from the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, those portions of records that contain account numbers or routing information for any credit card, debit card, or other account with a financial institution of any person or public body. The bill provides, however, that access shall not be denied to the person who is the subject of the record.  The bill defines "financial institution" and contains an emergency clause.  The bill is a recommendation of the Freedom of Information Advisory Council.
Status: Passed House & Senate

Bill Number: HB518
Sponsor: Rust
Committee: Senate General Laws
Summary: Clarifies that the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) is not the custodian of records stored or maintained by VITA on behalf of other state public bodies. Such records, however, shall be provided by VITA upon the request of any state public body for which VITA stores or maintains such agency's records in with FOIA. However, other records of VITA shall be public records and subject to FOIA. The bill also expands the exemption for criminal investigative files and clarifies that noncriminal incident materials held by any state or local law-enforcement agencies are exempt from the mandatory disclosure provisions of FOIA. gt;
Status: Passed House & Senate

Bill Number: HB526
Sponsor: Nixon
Committee: Senate Commerce & Labor
Summary: Declares that a person preparing or submitting a document or information that is filed with the clerk of the State Corporation Commission is responsible for ensuring that the document or information does not contain any personal identifiable information, which includes a social security number or other number on a driver’s license, information on credit cards or other electronic billing and payment systems, an individual's date of birth or parent's maiden name, and financial account numbers. The provision does not apply if the information is publicly available or is required or authorized by law to be included in the filed information.
Status: Passed House & Senate

Bill Number: HB655
Sponsor: Armstrong
Committee:
Summary: Revises the process for the appointment of House Panel members and provides for public access to House Panel proceedings. The bill also includes a civil penalty of $250 for any complaint deemed to be frivolous.
Status: See also SB524
Senate Rules Committee reports with amendments (6 no votes)

Bill Number: HB740
Sponsor: Janis
Committee: Senate Rules
Summary: Requires a member of the General Assembly to disclose in his annual disclosure of personal interests any salary and wages in excess of $10,000 paid to him or his immediate family for employment with a state or local government or advisory agency, except for his salary received as a member of the General Assembly.
Status: Senate Committee reports unanimously

Bill Number: HB857
Sponsor: Carrico
Committee: Senate General Laws
Summary: Provides that evidence and documents obtained by or created by, and the report of investigation prepared by, the Department of State Police in carrying out the provisions of this chapter shall (i) be deemed confidential, (ii) be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.), and (iii) not be released in whole or in part by any person to any person except as provided in the Line of Duty Act..
Status: Reported from Senate GL

Bill Number: HB903 See also SB207
Sponsor: Ro. Bell
Committee: Senate General Laws
Summary: Exempts all records of threat assessment teams established at public institutions of higher education from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, and allows these teams to receive health and criminal history records of students for the purposes of assessment and intervention.
Status: Senate GL Committee reports, with FOIA exemption being sent to FOI Advisory Council and the rest of the bill intact

Bill Number: HB974
Sponsor: Kilgore
Committee: Senate Courts of Justice, civil subcommittee
Summary: Makes technical changes in circuit court clerks' handling of electronic or digital filing and their maintenance and support of electronic filing and allows for a $5 per document fee that will be retained by the clerks. Includes a provision that would require out-of-state subscription seekers to show they are authorized to do business in Virginia.
Status: Senate CJ subcommittee reports w/ substitute

Bill Number: HB1028
Sponsor: Pollard
Committee: Senate General Laws
Summary: Prohibits any public body from conducting a meeting required to be open in any building or facility where any recording devices are prohibited. The bill also clarifies that no public body may prohibit or prevent any person from photographing, filming, recording, or otherwise reproducing any portion of a meeting required to be open.
Status: Passed House & Senate

Bill Number: HB1073 See also SB555
Sponsor: Kilgore
Committee: Senate General Laws
Summary: Excludes from the mandatory disclosure provisions of FOIA confidential proprietary records and trade secrets disclosed to, provided to, or held by the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission in support of or as may be required for an application for or the awarding of a grant. The exclusion provided by this subdivision shall apply to grants that are consistent with the powers of and in furtherance of the performance of the duties of the Commission.
Status: Passed House & Senate

Bill Number: HJ245
Sponsor: Kilgore & Phillips
Committee:
Summary: Commending the Wise County and City of Norton Bar Association and the Clerk of Circuit Court for Wise. (VCOG is mentioned)
Status: Passed House & Senate

ACTIVE SENATE BILLS

Bill Number: SB12 (Similar to HB27)
Sponsor: Wampler
Committee: House Counties, Cities & Towns
Summary: In creating the Bristol Virginia Utility Authority: "Records of the Authority that contain confidential proprietary information or trade secrets pertaining to the provision of telecommunications service, and proprietary information or trade secrets received from another entity pursuant to a nondisclosure agreement, shall be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.). As used in this subsection, a public record contains confidential proprietary information or trade secrets if its acquisition by a competing provider of telecommunications services would provide the competing provider with a competitive benefit.."
Status: Passed Senate & House

Bill Number: SB35
Sponsor: Lucas
Committee: House Transportation
Summary: Makes the power to regulate and prohibit distribution of handbills, leaflets, bulletins, etc., on highways a statewide authority.
Status: Passed Senate & House

Bill Number: SB137
Sponsor: Obenshain
Committee: House Privileges & Elections
Summary: Allows the State Board of Elections to furnish, for a reasonable fee, lists of registered voters to commissioners of the revenue and city or county treasurers for tax assessment, collection, and enforcement purposes.
Status: Reported from House P&E

Bill Number: SB207
Sponsor: Edwards
Committee: Conference Committee
Summary: Exempts all records of threat assessment teams established at public institutions of higher education from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, and allows these teams to receive health and criminal history records of students for the purposes of assessment and intervention.
Status: See also HB903
Heads to Conference Committee (Senate conferees: Edwards, Houck, J. Miller)

Bill Number: SB295
Sponsor: McDougle
Committee: House Commerce & Labor
Summary: Makes payday lending elibibility database exempt from FOIA.
Status: Passed Senate & House

Bill Number: SB431
Sponsor: Herring
Committee: House Appropriations, Technology Oversight subcommittee
Summary: Requires state agencies to maintain a transaction register including a complete record of all funds expended over one hundred dollars. The bill also requires state agencies to post a copy of each monthly statement for all credit cards issued to officers or employees for official use and a list of all of the number of full-time employees and the average compensation in each class. In addition, the bill directs the Auditor of Public Accounts to conduct a review of the searchable databases providing expenditure, revenue, and demographic information used by other states and to incorporate best practices for ease of use and transparency of state agency expenditures.
Status: Passed Senate & House

Bill Number: SB432
Sponsor: Edwards
Committee: House General Laws
Summary: Creates a FOIA record exemption for the Statewide Agencies Radio System.
Status: Passed Senate & House

Bill Number: SB459
Sponsor: McEachin
Committee: House General Laws
Summary: Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act.  Provides for certain agencies to share de-identified data to create one-time restricted-use data sets in order to evaluate postsecondary and career readiness programs, pursuant to specified requirements.
Status: Passed Senate & House

Bill Number: SB512
Sponsor: Norment
Committee: House Rules
Summary: Requires a member of the General Assembly to disclose in his annual disclosure of personal interests any salary and wages in excess of $10,000 paid to him or his immediate family for employment with a state or local government or advisory agency. Reported from House Rules with substitute
Status: Passed Senate

Bill Number: SB549
Sponsor: Barker
Committee: House Health, Welfare & Institutions
Summary: Allows meetings of the Geospatial Health Research Authority board to be be conducted through telephonic or video means as provided in § 2.2-3708 or similar provisions of any successor law.
Status: Passed Senate & House, w/ substitute

Bill Number: SB555
Sponsor: Puckett
Committee: House General Laws
Summary: Excludes from the mandatory disclosure provisions of FOIA confidential proprietary records and trade secrets disclosed to, provided to, or held by the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission in support of or as may be required for an application for or the awarding of a grant. The exclusion provided by this subdivision shall apply to grants that are consistent with the powers of and in furtherance of the performance of the duties of the Commission.
Status: See also HB1073
Passed Senate & House

Bill Number: SB577
Sponsor: McEachin
Committee: House Commerce & Labor
Summary: Virginia Offshore Wind Project Development Authority.
Status: See also HB389
Passed Senate & House

The following bills failed to make it out of the originating chamber. They may have been defeated in committee or on the House floor; they may have been referred for further study; or they may have been rolled (incorporated) into another bill.

FAILED HOUSE BILLS
 

Bill Number: HB61
Sponsor: Toscano
Committee: House Transportation
Summary: Provides for release by DMV of photographs of deceased persons who held driver's licenses or special identification cards when requested by members of the deceased person's family or the executor of his estate.
Status: Reported unanimously from Committee w/ amendment

Bill Number: HB65
Sponsor: Toscano
Committee: House Privileges & Elections
Summary: Requires that any print-on-demand ballot system, used by a county or city for absentee or emergency voting, shall be used in accordance with the instructions of the State Board. Any person with the responsibility to print ballots must first sign a statement, subject to felony penalties, that he will: ..... (v) not communicate to anyone, in any manner, the size, style, or contents of such ballots.
Status: Failed in House P&E

Bill Number: HB87
Sponsor: R. Marshall
Committee: House Courts of Justice
Summary: Exempts from FOIA confidential records of the Medical Injury Compensation Board.
Status: Referred from Commerce & Labor to Courts of Justice, where it failed.

Bill Number: HB90
Sponsor: Kilgore
Committee: House Courts of Justice
Summary: Allows the clerks of the circuit courts within the Thirtieth Judicial Circuit to establish electronic filing in civil and criminal actions maintained by a designated application service provider.
Status: Rolled into HB974

Bill Number: HB123
Sponsor: Purkey
Committee: House Science & Technology
Summary: Establishes the Virginia Nanotechnology Authority to promote development of nanotechnology in Virginia. Exempts audits of any non-stock corporation created by the Authority and held by the Auditor of Public Accounts from FOIA.
Status: Continued until 2011 in Science & Technology

Bill Number: HB202
Sponsor: Alexander
Committee: House Privileges & Elections
Summary: Requires the person filing a candidate campaign committee finance disclosure report to attach a copy of the most recent bank statement for the campaign depository.  This requirement applies to the reports filed periodically but not to the special reports required for certain large pre-election contributions and for certain large contributions to local governing body members.
Status: Defeated in P&E Subcommittee

Bill Number: HB282
Sponsor: Albo
Committee: House Courts of Justice
Summary: Provides that a newspaper may petition the circuit court for the jurisdiction in which the newspaper is located or circulated for the authority to publish ordinances, resolutions, notices, or advertisements.
Status: Carried over until 2011

Bill Number: HB328
Sponsor: Plum
Committee: House Rules
Summary: Provides that the Clerks of the House and Senate shall each establish a searchable electronic database, available to the public through the Internet, containing the information from the disclosure of personal interests statements filed by legislators, legislators-elect, and candidates for the General Assembly.
Status: Failed in Ethics Subcommittee

Bill Number: HB330
Sponsor: Plum
Committee: House Rules
Summary: Expands the jurisdiction of the House Ethics Advisory Panel to include a member's current term and the immediately preceding five years rather than the preceding two-year term in office.
Status: Rolled into HB617

Bill Number: HB401 (See also HB586)
Sponsor: Ri. Bell
Committee: House Counties, Cities & Towns
Summary: Gives localities alternatives to publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality for legal ads and other notices of proposed action.
Status: Rolled into HB586 and defeated

Bill Number: HB449
Sponsor: Ware
Committee: House General Laws
Summary: Provides that any public body may petition a court for injunctive relief to restrain a requester from harassment or other abuse of the rights or privileges granted under FOIA.
Status: GL Subcommittee recommends sending to FOI Advisory Council for study

Bill Number: HB460
Sponsor: Herring
Committee: House General Laws
Summary: Technical change: Changes the name of the Department of Minority Business Enterprise to the Department of Supplier Diversity and Procurement Advocacy within FOIA's 2.2-3705.6(20).
Status: Failed in House GL

Bill Number: HB478
Sponsor: Carrico
Committee: House Science & Technology
Summary: Requires every locality to establish a database of citizen-reported issues and requests for information, and the governmental responses to such citizen inquiries. Such database shall be maintained in a format that allows public access via the Internet.
Status: Left in House S&T

Bill Number: HB510
Sponsor: Brink
Committee: House General Laws
Summary: Establishes the Office of the State Inspector General and adds the office's investigative notes, correspondence and information furnished in condience to FOIA 2.2-3705.3(7).
Status: Failed in House General Laws

Bill Number: HB586 (See also HB401)
Sponsor: Landes
Committee: House Counties, Cities & Towns
Summary: Gives localities alternatives to publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality for legal ads and other notices of proposed action.
Status: Failed in CC&T Subcommittee

Bill Number: HB595
Sponsor: Massie
Committee: House General Laws
Summary: Specifically subjects certain computer records of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to FOIA.
Status: Left in House General Laws

Bill Number: HB609
Sponsor: Purkey
Committee: House Rules
Summary: Establishes the Government Efficiency Review Commission to review agencies on an eight-year cycle and advise the General Assembly on the elimination of waste, duplication, and inefficiency on the part of such agencies. The bill also requires the Commission to report on its FOIA oligations, among other thing.
Status: Failed in Rules' Studies Subcommittee

Bill Number: HB617
Sponsor: Lohr
Committee: Senate Rules
Summary: Provides that once the House or Senate Ethics Advisory Panel has initiated an investigation into the conduct of a legislator, it must complete its inquiry, report its findings, and dispose of the matter as provided by law, notwithstanding the death or resignation of the legislator during the course of the Panel's work.
Status: Senate Rules Committee rolls 617 into HB655   Bill Number: HB641
Sponsor: Armstrong
Committee: Senate General Laws
Summary: Provides that FOIA requests may be made by any citizen of the United States and not just citizens of the Commonwealth. The bill contains a technical amendment.

Status: Senate GL FOI subcommittee recommends sending to FOI Advisory Council

Bill Number: HB643
Sponsor: Armstrong
Committee: House Rules
Summary: Provides that once the House or Senate Ethics Advisory Panel has initiated an investigation into the conduct of a legislator, it must complete its inquiry, report its findings, and dispose of the matter as provided by law, notwithstanding the death or resignation of the legislator during the course of the Panel's work.
Status: Rolled into HB617

Bill Number: HB657
Sponsor: Armstrong
Committee: House Rules
Summary: Establishes one five-member Review Panel in place of the present separate House and Senate Ethics Advisory Panels. The Panel will investigate complaints of violations of the GACOIA, and its proceedings following its preliminary investigation will be public.
Status: See also SB186 and HB814
Rolled into HB655

Bill Number: HB679
Sponsor: May
Committee: House General Laws
Summary: Clarifies that no state or local agency may collect a social security number from an individual unless (i) the collection is required by state or federal law or (ii) the collection is imperative for the performance of that agency's duties and responsibilities as prescribed by law. The bill also makes technical changes.
Status: See also HB836
Failed in General Laws FOIA subcommittee

Bill Number: HB689 See also SB147 and HB976
Sponsor: J. Miller
Committee: House General Laws
Summary: Clarifies that when an FOIA petition is filed, the party against whom the writ is brought must be served with a copy of the petition prior to filing. The bill contains a technical amendment.
Status: Rolled into HB976

Bill Number: HB778
Sponsor: LeMunyon
Committee: Senate Rules
Summary: Provides that, beginning with the 2011 Regular Session of the General Assembly, the Legislative Support Commission, through the Division of Legislative Automated Systems, from information and data provided by the Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Senate, must post on the electronic legislative information system (LIS) the recorded committee and floor votes of each member of the General Assembly on legislation acted upon in each house. The information pertaining to the voting records of legislative members must be electronically accessible to state agencies, political subdivisions, and the public.
Status: (Also see HR 2, sponsored by LeMunyon)

Senate Rules committee continues until 2011

Bill Number: HB804
Sponsor: Poindexter
Committee: House Commerce & Labor
Summary: Prohibits a person from sending or delivering, by letter, envelope, package, or electronic message, a solicitation or advertising material that includes the date of birth, place of birth, parents' names, or telephone number of the individual to whom it is addressed. Persons aggrieved by a violation may recover damages of $100 per violation pursuant to the Personal Information Privacy Act.
Status: Failed in C&L

Bill Number: HB814
Sponsor: Abbott
Committee: House Rules
Summary: Establishes one five-member Review Panel in place of the present separate House and Senate Ethics Advisory Panels. The Panel will investigate complaints of violations of the GACOIA, and its proceedings shall be public.
Status: See HB657 and SB186
Rolled into HB655

Bill Number: HB827
Sponsor: Surovell
Committee: House Courts of Justice
Summary: Authorizes the circuit and district court clerks to set up an electronic recording system in their courtrooms.
Status: Failed in CJ Subcommittee

Bill Number: HB836
Sponsor: Carr
Committee: House General Laws
Summary: Clarifies that a government entity cannot require an individual to furnish his entire social security number or any portion thereof. The bill also clarifies that a social security number or any portion thereof cannot be displayed on a student or government identification card.
Status: See also HB679
Failed in General Laws FOIA subcommittee

Bill Number: HB976
Sponsor: Anderson
Committee: Senate General Laws
Summary: Clarifies that when an FOIA petition is filed, the party against whom the writ is brought must be served with a copy of the petition prior to filing. The bill contains a technical amendment..
Status: Senate GL FOI subcommittee recommends sending to FOI Advisory Council (as was similar bill, SB147 )   Bill Number: HB977
Sponsor: Anderson
Committee: House General Laws
Summary: Excludes from the mandatory disclosure requirements of FOIA software programs, data, or other records relating to electronic or automated security systems used to monitor or control access to public school buildings or other school property, the disclosure of which would jeopardize the operational or access control features of such system, or would reveal personal information of individuals seeking access to a school building or other school property. The bill defines personal information.
Status: Failed in GL Subcommittee

Bill Number: HB1030
Sponsor: Pollard
Committee: House General Laws
Summary: In limiting the oversight by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services over charitable gaming in Virginia, eliminates some FOIA protection.
Status: Left in House GL

Bill Number: HB1035
Sponsor: Byron
Committee: House Science & Technology
Summary: In reorganizing the Information Technology Investment Council and its powers over VITA, the bill specifically states that records still must be released in accordance with FOIA.
Status: Rolled into HB1034

Bill Number: HB1140
Sponsor: Morgan
Committee: House Rules
Summary: Establishes the Virginia Ethics Advisory Council to receive, investigate, and make findings and recommendations upon complaints alleging violations of the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act (§ 2.2-3100 et seq.). The Council will also furnish advisory opinions or guidelines, publish educational materials, and conduct training seminars and educational programs on the requirements of the Act.
Status: Failed in Rules Ethics Subcommittee

Bill Number: HB1259
Sponsor: Abbott
Committee: House Courts of Justice
Summary: Provides that the clerk of each district court shall ensure that all nonconfidential court records regarding a person's conviction for a criminal offense or a traffic infraction shall contain the last four digits of the person's social security number. The clerk of each circuit court must also comply with the requirement for such records that are made available via remote access.
Status: Continued in CJ until 2011

Bill Number: HB1386
Sponsor: Cole
Committee: House Privileges & Elections
Summary: Provides that the State Board of Elections will make information about pending constitutional amendments available on its website rather than by publishing it at length in newspapers.
Status: Failed on House floor

FAILED SENATE BILLS

Bill Number: SB4
Sponsor: Smith
Committee: Senate Rules
Summary: Requires a member of the General Assembly to disclose in his annual disclosure of personal interests any salary and wages in excess of $10,000 paid to him or his immediate family for employment with a state or local government or advisory agency.
Status: Rolled into SB512

Bill Number: SB5
Sponsor: Smith
Committee: Senate Rules
Summary: Provides that no legislative action may be taken on (i) committee amendments to the budget, (ii) any conference committee report on the budget, and (iii) any Governor's recommendations on the budget until each has been posted on the General Assembly's website for at least 72 hours. Under the bill each house may vote by two-thirds majority to override the posting requirement.
Status: Failed in Rules subcommittee

Bill Number: SB14
Sponsor: Howell
Committee: Senate Rules
Summary: Requires a member of the General Assembly to disclose in his annual disclosure of personal interests any salary and wages in excess of $10,000 paid to him or his immediate family for employment with a state or local government or advisory agency.
Status: Rolled into SB512

Bill Number: SB118
Sponsor: Petersen
Committee: House Rules
Summary: Specifies that disclosure forms filed by members of the General Assembly shall be posted on the website of the clerk of the appropriate house for the five years that they are maintained as public records.

Status: Left in House Rules subcommittee

Bill Number: SB147
Sponsor: Puller
Committee: Senate General Laws
Summary: Clarifies that when an FOIA petition is filed, the party against whom the writ is brought must be served with a copy of the petition prior to filing. The bill contains a technical amendment.
Status: See also HB689
Sent to FOI Advisory Council

Bill Number: SB186
Sponsor: Northam
Committee: House Rules
Summary: Establishes one five-member Review Panel in place of the present separate House and Senate Ethics Advisory Panels. The Panel will investigate complaints of violations of the GACOIA, and its proceedings shall be public.

Status: House Rules continues until 2011

Bill Number: SB231
Sponsor: Watkins
Committee: Senate Local Government
Summary: Amends Chesterfield County charter to say, "The county administrator, or his designee, shall not disclose tax information to any other person except as permitted by § 58.1-3 of the Code of Virginia and shall ensure that reports published or documents produced in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act do not contain any information about specific taxpayers protected by state law.
Status: Left in Senate Local Government

Bill Number: SB274
Sponsor: Whipple
Committee: Senate Agriculture, Conservation & Natural Resources
Summary: Exempts from release to the public the name and address of the owner of an animal that has been taken into custody by animal control officers, law-enforcement officers, humane investigators, or any pound or shelter.
Status: Failed to report from Senate ACNR

Bill Number: SB393
Sponsor: Wagner
Committee: Senate Commerce & Labor
Summary: Specifically affirms that the Virginia Offshore Wind Project Development Authority is subject to FOIA, and that "Information supplied by or maintained on persons or entities applying for or receiving allocations of federal loan guarantees, as well as specific information relating to the amount and identity of recipients of such distributions, shall be subject to disclosure in accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.)."
Status: (see also HB389 and SB577)
Rolled into SB577

Bill Number: SB403
Sponsor: Petersen
Committee: Senate Education & Health
Summary: Requires the State Council on Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV) to annually collect and publish a list of administrators at public institutions of higher education whose salary and compensation is in excess of $150,000.
Status: Failed in E&H full Committee

Bill Number: SB507
Sponsor: Smith
Committee: Senate Rules
Summary: Redesigns the Lobbyist’s Disclosure Statement to clarify information requested and increase compliance. Among other things, the redesigned form (i) requires a lobbyist to include a list of all House of Delegates or Senate bills and procurement transactions for which he has lobbied as well as the expenses related to such lobbying activity and (ii) changes the manner in which entertainment and gift expenses are reported. The bill also provides that a lobbyist who files the statement electronically is not required to provide a paper copy.
Status: Continued in Senate Rules until 2011

Bill Number: SB524
Sponsor: Norment
Committee: Senate Rules
Summary: Establishes one five-member General Assembly Ethics Review Panel in place of the present separate House and Senate Ethics Advisory Panels to investigate complaints of violations of the Act. The Panel may institute a complaint against a member of the General Assembly on its own motion. Except during the preliminary investigation stage, the proceedings of the Panel shall be public and all reports of the Panel shall be public. The bill also provides that the Panel may impose a civil penalty of up to $250 for filing a frivolous complaint and reiterates that the filing of a false complaint is punishable as perjury.
Status: See also HB655 Rolled into SB186

Bill Number: SB581
Sponsor: Marsden
Committee: Senate General Laws
Summary: Requires the Supreme Court to require and oversee the State Law Library's creation of the Commonwealth Law Library Database (the database). The database shall include a list of resources contained in the law libraries located at the George Mason University School of Law, the Marshall-Wythe School of Law of the College of William and Mary, and the University of Virginia, and all other public law libraries located in the Commonwealth. The bill requires that the database be maintained on the website of the Supreme Court and be accessible to the public. The librarian of the State Law Library or his designee shall be the administrator of the database and shall update the database quarterly. The bill also grants access right to the State Law Library to the staff of members of the General Assembly.
Status: Continued until 2011

Bill Number: SB711
Sponsor: Edwards
Committee: Senate General Laws
Summary: Limits the exemption for criminal investigative or prosecution records to those investigations or prosecutions that are ongoing. As a result, criminal investigative and prosecution records would be open to the public after the ongoing criminal investigation or prosecution has become final or has been otherwise terminated, unless there is jeopardy to any other criminal investigation or prosecution. The bill contains technical amendments.
Status: Sent to FOI Advisory Council