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House Bills | Senate
Bills | Budget Amendments
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HB 82 -- Sales Tax Exemption (carried over
from 1996)
Patron: Plum
To provide five-year extension of sales and use tax exemption for nonprofit organizations
in the 8th Planning District where Northern Virginia Resource Center (NVRC) is located.
Status: No action in this session.
Comment: VAD Board supported this bill.
HB 1095 -- Advisory Commission on Schools for the
Deaf and the Blind
Patron: Hanger, Jr.
To establish an 11-member advisory commission on Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind
to monitor the operations of the schools and advise the Board of Education and submit
recommendations to ensure the maintenance of a high quality and cost-effective program of
study and safe residential environment at the schools. (Note: This bill is identical to SB
1125.)
Status: HB 1095 passed House with amendments (100-Yes, 0-No), Feb. 12, 1997. Senate
concurred with House amendment (37-Yes, 2-No), Feb. 14, 1997.
Comment: VAD Board wanted a deaf consumer and a blind consumer on the commission.
HB 2040 - Fees for Appointees at Adult
Involuntary Commitment Proceedings
Patron: Cantor
To increase fees for court-appointed professionals who participate in adult involuntary
commitment proceedings.
(Note: This bill is identical to SB 1010.)
Status: Passed by indefinitely (died) in Appropriations Committee (20-Yes, 0-No),
Jan. 24, 1997.
Comment: VAD Board supported this bill.
SB 323 -- Jury Service (carried over from 1996)
Patron: Houck
To allow persons with physical disabilities to serve on a jury.
Status: No action by Courts of Justice in this session, Dec. 20, 1996.
Comment: VAD Board supported this bill.
SB 1010 -- Fees for Professionals at Adult
Involuntary Commitment Proceedings
Patron: Marsh III
To increase fees for court-appointed professionals who participate in adult involuntary
commitment proceedings.
(Note: This bill is identical to HB 2040.)
Status: Passed by indefinitely (died) in Appropriations Committee (20-Yes, 0-No),
Jan. 17, 1997.
Comment: VAD Board supported this bill.
SB 1125 -- Advisory Commission on Schools for the
Deaf and the Blind
Patron: Maxwell
To establish an 11-member advisory commission on Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind
to monitor the operations of the schools and advise the Board of Education and submit
recommendations to ensure the maintenance of a high quality and cost-effective program of
study and safe residential environment at the schools. (Note: This bill is identical to HB
1095.)
Status: SB 1125 passed House with amendments (99-Yes, 0-No), Feb. 12, 1997.
Comment: VAD Board wanted a deaf consumer and a blind consumer on the Commission.
SB 1160 -- Assistive Technology Device Warranties
Act (Lemon Law)
Patron: Jane H. Woods
To create a "Lemon Law" for assistive technology devices such as TTYs, Braille
printers, etc., to protect consumers from defects within a reasonable period.
Status: Read second time in House.
Comment: VAD Board supports this bill.
Requires Dept. of Information Technology to locate Virginia Relay
Center (VRC) in Norton, VA, for the next five years.
Status: Approved by General Assembly.
Comment: VAD Board opposed this amendment; several VAD members sent
emails of opposition to Governor Allen.
The General Assembly approved additional $250,000 per year for the Disability Commission's Rehabilitative Incentive Fund for the associated grant program accessed by local disability services boards to serve people who have physical and sensory disabilities.