Commonwealth Public Safety
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Alzheimer's disease and dementia; training for dispatchers, firefighters, etc. [HB-933]
Alzheimer's disease and dementia training for dispatchers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. Requires certain agencies in the Commonwealth to develop curricula and provide training related to Alzheimer's disease and dementia to dispatchers employed by or in any local or state government agency, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Commission and the Commonwealth Council on Aging.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dan Helmer
Governor: Acts Of Assembly Chapter Text (chap0698) on 04/08/2024
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Forensic Science, Department of; laboratory procedures, requirements regarding DNA profiles. [HB-898]
Department of Forensic Science; laboratory procedures; requirements regarding DNA profiles. Provides that when an accused person or his attorney files a motion for a scientific investigation, he must certify that the Department of Forensic Science or Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services has indicated it has a methodology to perform the requested scientific investigation. The bill also clarifies that the signature of a person who received material to be analyzed by a laboratory on an evidence submission receipt shall be deemed prima facie
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Sponsored by: Rep. Hillary Pugh Kent
Governor: Acts Of Assembly Chapter Text (chap0210) on 03/28/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program and Fund; established. [HB-1181]
Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program and Fund; firearm and ammunition tax. Establishes the Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program (the Program) and redirects funds from the Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund (the Fund) to support such program. The bill requires the Program be administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (the Department) to distribute grants to localities and organizations for the purpose of improving public health and safety by supporting effective
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Sponsored by: Rep. Sam Rasoul
Incorporated By Public Safety on 02/02/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Firefighting Personnel and Equipment Grant Program; established, report. [HB-1043]
Virginia Firefighting Personnel and Equipment Grant Program. Establishes the Virginia Firefighting Personnel and Equipment Grant Program for the purpose of providing grants to localities to hire additional firefighters and to improve their firefighting and emergency medical services. The Department of Fire Programs shall administer the Program, and two types of grants shall be made from the Program. The first shall provide grants to localities to increase the number of firefighters. Such grants shall be made for up to three years and shall be used
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Sponsored by: Rep. Terry Austin
Left In Appropriations on 02/13/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Law-enforcement officers, certain; universal certification, necessary training. [HB-1022]
Universal certification for certain law-enforcement officers. Provides that any sworn law-enforcement officer with at least one year of experience (i) whose training qualifications meet or exceed current training standards established by the Board of Criminal Justice Services and who is in compliance with the minimum qualifications, (ii) who has not had a break in service of more than 24 months, and (iii) who is leaving the transferring agency in good standing with no pending investigations or disciplinary actions shall be eligible for employment
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Sponsored by: Rep. Tony Wilt
Governor: Acts Of Assembly Chapter Text (chap0542) on 04/05/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Charitable bail organizations; certification and regulation by DCJS. [HB-846]
Department of Criminal Justice Services; certification and regulation of charitable bail organizations. Provides for certification and regulation by the Department of Criminal Justice Services of charitable bail organizations, defined in the bill as any entity or nonprofit organization that exists for the purpose of providing or posting bond for another person and does not include a person that pays bail for (i) three or fewer defendants in any 180-day period or (ii) a defendant's family or household member.
Sponsored by: Rep. Wren Williams
Left In Courts Of Justice on 02/13/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Fentanyl and Heroin Enforcement, Task Force on; established, report. [SB-367]
Task Force on Fentanyl and Heroin Enforcement established. Creates the Task Force on Fentanyl and Heroin Enforcement whose purpose is to study ways to enhance the ability of law-enforcement officers throughout the Commonwealth to combat the illegal manufacturing, importation, and distribution of fentanyl, heroin, and other similar controlled substances. The bill requires the Task Force to meet at least annually and to report to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1 of each year regarding its activities and any recommendations. Task Force
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Sponsored by: Sen. Mark Obenshain
Governor: Acts Of Assembly Chapter Text (chap0771) on 04/08/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Human trafficking investigators; licensing by the Department of Criminal Justice Services. [HB-859]
Human trafficking investigators; licensing by the Department of Criminal Justice Services. Authorizes the Department of Criminal Justice Services to register and issue licenses for human trafficking investigators. The bill provides that a human trafficking investigator is a private investigator who is GSA compliant and engages in the business of, or accepts employment to make, investigations to obtain information on sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking as defined in the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and in the federal
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Sponsored by: Rep. James Leftwich
Continued To 2025 In Public Safety By Voice Vote on 02/09/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Civilian deaths in custody; report. [HB-611]
Civilian deaths in custody; report. Requires every law-enforcement agency and state or juvenile correctional facility to report to the Department of Criminal Justice Services and every local or regional adult correctional facility to report to the State Board of Local and Regional Jails certain information regarding the death of any person who is detained, under arrest or in the process of being arrested, en route to be incarcerated, incarcerated, or otherwise in the custody of such law-enforcement agency or correctional facility. The bill provides
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Sponsored by: Rep. Delores McQuinn
Governor: Acts Of Assembly Chapter Text (chap0813) on 04/17/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention, Virginia Center for, etc.; created. [HB-602]
Virginia Center for Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention; Virginia Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund; creation. Creates the Virginia Center for Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention (the Center) within the Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund, to be administered by the Center, to replace the existing Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund.
Sponsored by: Rep. Marcia Price
Subcommittee Recommends Continuing To 2025 By Voice Vote on 02/07/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
School resource officers; establishment of minimum employment qualifications prohibited. [HB-676]
Department of Criminal Justice Services; school resource officers; establishment of minimum employment qualifications prohibited. Prohibits the Department of Criminal Justice Services from establishing minimum qualifications for the employment of school resource officers, including any minimum age or experience requirement, or providing guidance or standards or adopting regulations relating to such minimum qualifications unless expressly authorized by law.
Sponsored by: Rep. Chris Runion
Continued To 2025 In Education By Voice Vote on 02/07/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Law-enforcement officers, certain; universal certification, necessary training. [SB-207]
Universal certification for certain law-enforcement officers. Provides that any sworn law-enforcement officer with at least one year of experience (i) whose training qualifications meet or exceed current training standards established by the Board of Criminal Justice Services and who is in compliance with the minimum qualifications, (ii) who has not had a break in service of more than 24 months, and (iii) who is leaving the transferring agency in good standing with no pending investigations or disciplinary actions shall be eligible for employment
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Sponsored by: Sen. Dave Marsden
Governor: Acts Of Assembly Chapter Text (chap0581) on 04/05/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Fire and EMS Safety Loan Fund; created. [HB-494]
Virginia Fire and EMS Safety Loan Fund. Creates the Virginia Fire and EMS Safety Loan Fund, to be administered by the Virginia Resources Authority. Under the bill, money in the Fund would be used exclusively for the financing of purchases by local fire and EMS services of at least $50,000 (i) for capital projects to construct or modernize facilities that house firefighting equipment or vehicles or ambulance or rescue vehicles; (ii) of firefighting apparatus, ambulances, or rescue vehicles; and (iii) of protective, accessory, or communication equipment
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Sponsored by: Rep. Thomas Garrett
Left In Appropriations on 02/13/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Persons employed to perform forensic science duties; training and certification, policies. [HB-575]
Persons employed to perform forensic science duties; training and certification; policies for reporting wrongdoing or misconduct. Requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish a comprehensive framework, in coordination with the Department of Forensic Science and with the approval of the Forensic Science Board, for the employment, job entry training, and certification requirements for any person employed by any state or local law-enforcement agency to perform forensic laboratory services or forensic science duties, including a
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Sponsored by: Rep. Jackie Glass
Left In Appropriations on 02/13/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Law-enforcement officers; training standards. [HB-586]
Training standards for law-enforcement officers; drug use. Requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish training standards and publish and periodically update model policies for law-enforcement personnel on the use of naloxone or other opioid antagonists to prevent opioid overdose deaths, in coordination with statewide naloxone training programs developed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Virginia Department of Health. Training standards for law-enforcement officers; drug use. Requires
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Sponsored by: Rep. Betsy Carr
Governor: Acts Of Assembly Chapter Text (chap0141) on 03/26/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Human trafficking; attorneys for the Commonwealth to establish multidisciplinary response teams. [HB-581]
Human trafficking response teams. Requires attorneys for the Commonwealth to establish multidisciplinary human trafficking response teams. The bill provides that each team shall hold a meeting, at least annually, to (i) discuss implementation of protocols and policies; (ii) establish and review guidelines for the community's response to various forms of human trafficking, including sex trafficking and labor trafficking; and (iii) review protocols for the trauma-informed, victim-centered collection, preservation, and secure storage of evidence from
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Sponsored by: Rep. Vivian Watts
Governor: Acts Of Assembly Chapter Text (chap0366) on 04/03/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Special conservators of peace; armed security officer registration. [SB-145]
Special conservators of the peace; armed security officer registration. Provides that a special conservator of the peace may possess simultaneous registration with the Department of Criminal Justice Services as an armed security officer and shall maintain the rights, requirements, and restrictions contained therein. Special conservators of the peace; armed security officer registration. Provides that a special conservator of the peace may possess simultaneous registration with the Department of Criminal Justice Services as an armed security officer
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Sponsored by: Sen. Chris Head
Governor: Acts Of Assembly Chapter Text (chap0577) on 04/05/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Civilian deaths in custody; report. [HB-423]
Civilian deaths in custody; report. Requires every law-enforcement agency and correctional facility to report to the Department of Criminal Justice Services certain information regarding the death of any person who is detained, under arrest or in the process of being arrested, en route to be incarcerated, incarcerated, or otherwise in the custody of such law-enforcement agency or correctional facility. The bill provides that any law-enforcement agency or correctional facility that fails to comply may, at the discretion of the Department, be declared
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Sponsored by: Rep. Delores McQuinn
Incorporated By Public Safety on 02/02/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Line of Duty Act; increases payment of benefits. [HB-321]
Line of Duty Act; payment of benefits. Increases from $25,000 to $75,000 the death benefit payout under the Virginia Line of Duty Act for a death caused by occupational cancer, respiratory disease, or hypertension or heart disease for those deaths that will occur on or after January 1, 2025.
Sponsored by: Rep. Delores McQuinn
Governor: Acts Of Assembly Chapter Text (chap0380) on 04/04/2024
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Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Firefighting Facilities Grant Program; established, report. [HB-304]
Virginia Firefighting Facilities Grant Program. Establishes the Virginia Firefighting Facilities Grant Program for the purpose of awarding grants on a first-come, first-served basis to localities for the purpose of building and maintaining their firefighting facilities. The amount of such grants shall be as provided in the appropriation act. The Program shall be administered by the Department of Fire Programs. The Department shall develop guidelines for the Program, which shall (i) emphasize providing grants to localities that are cost burdened
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Sponsored by: Rep. Jason Ballard
Left In General Laws on 02/13/2024