On Day 43 of the legislative session, the House of Delegates passed eight bills, two of which relate to foster care. Another bill was rejected.
House Bill 2027 reduces the timeframe when a foster care placement receives extra severity from 18 months to 15 months or 50 percent of the child’s life. If the arrangement is considered suitable, it cannot be terminated unless it is in the best interest of the child. Within 90 days of securing placement, Human Services must inform foster/adoptive parents of eligible siblings for placement or adoption. If it is in the best interest of the child, the foster arrangement can be ended.
House Bill 2880 assigns an individual through the Court Improvement Program or Public Defender Services to assist parents through the requirements to be unified or reunified with their children.
House Bill 3289 allows the completion of an approved drug court program to qualify as an alternative method to seek accelerated expungement for certain crimes.
House Bill 2876 was rejected. The bill would have increased the members on the Natural Resource Commission to include a deer biologist, bear biologist, turkey biologist, and fisheries biologist.
Resolutions introduced can be found here.
Bills introduced can be found here.
The House is in recess until 5:30 p.m.
The House returned to the floor to hear committee reports and Senate messages. Senate Bill 10 was read for the first time.
Committee Meetings, Today March 26
- The Subcommittee on Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourism will meet immediately after the floor in the McManus Room.
- The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1:30 p.m. in Room 215E.
- The Committee on Education will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 432M.
- The Subcommittee on Energy and Public Works will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 410.
- The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 215E.
- The Rules Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. in Room 215E.
Committee Meetings, Tomorrow March 27
- The Finance Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 460.
- The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 410.
- The Rules Committee will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 215E.
- The Committee on Education will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 432M.
- The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.
- The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 215E.
- The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 5 p.m. in Room 215E.