Newsletter: General Assembly 2020 Special Session
The nation is continuing to mourn the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It is difficult to fully assess her impact, which included not only her legal decisions but also the inspiration that she has provided to so many people who benefited from her jurisprudence or were inspired in their careers. I was a young attorney when RBG joined the Court in the early 90’s and she immediately impressed me with her legal insights and passion for protecting the unprotected.
I hope that all of us will take a moment to consider her legacy and recognize that because of her incredibly hard work and commitment the Constitution is protecting ALL people today.
I will continue to keep you informed with relevant, accurate information via Twitter, Facebook, and my website. Please email my office at delrwillett@house.virginia.gov or call us at 804-698-1173 if you have any questions or need assistance.
Sincerely,
Rodney
New Information
General Assembly Special Session
The House of Delegates continued our work this week on our special session on COVID-19 relief and criminal justice reform. We are currently in the “crossover” period were bills passed by either the House or Senate will be heard by committees of the opposite chamber.
I am pleased to report that my bill HB5059, passed the Senate today 36 Y - 0 N. The bill provides civil liability protections during the COVID-19 pandemic for assisted living facilities, home health, hospice, private providers of mental health or adult day care, when a lack of resources caused by COVID-19 results in care needing to be provided in a manner other than what would normally have been required. These health care providers have been crucial in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and this legislation will give them the protections they need to continue to serve their patients during this unprecedented public health challenge. Here are a few other bills that were passed by the General Assembly, and will head to the Governor’s desk, you can see a full list of bills for the special session online here.
COVID-19 Relief
HB5113 (Co-Patron) — Requires each school board that contains any public elementary or secondary school that is eligible to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) administered by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to apply to participate in CEP. The CEP program allows school districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications.
HB5046 (Co-Patron) — Directs the Board of Medical Assistance Services to amend the state plan for medical assistance services to provide for payment of medical assistance for medically necessary health care services provided through telemedicine services, regardless of the originating site or whether the patient is accompanied by a health care provider at the time such services are provided. The bill also extends the same requirements to private insurers, corporations, and health maintenance organizations.
SB5042 — Requires nursing homes, certified living facilities, and hospice facilities to establish protocols to allow patients to receive visits during a public health emergency, consistent with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control. The bill also requires these providers to establish protocols to allow for virtual visits through audio or video technology.
SB5090 — Requires the Commissioner of Health to post weekly updates on the Department of Health website with information on the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 per week at the health district level, with additional information on age and racial/ethnic background, as well as the percentage of cases by week that are known to be associated with a nursing home, assisted living facility, or correctional facility at the health district level.
Criminal Justice Reform
HB5052 (Co-Patron)— Establishes June 19 “Juneteenth” to commemorate the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas, the last of the former Confederate States of America to abolish slavery, and to recognize the significant roles and many contributions of African Americans to the Commonwealth and the nation.
SB5029 — Changes from a primary offense to a secondary offense the possession of marijuana and the traffic infractions of operating a motor vehicle. This bill will help prevent racially-motivated pretextual traffic stops.
SB5035 — Grants localities the authority to establish civilian oversight bodies to oversee, investigate, and issue findings based on complaints from civilians regarding the conduct of law enforcement officers.
House Budget
When we reconvened for this special session on August 18th, we were tasked with amending our 2020-2022 biennium budget to address the fiscal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a reminder, in April at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor worked with the legislature to freeze over $2 billion in new spending to ensure that we would have the necessary resources to combat the spread of the virus and mitigate the economic effects of the pandemic.
The pandemic has caused our expected revenues to fall by $2.7 billion due to the strains on our state’s economy and drained tax revenues. As a result of this significant reduction in expected revenues, the Governor has chosen to put some of our core spending priorities on hold to prioritize COVID-19 relief.
This morning, the House Appropriations Committee introduced our budget, which includes proposals by the Governor as well as amendments submitted by House members. The House budget restores previously reduced K-12 funding and provides new flexibility to local school divisions to ensure they have the funding they need to continue to educate our students. The budget also supports our health care system, directing Coronavirus Relief Funds toward the overburdened sectors caring for our most vulnerable Virginians. You can read the full list of the committee approved amendments online here.
I'm happy to report that my budget amendment, which would extend health care coverage for pregnant women in the FAMIS Moms program from 60 days to 12 months. Currently in Virginia, pregnant women who qualify for CHIP (known as FAMIS MOMS in Virginia) are covered throughout their pregnancy until 60 days postpartum. As the rate of maternal mortality continues to rise, a growing body of evidence shows that many of these deaths occur after pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage ends. Data from the Virginia Maternal Mortality Review Teams show the majority of pregnancy-associated deaths occur more than 43 days after pregnancy. Lack of coverage and disruptions to health insurance coverage are contributing factors to the rise in maternal deaths.
ReBuild VA Fund - Small Business Support
This week, Governor Northam announced that Rebuild VA, the $70 million economic recovery fund launched this August, is expanding its eligibility criteria to allow more small businesses to apply. Businesses that received funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and supply chain partners of businesses whose normal operations were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are now eligible to receive grants of up to $10,000. Rebuild VA still requires that businesses and nonprofit organizations must be in good standing, have annual gross revenues of no more than $1.5 million, and have no more than 25 employees.
Rebuild VA, which is administered by the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD), launched on August 10th, to help small businesses and nonprofits whose normal operations were disrupted by COVID-19, including restaurants, brick and mortar retail, exercise and fitness facilities, personal care and personal grooming services, entertainment and public amusement establishments, and campgrounds. Businesses and nonprofits that are approved for a Rebuild VA grant may receive up to three times their average monthly eligible expenses up to a maximum of $10,000.
For additional information about Rebuild VA, expanded eligibility criteria, covered expenses, and how to apply please visit governor.virginia.gov/RebuildVA.
Expansion of Rent and Mortgage Relief Program
Governor Northam announced the expansion of the Rent and Mortgage Relief Program (RMRP) to allow landlords to apply to receive financial assistance on behalf of their tenants for current and past-due rental payments dating back to April 1, 2020. This new application is available in addition to the existing tenant-based application.
The RMRP was created at the end of June to support and ensure housing stability across the commonwealth during the coronavirus pandemic. The program may provide eligible applicants with financial assistance for rent and mortgage payment.
To submit a landlord-initiated application, visit virginiahousing.com/RMRP. Tenants interested in applying should visit dhcd.virginia.gov/eligibility to conduct a self-assessment for eligibility or call 211 VIRGINIA by dialing 2-1-1 from your phone.
K-12 Education
Congratulations to Henrico County Public Schools for being named one of 15 “School Divisions of Innovation” by the State Board of Education for their work in designing and implementing alternatives to traditional instructional practices and school structures. HCPS was specifically recognized for its work in the implementation of “Learner Portfolios” which enable students to track their progress toward college, careers, and citizenship, using the state’s “Profile of a Virginia Graduate” as a guide.
This past year has brought unprecedented challenges to almost every aspect of our society, especially our systems of education. Thank you to all of our administrators, teachers, support staff, and other faculty members who have worked tirelessly to implement new solutions to combat these challenges.
Higher Education
On Tuesday, the Governor announced that the Commonwealth of Virginia will take advantage of low-interest rates by refinancing bonds issued by the Treasury Board of Virginia (TBV) and the Virginia College Building Authority (VCBA), which institutions of higher education use for capital projects. Under the Governor’s plan, institutions will make no principal payments on their VCBA bonds through the fiscal year 2023. The proposed restructuring would also extend institutions’ payment plans for two years beyond their current schedule, for both VCBA and TBV bonds.
This plan is possible as a result of the Commonwealth's AAA bond rating, which has allowed the state to be eligible for these favorable interest rates. The General Assembly will work closely with the Governor during the 2021 regular session to support additional flexibility for higher education refinancing. See more information on the Governor’s announcement online here.
The following savings are expected:
Christopher Newport University: $14.4 million
George Mason University: $58.3 million
James Madison University: $43.7 million
Longwood University: $8.2 million
Norfolk State University: $8.2 million
Old Dominion University: $29.8 million
Radford University: $5.1 million
Richard Bland College of William & Mary: $320,000
University of Mary Washington: $9.3 million
University of Virginia: $344,000
Virginia Commonwealth University: $23.1 million
Virginia Community College System: $9.7 million
Virginia Military Institute: $2.8 million
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: $40.1 million
Virginia State University: $12.8 million
William & Mary: $33.7 million
Free Drive-Thru Flu Shots
Bon Secours Short Pump Emergency Center will hold a free drive-thru flu vaccination event from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, October 3rd. Masks are required but there is no need to leave your car! Getting a flu shot is another way that you can help protect yourself and our community from the spread of COVID-19. See more information on the event online here.
