Torian Recaps Assembly Session

DUMFRIES, Va. — The Virginia General Assembly has adjourned and Delegate Luke Torian, D-Dumfries, Woodbridge, has had another successful legislative session.

“The legislation that I supported was a result of the feedback that I received from constituents and community groups. And it has been clear to me that people want their representatives to bring more jobs and build stronger communities,” said Torian.

The success of Delegate Torian’s session has been highlighted with the passage of HB 406 – The Local Defense Enterprise Zone Act of 2012, a bill that creates jobs by expanding and retaining defense contractors throughout the Commonwealth. HB 406 passed the General Assembly overwhelmingly on February 22 and was signed by Governor McDonnell on March 6.

With the specter of possible cuts to the defense industry, HB 406 gives Virginia’s local governments the tools they need to retain and attract more defense contractors.

On Tuesday, Prince William County Neabsco District Supervisor John Jenkins commented by voicing his support. “We are supportive of all the work that Delegate Torian did to enhance defense enterprise zones in Virginia. This bill (HB 406) improves on existing legislation that addressed the defense production industry,” said Jenkins.

Bills introduced:

HB 403, a bill that adds the requirement that at least 30 percent of the jobs created must be filled by Virginia residents to the criteria for making grants or loans from the Governor’s Development Opportunity Fund.

HB 404, a bill that prohibits the use of handheld personal communications devices while driving for any purpose other than to make or receive phone calls.

HB 407, a bill that creates the Prince William County Metrorail Improvement District to provide a means of financing an extension of commuter rail service from Fairfax County into Prince William County.

HB 2243, a bill provides that the board of visitors or other governing body of an educational institution has the power to establish rules and regulations for the possession or transportation of firearms or ammunition on property owned or operated by the institution.

Bills co-patroned

HB 15, a bill introduced by Delegate Gregory Habeeb (R-Salem) that makes local school boards responsible for setting the school calendar and determining the opening of the school year and eliminates the post-Labor Day opening requirement and “good cause” scenarios for which the Board of Education may grant waivers of this requirement.

HB 85, a bill introduced by Delegate Tag Grease (R-Loudon) that extends to July 1, 2013, the authorization for use of HOV facilities by vehicles bearing clean special fuel license plates.

HB 325, a bill introduced by Delegate Delegate James Massie (R-Henrico) that requires each school board to ensure that aides assigned to work with a teacher who has primary oversight of students with autism spectrum disorder demonstrate competency in student behavioral management within 60 days of assignment to such responsibility. The bill also requires the Board of Education to provide standards that school divisions may use to establish a measure for the demonstration of competency in student behavioral management.

HB 656, a bill introduced by Delegate Kaye Kory (D-Fairfax) that requires parental notification whenever school administrators begin an investigation into a potential violation of any school board policy. Such notification may be made by phone or email, or any other reasonable method, as determined by the school board.

-Press release