2011 VCOPS Legislative Agenda

The General Assembly held its veto session April 6th. The following actions affected us:

We escaped being taxed 5% for VRS, and thanks to the Senate we will get a chance to sit at the table when a VRS bill is worked on this summer. We are indebted to the Senate Democrats who stood with us this year and protected us from an attack on our pay and pension plan. I hope all of you will write them and show your appreciation. Make no mistake, this attack is an ongoing effort and out victory will be short lived without your involvement. You all need to be engaged to protect your future, your pay, and the welfare of your family.

Amendment 56 This amendment would have allowed localities to charge employees up to 5% of the VRS contributions the employers are now paying. This amendment did not include an offset and amounted to a 5% pay cut. This was defeated in the house on a 60-38 vote. Nay was the right vote:YEAS--Abbitt, Albo, Anderson, Athey, Barlow, Bell, Richard P., Brink, Carrico, Cleaveland, Cole, Comstock, Cox, M.K., Englin, Greason, Hugo, Ingram, Jones, Lingamfelter, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., Massie, May, Miller, J.H., Morgan, O'Bannon, Poindexter, Purkey, Putney, Robinson, Scott, E.T., Scott, J.M., Stolle, Tata, Villanueva, Ware, R.L., Wilt, Wright, Mr. Speaker--38.

NAYS--Abbott, Alexander, Armstrong, BaCote, Bell, Robert B., Bulova, Byron, Carr, Cline, Cosgrove, Cox, J.A., Crockett-Stark, Dance, Ebbin, Edmunds, Filler-Corn, Garrett, Gilbert, Habeeb, Herring, Hope, Howell, A.T., Iaquinto, James, Janis, Joannou, Johnson, Keam, Kilgore, Knight, Kory, Landes, LeMunyon, Loupassi, McClellan, McQuinn, Merricks, Miller, P.J., Morefield, Morrissey, Nutter, Oder, Orrock, Peace, Phillips, Plum, Pogge, Pollard, Rust, Sherwood, Shuler, Sickles, Spruill, Surovell, Torian, Toscano, Tyler, Ward, Ware, O., Watts--60.

Amendment 86 This amendment would have created the optional defined contribution plan for state employees. This amendment passed the house on a vote of 58-39. Nay was the right vote: YEAS--Abbitt, Albo, Anderson, Athey, Barlow, Bell, Richard P., Byron, Cleaveland, Cline, Cole, Comstock, Cosgrove, Cox, J.A., Dance, Edmunds, Garrett, Gilbert, Greason, Habeeb, Helsel, Howell, A.T., Iaquinto, Ingram, Janis, Joannou, Kilgore, Knight, Landes, LeMunyon, Lewis, Lingamfelter, Loupassi, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., Massie, May, Merricks, Morefield, Morgan, O'Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Peace, Pogge, Poindexter, Purkey, Putney, Robinson, Rust, Scott, E.T., Sherwood, Stolle, Tata, Villanueva, Ware, R.L., Wilt, Wright, Mr. Speaker--58.

NAYS--Abbott, Alexander, Armstrong, BaCote, Brink, Bulova, Carr, Carrico, Crockett-Stark, Ebbin, Englin, Filler-Corn, Herring, Hope, Hugo, James, Johnson, Keam, Kory, McClellan, McQuinn, Miller, J.H., Miller, P.J., Morrissey, Nutter, Phillips, Plum, Pollard, Scott, J.M., Shuler, Sickles, Spruill, Surovell, Torian, Toscano, Tyler, Ward, Ware, O., Watts--39.

This amendment was heard in the Senate and was defeated 26-14. Nay was the right vote:YEAS--Blevins, Martin, McDougle, McWaters, Newman, Obenshain, Ruff, Smith, Stanley, Stosch, Stuart, Vogel, Wagner, Watkins--14.

NAYS--Barker, Colgan, Deeds, Edwards, Hanger, Herring, Houck, Howell, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, Marsh, McEachin, Miller, J.C., Miller, Y.B., Norment, Northam, Petersen, Puckett, Puller, Quayle, Reynolds, Saslaw, Ticer, Wampler, Whipple--26.

Yesterday we found a bill HB1795 had been amended by the governor in the form of a substitute that created the defined contribution plan for local employees. The house agreed to the Governors amendment on a vote of 61-36. YEAS--Abbitt, Albo, Anderson, Athey, Barlow, Bell, Richard P., Bell, Robert B., Byron, Carrico, Cleaveland, Cline, Cole, Comstock, Cosgrove, Cox, J.A., Cox, M.K., Dance, Edmunds, Gilbert, Greason, Habeeb, Helsel, Howell, A.T., Iaquinto, Ingram, Janis, Jones, Kilgore, Knight, Landes, LeMunyon, Lingamfelter, Loupassi, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., Massie, May, Merricks, Miller, J.H., Morefield, Morgan, O'Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Peace, Pogge, Poindexter, Pollard, Purkey, Putney, Rust, Scott, E.T., Sherwood, Spruill, Stolle, Tata, Villanueva, Ware, R.L., Wilt, Wright, Mr. Speaker--61.

NAYS--Abbott, Alexander, Armstrong, BaCote, Brink, Bulova, Carr, Crockett-Stark, Ebbin, Englin, Filler-Corn, Herring, Hope, James, Joannou, Johnson, Keam, Kory, Lewis, McClellan, McQuinn, Miller, P.J., Morrissey, Nutter, Phillips, Plum, Scott, J.M., Shuler, Sickles, Surovell, Torian, Toscano, Tyler, Ward, Ware, O., Watts--36.

The Senate heard the bill and rejected the Governors amendment on a vote of 26-14. Nay was the right vote:YEAS--Blevins, Martin, McDougle, McWaters, Newman, Obenshain, Ruff, Smith, Stanley, Stosch, Stuart, Vogel, Wagner, Watkins--14..

Thanks to everyone who contacted their representatives.

Posted 4/11/11

Below is the 2011 VCOPS Legislative Agenda. Click on the blue link to go to the updated status of the bill at Legislative Services. Please contact Delegates or Senators in the Committees where they are being heard. A short email stating who you are where you work and that you support or oppose the bill is all you need to do. Instructions on how to write to legislators is located below.

VCOPS recommends that anyone interested in following the legislative process join the "Lobbyist-in-a-Box" program offered by the General Assembly website. Click on "Lobbyist-in-a-Box" link to learn more and sign up for the free service. You can track up to 5 bills during this session and have emails sent to you when the bills change. There are easy instructions and setup is rather easy.

Additional bills of interest will be added to this page as we learn of their existence. Set this page as one of your "favorites" and sign up for Lobbyist-in-a-Box.

What you need to do to support bills at the legislature
.
Write a very short email to the Delegates or Senators in the list below each bill. You can say the same thing to each of them unless you know the legislator personally, or live in their jurisdiction. Let them know that you are a Police Officer or Deputy and especially if you live in their area.

Example: Hello Delegate(Senator)__________ I am (name) and I work as a Police Officer/Deputy Sheriff in Virginia (unless you are in their jurisdiction then tell them that) Please support (HB# or SB#). Then give a short reason why they should support the bill. Sign your name and copy the email and move to the next name until you reach the end of the list. Once you write the first email the rest are easy.

Last UPDATED 3/9/11
Click on the blue highlighted link
for current status of the bill you are interested in

1- Bill to amend and reenact § 65.2-402.1 - Presumption as to death or disability from infectious disease.

HB 1812 - Workers' compensation; occupational disease presumption for certain police officers.
Paula J. Miller

Workers' compensation; infectious disease presumption; police officers of Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and Norfolk Airport Authority. Adds police officers of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and the Norfolk Airport Authority to the list of public safety employees who are entitled to the presumption that certain infectious diseases are occupational diseases compensable under the Workers' Compensation Act. This presumption applies with respect to police officers of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority only for periods that the Authority voluntarily subjects itself to the provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act.

HB 2526 Service handguns; purchase of weapon when resignation in good standing. --
PASSED

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

FULL TEXT

HISTORY

SB 782 Magistrates; power to issue felony arrest warrants.
PASSED

SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE: (all summaries)

FULL TEXT

HISTORY

HB 2526 Service handguns; purchase of weapon when resignation in good standing. -- PASSED

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

FULL TEXT

HISTORY

SB 782 Magistrates; power to issue felony arrest warrants. PASSED

SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE: (all summaries)

FULL TEXT

HISTORY

HB 2526 Service handguns; purchase of weapon when resignation in good standing. --
PASSED

SB 782 Magistrates; power to issue felony arrest warrants.
PASSED