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2012 General Assembly Session Archives
April 10, 2012 State lawmakers have reached a tentative budget deal that includes some $215 million more for public education than the budget proposed in December by Governor McDonnell. The proposal includes $110 million in grant funding for schools to use to help mitigate increased costs for teacher retirement contributions, inflation or pre-K costs. There is also $40 million included to restore cost-of-competing funds for Northern Virginia school systems. Legislators also agreed to provide about $45 million more for health and human services programs that includes money for Medicaid eligibility, $11.6 million to add 225 Medicaid intellectual disability waivers, and $1.6 million for 80 new developmentally disabled waiver slots. The deal includes $122 million in additional money for higher education, including money to help minimize tuition increases. Finally, under the proposed deal, state employees would see a 3 percent bonus in December if the state sees a revenue surplus, as well as a 2 percent raise in 2013 if revenues meet projections. The conference report does not address a major sticking point that could threaten the compromise — incurring roughly $700 million in additional debt to mitigate tolls connected to a Metrorail extension to Washington Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia and the Midtown/Downtown tunnel project between Norfolk and Portsmouth in Hampton Roads. In addition, Senate Democrats on the GOP-controlled conference committee said the absence of funding for their transportation priorities could signal trouble for the entire spending plan. Lawmakers are expected to have budget staff print details this week, and call the full legislature back to Richmond for a vote April 17 — a day before they were due back for the veto session. April 2, 2012 VRS Legislation under Review. Governor McDonnell is currently reviewing the pension reform legislation. Organizations representing government employees and teachers have requested amendments or veto of the proposals. The compromise, which were the last bills to clear the regular session of the General Assembly, combined the House and Senate approaches to pension reform. The key components of the compromise are:
In addition, the pension reform legislation included wide sweeping changes to the retirement plans for local k-12 teachers. Senate and House Budget Conferees. The General Assembly is in the second week of a special session and two additional legislators have been added to the negotiators charged to work on a compromise with the state budget. The Senate initially named Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment of James City, Senators John Watkins of Powhatan, Emmett Hanger of Augusta, Walter Stosch of Henrico, Janet Howell of Fairfax and Charles Colgan of Prince William — but has now added Senate Minority Leader Dick Saslaw of Fairfax and Senator Steve Newman of Lynchburg to help with changes to the current budget, for the fiscal year that ends June 30. The House of Delegates has the same six conferees for both budgets including Delegates Lacey Putney of Bedford, Kirk Cox of Colonial Heights, Beverly Sherwood of Frederick, Chris Jones of Suffolk, Steve Landes of Augusta and Johnny Joannou of Portsmouth. Special Session for the State Budget – UPDATE. After taking a break for the weekend, state budget negotiations are expected to resume today. Budget conferees will continue working out the details on the $85 billion spending plan. Since the special session began, House and Senate negotiators have been meeting jointly and separately to review offers and counter-offers on rival budget proposals passed by the two chambers. According to lawmakers around the table, negotiations have been positive. However, one major sticking point is transportation, including the $300 million for Metrorail extension to Dulles Airport that is part of the Senate budget proposal, but not in the House plan. In addition, funding for K-12 education and Department of Health and Human Resources (HHR) programs have been another stumbling block. One issue is the cost-of-competing money, which has been provided in the past to Northern Virginia schools to help them hire staff in the region’s expensive job market. Governor McDonnell’s budget plan eliminated those funds for non-teaching staff, costing schools $65 million. The Senate’s budget proposal restores $60 million of that funding and the House budget includes $24 million. Negotiators report that the two sides are farther apart when it comes to school funding, but the House and the Senate and both plan to take a second look at HHR and K-12. As a reminder, the Senate and House of Delegates offer live streaming video when each body convenes. Visit http://virginia-senate.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3 to view the Senate and http://virginia-house.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3 to view the House March 26, 2012. On the second day of the Special Session, members of the Senate Finance Committee unanimously agreed on state spending for public schools, Medicare and toll relief, bringing the budget impasse to an end. The Committee passed a two-year, $85 billion spending plan that devotes extra funding to Democratic priorities and the full Senate is expected to reconvene today to vote on the plan. The spending proposal is likely to clear the Senate, but may be rejected on Tuesday in the House. If that happens, the proposal will proceed to a conference committee, where negotiators from both parties and both chambers would try to come to an agreement. The goal would be to work out differences between the newly approved plan and the one passed by the House before the fiscal year begins July 1. The Senate Finance Committee plan, amongst other things, provides money to cover inflation costs at local schools and fund more pre-kindergarten programs. It also restores funding to poison-control centers and teen pregnancy programs, nursing homes, child-care services and programs that help people with physical disabilities find employment. Funding the plan does not come from raising taxes, but by making cuts elsewhere in the budget. That includes removing $20 million from the Federal Action Contingency Trust (FACT) fund, a rainy day fund Governor McDonnell proposed to prepare for large federal cuts. The committee also redirected $60 million in other aid to localities for schools, specifying that the money be spent on K-12 education, inflation expenses and pre-kindergarten programs. As a reminder, the Senate and House of Delegates offer live streaming video when each body convenes. Visit http://virginia-senate.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3 to view the Senate and http://virginia-house.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3 to view the House March 19, 2012. Special Session for the State Budget – UPDATE. The 2012 Special Session 1 of the General Assembly convened immediately upon adjournment of the Regular Session. Lawmakers are expected to return for the purpose of considering budget bills HB 1300 and HB 1301 on Wednesday, March 21 at 3 pm in a pro forma session to try to iron out differences about spending on education and other core state services and complete work on the state’s $85 billion budget. The House of Delegates will offer live streaming video when the body convenes this week. Visit http://virginia-house.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3 to view. March 12, 2012. The Virginia General Assembly ended its 60-day session on Saturday without passing a state budget. The Senate Finance Committee met Friday morning to review a House version that was recently revived however negotiators were unable to resolve differences. Since earlier versions of the budget were killed by the evenly divided Senate, this was the General Assembly’s last opportunity of enacting a budget in the 2012 Regular Session. Lawmakers will return for a special session to complete work on the state’s $85 billion budget. The goal of negotiators from both parties is to make an attempt to hash out a compromise before the start of the fiscal year on July 1. At the State Capitol: Session Statistics and Approved Legislation With the exception of the state budget and a few legislative matters, lawmakers have completed their work for the 2012 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Of the 2,800 bills and resolutions introduced, more than 1,600 passed both chambers. The following chart displays session statistics.
Listed below is legislation, among others, important to VCU and VCU Health System that has been approved and is now headed to Governor McDonnell’s desk for signature. VRS: Bills SB 498 and HB 1130 (incorporated) create a hybrid retirement plan that will become mandatory for state employees hired after 2014. SB 498 creates a new hybrid retirement program administered by the Virginia Retirement System containing a defined contribution and a defined benefit component. All new state and local employees employed after 2014 would be required to participate in the hybrid plan. Current employees would be given the opportunity to make a one-time, irrevocable election to participate in the new hybrid program. The bill also creates a disability program for local employees participating in the hybrid plan. Disability benefits: HB 350 provides that disability benefits to state employees will no longer be reduced by the amount of military disability benefits received. The bill reflects changes made in 2009 by the General Assembly that limits new employees to disability payments in an amount of 60 percent of their creditable compensation for the first 60 months of employment. Requirements that certain injuries to children be reported: HB 3 adds athletic coaches, directors or other persons ages 18 years or older employed by or volunteering with private sports organizations and teams and administrators, employees ages 18 years or older of public or private day camps, youth centers, and youth recreation programs to the list of persons required to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the Department of Social Services. Higher education course credit for military experience: HB 195 requires the governing boards of each public institution of higher education to implement policies that award academic credit to students for educational experience gained from military service. Health insurance coverage parity for oral chemotherapy medications: Bill SB 450 provides that each health insurer, health care subscription plan, and health maintenance organization whose policies, contracts, or plans include coverage for intravenously administered, injected, and orally administered anticancer drugs shall provide that the criteria for establishing cost sharing applicable to orally administered cancer chemotherapy drugs and cancer chemotherapy drugs that are administered intravenously or by injection shall be consistently applied within the same plan. This requirement will apply to the state employees' health insurance plan and to the local choice health program. Please contact the Office of Government Relations via email at govrel@vcu.edu, if you have questions regarding legislation proposed during this year’s session. March 5, 2012. Governor McDonnell has written a letter to Senate Democrats regarding efforts around the state budget. The Governor has requested lawmakers continue to work and pass a budget. In his letter, he outlines a series of problems that would occur if the General Assembly did not pass a budget before the fiscal year begins July 1. Since work on the state budget started, the Senate has killed two proposals after all 20 Democrats voted against the spending plans in the equally divided chamber. If the Senate does not pass a budget, the General Assembly will not finish its work by Saturday’s scheduled adjournment. Members could either extend the 60-day session or come back for a special session. On Friday afternoon, the House voted on a third proposal. Some lawmakers blame the impasse on a power struggle while others agree the opposition has more to do with legislative matters. At the State Capitol: Legislative Proposals Impacting VCU HB 375 – Introduced by Delegate Brenda Pogge of Yorktown, the bill would prohibit localities from adopting a workplace rule that prevents an employee from storing a lawfully possessed firearm and ammunition in a locked motor vehicle. The firearm must be in a secured container or compartment in the vehicle. The Senate agreed on a substitution and requested a conference committee for the bill. HB 970 – Introduced by Delegate Robert Bell of Charlottesville, the bill adds any person employed by a public or private institution of higher education to the list of individuals required to report suspected abuse or neglect of a child. The Senate unanimously passed the bill which was amended to make provisions for attorney client privileges. HB 458 – Introduced by Delegate Joseph Yost of Blacksburg, [and companion SB 458 introduced by Senator George Barker of Alexandria] the bill will delete repetitive language permitting universities to establish policies regarding students who are a danger to themselves or others. The House voted 95 to 5 in favor of the Senate version of the bill and the Senate unanimously passed the House version, adding an amendment to address required mental health training for university faculty and staff. February 20, 2012 2012 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The 2012 Regular Session of General Assembly is currently in session. Legislative session information including daily House and Senate convene and adjourn times can be found at each body's respective twitter accounts, @vahouse and @vasenate. In addition, to view House session live video, visit University and health system state legislative priorities, highlights, bill tracking lists and more can be found on the Office of Government Relations’ website at www.govrel.vcu.edu. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 828-1235 or govrel@vcu.edu if you have questions or need assistance. The General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn on Saturday, March 10, 2012. State Lawmakers Recommend Salary Increase. The House and Senate have released their amendments to Governor McDonnell’s 2012-2014 budget. Included in the release, the General Assembly has recommended a 2 percent raise in the second year of the proposed 2012-2014 budget for state employees, faculty and classified staff in higher education as well as local constitutional officers and their staffs. Based on the budget proposed by the House Appropriations Committee, the raise would depend on the state meeting its revenue targets in mid-2013. The Senate Finance Committee is not linking its proposed pay increase to revenue forecasts. The Senate budget also proposes savings for local governments to help them pay their share of big increases in contributions to the teacher retirement plan administered by the Virginia Retirement System (VRS). Localities would pay an additional $600 million over two years for retirement and other post-employment benefits under the budget proposals. The contribution increases could be offset somewhat by savings from proposals to increase state money for K-12 education and eliminate about $60 million in cuts to state aid for localities under the two-year budget proposed by Governor McDonnell in December. Virginia's more than 104,000 employees have not had an increase in take-home pay since 2007. Last year, the state provided a 5 percent wage increase to mostly offset a new requirement that state employees pay 5 percent of salary to their retirement accounts. In December, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) released a study on retirement benefits that showed the state last in a comparison of salary compensation with 15 private and public employers. The state's lagging position on salaries was partly offset by other benefits, such as the defined retirement benefits that are under close review this year by the governor and both chambers of the General Assembly. Budget Amendments Restore Funds for Safety-Net Programs. The House and Senate budget amendments restore funds for safety-net programs proposed in Governor's McDonnell's 2012-2014 budget. Specifically, the both proposals would restore funds to free clinics and community health centers. Because of the anticipated Medicaid expansion under the federal Affordable Care Act, Governor McDonnell had proposed in his biennial budget cutting funds for clinics and other safety-net providers by 50 percent. The proposed reduction equated to approximately $5 million. The House and Senate proposals also include additional Medicaid money to hospitals and nursing homes. At the State Capitol: Legislative Proposals Impacting VCU. HB 1 – Introduced by Delegate Robert Marshall of Manassas, the bill provides that the unborn at every stage of development be given all the rights of other citizens in the Commonwealth. Delegate Jennifer McClellan of Richmond offered a substitute to the bill affirming that nothing should be interpreted as creating a cause of action against a woman for harming an unborn child. Delegate Vivian Watts of Annandale offered an amendment to the bill stating that nothing shall be interpreted as affecting lawful contraception. The bill passed the House on a vote of 66 to 32 but has not yet been assigned a Senate committee. HB 548 – Introduced by Delegate Barbara Comstock of Mclean, the bill requires public institutions of higher education, in accordance with the guidelines developed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, to implement policies that recognize the scheduling difficulties and obligations of active duty military personnel. The bill has been reported by the Senate Committee on Education and Health. HB 738 – Introduced by Delegate Chris Jones of Suffolk, the bill clarifies that the Department of Human Resource Management has exclusive authority to establish and enforce employer contribution rates for some state employee health plans. The Senate has referred the bill to the committee on Finance for review. HB 1237 – Introduced by Delegate Edward Scott of Culpepper, the bill places individuals associated with or employed by any public organization responsible for the care, custody, or control of children to the list of individuals required to report suspected child abuse or neglect. The bill also reduces the time limit for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect to 24 hours and increases the penalty for a second or subsequent failure to report. The bill stipulates that a person who knowingly and intentionally fails to make a report of child abuse shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill has been assigned to the Senate committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services for review. February 14, 2012 Streamlining State Government. On Friday, Governor McDonnell’s plan for overhauling state government passed the Senate on a vote of 25-14. The plan which was one of the Governor’s chief campaign promises, calls for eliminating some state agencies, deregulating several professions and cutting or merging commissions and boards. It is anticipated that streamlining state government would save an estimated $2 million a year. The plan now goes to the House for review. 2012 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The 2012 Regular Session of General Assembly is currently in session. Legislative session information including daily House and Senate convene and adjourn times can be found at each body's respective twitter accounts, @vahouse and @vasenate. In addition, to view House session live video, visit University and health system state legislative priorities, highlights, bill tracking lists and more can be found on the Office of Government Relations’ website at www.govrel.vcu.edu. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 828-1235 or govrel@vcu.edu if you have questions or need assistance. General Assembly Reaches Halfway Point. On February 14, the General Assembly reaches the halfway point known as “Crossover.” This is the point in the legislative process when the House and Senate must complete legislative work and refer matters that are approved to the other house. Of approximately 2,550 bills and resolutions, more than 1,650 are still pending formal action. The General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn on Saturday, March 10, 2012. At the State Capitol: Legislative Proposals Impacting VCU HB 764 – Proposed by Delegate Chris Peace of Hanover, the bill provides that no Virginia public institution of higher education may be authorized to enter into an indemnification agreement to indemnify any person or entity against damages arising from a sponsored project. The bill passed the House unanimously and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Health. The Committee meets in the General Assembly Building, Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. in Senate Room B. HB 1130 – Introduced by Delegate William Howell of Fredericksburg, the bill creates an optional hybrid retirement plan that includes both a defined benefit and a defined contribution component for all state employees except judges and those employees currently now eligible for optional retirement plans as of January 1, 2014. The defined benefit component offers a multiplier of 1.0 and a required employee contribution of 4%. The defined contribution component includes a required employee contribution of 2% and a contribution from the employer of 1%. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Compensation and Retirement is currently reviewing this proposal. SB 496 – Introduced by Senator John Watkins of Midlothian, the bill creates a Virginia Health Benefit Exchange administered under the State Corporation Commission to facilitate the purchase and sale of qualified health plans and qualified dental plans to individuals and employers. Exchange funding would derive from assessments on health insurers offering plans in the Exchange. Similar bills, SB 383 and SB 615 offered by Senators Donald McEachin of Richmond, and Barbara Favola of Arlington respectively, propose a similar exchange with a substantive difference resulting from health insures options to offer some forms of abortion coverage. The bills have been assigned to the Senate Labor and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Insurance. HJ 108 – Proposed by Senator Steve Landes of Verona, the bill directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to study the cost efficiency of the Commonwealth's institutions of higher education. The bill asks JLARC to identify opportunities to reduce the cost of public higher education in Virginia by November 2014. The House voted 95-2 to block adoption of the bill. February 6, 2012 The 2012 Regular Session of General Assembly is currently in full swing and runs through Saturday, March 10, 2012. During this year’s session, lawmakers will tackle Governor McDonnell’s proposed $85 billion, two-year budget and other key issues. Legislative session information including daily House and Senate convene and adjourn times can be found at each body's respective twitter accounts, @vahouse and @vasenate. In addition, to view House session live video, visit http://virginia-house.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3 and to view Senate session live video, visit http://virginia-senate.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3. University and health system state legislative priorities, highlights, bill tracking lists and more can be found on the Office of Government Relations’ website at www.govrel.vcu.edu. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 828-1235 or govrel@vcu.edu if you have questions or need assistance. At the State Capitol: Legislative Proposals Impacting VCU. SB 605 – Introduced by Senator Jeffrey McWaters, this bill provides that, for current and former military personnel and their dependents, the intent to attend a public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth is sufficient for the purpose of establishing domiciliary intent and determining eligibility for in-state tuition rates. This bill is now in the Finance Committee and scheduled to be heard again on Thursday, February 9. HB 91 – Introduced by Delegate Bob Marshall, this bill allows full-time faculty members of public institutions of higher education who possess a valid Virginia concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun on campus. This bill has been assigned to the Committee on Militia, Police, and Public Safety for review. HB 486 – Proposed by Delegate Onzlee Ware, this bill provides employees in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) for institutions of higher education the opportunity to purchase service credit in the defined benefit plan with accrued contributions and earnings, and thereafter be covered under the defined benefit plan. This bill is currently assigned to an Appropriations Subcommittee and scheduled to be heard on Thursday, February 9. SB 135 – Introduced by Senator Linda Puller, this bill establishes the Virginia All-Payer Claims Database system, in order to facilitate data-driven, evidence-based improvements in access, quality, and cost of health care through understanding of health care expenditure patterns and operation and performance of the health care system. This bill has been assigned to an Education and Health Subcommittee and scheduled to be heard on Tuesday, February 7. HB 357 – Proposed by Delegate Jennifer McClellan, this bill creates the Virginia Health Benefits Exchange Authority as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth. The Authority is charged with establishing and operating health benefit exchanges for qualified individuals and small businesses, collectively referred to as the Exchange. The measure also provides for the Authority to perform, or provide for the performance by other state agencies of, duties associated with the operation of the Exchange as required by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and implements the intent set forth in Chapter 823 of the 2011 Acts of Assembly that Virginia create and operate its own health benefits exchange to preserve and enhance competition in the health insurance market. This bill was referred to a Commerce and Labor Subcommittee, but its consideration has been postponed to a later date. January 31, 2012 The 2012 Regular Session of General Assembly is currently in full swing and runs through Saturday, March 10, 2012. During this year’s session, lawmakers will tackle Governor McDonnell’s proposed $85 billion, two-year budget and other key issues. Legislative session information including daily House and Senate convene and adjourn times can be found at each body's respective twitter accounts, @vahouse and @vasenate. In addition, to view House session live video, visit http://virginia-house.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3 and to view Senate session live video, visit http://virginia-senate.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3. University and health system state legislative priorities, highlights, bill tracking lists and more can be found on the Office of Government Relations’ website at www.govrel.vcu.edu. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 828-1235 or govrel@vcu.edu if you have questions or need assistance. At the State Capitol: Legislative Proposals Impacting VCU HB 398 – Introduced by Delegate Patrick Hope of Arlington, this bill would require that any decision by a radiology benefits manager to deny treating a physician's order or recommendation for a diagnostic radiology test be made by a physician. It was referred to the Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions and the assigned subcommittee recommended continuing this proposal to 2013. January 24, 2012 Senate Approves Congressional Redistricting Plan On Friday, the Virginia Senate cleared a congressional redistricting plan, sending it to Governor McDonnell for his signature. The map, which was approved by the House last week, passed the Senate on a 20-19 vote, with one Democrat absent. The plan is expected to preserve the current Congressional delegation split of eight Republicans and three Democrats. The measure passed the House in 2011 but was never taken up by the Democratic-controlled Senate, which advanced its own plan that would have created a second district with a significant minority population to go along with Representative Bobby Scott’s current seat. Though the bill is ready to become law, it still must receive approval from the U.S. Justice Department to ensure it complies with the Voting Rights Act. 2012 Regular Session of the General Assembly The 2012 Regular Session of General Assembly is currently in full swing and runs through Saturday, March 10, 2012. During this year’s session, lawmakers will tackle Governor McDonnell’s proposed $85 billion, two-year budget and other key issues. Legislative session information including daily House and Senate convene and adjourn times can be found at each body's respective twitter accounts, @vahouse and @vasenate. In addition, to view House session live video, visit http://virginia-house.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3 and to view Senate session live video, visit http://virginia-senate.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3. University and health system state legislative priorities, highlights, bill tracking lists and more can be found on the Office of Government Relations’ website at www.govrel.vcu.edu. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 828-1235 or govrel@vcu.edu if you have questions or need assistance. January 16, 2012 2012 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The 2012 Regular Session of General Assembly has started and runs through Saturday, March 10, 2012. During this year’s session, lawmakers will tackle Governor McDonnell’s proposed $85 billion, two-year budget and other key issues. Legislative session information including daily House and Senate convene and adjourn times can be found at each body's respective twitter accounts, @vahouse and @vasenate . In addition, to view House session live video, visit http://virginia-house.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3 and to view Senate session live video, visit http://virginia-senate.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3 . University and health system state legislative priorities, highlights, bill tracking lists and more can be found on the Office of Government Relations’ website at www.govrel.vcu.edu . Please do not hesitate to contact us at 828-1235 or govrel@vcu.edu if you have questions or need assistance. House Approves Congressional Redistricting Plan. The Virginia House of Delegates approved a congressional redistricting plan Friday, setting the stage for a Senate vote on the controversial map. The House passed the measure, which draws new congressional lines based on the results of the 2010 Census, on a 74 to 21 vote. The tally marked the second time the chamber has passed the plan, as the same map was approved in 2011 but was not advanced by the Democratic-controlled Senate, which had its own proposed map. The House-passed map would shore up the state’s congressional incumbents, possibly preserving the current split of eight Republicans and three Democrats. The Democrats’ Senate bill would have altered Representative Randy Forbes’ current district by significantly boosting its percentage of African American voters and raising the possibility that the state could elect another black congressman along with Representative Bobby Scott. Now that Republicans have effective control of the Senate, the GOP may be positioned to approve its preferred measure next week. However, the GOP-authored redistricting plan still faces some hurdles. Under the Voting Rights Act, Virginia’s district lines must be approved by the U.S. Justice Department before they can take effect, a process that can last as long as 60 days.
January 10, 2012 2012 Regular Session of the General Assembly Begins The 2012 Regular Session of the General Assembly will convene on Wednesday, January 11, at 12 noon. Members will meet for 60 days this year and the session is expected to adjourn sine die no later than Saturday, March 10, 2012. To view the session calendar, please visit http://dls.virginia.gov/pubs/calendar/cal2012_2.pdf . Legislative session information including daily House and Senate convene and adjourn times can be found at each body's respective twitter accounts, @vahouse and @vasenate . To view the university and health system state legislative priorities, highlights, bill tracking lists and more, visit the Office of Government Relations’ website at www.govrel.vcu.edu . Please do not hesitate to contact us at 828-1235 or govrel@vcu.edu if you have questions or need assistance. December 20, 2011 Governor McDonnell Unveils Biennial Budget Governor McDonnell has unveiled his two-year budget for Fiscal Years 2013 and 2014, as well as his amendments to the concluding Fiscal Year 2012 budget, in a speech to the Joint Money Committees of the General Assembly. The Governor’s budget includes the greatest employer funding of the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) in state history, provides significant new resources for higher education and K-12, prioritizes funds for transportation maintenance, and supplies more tools for job creation efforts in the state. The budget focuses state spending on the core functions of government, and on policies most directly tied to job creation and economic development, while not raising taxes. For VCU and the VCU Health System, the Governor’s budget provides an increase of $8.9 million in each year of the biennium in state general funds to support achievement of the goals of the Virginia Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011 (Top Jobs Act, TJ21). The budget also continues funding of $5 million each year of the biennium for the Massey Cancer Center to support research activities and to support Massey achieving NCI Comprehensive status. In regards to the Higher Education Research Initiative, the Governor’s budget appropriates $1.5 million in each year to support continued cancer research at Massey. Also included is operating support to VCU of $250,000 each year for the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park and $250,000 in planning funds for the construction and renovation of Information Commons and Libraries, Sanger Hall - Phase II, and Virginia Treatment Center for Children at VCU Health System. The introduced budget continues the reduction from the 2010-12 biennium for indigent care services paid to VCU, estimated at $9.35 million each year. The leadership of the VCU Medical Center is meeting with Administration officials and continuing to analyze the full impact of these reductions. The full text of the Governor’s remarks to the Joint Money Committees can be found here: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/utility/docs/Address%20to%20the%20Joint%20Money%20Committees%20December%2019,%202011.pdf December 5, 2011 Governor Bob McDonnell has announced his government reform initiatives that are contained in a Government Reorganization Plan submitted to the General Assembly. The proposals are a result of the ongoing work of the Governor's Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring. The proposals include eliminating two state agencies; merging seven state agencies into others; eliminating 19 boards and commissions; merging 23 boards and commissions to form 11 boards and commissions; moving four offices and initiatives; and, de-regulating three professions. The Government Reorganization Plan will be considered as a resolution in the 2012 Session of the General Assembly. Initial estimates by the Department of Planning and Budget find that the submitted reforms will save at least $2 million per year. Additionally, the Governor issued two executive directives to improve operational efficiencies. The directives will implement administrative recommendations of the Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring that will allow for better cooperation among state agencies, implement more streamlined purchasing of essential commodities such as energy, water, waste, and document management services, and provide for a more advanced travel and human resources management system. For more information, visit HERE . October 10, 2011 Governor McDonnell's chief of staff is asking state agency heads to conduct sweeping reviews of their programs, including reconsidering endeavors that require state funds as a match to federal grants and even programs or services required by law. In preparing his first two-year budget, the Governor is looking for potential budget savings in two ways:
Regarding the expectations for higher education, Governor McDonnell would like to see recommendations come from the Higher Education Commission and Higher Education Advisory Committee (HEAC) or some other collaborative process. HEAC is currently discussing system wide incentives as well as institutional initiatives and the Governor would like to employ a similar approach to savings at the institutional level. This would allow for redirecting funds to certain state priorities and goals as well as new initiatives within higher education. A small workgroup will be created to consider the possibilities for the higher education community, but colleges and universities are asked to submit recommendations no later than November 1. State agency heads have until October 17 to submit their plans to the Department of Planning and Budget. If you have questions, contact Mark Rubin (merubin@vcu.edu) or Mark Smith (mesmith@vcu.edu). Our office phone number is: 804-828-1235.
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President's House 910W. Franklin Street P.O. Box 842512 Richmond, Virginia 23284-2512 Phone: (804) 828-1235 Fax: (804) 828-1764 |
