Office of Children’s Services Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Policy Regarding Interaction of CSA with Federal Foster Care Funding Streams
The Office of Children’s Services is requesting comments on a proposed State Executive Council (SEC) policy that would require local Community Policy and Management Teams (CPMTs) to develop a policy outlining how the local CSA program will interact and align with the provisions of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA). FFPSA was enacted in […]
Chesterfield Fire and EMS to Receive Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS Award
Pictured from left: Firefighter and Paramedic Wayland Hudgins, Lieutenant Daniel Stamp and Firefighter and Paramedic Colin McCann. The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and medical technology company Masimo announced Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services (CFEMS) will receive the Excellence in Fire-Service Based EMS award for its Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) program. The MIH […]
Business NOT as Usual…Resources That Can Help
Amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic countless communities across the globe have been impacted. We know our counties (cities, public agencies) are working tirelessly to address their community needs but are hindered by their availability to procure the necessary products and services. All businesses have been impacted by capacity, productivity, supply chain output and more. As […]
Local Government Operations Guidance from the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia
From: Dean Lynch & Phyllis Errico To: VACo Board of Directors Re: Guidance from the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia Many of you have contacted us seeking advice on how to continue operations in light of the current emergency environment. Each local entity must consult with their legal advisor but attached is some guidance including a […]
Visit Alleghany County and the LOVEwork at Humpback Covered Bridge
LOVEwork at Humpback Bridge. The “L” was created with historic bricks from the area. The “O” is a gear from one of the old paper machines at MWV, representing the history of manufacturing in the area. The “V” is the natural feature created by a tree in the creek bank. The “E” was created with […]
The Value of VACo’s Supervisors’ Certification Program
By Bob Babyok | Supervisor | Louisa County Supervisors’ Certification Graduate | Class of 2019 My definition of Professional Certification. A person accredited by a professional organization after demonstrating the knowledge, qualifications and skills for competent performance exhibited by completion of that organization’s qualified program of study. As a recent graduate, I can attest […]
The Census is Here. Is Your Community Ready?
A message from VACo Partner – Voices for Virginia’s Children. Contact Lauren Snellings for more information. The 2020 Census is just around the corner. The self-response website goes live on March 12, and invitations to participate will start arriving at households across the country. It is important that each person in your community is counted […]
General Assembly Adopts Budget
The General Assembly approved compromise conference reports on the FY 2020 “caboose” and 2020-2022 biennium budgets on Thursday, March 12. Conferees struck an agreement on the budgets late on Saturday, March 7, and legislators agreed to return on March 12 in order to allow time for members to review the conference report prior to voting […]
Revenue fairness bills headed to the Governor’s desk
HB 785 (Watts and Kilgore) and SB 588 (Hanger and Favola) passed the General Assembly on Sunday, March 8, and are headed to the Governor for final action. The bills, which incorporated related measures by Delegate Krizek and Senators Lewis, Locke, and Mason, are now identical after a compromise was negotiated in a conference committee. […]
Collective bargaining legislation conference report
Legislation changing provisions of the Code related to collective bargaining for public employers and employees came out of conference committee and passed the House and Senate with language preserving local option for local public employers. HB 582 (Guzman)/SB 939 (Saslaw) were substituted in conference committee with language that preserves the prohibition on striking by public […]
Key transportation legislation updates
Signature legislation supported by Governor Ralph Northam to make major changes to the state’s transportation funding system survived conference committee and was approved by both the House and Senate. HB 1414 (Filler-Corn)/SB 890 (Saslaw) were filed by the Speaker of the House and Majority Leader of the Senate and would generate an estimated $700 million […]
Split precincts bill passes with amendments
SB 740 (Obenshain and Barker) seeks to address the issue of split precincts, in which one polling place serves voters in more than one state House or Senate or congressional district. As reported in an earlier edition of Capitol Contact, similar legislation has been considered and passed by the Senate in the last several years. […]
Virginia Food Access and Investment Fund finally approved and funded by General Assembly
After years of effort, the Virginia Food Access Investment Fund (VFAIF) has finally been approved and funded by the General Assembly. The VFAIF is designed to provide funding for the construction, rehabilitation, equipment upgrades, or expansion of grocery stores, small food retailers, and innovative food retail projects in underserved communities. The effort is a refreshed and […]
Minimum wage legislation conference report
The House and Senate have agreed on the details of legislation to raise the minimum wage for workers in Virginia from the current rate of $7.25 per hour to $9.50 per hour beginning on January 1, 2021. The conference report for HB 395 (Ward)/SB 7 (Saslaw) represents a compromise between the House and Senate, a […]
Redistricting Constitutional amendment and criteria bills pass
After intense debate on the House floor, SJ 18 (Barker), the Constitutional amendment establishing a bipartisan commission to draw district lines, passed by a vote of 54-46 in the waning days of the session. The amendment had already passed the Senate in mid-February by a large margin. House members also considered, but ultimately rejected, a […]
General Assembly green lights marijuana decriminalization
The General Assembly has officially voted to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. After two months of amendments, hearings, and floor debate, Senator Adam Ebbin’s SB 2 finally passed both the Senate and House of Delegates on March 8, and will now be sent to Governor Ralph Northam for consideration. Under current law […]