EV Alert: Weekly Legislative Update

2007 General Assembly Legislative Weekly Update

Equality Virginia continues to track legislation affecting the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Virginians in the General Assembly.

Most importantly, this past week saw the defeat of anti-GSA legislation, the third year in a row such legislation had been introduced, and the third year it had been defeated. 

Check below for important updates on bills we are still tracking.  We've already sent over 75,000 emails this session! Keep up the good work! To send free emails on the measures below, go to Equality Virginia's Advocacy Center today! You can also call the Constituent Hotline at 1-800-889-0229. 

Below are measures that Equality Virginia Opposes (click on the bill number to view the full text of the bill):

HB 1727  Local school board; student organizations.   Del. Matthew Lohr . This bill would require that local school boards obtain express written permission from a parent or legal guardian before any student becomes a member of or attends the meeting of a non-curriculum-related student organization. Designed to suppress participation in Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs), this bill could prevent at-youth risk from being able to participate in a critical support network, and would provide an unnecessary and costly bureaucratic burden on school boards and educators.

 UPDATE:  This bill was defeated in the Senate Education and Health Committee by a 9-6 vote on Thursday, February 15.  Thank those Senators who voted against this misinformed measure.

Equality Virginia Supports These Following Measures:

SB 1242 Health insurance program; provision for employees by locality. Senator Mary Margaret Whipple.

This bill would allow any locality that is self-insured to extend coverage under their health care program to any class of persons that may be mutually agreed upon by the locality and the policy holder.

This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 36-4.  It passed the House Committee of Counties, Cities and Towns by a vote of 11-10 on Friday, February 9.  Unfortunately, through a procedural motion made by Del. Clarke Hogan (R-South Boston), this measure was re-referred to the House Appropriations Committee, where a subcommittee voted to kill it by a vote of 4-1. 

HB 2730 Hospital regulations; provision allowing patients to receive visits from whom they desire.  Delegate David Englin  This bill would allow any patient admitted to a hospital in Virginia to state who will be allowed to visit them.

This bill passed the House 97-0, and the Senate Education and Health Committee by a vote of 15-0.  It should be before the full Senate next week for a vote.