The 2012 General Assembly session is nearly at its half-way point. In just two weeks, we will reach the "cross-over" phase of the current session, signifying that the House of Delegates has concluded its scheduled business and will begin working on legislation that has already been passed by the State Senate. In addition to bills introduced by individual members, the General Assembly will also be appointing judges, debating the Governor's proposals regarding transportation and government efficiency, and approving a new two-year state budget.
I am pleased to have been reappointed to the Transportation Committee, and the Militia, Police, and Public Safety Committee. Bills assigned to these committees address some of the issues that are extremely important to our communities. I am proud to cast votes in these committees for legislation designed to bring greater transportation funding to Northern Virginia, and legislation to ensure that our public safety officials receive the resources and training necessary to keep our children and families safe.
I would like to share with you some of the legislation that I have introduced this session:
HB 699: Allocation of funds for highway maintenance. This bill seeks to change the transportation maintenance formula currently in place, which is based upon an outdated standard, to one that reflects the actual state of the roads, bridges, tunnels and rails as determined by upgraded scientific standards. Northern Virginia, with 25 percent of the overall state population, now receives only 14 percent of the funds available for roadway maintenance. The new standard this bill would put forward will ensure that appropriate funding is directed to those areas with the greatest need.
HB 700: Penalty for crimes against incapacitated or older adults. This bill would increase the degree of violation for those crimes committed against elder adults, when the individual committing the crime was responsible for the care of the victim. This bill addresses the dramatic increase in crimes against seniors, which in Fairfax County rose 50 percent between 2008 and 2009, and continues to grow each year. Moreover, despite this increasing trend, police and the AARP have emphasized that crimes against seniors by their caretakers still remain seriously undereported.
HB 701: Campus police reporting certain incidents to local law-enforcement agency. This bill calls for campus police departments to enter into mutual aid agreements with local law enforcement, in which each will provide support and resources to the other in crimes dealing with rape and murder investigations.
HB 705: Diagnostic procedures resulting from preventive care or screening. This bill prohibits a healthcare insurer from imposing cost-sharing requirements with respect to any diagnostic service or test, or related procedure, that is administered during a scheduled covered preventive care or wellness visit.
HB 706: This bill would clarify code language in order to ensure that the driver of a car stops for pedestrians crossing at marked crosswalks, or at intersections not controlled by traffic signals.
During this year's General Assembly session, nearly 2,500 pieces of legislation have been introduced. My legislative colleagues and I will continue to discuss, debate, and vote on these proposed bills before the session concludes on March 10. I encourage you to visit my website, www.EileenFillerCorn.com, where you can learn about legislation that I have patroned or co-sponsored this year. In addition, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts by completing my 2012 Survey, where you can answer a few quick questions regarding those issues that are most important to you
Please do not hesitate to contact me while I am in Richmond. You can reach me by e-mail at DelEFiller-Corn@house.virginia.gov or at 804-698-1041.
Thank you for your interest in the House of Delegates' deliberations in Richmond this year. I look forward to seeing you out and about when I return to the 41st District.