Eliminates (i) the fee, under current law up to $35, that a local law-enforcement agency is permitted to charge for conducting the background investigation for a concealed handgun permit and (ii) the requirement that the local law-enforcement agency forward to the State Police any amount assessed by the FBI for providing criminal history record information in the background investigation. The bill makes discretionary the current mandatory fee of up to $10 charged by the clerk for processing a concealed handgun permit application or issuing a permit. The bill increases from $10 to $20 the maximum amount, designated solely to fund courthouse and courtroom security, that a local governing body may assess against a convicted defendant as part of the costs in a criminal or traffic case in district or circuit court.

in committee · Virginia · Senate Jan 11, 2017

SB 1383: Coal ash; treatment by utilities, recycling.

Requires electric utilities to recycle as much of their stored coal ash as is imported into the Commonwealth each year, on a pro rata basis. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the State Water Control Board (the Board) to include in any permit authorizing the storage of coal ash a requirement that the utility treat an amount of its coal ash equal to its share of the total amount of coal ash in Virginia multiplied by the amount of ash that is imported that year for use in concrete or other products. The bill authorizes each utility to recover its treatment costs from its ratepayers while requiring the utility to make an effort to sell the treated coal ash. Finally, the bill directs the Department of Transportation to enter into a memorandum of understanding with DEQ as required to permit the transportation and treatment of coal ash.