Virginia Bills

Provides that an employing unit that willfully fails or refuses to furnish a report required by the Unemployment Compensation Act or to produce or permit the inspection or copying of records is liable to a penalty of $1,000 for each offense. The measure also authorizes the Commissioner of the Virginia Employment Commission to order an employer that continues to violate such provisions after three days' notice to cease and desist all business transactions and operations until it is found to be in compliance.

Establishes limits on the extent to which localities may require zoning approvals for certain wireless support structures. Certain new wireless support structures inside a right-of-way that are 50 feet or less above ground level, designed to support small cell equipment, not in a historic district, and not more than 10 feet tallest existing utility pole within 500 feet in the same right of way, are exempted from requirements that they obtain a special exception, special use permit, or variance. Aspects of the zoning approval process addressed in this measure include periods for approval or disapproval of applications; a requirement that applications are deemed approved if not approved or disapproved within the applicable period; application fees; a prohibition against unreasonably discrimination; and limits on the number of new wireless support structures. The measure also prohibits localities from adopting a moratorium on considering zoning applications submitted by wireless service providers and wireless infrastructure providers.

Provides that the Transitional Rate Period for Virginia Electric and Power Company (Dominion) will conclude on December 31, 2018, and its next biennial review will be conducted in 2019. The Transitional Rate Period for Dominion currently is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2019, and its next biennial review is scheduled to occur in 2022. The measure does not change the date Appalachian Power's Transitional Rate Period is scheduled to conclude (December 31, 2017), but does advance the year of its next biennial review from 2020 to 2018. During the first biennial reviews after the conclusion of the Transitional Rate Period, the State Corporation Commission shall review the earnings of the utilities by utilizing the two successive 12-month test periods ending December 31 of the year preceding the biennial review. During the first biennial reviews after the conclusion of the Transitional Rate Period, the Commission shall review the earnings of the utility during the Transitional Rate Period and, if warranted, shall order credits to customers, order adjustments to rates, or both. The measure also authorizes the Commission to notify customers of such utilities that (i) the General Assembly has authorized the Commission to conduct biennial reviews of the rates, terms, and conditions for any service of the utility during 2018 or 2019, as applicable, and (ii) pursuant to a biennial review, the customer may be entitled to a credit on the customer's bill.