Sun Gazette: N.Va. legislators to focus on budget, gun control, redistricting State Sen. Chap Petersen (D-34th) said his main effort will be an ethics-reform bill that would ban legislators from accepting any gifts – tangible or intangible – worth more than $100 unless received from friends and family members. On the environmental front, Petersen will introduce a bill stipulating a 5-cent-per-bag fee on plastic bags used by grocery and convenience stores. While other legislators have tried unsuccessfully to pass such legislation in the past, “I think the time is right in Virginia,” Petersen said. “We’ve got to get off the plastic-bag train, especially for those of us who live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.” Petersen also will submit a bill to allow non-profits and charities to conduct electronic poker games as well as bingo. “I may make the scope wider for other card games,” he said. “This would allow fraternal organizations to have games of chance to raise money for charities.” Petersen also will introduce a “homeowner bill of rights” to ensure people whose properties are part of homeowners associations receive proper notice and due process if fined or sanctioned by those groups. The bill also would give property owners more recourse regarding the spending of homeowner groups’ revenues, he said. Petersen also is considering legislation to tighten up background checks for people performing substance-abuse and mental-health counseling. “I’ve had issues in Fairfax County with clients in a substance-abuse setting where counselors had inappropriate relationships,” he said. “There’s no appropriate screening mechanism, and that needs to change.” Petersen predicted vital issues would force the 2015 session to go beyond its allotted six weeks. bit.ly/1DpQ3hD
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 17:16:47 +0000
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