Dam safety; penalties. (HB597)

Introduced By

Del. Beverly Sherwood (R-Winchester) with support from 10 copatrons, whose average partisan position is:

Those copatrons are Del. Clay Athey (R-Front Royal), Del. Vince Callahan (R-McLean), Del. Ben Cline (R-Amherst), Del. Tom Gear (R-Hampton), Del. Steve Landes (R-Weyers Cave), Del. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Woodbridge), Del. Chris Saxman (R-Staunton), Del. John Welch (R-Virginia Beach), Del. Rob Wittman (R-Montross), Del. Tommy Wright (R-Victoria)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Dam safety; penalties. Provides the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board and the Department of Conservation with the enforcement tools needed to ensure the safety of Virginia's dams, and includes due process procedures to protect dam owners. The Department is given the authority to monitor and inspect any alteration or construction of the dam. The bill imposes a Class 3 misdemeanor penalty on an owner who knowingly (i) operates, constructs, or alters a dam without the approval of the Department, or (ii) obstructs, hinders, or prevents the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board, or its agents from performing their dam safety duties. The Board also has the option of imposing civil penalties, not to exceed $25,000, for violations of the Dam Safety Act. The moneys collected from the imposition of civil penalties will be deposited in the Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Fund. Read the Bill »

Status

03/02/2006: signed by governor

History

DateAction
01/10/2006Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/06 067242118
01/10/2006Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
02/01/2006Fiscal impact statement from DPB (HB597)
02/01/2006Reported from ACNR with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
02/01/2006Committee substitute printed 067272504-H1
02/02/2006Read first time
02/03/2006Read second time
02/03/2006Committee substitute agreed to 067272504-H1
02/03/2006Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB597H1
02/06/2006Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (98-Y 0-N)
02/06/2006VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (98-Y 0-N)
02/06/2006Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House
02/06/2006Passed House BLOCK VOTE (100-Y 0-N)
02/06/2006VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (100-Y 0-N)
02/06/2006Communicated to Senate
02/07/2006Constitutional reading dispensed
02/07/2006Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
02/08/2006Fiscal impact statement from DPB (HB597H1)
02/13/2006Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (13-Y 0-N)
02/14/2006Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)
02/14/2006VOTE: (40-Y 0-N)
02/15/2006Read third time
02/15/2006Passed Senate (38-Y 0-N)
02/15/2006VOTE: (38-Y 0-N)
02/20/2006Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB597ER)
02/20/2006Enrolled
02/21/2006Signed by Speaker
02/22/2006Signed by President
02/23/2006Fiscal impact statement from DPB (HB597ER)
03/02/2006G Approved by Governor-Chapter 30 (effective 7/1/06)
03/27/2006G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0030)