Local officials; shall not be questioned on any legislative speech, etc., without leave of court. (SB845)
Introduced By
Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Speech or debate immunity; local officials. Provides that local officials who are members of public bodies with legislative powers are immune from civil liability or criminal prosecution for any speech or debate engaged in by the officials during the exercise of such powers, and that they shall not be compelled by law to be questioned on such speech or debate in any other place without leave of court. The public body still retains its authority to regulate the conduct of its members. Read the Bill »
Status
02/16/2011: Subcommittee Recommends Killing the Bill
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 01/07/2011 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/11 11100777D |
| 01/07/2011 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| 01/11/2011 | Assigned Courts sub: Civil |
| 02/07/2011 | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (8-Y 5-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/07/2011 | Committee substitute printed 11104385D-S1 |
| 02/08/2011 | Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/08/2011 | Read second time |
| 02/08/2011 | Reading of substitute waived |
| 02/08/2011 | Committee substitute agreed to 11104385D-S1 |
| 02/08/2011 | Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB845S1 |
| 02/08/2011 | Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/08/2011 | Passed Senate (20-Y 20-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/08/2011 | Chair votes Yes |
| 02/09/2011 | Placed on Calendar |
| 02/09/2011 | Read first time |
| 02/09/2011 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| 02/10/2011 | Assigned Courts sub: #2 Civil |
| 02/16/2011 | Subcommittee recommends laying on the table |
| 02/22/2011 | No action taken by Courts of Justice |
Comments
What is the motivation for this bill? What incident spurred it?
I'm surprised a provision like this does not already exist in Virginia's code. The U.S. Constitution has protected Members of Congress in similar language since 1789.