Conflict of Interests Act, State and Local Government; advisory opinions for local officers. (SB288)

Introduced By

Sen. Bill DeSteph (R-Virginia Beach)

Progress

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

Description

State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act; advisory opinions for local officers and employees. Removes the provision that allows a county, city, or town attorney to issue to a local officer or employee an advisory opinion that would shield that officer or employee from future prosecution for knowing violations of the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act. An advisory opinion issued by the attorney for the Commonwealth or the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council will still shield the officer or employee from such prosecution. The bill provides that an advisory opinion issued to a local officer or employee by his county, city, or town attorney may be introduced at a trial for a knowing violation as evidence that he did not knowingly violate the Act. Read the Bill »

Status

03/10/2016: Passed the General Assembly

History

DateAction
01/07/2016Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16101519D
01/07/2016Referred to Committee on Rules
01/18/2016Impact statement from DPB (SB288)
02/11/2016Reported from Rules (14-Y 1-N) (see vote tally)
02/15/2016Read second time and engrossed
02/15/2016Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/15/2016Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/17/2016Placed on Calendar
02/17/2016Read first time
02/17/2016Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
02/17/2016Assigned Courts sub: Ethics
02/29/2016Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N)
03/02/2016Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/04/2016Read second time
03/07/2016Read third time
03/07/2016Passed House BLOCK VOTES (96-Y 0-N)
03/07/2016VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (96-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/08/2016Enrolled
03/08/2016Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB288ER)
03/08/2016Impact statement from DPB (SB288ER)
03/08/2016Signed by Speaker
03/10/2016Signed by President
03/11/2016G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, Monday, April 11, 2016
03/11/2016Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 3/11/16
03/11/2016G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, Sunday, April 10, 2016

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 2 clips in all, totaling 4 minutes.

Transcript

This is a transcript of the video clips in which this bill is discussed.



Del. Randy Minchew (R-Leesburg): BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ATTORNEY WE ASK FOR FULL DISCLOSURE OF THE FACTS THAT THE ACTION WILL NOT BE A VIOLATION. THE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE HAS THE RIGHT TO INTRODUCE THAT OPINION AT TRIAL TO SHOW HE DID NOT KNOWINGLY VIOLATE OUR LAWS. MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE THE BILL PASS.

[Unknown]: TURNING TO PAGE FOUR, SENATE BILL 323 A BILL TO AMEND AND REENACT A SECTION OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION AND POSSESSION OF FIREARMS, PERSONS SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDERS, PENALTY WITH A SUBSTITUTE ON FEBRUARY 26TH AND REPORTING TO THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS ON THE SECOND.