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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
Office of the Governor
Mark R. Warner FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Governor April 6, 2002
Contact: Ellen Qualls
Phone: (804) 786-2211, x2379
Cell Phone: (804) 393-9429
Internet: www.governor.state.va.us
GOVERNOR WARNER SIGNS ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION
RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced action on a series of measures approved by the General Assembly. At this point in the bill review process, the Governor has acted on 710 of the 899 pieces of legislation that have come to his desk. The Constitution of Virginia requires that the Governor's action on all legislation be completed by midnight on Monday, April 8th.
Governor Warner issued the following statement on this series of bills:
Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy
HB 9 (Delegate Hamilton)
For too long, the agency charged with safeguarding human rights for persons with disabilities has been part of the same executive branch as the agencies it oversees. That relationship creates an unnecessary conflict of interest. In more than 40 other states, the oversight responsibility is given to agencies outside the executive branch - truly independent agencies that can advocate for persons with disabilities more effectively. I worked with Delegate Hamilton this year to make the existing Department for Rights of Virginians with Disabilities truly independent.
I am confident that the transfer of authority to the new Virginia Office of Protection and Advocacy will increase the confidence of all Virginians that our new system has only one constituency - persons with disabilities who have experienced or are at risk of abuse, neglect or discrimination. I have signed that measure into law.
Career & Technical Education Advisory Council
HB 335 (Delegate Hamilton)
Success in America too often has been defined by earning a college degree. As a result, public schools have focused nearly exclusively on preparing students for college, even if that is not the best choice for the individual student. Virginia cannot afford to treat vocational and technical education as a second-class education any longer.
As I announced in my address to the Joint Assembly in January, I intend to issue an executive order to establish the Virginia Career Education Foundation. This public-private foundation will leverage private investment to expand career and technical training in our public schools. It will provide a forum for strengthening business involvement in preparing our young people for the demands of a changing workforce.
The creation of a statewide panel to recommend a coordinated, multi-agency approach for career and technical programs in our public schools is a logical companion to that initiative. The General Assembly passed a measure to create such a panel, and I have signed it into law.
Public-Private Transportation Act
HB 1373 (Delegate Thomas)
Anyone who drives Interstate 81 knows the sooner this road is widened and car and truck traffic is separated, the safer all motorists will be. I have signed this bill, which makes important changes to the Public-Private Transportation Act. The bill provides authorization for the Virginia Department of Transportation to consider public-private proposals which may include the imposition of tolls on interstate highways provided additional capacity is added to the highway. HB 1373 also modifies the procurement procedures to strengthen the Public-Private Transportation Act.
With the signing of this legislation, VDOT will be able to proceed with consideration of a PPTA proposal to widen Interstate 81 and impose tolls on new lanes dedicated to truck traffic. This is an innovative approach to enhancing our state transportation system and protecting our citizens who drive on I-81.
Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002 SB 681 (Senator Stosch)
As a businessman, I know that innovation in government is most likely when it partners with the private sector. The Public-Private Transportation Act is a good model for working cooperatively to advance Virginia's infrastructure needs. This year, I worked with Senator Stosch and others to develop a novel bipartisan measure to set up a similar public-private process for designing and constructing public buildings of all types.
This measure creates an alternative financing approach for public projects at the local level, and it will allow greater use of public buildings for multiple functions. This is the kind of innovative thinking we need to leverage the talents and resources of the private sector in helping to address our public needs. I have signed this measure into law.
Virginia Military Advisory Council
SB 322 (Senator Stolle)
In the wake of the September 11th terrorist attack, it has become clear that a key part of Virginia's preparedness strategy is cooperation and coordination with the many military facilities in our Commonwealth. While previous Governors have used the Virginia Military Advisory Council as a tool for promoting preparedness, this panel was eliminated in 2001. I have proposed and now signed legislation that will re-institute the Virginia Military Advisory Council to create a forum of cooperation for the Governor and the heads of the military installations located in Virginia.
Expanding Child Abuse Recognition Training
HB 773 (Delegate Watts)
Under legislation the General Assembly approved, animal control officers will receive training to recognize and report cases of potential child abuse and neglect. This is based on the premise that children living in homes where animals are abused may be threatened by abuse as well. This measure is an important new tool to help protect the children of Virginia. I have signed this measure into law.
I am proud that the First Lady serves as honorary chair of Prevent Child Abuse Virginia. There is no better way to recognize national Child Abuse Prevention Month than to sign legislation guaranteeing that additional personnel will be trained to identify cases of potential child abuse.
Additional Privacy Protections for Stalking and Domestic Violence Victims SB 518 & 485 (Senator Howell)
These measures provide additional privacy protections for stalking and domestic violence victims who have obtained protective orders. Specifically, they prohibit release of the victim's address, telephone number, or place of employment except when needed for a criminal investigation. In addition, these bills strengthen cooperation between law enforcement officials by requiring protective orders to be entered into the Virginia Criminal Information Network System - a central databank designed as a tool to make it easier for law enforcement to track criminals across jurisdictional lines. In addition, Senate Bill 518 prohibits fees from being charged for a family abuse protective order, bringing Virginia into compliance with the federal Violence Against Women Act. I have signed these measures into law.
Cross Burning
SB 111 (Senator Yvonne Miller) & HB 1173 (Delegate Sears)
Burning a cross is never about free speech. Historically in Virginia, these aggressive acts have clearly been intended to intimidate. They are reprehensible and intolerable. Virginia had an anti-cross burning statute on the books for many years, but the Supreme Court of Virginia struck the law down last fall.
This year, the General Assembly passed new legislation that will put back in place the ban on cross-burning using Constitutionally defensible language. Without referring to a cross, the measure makes it a class six felony to burn any object with the intent of intimidating another person. This legislation will further demonstrate that there is no place for hate in Virginia, and accordingly, I have signed this measure into law.
Driver's Licensing Procedures
SB 162 (Senator Byrne) & HB 638 (Delegate O'Brien)
Like all Virginians, I was disturbed to learn of the loophole in Virginia's driver's licensing procedures that was brought to light after September 11. While the state has made a number of administrative changes to address our security weaknesses with driver's licensing, legislation was needed to further tighten policies on issuing driver's licenses and official identification cards. This legislation is a significant step forward in enhancing the security of all Virginians. Today I signed this measure into law.
Parole Board Reforms
SB 647 (Senator Yvonne Miller)
The month before I took office, I was angered to learn that convicted murderers had been paroled without adequate notice to the victims' families and to the local law enforcement and prosecutors. It was clear that reform of the Parole Board was needed in order to protect the safety of our communities. For this reason, I asked Senator Miller to introduce legislation that will strengthen notification requirements for victims and local law enforcement.
The legislation also gives me the authority to make the Parole Board leaner and more efficient. I have already appointed two board members who will agree to move to part-time status when this legislation takes effect. Today I signed this measure into law.
Improving Information Technology Procurement
HB 519 (Delegate Devolites)
The Information Age can bring significant cost savings to any organization, including state government - but only if we harness its opportunities wisely. For too long, state information technology projects have experienced too many major cost overruns. It's time to deliver IT projects on time and on budget. By reforming IT procurement and more fully integrating technology into the way we do business, the Commonwealth can serve Virginians better and save money as well. A key first step is legislation to give the Secretary of Technology authority for IT procurement by state agencies, including colleges and universities. I have signed this measure into law.
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