Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override a veto of a bill that prohibits weapons in hospitals that provide mental health care in Virginia.

Highlights:

• Prohibits any firearm, location-restricted knife, or other dangerous weapon, including explosives and stun weapons as defined in § 18.2-308.1, in the building of any hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services in the state, including an emergency department or other facility rendering emergency medical care (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes law enforcement to seize these weapons from unlawful individuals (Sec. 1).

• Specifies violations as a Class 1 Misdemeanor (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this does not apply to the following (Sec. 1):

• A person while in the actual discharge of his official duties as a police officer, sheriff, law-enforcement agent or official, officer or guard of any state correctional institution, or armed security officer;

• Any person who has written authorization from the hospital, including authorization related to an employee's scope of employment; employment; or

• Any person brought into a hospital under the issuance of an emergency custody order or involuntary detention order under the provisions of Article 4 § 37.2-808 et seq.

• Requires the establishment to post this provision on every public entrance of the facility and specifies if it is not on every public entrance the individual should not be charged unless they had actual notice of the prohibitions of this section (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vetoed by Governor Glenn Youngkin

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits weapons in hospitals that provide mental health care in Virginia.

Highlights:

• Prohibits any firearm, location-restricted knife, or other dangerous weapon, including explosives and stun weapons as defined in § 18.2-308.1, in the building of any hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services in the state, including an emergency department or other facility rendering emergency medical care (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes law enforcement to seize these weapons from unlawful individuals (Sec. 1).

• Specifies violations as a Class 1 Misdemeanor (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this does not apply to the following (Sec. 1):

• A person while in the actual discharge of his official duties as a police officer, sheriff, law-enforcement agent or official, officer or guard of any state correctional institution, or armed security officer;

• Any person who has written authorization from the hospital, including authorization related to an employee's scope of employment; employment; or

• Any person brought into a hospital under the issuance of an emergency custody order or involuntary detention order under the provisions of Article 4 § 37.2-808 et seq.

• Requires the establishment to post this provision on every public entrance of the facility and specifies if it is not on every public entrance the individual should not be charged unless they had actual notice of the prohibitions of this section (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits weapons in hospitals that provide mental health care in Virginia.

Highlights:

• Prohibits any firearm, location-restricted knife, or other dangerous weapon, including explosives and stun weapons as defined in § 18.2-308.1, in the building of any hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services in the state, including an emergency department or other facility rendering emergency medical care (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes law enforcement to seize these weapons from unlawful individuals (Sec. 1).

• Specifies violations as a Class 1 Misdemeanor (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this does not apply to the following (Sec. 1):

• A person while in the actual discharge of his official duties as a police officer, sheriff, law-enforcement agent or official, officer or guard of any state correctional institution, or armed security officer;

• Any person who has written authorization from the hospital, including authorization related to an employee's scope of employment; employment; or

• Any person brought into a hospital under the issuance of an emergency custody order or involuntary detention order under the provisions of Article 4 § 37.2-808 et seq.

• Requires the establishment to post this provision on every public entrance of the facility and specifies if it is not on every public entrance the individual should not be charged unless they had actual notice of the prohibitions of this section (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text