Governor Kaine Announces Action on General Assembly Legislation

Press Release

Governor Kaine Announces Action on General Assembly Legislation

Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced action on bills from the General Assembly that require his action before the end of the session. As of today, he has signed 421 bills, amended 26, and vetoed four, including the actions described below.

Amended Legislation
Energy Conservation

Governor Kaine proposed an amendment to Senate Bill 718 (Puller) that would set a long-term energy conservation goal into law. The bill requires investor-owned electric utilities to report annually on their efforts to conserve energy and their efforts to meet renewable portfolio standard goals, renewable generation overall, and relevant advances in renewable energy generation technology.

The Governor's amendment would set as the official policy of the Commonwealth a goal of reducing the projected increase in energy use in Virginia over the next fifteen years by 40%. The 40% conservation goal matches the goal set by the Virginia Energy Plan, approved by the Governor last summer.

"Increased conservation must be a cornerstone of our strategic approach to energy in Virginia," Governor Kaine said. "Writing a 40% conservation goal into the Code will solidify our commitment to energy conservation measures, help ease the demand for more energy, and help address global warming.
Signed Legislation
Workforce

Governor Kaine signed four bills that reform Virginia's approach to Workforce Development. The bills were introduced at the Governor's request.

Senate Bill 252 (Ruff)/ House Bill 1312 (Byron) transfers responsibility for the management of the Commonwealth's workforce development program to the Virginia Community College System and requires that the workforce strategic plan be developed in coordination with the economic development strategic plan.

Senate Bill 253 (Ruff) / House Bill 925 (Byron) require the Virginia Employment Commission to provide Virginia State Job Service services to provide employment stabilization, according to the provisions of the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49f) and as amended by the Workforce Investment Act.

"Virginia's continued economic success is built on the strength of our workforce," Governor Kaine said. "I asked that these measures be introduced to help ensure that the Commonwealth's approach to workforce development is strategic, coordinated, and successful."
ABC store hours of operation

House Bill 908 (Gear) allows ABC stores to be open on Sunday in any city with a population of 100,000 or more. Since 2004, ABC stores may be open on Sunday, at the discretion of the ABC Board, in the Counties of Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun, and Prince William, and in the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax City, Manassas, Manassas Park, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach. The bill adds the Cities of Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Richmond, and Chesapeake.
Cigarette fire safety

Senate Bill 208 (Stosch) / House Bill 228 (Cosgrove) require that cigarettes manufactured or sold in the Commonwealth meet a performance standard for fire safety.

"Ensuring that the cigarettes sold in Virginia meet a minimum fire safety standard is a commonsense way to prevent fires and protect public safety," Governor Kaine said.
Birth injury program

Senate Bill 211 (Edwards) increases the annual assessment for physicians and hospitals who participate in the Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program. The bill also increases the size of the board of directors from seven to nine by requiring two additional citizen members, and defines specific fields of expertise to be represented on board.
Salvinorin

House Bill 21 (O'Bannon) includes Salvinorin A in controlled substance Schedule I as a hallucinogenic drug.
Vetoed Legislation

Governor Kaine announced that he has vetoed Senate Bill 560 (Obenshain) and House Bill 933 (Gilbert), identical bills which would have allowed persons other than those who actually commit a murder to be eligible for capital punishment.

"Virginia is already second in the nation in the number of executions we carry out," Governor Kaine said. "While the nature of the offense targeted by this legislation is very serious, I do not believe that further expansion of the death penalty is necessary to protect human life."

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