On Monday, March 1, the 2021 Special Session of the General Assembly (GA) formally adjourned “sine die,” a Latin term meaning it has adjourned “without a day” to reconvene.
Category: 2021 Legislative Highlights
Our View of the Legislature: Traumatic Brain Injury
The bills that concern people with brain injury are now nearly complete. Please know that, after a bill is approved by both houses of the legislature, it goes to the Governor for review. The Governor can sign the bill, can veto the bill or can amend the bill. If the bill is sent to the Governor with seven days or more left in the session, he must act on it within seven days.
Our View of the Legislature: Children’s Services Act
As part of dLCV’s mission is to advocate for individuals with disabilities to receive services in the least restrictive environment, we’ve been closely monitoring legislation throughout the 2021 sessions that seek to modify Children’s Services Act (CSA) funding.
Our View of the Legislature: Mental Health
Of the many bills we are watching relating to mental illness that the General Assembly is working on, most are near completion and but at least one issue is headed to conference.
Our View of the Legislature: Voting
The General Assembly is now in its final week. The legislature is scheduled to end its session a week from today, March 1, 2021. Committees must conclude their work early this week in order for any remaining bills to make their way through the rest of the process. Significant bills expanding voting protections for people with disabilities are nearing final days of work.
Our View of the Legislature: Special Education
As we near the end of this session, what has happened in the world of special education so far? It’s been an incredible year looking at the impacts of Covid-19 in our schools, the funding mechanisms of the Children’s Services Act, regulatory definitions of traumatic-brain injury, and so much more!
Our View of the Legislature: Budget
The 2021 session of the General Assembly continues as lawmakers vote on hundreds of bills and consider amendments to the Virginia state budget, which was presented to the public by Governor Ralph Northam in December.
Our View of the Legislature: Housing
There is one bill in the legislature relating to housing discrimination for people with disabilities.
Our View of the Legislature: Traumatic Brain Injury
The legislature now has less than two weeks left in the session. However, they have already taken action on several bills before the legislature that will impact the rights of people with traumatic brain injury.
Our View of the Legislature: Auxiliary Grants
We are following the two budget bills to track their impact on people with disabilities. Of concern had been an item in the Senate budget bill relating to auxiliary grant awards.