Capitol briefs: House passes measure on school start dates

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The Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services takes up bills that would require substance-abuse screening of public-assistance applicants and recipients. It also will consider bills to strengthen reporting requirements in cases of suspected child abuse or neglect.

House passes measure on school start dates

The Virginia House of Delegates has passed a bill to repeal the state's decades-old "Kings Dominion law" requiring school systems to open after Labor Day unless they get a waiver from the Department of Education.

House Bill 1063, carried by Del. Robert Tata, R-Virginia Beach, passed on a 76-23 vote. But the future of the legislation, backed by Gov. Bob McDonnell, is unclear after a Senate committee last week shot down an identical bill.

Currently, school systems can open early only with a waiver from the Virginia Board of Education for "good cause," which 77 of the state's 132 school districts already carry.

Proponents argue that the earlier start would help schools prepare for standardized tests and prevent wasting days and money late in the school year following those tests.

The tourism industry says a pre-Labor Day start would mean a financial hit to the state, especially in popular tourist destinations.

Senate panel OKs physical education bill

The Senate Education and Health Committee on Thursday approved legislation that instructs the state Board of Education to devise regulations governing physical education in schools.

Senate Bill 471, sponsored by Sen. Ralph S. Northam, D-Norfolk, is something of a compromise from legislation he introduced last year to combat childhood obesity. That measure would have required schools to provide the equivalent of 30 minutes of physical activity a day.

Regulations formulated by the board would take effect in the 2015-2016 school year.

In March, Gov. Bob McDonnell rejected the PE requirement in the first veto of his tenure. Physicians had introduced that bill in both chambers. Del. John M. O'Bannon III, R-Henrico, sponsored it in the House, and Northam in the Senate.

Bill would require 6-month term for welfare fraud

People convicted of misdemeanor welfare fraud would face a mandatory six-month sentence under legislation approved by the Senate Courts of Justice Committee.

The penalty would apply to crimes such as misuse of or providing false information to receive benefits for housing, medical, food and energy assistance programs, according to Senate Bill 24, sponsored by Sen. Richard H. Stuart, R-Stafford.

The bill, which passed 8-6 with eight Republican votes, was referred to the Senate Finance Committee, but not before a number of groups representing the poor called the measure an unnecessarily harsh treatment for a vulnerable population.

A Class 1 misdemeanor carries a fine of up to $2,500 and jail term of up to one year.