Most 2009 bills become law tomorrow
Richmond, VA - The ACLU of Virginia today released its annual review of the Virginia legislative session. Civil Liberties Review: 2009 Session of the Virginia General Assembly describes nearly 100 bills pertaining to civil liberties and civil rights in Virginia. The bills are divided into 11 categories: Free Expression/Right to Petition, Religious Liberty, Restoration of Voting Rights, Death Penalty, Reproductive Rights, Immigrants’ Rights, Equal Rights, Privacy Rights, Criminal Justice and Due Process, Voting Rights, and Open Government. Nearly all of the bills that passed will become law on July 1.
The Civil Liberties Review is available at http://www.acluva.org/publications/civillibertiesreview2009web.pdf
The 2009 General Assembly...
- Reversed the State Board of Elections’ controversial ban on political apparel at the polls, allowing the ACLU to drop legal challenge (Civil Liberties Review, p. 1-2)
- Added broad new protections for individuals who attempt to remove public officials from office -- a reaction to Gloucester petitioners being fined $80,000 (p. 1)
- Became the 22 nd state to oppose or limit the federal REAL ID Act by refusing to implement aspects of the Act that violate biometric or financial privacy (p. 5)
- Failed to reform Virginia’s worst-in-the-nation felon disfranchisement law, when a bill that passed the Senate failed in a House Committee (p. 4)
- Killed two bills that would have permitted unconstitutional prayers at government meetings (p. 3)
- Passed ‘Choose Life’ specialty license plate, setting up showdown on pro-life plate in a future session (p. 1-2)
- Ordered the State Board of Elections to clear up a confusing residency law that affects the ability of college students to register to vote (p. 13)
- Expanded the death penalty in Virginia but can’t override Governor’s veto (p. 10)
- Failed again to expand police arrest and search powers in Virginia by allowing arrests for Class 1 and 2 misdemeanors (p. 11-12)
- Did not erode reproductive rights for fifth year in succession, although two bills passed House of Delegates (p. 9)
- Required schools to send summary of Family Life Education to all parents (p. 9)
Contact: Kent Willis, 804/644-8022
