Richmond, VA- Delegate Mark Sickles (D-43) announced he will be introducing fourteen bills and a Joint Resolution on the opening day of the 2011 General Assembly session. In addition to finding transportation solutions, protecting the Commonwealth’s reputation for fiscal prudence, his own introduced bills cover health care, homeowner associations, clean energy, texting while driving in construction zones, driver’s education for home schooled children, and equal rights for women. His most important bill requires the Commonwealth to contribute to the underfunded Virginia Retirement System (VRS) when there is a surplus at the end of the fiscal year.

The VRS bill changes the priorities for use of ‘surplus’ funds.  Currently, surplus funds are first deposited into the “rainy day fund” according to a complex formula. Next, ten percent is allocated to the water quality fund, some to college building funds, and then to, the transportation trust fund. This bill, as introduced, requires any and all previous deferments to VRS be paid in full as soon as possible. The Joint Legislative and Review Commission (JLARC) recently determined that VRS has been underfunded by $17.6 billion over the last decade. “Our first obligation, both legally and to our employees, is to make sure their promised retirement is secure, and to not burden future taxpayers with debts we accumulate today,” said Delegate Sickles. “It is our foremost obligation.”

On health care, Delegate Sickles is introducing a bill to allow for consumer online access to electronic medical records. In some situations, patients have been denied direct access to their own electronic health care records. One other bill would make technical corrections to a section of code that relates to immunizations. Another bill adds two representatives from the health care services system to the Board of Health Professions, in order to ensure a broader number of voices on the regulatory body.

Delegate Sickles is also introducing a bill that makes sure home school parents will be allowed to attend a required parent-student section of Virginia’s driver’s education courses. Scott Price, an executive with the Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers, said “the bill gives home school and private school students and parents access to the 90-minute ‘partners for safe driving education component’ offered by the public school.”

Two bills relate to homeowner associations. The first expands the jurisdiction of the general district court to disputes arising from covenant contracts and allowing reasonable attorney fees and costs to the prevailing party to be granted. The court may also order the violating owner to remedy the contract dispute. Another HOA related bill closes a loophole to require lawn services to give reasonable notice to residents when they spray pesticides on HOA property. This is already required for single family homes and at all condominiums and apartment complexes.

In order to increase worker safety in construction zones, another bill doubles fines for texting in an ‘Orange Cones, No Phones’ zone. “The construction companies working on the Beltway and on rail to Dulles want to complete the job without severe injuries or fatalities,” said Delegate Sickles. “This bill will help discourage distracted drivers in these close quarters.”

Delegate Sickles has also introduced legislation to move our Commonwealth forward on clean energy in transportation. His bill includes a two pronged approach to incentivizing clean energy by 1) giving a $2,000 tax credit to individuals that purchase a clean special fuel or plug-in electric vehicle and 2) by allowing 30 percent tax credit to companies that build clean special fuel stations.

Delegate Sickles will also introduce a State Corporation Commission bill to comply with the Wall Street Reform Act passed by Congress, a bill to codify current waste to energy fees for renewable energy, and a bill to require campaign disclosure on all electronic political advertisements.

Finally, in light of the recent pronouncement by Justice Antonin Scalia that the U.S Constitution does not provide for equal rights for women Delegate Sickles is introducing a Joint Resolution to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. The amendment has been ratified by thirty-fives states and is short by only three states. “Although ratifying the ERA might sound antiquated in today’s society, it is now crystal clear that women need constitutional protection if we want equal protection under the law. I am glad that America’s leading conservative Justice clarified that these rights do not currently exist,” said the Delegate.