COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
HOUSE OF DELEGATES
RICHMOND
TIM HUGO
R. STEVEN (STEVE) LANDES
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS:
EDUCATION (CHAIRMAN)
APPROPRIATIONS (VICE CHAIRMAN)
PRIVILEGES AND ELECTIONS
RULES
POST OFFICE BOX 12
VERONA, VIRGINIA 24482
TWENTY-FIFTH DISTRICT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2014
CONTACT: Judy Wyatt
804.698.1025
DELEGATE LANDES’ LEGISLATION PASSES THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
RICHMOND – Del. R. Steven Landes, R-Weyers Cave, is pleased to announce the passage of
key legislation that he worked diligently to create for the 2014 General Assembly. These bills have now
passed both the House and Senate and await consideration by Governor Terry McAuliffe.
“These bills were introduced and now have been passed to better serve the people of the
Commonwealth,” said Landes. “Among other areas, I have worked hard to provide legislation that
addresses education, higher education, small businesses, and support for those with intellectual and
developmental disabilities.”
House Bill 197: Requires teachers to ensure that all supplementary written materials used to teach the
Declaration of American Independence, the general principles of the Constitution of the United States,
including the Bill of Rights, the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, the charters of the Virginia
Company of April 10, 1606, May 23, 1609, and March 12, 1612, and the Virginia Declaration of Rights
contain accurate restatements of the principles contained in these documents and directs the Department
of Education to develop guidelines for such supplementary written materials used by teachers.
House Bill 198: Clarifies that students who have committed certain weapons or drug offenses are not
required to be expelled regardless of the facts of the particular situation. This bill is identical to HB 752
and SB 441.
House Bill 201: Adds the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry as a member of the Board of Trustees for
the Center for Rural Virginia.
House Bill 205: Requires the board of visitors or other governing board of each public institution of
higher education in the Commonwealth to establish policies for the discipline of students who participate
in varsity intercollegiate athletics. The bill requires such policies to include a provision requiring an
annual report by the administration of the institution to the board of visitors or other governing board
regarding enforcement actions taken pursuant to such policies.
House Bill 321: Creates the Entrepreneur-in-Residence Program, a pilot program administered by the
Secretary of Commerce and Trade to improve outreach by state government to the private sector. The
objectives of the Program are to strengthen coordination and interaction between state government and
the private sector on issues relevant to entrepreneurs and small business concerns and make state
MORE
DISTRICT: (540) 255-5335 • RICHMOND: (804) 698-1025 • EMAIL: [email protected]
government programs and operations simpler, easier to access, more efficient, and more responsive to the
needs of small business concerns and entrepreneurs. Under the bill, entrepreneurs-in-residence serve
without compensation but, at the discretion of the head of the agency they were appointed to serve, may
receive reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties. The bill also provides
that the Secretary may contract with a public institution of higher education for the management and
oversight of the Program. The Program has a 2017 sunset date.
House Bill 932: Changes the administration of the Virginia Jobs Investment Program from the
Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (DSBSD) to the Virginia Economic Development
Partnership Authority, and keeps the Small Business Grants Program in the DSBSD.
House Joint Resolution 190: Requests the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to examine the use
of supported decision-making for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the
Commonwealth, compare the Commonwealth's policies and practices related to supported decisionmaking and informed choice to the policies and practices used in other jurisdictions, and recommend
strategies to improve the use of supported decision-making in the Commonwealth.
Landes represents the 25th House District, which includes parts of Albemarle, Augusta, and
Rockingham Counties. Landes is serving his tenth term in the Virginia House of Delegates.
###