CAPITOL BRIEFS

By: | Times-Dispatch
Published: February 13, 2008

What's happening at the legislature?

The House Appropriations Committee will begin to assess Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's proposed $78 billion budget in light of new, lower revenue projections.

Bill replacing proffers approved by Senate

The Senate yesterday voted 21-19 to pass Senate Bill 768, which would dramatically change the way developers give money for the costs of municipal services required by new development.

Currently, developers offer cash and land for roads, schools or parks. Those voluntary commitments, called proffers, are usually negotiated with city or county leaders and can be upward of $47,000 for each new house in some localities.

In recent years, however, some localities have made proffers an informal requirement for approval of a project. Some developers argue that proffers are to blame for the current slump in the housing market because the cost is passed on to buyers in the purchase price.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan, would replace proffers with impact fees, which would be capped at $7,500 per house, except in Northern Virginia, where localities could charge $12,500 per house.

Many localities have opposed the measure, arguing that it would bring in less money and limit their ability to pay for new services.

House OKs locks for 1st DUI conviction

Del. Salvatore R. Iaquinto, R-Virginia Beach, wants to make sure that first-time DUI offenders don't drive drunk a second time -- at least not right away.

That's why he proposed House Bill 1442, which would require installation of ignition interlock devices upon a first conviction of drunken driving. An ignition interlock is equipment that the driver must blow into to start his car. If the driver has alcohol on his breath, the car won't start.

The law now requires the device upon a second DUI conviction. Iaquinto said that mandating it after the first offense will save lives.

The House apparently agreed and voted 80-18 to pass the bill.

Senate approves panel on uranium mining

Legislation to create a 17-member commission to study the risks and benefits of uranium mining and milling in Virginia passed the state Senate, 36-4, yesterday.

Senate Bill 525, sponsored by Sen. Frank W. Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, has been fought by residents and environmentalists opposed to the lifting of a 25-year-old moratorium on uranium mining.

Rising uranium prices raised the possibility that a large uranium deposit in Pittsylvania County could be mined profitably.

Environmental board bills pass both houses

The Senate and the House passed bills yesterday aimed at standardizing the ways two environmental boards work.

The measures, Senate Bill 423 and House Bill 1332, originally sought to strip power from the State Water Control Board and the state Air Pollution Control Board.

The bills were revised, leaving the boards with their powers, after talks between industry representatives, who wanted to rein in the boards, and environmentalists, who wanted to preserve the boards' authority. -- From Staff, Wire Reports