Committee approves block of commission-backed criminal-justice and behavioral-health bills

A House committee on January 26 advanced a package of commission-recommended bills in a single, uncontested block, approving the measures by a roll-call vote of 18 to 0.

Delegate Russo moved the block, which included House Bill 63 (authorizes Southwest Regional Recreation Area rangers appointed by the board to be certified through Criminal Justice Academy training), House Bill 91 (limits room and self-confinement for minors in juvenile correction facilities), House Bill 248 (permits interjurisdictional law-enforcement agreements with behavioral-health co‑response teams), House Bill 454 (removes a requirement that DCJS, in consultation with the Behavioral Health Commission, develop a model addiction-recovery program), House Bill 455 (establishes a jail‑based substance-use treatment and transition fund with grant procedures), and House Bill 726 (credits time spent in confinement awaiting trial in jurisdictions outside Virginia).

Committee members said most items were the product of work by commissions that met during the interim. The chair thanked the bill patrons and commission members for their work. With no members wishing to remove any bill from the block, the clerk opened and closed the roll and the block was reported 18 to 0.

The approval sends the measures on to the next steps indicated by subcommittee recommendations and preserves the reported votes for the legislative record.