Four bills dealing with public safety issues sponsored by Senator Mark Herring (D- Loudoun & Fairfax) passed the Senate today with broad, bipartisan support.
“Providing for the public’s safety is one of government’s core responsibilities,” Senator Herring stated. “I am proud to have worked with many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, as well as law enforcement, prosecutors and a variety of victims’ rights advocates to craft legislation to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens.”
Senator Herring, along with Senator Richard Stuart (R-Stafford) and Senator Jill Vogel (R-Faquier), is Chief Co-Patron of SB 431 that makes it a felony to knowingly financially exploit an older or incapacitated adult. Senator Herring has lead the effort for several years, working with a coalition of groups including the Fairfax County Financial Crimes Division, AARP, Alzheimer’s organizations, Commonwealth Attorneys and concerned citizens, to strengthen Virginia’s laws in this area.
“When I began working on this legislation in 2009, we found that Virginia’s laws were among to weakest in the nation at protecting older Virginians from financial abuse,” Herring said, “After a multi-year effort, I am convinced that this is the year we will finally see this become law.”
SB 431 passed the Senate by a vote of 39-0-1.
Herring, along with Senator Ralph Smith (R-Roanoke, is Chief Co-Patron of SB 273 that amends the law passed last year regarding the criminalization of synthetic cannabinoids and chemicals known as “bath salts” to add newly identified chemical combinations. The bill adds a more generic chemical description of synthetic cannabinoids so that new combinations will be illegal without the precise chemical combination being added to the Code.
“As long as there are individuals out there who are trying to find ways around our laws in order to make a quick buck by selling extremely dangerous drugs to our kids, we need to remain vigilant,” Herring said. “I am continuing to work with law enforcement, forensic scientists and prosecutSors to ensure they have the tools they need to stay one step ahead of the drug makers and dealers.”
SB 273 passed the Senate by a vote of 40-0.
Finally, Senator Herring is the sponsor of two bills that resulted from his work on Governor McDonnell’s Domestic Violence and Response Advisory Board.
SB 224 addresses the decision by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals from 2010 in U.S. v White. The bill provides that any person who commits a battery through the application of physical force against a family or household member is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. It also ensures that those who are convicted of this domestic violence crime involving physical force are unable to possess a firearm.
SB 224 passed the Senate by a vote of 40-0.
SB 459 toughens the penalty for strangulation, making it a Class 6 felony. “Strangulation is one of the most lethal forms of domestic violence,” Herring stated.
“Strangulation is an extreme form of power and control and in recent years more than 15 states have amended their statutes to address this form of abuse. I was proud to work with the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, among others, on this legislation.”
SB 459 passed the Senate by a vote of 40-0.
Tags: Fairfax, Loudoun, Mark Herring, public safety, Richmond, SB 224, SB 273, SB 431, SB 459, Senator Mark Herring, Virginia