How A Bill Becomes A Law

Virginia’s Legislative Branch

In Virginia a Delegate serves a two-year term who serves approximately 71,000 citizens and a Senator serves a four year term who serves approximately 176,000 citizens. There are 100 Delegates and 40 Senators. Every citizen has one Delegate and one Senator for their district.
The Virginia General Assembly Sessions begin every year on the second Wednesday in January.
In even-numbered years, the G.A. meets for 60 calendar days and in odd-numbered years it meets for 30 calendar days.
In odd-numbered years, House members (Delegates) are limited to 15 bills maximum being submitted (patroned or sponsored).
The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the House of Delegates.
The Lieutenant Governor is the presiding officer of the Senate.

* Rules for Delegates and Senators Voting on a Bill:
A Legislator can change their vote for up to 30 minutes AFTER the Sub- Committee or Full-Committee meeting adjourns.
So all the witnesses, speakers and the press are gone and a Delegate or Senator can renege on their original vote as long as it does NOT change the outcome.

Important News

In The News

Lawmakers Look at Reclassifying Sex Offenders (MO), February 20, 2012:

Should We Reform the Sex Offender Registry? February 20, 2012:

Convicted Sex Offender Challenges Lifetime Facebook Ban, February 20, 2012:

Virginia Wants Sex Offender Locked up Beyond Sentence, February 19, 2012:

Highlights From DOJ Testimony to US Sentencing Commission About Federal Sentencing Concerns, February 18, 2012:

Bulletin Posts

Posting #469 - SB127 is Now as Unconstitutional as HB624

Posting #468 - From Virginia to Wyoming, One Citizen Found the Strength to Step Forward and Speak Out

Posting #467 - HB624 and SB127 Should NOT Pass Through The Second Chambers!

Posting #466 - Chrysanthi Leon Emailed the Virginia Delegates and Senators, NOT to Mandate Juvenile Registration or 25 Years in Prison!

Posting #465 - HB973 Needs to be Amended Like SB436, Contact Your Senator Today!

Links

RSOL of Virginia strives to provide accurate and current information to the citizens of Virginia. We do not claim to be a legal resource. Always consult with an Attorney and the Virginia State Police
(804) 674-2825 where needed. We at RSOL of Virginia do not in any way condone the sexual abuse of anyone in anyway, shape, or form. We support appropriate punishment and treatment for offenders based on their individual case.

We support the reform of many of the statutes that currently require registration, that an accusation alone is sufficient to convict, prosecution for “Sexting” between teens and young adults, prison time and the requirement to register for consensual acts between teens and young adults, the retroactive approach to applying new laws, the increases in offender classifications by Legislators, the harsher compliancy penalties than the original conviction, the total computer and internet banishment for those whose crimes were not computer related and all residency restrictions.

We support reform of the sex offender registries so that the public can be aware of the presence of truly dangerous, untreatable and repeat offenders while allowing the majority of offenders to re-enter society and become productive citizens that can secure housing, employment, participate in their families lives and live without fear of community threats or retaliation.

The RSOL of Virginia is an independent group as of December 2009. When we originally formed in October 2008, we were the state affiliate for Reform Sex Offender Laws.org Unfortunately we had to make the difficult decision to break away from National RSOL due to differences in opinion. We wish RSOL National and all their state affiliates well in this very important cause, to REFORM Americas Sex Offender Registries.

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