Gov. McDonnell signs school safety legislation

Later today, Gov. McDonnell will sign seven pieces of school-related safety legislation. The event will be held at JB Watkins Elementary School in Midlothian. Among the additions to Virginia statutes will be a ban on synthetic cannabinoids, commonly known as K2 and Spice. The amphetamine “bath salts,” which can be found online and in stores […]

June 13, 2011; 9:26 PM • by RVANews staff

Later today, Gov. McDonnell will sign seven pieces of school-related safety legislation. The event will be held at JB Watkins Elementary School in Midlothian.

Among the additions to Virginia statutes will be a ban on synthetic cannabinoids, commonly known as K2 and Spice. The amphetamine “bath salts,” which can be found online and in stores under names like Zoom 2 and Aura, will also be formally outlawed.

Drivers who do not stop their cars for school bus STOP signs will now be charged with reckless driving. School buses will also carry video-monitoring equipment in order to detect such drivers.

McDonnell will also enact legislation that will make the use of obscene, vulgar, or indecent language through “visual or electronic messages” unlawful, likely to curb cyberbullying.

A full description of legislation below:

HB2043 – Reckless driving for failing to stop at a school bus

Provides that a person driving a motor vehicle shall stop his vehicle when approaching, from any direction, any school bus that is stopped on any highway, private road, or school driveway for the purpose of taking on or discharging children, etc., and remain stopped until all the persons are clear of the highway, private road, or school driveway and the bus is put in motion and that failure to do so is reckless driving.

HB1911 – Video-monitoring on school buses

Authorizes localities to adopt ordinances to allow local school divisions to install and operate video-monitoring systems on school buses in order to detect drivers passing stopped school buses.

HB2066 – Prohibiting sex offenders on school buses

Expands the prohibition on entry onto school grounds by any adult convicted of a sexually violent offense to include any school bus as defined in § 46.2-100 and any property, public or private, during hours when such property is being used solely by a public or private elementary or secondary school for a school-related or school-sponsored activity. A violation is punishable as a Class 6 felony.

HB2059 – Extends existing prohibition on use of obscene language

Clarifies that the current statutory provision prohibiting the use of obscene, vulgar, or indecent language over the telephone applies to electronic communications, including visual or electronic messages, received or transmitted by a cellular phone or other wireless telecommunications device.

HB2026 – Prohibits sex offenders from operating school buses

Prohibits persons for whom registration with the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry is required from driving school buses and from being issued commercial driver’s licenses and instruction permits to drive school buses.

HB1434 – Banning synthetic cannabinoids and bath salts

The legislation lists those chemicals that comprise synthetic cannabinoids and makes possession a Class 1 misdemeanor and possession with intent to distribute and manufacturing a felony. The bill adds chemicals known as “bath salts” to Schedule I of the Drug Control Act.

SB1094 – Youth health risk survey

Requires the Department of Health to develop and administer a random survey of students in public middle and high schools to facilitate planning and implementation of effective programs for substance abuse prevention through collection of information identifying trends in alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and the assessment of risk and protective factors among youth of the Commonwealth.

photo: iboy_daniel