2020 BILLS
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Bills Passed 2020
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SB 270 Practice of pharmacy; regulation by Board of Pharmacy (2020)
Sponsored by Senator John Bell [D]
04/11/20 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1166 (effective 7/1/20)
Provides that compounding of drugs provided Practice of pharmacy; regulation by Board of Pharmacy; report. Provides that compounding of drugs provided to the Department of Corrections for the purpose of carrying out an execution by lethal injection shall constitute the practice of pharmacy and be subject to the requirements of the Drug Control Act and the jurisdiction of the Board of Pharmacy. The bill provides that only outsourcing facilities may compound such drugs; currently, both pharmacies and outsourcing facilities may compound such drugs. The bill also clarifies that the Board of Pharmacy may inspect any pharmacy or other place where drugs, cosmetics, or devices are manufactured, stored, or dispensed in response to complaints received by the Board, in any case in which the Board has reason to believe that the pharmacy or such other place has violated any state or federal law or as otherwise deemed necessary by the Board to protect the health and safety of the public. The bill amends the membership of the Board of Health to include a pharmacist with experience in compounding, requires the Board of Health to educate the public about safe use of compounded drugs, and requires the Board of Health and the Board of Pharmacy to report annually to the Governor and the General Assembly on actions taken to (i) ensure the safety and quality of compounded drugs produced by compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities located in the Commonwealth and compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities located outside the Commonwealth that provide compounded drugs to patients in the Commonwealth; (ii) reduce illegal use of opioids and opioid abuse in the Commonwealth; and (iii) implement provisions of and ensure compliance with the requirements of Title II of the federal Drug Supply Chain Security. Bill information here.
Bills Continued to 2021
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SB 449 Abolition of Death Penalty (2020)
Sponsored by Senator Scott Surovell [D]
02/05/2020 Continued to 2021 in Judiciary (9-Y 6-N)
Abolishes the death penalty, including for those persons currently under a death sentence. Bill information here.
Bills that Failed (2020)
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HB 85 Abolition of Death Penalty (2020)
Introduced by Delegate Lee Carter (I)
02/11/2020 Left in the Courts of Justice (Bill failed)
Abolition of the death penalty. Abolishes the death penalty, including for those persons currently under a death sentence. Bill information here.
HB 280 Death penalty; severe mental illness (2020)
Sponsored by Delegate Patrick Hope [D]
02/11/2020 Left in the Courts of Justice (Bill Failed)
Provides that a defendant in a capital case who had a severe mental illness, as defined in the bill, at the time of the offense is not eligible for the death penalty. The bill establishes procedures for determining whether a defendant had a severe mental illness at the time of the offense and provides for the appointment of expert evaluators. The bill provides that when the defendant's severe mental illness is at issue, a determination will be made by the jury or by the judge in a bench trial as part of the sentencing proceeding, and the defendant bears the burden of proving his severe mental illness by a preponderance of the evidence. The bill also provides that in the event the defendant fails to provide notice that he will offer testimony by an expert witness at such sentencing proceeding, the court may either allow the Commonwealth a continuance or, where the defendant is unable to show good cause for untimely notice, bar the defendant from presenting such evidence.
HB 1386 Death penalty; severe mental illness (2020)
Sponsored by Delegate James Leftwich [R]
02/11/2020 Left in the Courts of Justice, (Bill Failed)
Provides that a defendant in a capital case who had a severe mental illness, as defined in the bill, at the time of the offense is not eligible for the death penalty. The bill establishes procedures for determining whether a defendant had a severe mental illness at the time of the offense and provides for the appointment of expert evaluators. The bill provides that when the defendant's severe mental illness is at issue, a determination will be made by the jury or by the judge in a bench trial as part of the sentencing proceeding, and the defendant bears the burden of proving his severe mental illness by a preponderance of the evidence. The bill also provides that in the event the defendant fails to provide notice that he will offer testimony by an expert witness at such sentencing proceeding, the court may either allow the Commonwealth a continuance or, under appropriate circumstances, bar the defendant from presenting such evidence.
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SB 116 Death Penalty; Severe Mental Illness (2020)
Sponsored by Senator Barbara Favola [D]
03/03/20 House: Left in Courts of Justice; 1/30/2020 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (32-Y 7-N)
Death penalty; severe mental illness. Provides that a defendant in a capital case who had a severe mental illness, as defined in the bill, at the time of the offense is not eligible for the death penalty. The bill establishes procedures for determining whether a defendant had a severe mental illness at the time of the offense and provides for the appointment of expert evaluators. The bill provides that when the defendant's severe mental illness is at issue, a determination will be made by the jury or by the judge in a bench trial as part of the sentencing proceeding, and the defendant bears the burden of proving his severe mental illness by a preponderance of the evidence. The bill also provides that in the event the defendant fails to provide notice that he will offer testimony by an expert witness at such sentencing proceeding, the court may either allow the Commonwealth a continuance or, where the defendant is unable to show good cause for untimely notice, bar the defendant from presenting such evidence. Read full text here.
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