Click here to read Senator Martin's update on the 2012 General Assembly!

Dear Friend,

The session is off to a solid start, with us entering into the meat of the session before cross over just a little over two weeks away. The Education and Health Committee's docket is full and not at all lacking in challenging issues. For several reasons we did not get through as many bills as I would have liked this past week, but I intend to make up for it this week. Hopefully, the subcommittees will be ready with their reports.

As an interesting side note: the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported on Thursday night in one of their blogs that this is the first time I have chaired a committee. Good-naturedly, I responded that this is certainly not my first time chairing a committee, during my years as a legislator. In the past I have had the opportunity to chair the standing committee on Privileges and Elections, as well as chair the Health Professions and the Higher Education subcommittees. I have also chaired the Mandated Health Insurance Benefits Commission and the Behavioral Health Commission, to name just a couple of the many more. I did not see a reporter's name on the article, so I do not know where the writer has been all these years.

We have received a lot of communications from across the state regarding House Bill 1106. As you may recall, last year the legislature handled the issue of autism coverage from a health insurance standpoint. Once that legislation was enacted however, the Virginia Department of Health did not feel it had the authority to license the behavior analysts and assistant behavior analyst. Accordingly, HB 1106 was introduced to provide the clear authority and direction - which is very important to the parents of children with autism. The bill has been reported from committee and should soon pass the Senate.

Senate Bill 1 has been heard by the Campaigns and Elections subcommittee and has now been recommended favorably to the full committee. Many people who misunderstood the legislation or had gross malintent (such as Virginia Organizing) stood in opposition. But, I never expected the very bizarre nature of some of the arguments. The bill is not a photo ID bill and never has been. You can use your existing voter ID card (or one of many other forms of identification) to show you are who you say you are. You can fax, mail, email, or personally deliver it. There should be no real inconvenience for anyone who is registered to vote, but it does make Virginia the voter ID state it has always claimed to be.  There is no reported fiscal impact of this bill and having discussed it with all the proper authorities, I do not anticipate one. 

Hopefully, you’re enjoying this “fair weather winter,” and the beautiful days it has provided even with the occasional rains.

As always, you can track legislation at the Virginia General Assembly website (http://legis.state.va.us). My office is available to you, should you have questions or comments. I can best represent you by hearing from you, and look forward to our continued service together.

Sincerely,

Steve Martin