I'm going to preface this by saying all of the below as a middle aged Black military veteran. I'm not involved in a militia and I didn't vote for Trump. I vote for the candidates that best supports me. Both parties have failed me. You ALL are horrible. Regarding both HB11 and HB113, I'd rather not give up any inalienable right, especially if I've been a law-abiding citizen, which I have. I should not have to give up rights, or even jump through hoops to prove I'm qualified because others broke laws. If a person shoots someone (as an example), that person should be held accountable, not folks who were not involved in the crime. Adding layer upon layer of bills to circumvent inalienable rights is wrong. These two bills are needless layers that hurt law-abiding citizens but do nothing to folks that willing violate written law. What other right has so many qualifiers as the 2nd Amendment? The 2nd does not grant citizens the right to bear arms. The 2nd affirms that the right to keep/bear arms is natural and that the government shall not infringe upon that right. If anything, it's telling the people and the government that the right shall not be violated. You all are attempting to further violate that right by adding yet another layer of needless bills. Is there an argument that current laws aren't working? Does the committee discuss why the current laws aren't working and attempt to shore up the gaps by tweaking existing laws (not creating new bills)? As well, in reference to HB11, a knife is an arm, which is covered under the 2nd (right to bear ARMS). Carrying a knife is a protection for most folks (a secondary defense tool, or even a utility tool). If the concern is that someone will use those tools to murder or assault, murder and assault are already against the law. Possession of those tools do not and should not qualify a person to be unlawful, unless that person already has a criminal record or are using the tools in commission of a crime. Intent should always be the driving factor in determining if a person is unlawfully using or possessing the tool. Legislating laws that involve of a tool that is guaranteed as a right by the 2nd is a poor law. Please do better than approving these bills that are in committee. If they are not sound bills, please do not approve them. Voting along party lines does not make bills satisfactory. The context of the bills make bills satisfactory, AFTER determining if the bills don't violate the rights of the citizens. The committee should be striving to protect and defend the Constitutions of the United States and the state of Virgina. Do the right things in doing your job...don't do what is easiest or most popular based on party lines. Do what is proper. I already know the above will fall on deaf ears but thank you for your time.

I oppose all these unconstitutional, dangerous, and pointless laws.

The end of solitary confinement must be done My son was murdered in solitary confinement at Red Onion Prison in Pound Va on 1/3/22.

I support this bill! All the prisons and jails in this state need to be cleansed of corruption! We need more than transparency; we need the individuals paid by our tax dollars to run these facilities to be held accountable when they break the laws or neglect to follow their own SOPs. What's the use for rules if no one is following them? You might as well let the criminals loose because the staff is no better in most prisons and jails.

First we would like to thank Delegate Hope for caring this bill. The Virginia Association of Regional Jails (VARJ) fully supports this bill. As stated in the sub-committee yesterday we believe this bill ensures greater transparency by the Board of Local and Regional Jails. (BLRJ) In addition, this bill ensures that the Board of Local and Regional Jails (BLRJ) clarifies that jails must meet all regulations or jail standards related to having medical and mental health care available including qualified health care providers. The bill also clarifies that the Board of Local and Regional Jails (BLRJ) shall not find a facility's non-health care staff in violation due to the actions or inactions of licensed medical or mental health professionals. This bill is good government. We ask that you please support these important reforms. I will be pleased to answer any questions from the committee.

HB103 would hold the Board of Local and Regional Jails accountable to the same requirements of other agencies promulgating regulations, to use the administrative process and require transparancy and public input. This is even more important for jails because they are responsible for the health and lives of the men and women confined in their facilities. However, the second part of the bill appears to let those same facilities "off the hook" if something goes wrong with an inmate's health or medical care. If an inmate is harmed due to a failure by health care staff, of course the health care staff and their employer should be held responsible. But the jail may be their employer, and even if the jail contracts that service to an outside company, the jail is still responsible for monitoring the contract to ensure services are provided according to standards. Jails are government agencies, and legislating away government responsibility to provide security or health care is not the answer when those services fail.