The Virginia League of Conservation Voters supports HB433, which allows local park authorities to provide electric vehicle charging services without being considered public utilities subject to State Corporation Commission regulation and rate setting. It does so by adding “park authority created by a locality” to the entities whose EV charging services don’t constitute the “retail sale of electricity” subject to SCC regulation – a list that already includes any “locality” and other person, school board, or agency that is not a public utility. Since localities are already included, it makes great sense to also include the park authorities those localities create. This won’t interfere with SCC regulation of public utilities, since the electricity consumed for EV charging by a park authority (or any other entity on the list) must be used exclusively for transportation, and must be procured from the regulated electric utility that the SCC has authorized to serve that area.

Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining. Employees in the state of VA deserve Collective Bargaining. Teachers, firefighters and Policeman deserve a position in determining what happens in their profession. For too long they have had to sit back and let others who are not part of their profession, decide what happens in their profession. Give them a voice to determine what is in the best interest for their profession. Teachers work day and night to provide what is in the best interest of students- no one knows better then they do how to achieve this- they deserve a voice in the decision-making We will lose the best teachers, firefighters and policemen if we take away this critical opportunity for them to have a voice in their professions. Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining.

Good morning honorable members of the Committee, Massachusetts is often said to have the strongest public schools in the nation. Did you also know that Massachusetts Educators also have strong collective bargaining rights. Massachusetts invests in education. With the current staffing shortages, show Virginia families and educators that you are in strong support of education by supporting collective bargaining rights. Virginia educators earn 7k below the national average and many are abandoning the profession. Can you blame them? Sincerely Brian McGovern

We know what are students need more than anyone. I work out Special Education students every day. They always asking why do we have to do this or that. They ask why people who don't know them make them take test they know that they will pass. I want to speak for these students who fight a different type of battle every day. Let us who know what to do have a say. Most of you have no idea what special needs children fights every day because you have never been around my students.

These bills will repeal educators' progress toward gaining collective bargaining. They will silence educators' voices. School decisions will not be able to capitalize on the experiences and skills of their experts in their school systems, the educators. Why deny educators a seat at the table? Why squelch expert input? Educators are the experts in our schools. Bargaining with educators benefits our students' learning conditions. It improves educator working conditions, and ultimately benefits our Virginia communities. Bring the experts to the table. I urge you to vote no on these bills. Sincerely,

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 675. VPLC supports the elimination of the tobacco surcharge, as recommended in the Joint Commission on Health Care's Health Insurance Affordability in the Individual Market report and unanimously supported by JCHC committee members. The smoking surcharge was originally intended to encourage tobacco users to take advantage of tobacco cessation programs offered by insurers. Studies have since shown that the surcharge does not encourage smoking cessation. It creates a cost barrier that keeps individuals out of coverage and prevents them from accessing health care. Many of those who are uninsured are younger, healthier, low income individuals. They are extremely price sensitive and may not see the value in a high cost plan. Removing the tobacco surcharge will reduce premiums for these individuals and is estimated to increase enrollment in the individual market by up to 13,000 individuals. This increased enrollment would improve the risk pool and lower overall premiums by an estimated 3%.

Comments Document

Chair Byron and Members of the Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on House Bill 675 which prohibits insurance companies from using an individual’s tobacco use in setting premium rates. The American Lung Association strongly supports this bill as an integral way to support tobacco users who want to quit. The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to improve the air we breathe; to reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and their families; and to eliminate tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases. The American Lung Association is committed to making it as easy as possible for smokers to get evidence-based assistance to help them quit and end their addiction to nicotine. Data shows seven in ten smokers want to quit but only one in ten quit successfully in a year. This bill makes it easier for smokers to access quality and affordable healthcare, including treatments to quit smoking. Under current Virginia law, a health carrier may charge premium rates up to 1.5 times higher for a tobacco user than for a non-tobacco user. Punitive measures like tobacco surcharges have not been proven effective in encouraging smokers to quit and reducing tobacco use. Research suggests that even low surcharges can cause tobacco users to opt out of coverage. 1 Tobacco surcharges can result in tobacco users paying thousands of dollars more in health insurance premiums as demonstrated by a study in California which showed that an average tobacco user could end up paying 18.7 percent of their annual income in premiums because of the surcharge.2 High costs deter tobacco users from purchasing insurance which can leave tobacco users without coverage for treatments that will help them quit and treatments for potential tobacco-caused illnesses.3 Their families may also remain uninsured. There are other policies that are proven to reduce tobacco use, such as: increasing tobacco taxes, enacting smoke free laws, funding tobacco control programs and making tobacco cessation treatment accessible through health insurance coverage and quitlines. The American Lung Association thanks the Virginia General Assembly for their continued commitment to the health and wellbeing of the residents of the Commonwealth. The American Lung Association strongly supports House Bill 675 which would eliminate the current tobacco surcharge and encourages swift action to move the bill out of committee and passage by the General Assembly. 1Babb S, Malarcher A, Schauer G, Asman K, Jamal A. Quitting Smoking Among Adults — United States, 2000–2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017;65:1457–1464. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6552a1external icon 2Kaplan CM, Graetz I, and Waters, TM. Most Exchange Plans Charge Lower Tobacco Surcharges than Allowed, but Many Tobacco Users Lack Affordable Coverage. August 2014. Health Affairs. Available at: https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2013.1338 3Curtis, Rick and Ed Neuschler, Institute for Health Policy Solutions. “Tobacco Rating Issues and Options for California under the ACA.” June 2012. Available at: http://www.ihps.org/pubs/Tobacco_Rating_Issue_Brief_21June2012.pdf

As a retired lt from Prince William County Fire and Rescue , and a life member of IAFF Local 2599 I support this bill and ask you to support it also. Research shows PTSD, depression and anxiety rates for firefighters are 5 times higher than the civilian population. Just last year, more than twice as many firefighters died by suicide than died while on duty. It is imperative there are avenues for firefighters and law enforcement officers to get the behavioral health treatment and support they deserve. Help protect those who protect the citizens of the commonwealth of Va. Pass this bill. Thanks. Lt Richard Cayer - Retired PWCDFR

Comments Document

The VACP highly supports HB 742, which adds anxiety and depression to the workman's compensation bill for first responders. This is not a presumption bill, but a qualifying bill with conditions that must be met for workman's compensation coverage to attach. We have a significant problem throughout our profession due to the repeated traumatic exposures our profession must cope with and a lack of dedicated mental health resources to treat us. This bill would be a start and also help compel departments to better document these exposures and direct their officers to mental health treatment. Right now , in many cases officers are seeing general practitioners and being medicated instead of seeing mental health professionals to treat the root of the problem. We must address this issue now and help stem the increasing percentage of officer suicides. By helping to keep our officers mentally well, we increase their ability to make good judgements in the field, and keep our interactions with our community effective. The attached report is a just released summary of VA first responders who participated in a mental health survey over the past year. It demonstrates a real problem that can no longer be ignored. The survey is the first of its kind to collect validated clinical data on the mental health of first responders by using embedded diagnostic assessment tools similar to what is used to assess our combat veterans. It clearly demonstrates the need for access to mental health resources when the trauma can be associated with a work-related exposure to a qualifying event, as the code outlines. The survey shows that for LEOs who took the survey: 19% received scores indicating clinical depression 20% received scores indicating clinical anxiety 12% received scores indicating PTSD 8% received scores of passive suicide ideation (thoughts of suicide or self harm with no plan) 4% received scores of active suicide ideation (thoughts of suicide or self harm with a plan to carry out) 21% indicated problems with alcohol This bill would provide a critical first step in addressing these issues moving forward. We have to provide help to those who help others. Please share this survey with as many as are interested in it.

Comments Document

ETA supports disclosures that promote transparency and accountability for small businesses and is committed to working with the Committee to help shape a disclosure regime that allows small businesses to accurately compare the cost of small business financing amongst providers. In addition, ETA supports increasing, not decreasing, choices in small business financing, thus allowing small businesses to select the best product that suits their needs to secure the capital they need to be successful and a competitive marketplace for small business financing with fair, transparent, and readily understandable financing options. Further, transparency in small business financing disclosures, including providing businesses with the best information to compare costs across products and make informed decisions, is integral to ETA’s mission. However, as drafted, H.B. 1027 could be confusing for both online small business funders and the small business community and does not properly address the needs of small businesses in the state. Therefore, ETA asks the Committee to reject H.B. 1027 as currently drafted.

The price of energy affects the poor and working man much more than it does any rich politician or or entitled class. The idiocy espoused by the Biden administration and the leftist politicians in America is it is not just laughable, it is anti-American and impacts impacts each one of us in a negative way. Stop the spread of communism in our country. Put America First. Let us together make America Great Again.

Good day Leaders! The link to sign up to speak in favor of this Bill was closed so I am writing this in hopes that it gets to you in time. I represent 40 plus small and minority owned restaurants, 25 plus food truck owners and 30 plus catering companies in the Richmond Region that as you can imagine have suffered tremendously throughout the Pandemic. It’s been reported that much of the emergency funding through various Federal and State grant and loan programs just simply did not reach many minority owned establishments. As a result, predatory business loan companies used this opportunity to enter into loans with harmful terms at a very vulnerable time. Please support Delegate Trans Bill that will lesson the harmful impact of these loans on our small business community. So thankful for your time.

The price of energy affects the poor and working man much more than it does any rich politician or or entitled class. The idiocy espoused by the Biden administration and the leftist politicians in America is it is not just laughable, it is anti-American and impacts impacts each one of us in a negative way. Stop the spread of communism in our country. Put America First. Let us together make America Great Again.

The price of energy affects the poor and working man much more than it does any rich politician or or entitled class. The idiocy espoused by the Biden administration and the leftist politicians in America is it is not just laughable, it is anti-American and impacts impacts each one of us in a negative way. Stop the spread of communism in our country. Put America First. Let us together make America Great Again.