I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

Chairman and Member of the Committee, My name is Lilia Keys. I represent AARP . I'm sorry that I cannot address you in person but I'd like to declare that we strongly support House Hill 98. If you have any questions please notify our state Advocacy Director, Natalie Snider at AARP. Thank you very much.

Good Afternoon Mr. Chairman and committee members. My name is Yolanda Bell. I am a Veteran who comes from a family of veterans and first responders. I reside in Manassas and I am a constituent of Del Roem. I thank you for allowing me to speak today. I have come to testify in favor of guardianship reform for the last three years. A centralized APS registry is desperately needed. My sister Anastasia Adams lost her life in a hospital guardianship. Vulnerable individuals, especially those who are unable to speak for themselves, require frequent and regular visits. APS is meant to be that additional set of eyes to protect the vulnerable, the elderly and disabled. When my sister was taken and placed in a hospital guardianship I reported her numerous injuries to APS. Fairfax APS did absolutely nothing. When Anastasia was moved to Alexandria I was told by APS personnel that they knew her guardians well and worked with them frequently. Alexandria at least sent someone out to visit my sister. In response to the APS investigators questions regarding apparent injuries and visitation, the critical care nurse I hired to sit with my sister overheard nursing home administrators tell the investigator that they “had to do what the guardians told them to do.” There was no further inquiry into my sisters broken hip/femur or ankle that was never treated or fixed, the bruises, or other injuries; no follow up or plans put into place to protect her from further risk. My sister was 120+lbs when the guardians took her.  She weighed a mere 87lbs nine months later when they ended her life. She had no terminal illness. This is what happens when wards are allowed to be isolated from loving family and friends, when a guardian can just move a ward into another APS jurisdiction knowing there is no centralized data. It is what happens when reporting requirements and oversight of guardians and by guardians is lax and almost nonexistent vulnerable wards suffer, are abused, neglected, and die. Anastasia literally had 13 holes in her body and too many bruises to count. A centralized registry would have shown there had been previous complaints of injuries and safety concerns. It would have shown the police were called to investigate the injuries enabling the next APS office to prevent more abuse and neglect. And maybe helped to save my sisters life. What was done to my sister Anastasia will haunt me for the rest of my life. Please do not let this happen to anyone else. I implore you to unanimously pass HB98. Thank you for your time and attention. Sincerely, Yolanda Bell Anastasia’s Voice

Please support HB191. With mental healthcare facilities understaffed, this is a step in the right direction to provide a direct line to the governor of effective changes that need to be made. Please support HB98. Obtaining guardianship is a difficult process. The more open and easier to navigate will help families in crisis.

Re: HB94 - Overall, AARP Virginia supports the creation of the Public Guardianship and Conservator Ombudsman Office, but we strongly encourage inclusion of monitoring and oversight of private, as well as public, guardians. Re: HB98 - Creation of an APS Central Registry complies with our policy of using multi-disciplinary team approaches to fight abuse by bad actors, and AARP has supported similar efforts in other states. We understand that other organizations may have concerns over the broad scope of this publicly-accessible registry and would like to more narrowly tailor it to ensure that only those intending to do harm are included. While AARP Virginia would not oppose the bill without those concerns being addressed, as the current language does include an appeals process, we would be supportive of that more narrow scope.

Please consider the protection of our seniors and pass this bill. Thank you.

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

I support this bill. The department should not be advocating and referring children to organizations that may not be supported by the guardians. For example, the text listed below is on the website. Where can I learn more about sexual health and pregnancy/STI prevention? "If your question isn't answered here, try one of the following resources: Roo (or text “Roo” to 22422) is an online chatbot powered by Planned Parenthood that can answer many of your questions about sexual health, relationships, growing up and more. Want to talk to an actual person? No problem - visit Planned Parenthood’s live chat tool or text “PPNOW” to 774636. Scarleteen is a website with answers to all of your sexual health questions. If you need some assistance finding the right information, text your question to (206) 866-2279. One of the organization’s staff or volunteers can help point you in the right direction. Sex Etc is a sexual health website made by teens, for teens" Additional language on the site also seems to encourage the minors to seek care without parental consent.

I have what is considered a Barrier Crime on my record from 30 years ago; Statutory Burglary (non-residence, non-violent) directly related to my substance abuse then. I have since served all time, satisfied any probation/parole, paid all court costs/fines, achieved sobriety, obtained a double BA in Psychology & Sociology, and a MS in Mental Health Counseling. However, the collateral consequences of convictions stemming from immaturity, poor decisions, and addiction15-30 years ago remain as punishment almost akin to ongoing double jeopardy where no matter the rehabilitation, reform, or restitution, I am still faced with prosecution and persecution over and over again. What does it say about the penal system if all it does is punish without correcting and reforming individuals to re-enter society as citizens, as humans who have the ability to change and go on to work in professions to help others help themselves change; or to help other prevent the same poor choices and mistakes in life? What does it say about the department of Probation & Parole? What does it say about DBHDS, DMAS, and/or Mental Health and Addiction Treatment if people are deemed castaways uncapable of self-development, positive change, and will never be trustworthy in society, yet released into society with unequal opportunities? What good is restoring our right to vote and serve jury duty if the politicians we vote for do nothing to help vindicate those of us who paid our debt to society? What good does it do to just "Ban the Box" when the background checks still deem us as "ineligible for hire" and we have to walk off that job humiliated, defeated? Contributing factors to relapse & recidivism include systemic & institutional racism, discrimination, poverty, unemployment, and limited community resources preventing true Equal Opportunity. All of which can be linked, but not limited to, collateral consequences, barrier crimes statutes, and biased, Draconian laws prevalent and persistent in the Commonwealth & Confederate State of Virginia. Please remove the rigid Barrier Crimes laws and discriminatory practices of biased policies facing the incarcerated, former offenders, recovering alcoholics/addicts, those with mental health issues, and Blacks who are disproportionately adversely affected more than any other race and demographic. Thank you. -Wahid W. Shabazz

I would like to speak-AMY Lee Story

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

The best men and women to help other people struggling with the disease of addiction are the people that have been through the same thing!

Mental Health America of Virgina strongly supports efforts to revise the Barrier Crimes statutes to give behavioral health agencies the opportunity to hire otherwise qualified staff when their criminal history has no bearing on public or individual safety if hired. The behavioral health workforce in Virginia has been understaffed for several years, and is now in a crisis situation, with long waitnig lists and denied care for many individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders. Direct service providers have great needs to fill positions and these out of date statutes prevent them from serving many people in need. The current statutes have a particularly disqualifying impact on peer recovery specialists, whose qualifications for the job include their own journey of recovery from addiction or mental illness, along with the training and certification to prepare them to help those seeking treatment and recovery for similar challenges.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

SchoolHouse Connection supports HB 353 and HB 717

Comments Document

Comments to support HB 353 unaccompanied minors and consents of social workers to medical treatment

My name is Malora Horn. I have 33 years of professional experience. My areas of expertise include the provision of mental health services and working with families/youth experiencing homelessness. In my current profession, I often work with older youth who are not living in permanent housing. Some of these youth were with their families prior to losing housing, but a number of them are also living on their "own". These students literally move from one place to the next and often are unable to have any stability. Please understand, some of these students' families may be staying with others but there isn't enough room for the family to stay together. When this happens, most often the "older" students will stay with friends. If a student is 18, entering into a shelter is relatively a simple process. However, if the student is under the age of 18, they aren't allowed to be there without a guardian or CPS will be contacted. I understand there are laws to protect our youth, however, to not support an unaccompanied youth and provide the option to stay in shelter and off of the street until a better plan can be determined, is very difficult and frustrating as a service provider. I understand for anyone under 18 there are additional concerns/liabilities for a shelter or medical providers, however, there must be a better solution, a compromise, a bridge we can create to offer easier access to necessary services these youth may need and currently not able to obtain without a "guardian's" permission. Many of our youth have been traumatized over and over. They may have been in foster care, chronically homeless or currently being abused by someone they know or as a result of human trafficking. I have worked with an 17 year old who decided to stay in an abandoned house instead of living with his guardian, due to the guardian's reported drug use. The only way for him to access services at his age was to either be emancipated or to go into foster care. Neither of these choices are ideal, but at 17, most can't financially take care of themselves. More and more unaccompanied youth are living on the streets, most of them don't chose this option, but most of them don't have any other choices available or access to shelter and medical services . Services continue to expand to address human trafficking and to increase funding and services for those who have addictions. It would make sense to continue to focus on the prevention aspect of how unaccompanied youth in particular don't become the victims, often as a way to survive or to numb the trauma they are experiencing. These youth need to have more access to services and an opportunity to have their basic needs met, especially when most of them don't make the choice to be on their own.

Hello, my name is …. My name is Kimberly Embe-Mamong and I am writing to you as a graduate social work student, young adult who experienced housing insecurity for numerous years, and seasoned researcher for Advocates for Richmond Youth to urge you to pass bills HB 363 and 717. During high school, I became homeless and an unaccompanied youth through unfortunate family circumstances. What was already a difficult experience to navigate was exacerbated by my inability to make decisions pertaining to my own wellbeing and independence that I was now entirely responsible for maintaining. For example, I was a senior in high school at the time. I was in the process of applying for college and had a lot of barriers to making decisions for myself because of all of the requirements related to needing my parents’ signatures. I was unable to attend any medical appointments on my own- as I had no insurance of my own or any way to pay for these expenses out of pocket. I could have benefited greatly from seeing a psychologist and general doctor to discuss the ways in which my homeless experience had begun to take such a large toll on my physical and mental health, and up until this year- I was unable to acquire insurance separate from my family’s plan affordable enough to even see a dentist. In addition to this- the fractured relationship with my family was already something I had felt immense shame around harboring and hiding when most of my friends and peers did not have to deal with such issues, I was made to feel even more embarrassed on a consistent basis when I could not produce necessary signatures and parental consent. I had no other options usually but to either relive my trauma over and over again, explaining my trauma to strangers in the hopes they’d be able to empathize, pity, or at a bare minimum not care enough about bureaucratic paperwork and policies to cut me some slack. I was stuck until I turned 18. This is why it is so imperative to pass both HB 353 and HB 717. While unaccompanied youth may have additional support outside from trusted people and systems in their life, they are largely responsible for making life decisions and managing the implications and any consequences that may arise. This responsibility coupled with the fact that these individuals know their circumstances and what’s best for them better than anyone else, continues to prove that they should have the right to advocate and make decisions for themselves concerning their housing and health- two fundamental aspects of their wellbeing.

I support HB353 to expand access to medical care for many of our most vulnerable youth.

B420 Danny’s Law is imperative to every single person who has directly or indirectly been affected by the Opioid Epidemic. Too many children have buried their parents. Too many parents have buried their children. Too many grandparents are raising their grandkids. How many more lives have to be lost for the state of VIRGINIA to wake up and WANT to be a part of a solution to a world wide problem? The Opioid Epidemic shows me The War on Drugs failed to protect the people for whom it was intended for. The amount of lives lost and changed has reached an unbelievable number, and yet here we are, advocating for a Bill to be passed to help addicts get proper medical attention. If an addict shows up to the ER because of a drug overdose, isn’t the addict silently screaming the same words as a suicidal patient who speaks, “I want to die?” I hope B420 Danny’s Law helps change the world for the generations to come, and starts to keep medical professionals accountable for their ignorance. “WHEN THE POWER OF LOVE, OVERSEES THE LOVE THE POWER, THE WORLD WILL KNOW PEACE” || Jimi Hendrix

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

In January of 2013, my brother overdosed and was treated at a northern Virginia hospital. EMTs saved his life and I am grateful, but what followed was tragic. He was released hours later with no resources, no referrals, and most importantly - no narcan. A month later I came home to the house we lived in together and found him unresponsive. I did not have Narcan. If he had been given it in the hospital that day I could have used it and maybe saved him. But they didn’t give it to him. If he had been started on buprenorphine that day, his likelihood of fatal overdose would have been reduced by 50%! But they didn’t start him on it. Every year we set a new record for number of drug overdose deaths. The number of fatalities in Virginia has almost quadrupled in the last decade. We have the tools to drastically reduce these numbers - narcan, buprenorphine, peer support - but they aren’t being used where they are needed most. Our hosptitals. In Fairfax County the jail is providing better healthcare for people with addiction than our hospitals are. When someone comes into the jail they receive buprenorphine, are connected with a peer support specialist, and are released with a box of narcan in their personal effects. There are only two hospitals in the whole of Virginia that are coming close to providing those three basic best-practices. If you use opioids for a long enough you are likely to end up in one of three places: jail, the hospital, or the morgue. In those first two settings we have a fleeting opportunity to help someone find recovery. By the third one it’s too late. For decades our hospitals have failed people with substance use disorders - a our sons, sisters, fathers - and it’s time we insist that they close the gaps in care that are costing so many lives.

As a recovering addict I speak from experience when I say we need this bill passed. Naloxone saves my life more than once when I was in my active addiction. Having it on hand saved my life. I was no where near a hospital and a friend administered it to me. When the ambulance finally did get there I had already come to. If we would have had to wait for them I would have died. The sheriff that came with them gave me information and told me to get help. I did and I've been sober for 3yrs. We need to give ALL addicts that overdose that opportunity to have Naloxone on hand and have resources to help get them out of addiction. We do recover.

Please vote to support this bill. We need to do more to support our neighbors and loved ones who struggle with addiction. I've seen a family member die from addiction and another who has struggled for decades. If we do more intervention when people come into emergency rooms, maybe we can save more people from a terrible fate. Thank you, Lindsey Gleason

As a spouse of a person in recovery, the link between our local healthcare system and recovery is vital. During my husband's active addiction, we visited our local emergency room to seek help in entering recovery as our primary physician was unwilling to help us. The only help that was offered was fluids and a list of AA groups in the area. Had we had access to peer recovery systems, information on medication assistance recovery, and ANY information I firmly believe my husband's addiction would have ended there. Fortunately, after many months of PERSONAL searching for a recovery program that we could afford (with no help from our insurance, doctors, or community services board), my husband achieved recovery. Out of the 15 recovery programs within 75 miles of our home, only two are viable programs. Many are cash only, no mental health offered, pick up your pills at 7 am with your cash and go about your day kinds of programs. A complete overhaul of these programs and investigations into the doctors who oversee these programs is also VERY much needed in our community.

In January of 2013, my brother overdosed and was treated at a northern Virginia hospital. EMTs saved his life and I am grateful, but what followed was tragic. He was released hours later with no resources, no referrals, and most importantly - no narcan. A month later I came home to the house we lived in together and found him unresponsive. I did not have Narcan. If he had been given it in the hospital that day I could have used it and maybe saved him. But they didn’t give it to him. If he had been started on buprenorphine that day, his likelihood of fatal overdose would have been reduced by 50%! But they didn’t start him on it. Every year we set a new record for number of drug overdose deaths. The number of fatalities in Virginia has almost quadrupled in the last decade. We have the tools to drastically reduce these numbers - narcan, buprenorphine, peer support - but they aren’t being used where they are needed most. Our hosptitals. In Fairfax County the jail is providing better healthcare for people with addiction than our hospitals are. When someone comes into the jail they receive buprenorphine, are connected with a peer support specialist, and are released with a box of narcan in their personal effects. There are only two hospitals in the whole of Virginia that are coming close to providing those three basic best-practices. If you use opioids for a long enough you are likely to end up in one of three places: jail, the hospital, or the morgue. In those first two settings we have a fleeting opportunity to help someone find recovery. By the third one it’s too late. For decades our hospitals have failed people with substance use disorders - a our sons, sisters, fathers - and it’s time we insist that they close the gaps in care that are costing so many lives.

Please consider passing this bill. Many other illnesses are treated with evidence based practices though substance use is not. It is time to move forward with substance use as a disease defined by DSM criteria and allow these individuals access to adequate care. This bill can only help improve the outcomes. These are individuals deserve is access as a human right.

Good afternoon! My name is Amalia and I am a woman in long-term recovery from Substance Use Disorder. Overdose is a part of my story. Gratefully, I lived to tell it and to get the opportunity to help those who are struggling today. I lead a team of Certified Peer Recovery Specialists as part of a federal grant-funded Post Overdose Response Team. We have repeatedly approached the hospitals in our 10 county catchment, offering our services at no cost to them and have been denied. Peers are being utilized in Emergency Departments across the country and are having much success in reaching those suffering with Substance Use Disorder through relating our stories and offering hope. Peer Specialists follow up with these patients, which is something hospital staff does not have the time to do. We can be an asset to the ER team and together stand a much better chance of saving lives! It is time for the state of Virginia to catch up with the procedures that are working to make a difference in other states. Peer Recovery Specialists are proven to make a difference in the numbers of lives saved! We want the opportunity to keep even one Virginian from dying from an overdose today! Thank you

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I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

Comments Document

HB 427 "The team shall also include …. (ii) a parent representative who is a caregiver of a child who has previously received child welfare, juvenile justice, special education, or behavioral health services, including a foster parent." The King William County Community Policy and Management Team (KWC CPMT) is not in agreement with making this a requirement for CPMT & Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) Parent Representatives. While the KWC CPMT believes it is best practice to have Parent Representatives who meet this description, they disagree with making it mandatory. This would limit the ability to find and retain Parent Representatives for our CPMT & FAPT Teams and we would then be out of compliance as to Team Membership requirements. Dedicated Parent Representatives are not easy to find and the KWC CPMT feels the proposed requirement would make it more difficult. As a rural locality, our Parent Representatives already make the sacrifices of taking time off of work and traveling in order to participate in the Teams; and we are unable to give any compensation or travel reimbursement. We do look for Parent Representatives meeting this requirement, but are opposed to having it in the Code of Virginia, and thus, mandatory. The KWC CPMT believes it should remain as a Best Practice.

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

It is extremely important to include SSDI as an exclusion for income for qualifying for Medicaid just as SSI is excluded. Without Medicaid, people with disabilities like my brother, who is severe and profound, non-verbal autistic would not be able to survive. The services and supports Medicaid provides are essential to being able to live safely. For SSDI to disqualify my brother from receiving the Medicaid benefits that are his lifeline would be penalizing him because his is disabled and receives help from the SSA because he cannot work. I implore you to consider the consequences, both good and bad, and allow my brother to continue receiving the services he needs to survive by excluding SSDI from qualification for Medicaid.

I would like to speak-AMY Lee Story

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

Mental Health America of Virgina strongly supports efforts to revise the Barrier Crimes statutes to give behavioral health agencies the opportunity to hire otherwise qualified staff when their criminal history has no bearing on public or individual safety if hired. The behavioral health workforce in Virginia has been understaffed for several years, and is now in a crisis situation, with long waitnig lists and denied care for many individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders. Direct service providers have great needs to fill positions and these out of date statutes prevent them from serving many people in need. The current statutes have a particularly disqualifying impact on peer recovery specialists, whose qualifications for the job include their own journey of recovery from addiction or mental illness, along with the training and certification to prepare them to help those seeking treatment and recovery for similar challenges.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments in support of HB624. I am Lisa Madron, Executive Director of Community Services. There is currently an average vacancy rate in the workforce across all 40 CSBs in the Commonwealth of approximately 15% with a range from 3-35%. There are certain programs that run a higher vacancy rate such as medical/psychiatric services, emergency services, assertive community treatment and developmental disability services which have shown a 31-36% in vacancies. CSBs have experienced an increase in turnover rates which on average was 21% in FY21 and ranged from 6-36%. Having high turnover rates makes it impossible to resolve vacancy issues and has created additional responsibilities and pressures for the workforce with already high caseloads to take on more. This leads to low morale and burnout. There also does not seem to be enough behavioral health professionals in the pipeline to fill all the vacancies. In a September 2021 Indeed.Com posting, there were 3,682 behavioral health job openings in VA. Yet the number of individuals graduating from VA behavioral health Programs in 2019 was 777. In Region 2(Fairfax, Alexandria, Arlington, Loudoun and Prince William), we are often competing for the same staff which increases the time supervisors are spending in recruitment and hiring only to lose a candidate to a CSB who can offer a higher salary or to private providers, particularly MCOs who are able to pay sometimes 20-30K more in salary and offer at least 50%, if not 100% in telework. In PWC , it is not unusually to run four, sometimes more rounds of interviews for one position. Some CSBs have had to reduce or close programs to ensure prioritized services are covered. If we are able to hire for a vacancy, the training is often more extensive as applicants accepting the position may be right out of graduate school and not have the experience or training that is typically needed for providing treatment services. As the public safety net community provider, CSBs are seeing very acute and complex individuals that require skilled and trained staff. CSBs are often the only service provider able and willing to provide treatment for these individuals. To ensure we have these qualified staff there is a projected level of financial need endorsed by VACSB that would be used to provide quarterly recruitment and retention bonuses, a path for licensure by funding clinical supervision hours and funds for loan repayment and scholarships. HB 624 recognizes the value of the public safety net workforce and provides much needed action to curb the exodus, allow CSBs to address the vacancies, help attract potential new hires and grow existing staff. Thank you

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

We believe that this bill provides for the same transparency afforded to every other DBHDS facility, I know of many instances at VCBR which haven't been reported.

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak-AMY Lee Story

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

Good Evening Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, My name is Kathy Harkey and I am the Executive Director of NAMI Virginia which is the National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI Virginia fully supports HB663 as the bill reorganizes statutory language without making substantive changes. The restructuring provides clarity of provisions and the changes are user-friendly. Respectfully.

Comments Document

Treatment Advocacy Center supports passage of HB663 as a helpful reorganization of existing law to aid in the implementation of MOT in Virginia, as contemplated during the last session.

Good morning, Mr. Chairman and Committee Members, and for the opportunity to speak regarding proposed revisions to 37.2-817 Mandatory Outpatient Treatment. The proposed revisions are timely given the recent tragic events at Bridgewater College which, sadly, echo memory of similar tragic events 15 years ago at Virginia Tech and involving another disturbed young male with a history of SMI.. I am a licensed clinical psychologist and independent examiner for the Virginia Supreme Court with over 15 years of experience with "at risk" populations. My years of experience date back 15 years to the time of the McGarvey Report by the Virginia School of Medicine which included 64 professional, 60 family members of persons with Serious Mental Illness, and 86 persons with experience of having been committed. According to the McGarvey report, and I quote,, "stakeholders are uniformly frustrated by almost every aspect of the civil commitment process in Virginia. Among the most common complaints were shortage of bed in willing detention facilities, insufficient time for adequate evaluation, the high cost and inefficiency of transporting people for evaluation, inadequate compensation for professional participants, inadequate reimbursement for hospitals, inconsistent interpretation of the statute by different judges, and lack of central direction and oversight. Such observations could have been made in a commission report, if mandated today, in the aftermath of Bridgewater. To further quote, "the reforms that we proposed should meet the following test: They should help people with mental health problems get the help they need, when they need it, so that health crises can be prevented or ameliorated and so that suffering and injury can be avoided. The overall goal can be achieved most successfully by fostering a climate of caring and respect for the people who need help, by reducing stigmatization, and by engaging people voluntarily in accessible recovery-oriented over which they have a meaningful measure of control. Conversely this goal can be fatally undermined if there are major gaps in services or if the system is perceived as unduly coercive and drives people away from treatment. The principles of voluntariness, respect, and self-determination must always be kept in the very forefront of our thinking. At the same time, though, coercion is sometimes necessary. Our reforms must therefore assume that involuntary treatment, while being used only when necessary occurs expeditiously and effectively when it is necessary. These statements are an exact quote from the Opening Remarks at the Commission on Mental Health Law Reforms from Professor Richard J. Bonnie, Director of the UVA ILPPP (Williamsburg, VA October12, 2006). To further quote Professor Bonnie, "In my opinion, the need for reform is irrefutable. No one is satisfied with the current situation; the only question is how sweeping the reforms should be.." I agree with everything Professor Bonnie remarked in his 2006 address. Unfortunately, his observations and recommendations, in my opinion, come 15 years too late.. Current proposed revisions in 37.2-817 are largely cosmetic and lack substance for challenges we face in our times, a bit like "rearranging the seats on the decks of the Titanic". Please consider the substantive proposals and recommendations I have made for reform and revisions and refer MOT 37.2-817 back to committee for review, public comment, and amendments.

Comments Document

HB 663 (Mandatory Outpatient), as written, would not have prevented Cho and Virginia Tech 2006.

This would be a much stronger bill and more flexible too as a civil commitment court docket if it were amended by the Virginia State Legislature to allow the district court judge or hospital special justice more discretion to order or "stay" an MOT order and remove the arbitrary 3 year 2 TDO statutory requirement prior to implementation of an AOT (MOT) order by the judge, as proposed in last.yar's Adams HB1026. Per established House legislative procedure, the existing HB663 CAN be amended. The wording of this bill is not "chiseled in stone"-- whatever the expressed intent of it's "working" group of committee lawyers! Proposed amendments to this bill should "see the light of day" and be entertained, as previously promised in the June Hope Subcommittee. This bill AND proposed amendments should be privy to public scrutiny and comment! Stakeholder groups should have their say in invited open Committee session!

Comments Document

Testimony in support of HB663 clarifying that it is solely a reorganization of existing provisions with no substantive changes to existing commonwealth MOT law.

Comments Document

This bill as written does little for the Adult SMI in a psychiatric emergency or for their families who may be desperately seeking effective court mandated outpatient services. This is due to its complexity and arbitrary requirement that a psychotically regressed and incapacitated adult with serious mental illness (SMI) first be subject to a TDO hearing twice over a 3 year period. For example, what does this bill do, really, for a psychotically regressed and incapacitated TDO respondent who has been psychiatrically well stabilized for years on antipsychotic medication, with no prior incidents, that no longer works, or that has debilitating side effects; however, the patient is subsequently TDO'd and presumed competent to refuse treatment or to allow family contacts due to his/her acutely delusional and paranoid decompensated state which "ties staff hands" due to common misunderstandings and misapplication of HIPAA privacy laws? What does HB 663 do for this patient and his family? How does the proposed HB663, as written, provide medically necessary, evidence based, court mandated and judicially supervised outpatient services for SMI patients meeting commitment criteria who do have capacity to consent and who can benefit from court mandated outpatient "problem solving" court dockets supervised by one judge who develops singular rapport with the SMI patient and his/her family who need it-- similar to that in evidence based, community based, criminal mental health dockets? Civil Mental health court dockets could be instrumental, if adopted into law, in encouraging such "at risk" individuals to develop their own physician and court approved care plans in transition to non-judicially supervised case management support and service plans by the CSB in the local community. What does HB663 do for these patients and their families? This "rewrite" of 37.2-817 is needlessly cumbersome, complex, and just as inscrutable to the average family member and advocate for the SMI as it's predecessor, in my opinion, as a forensic examiner. Giving the special justice the authority by legislative initiative to order a civil stay of the MOT order would provide an option for the judge, the patient, the family, and patient advocates in the community that would afford all the opportunity to divert the SMI TDO respondent on a voluntary basis for referral to court mandated civil court dockets and alternative dispute resolution for those willing to consent to and benefit from a referral to community based "treatment courts". The Hope Subcommittee in my opinion can do better! Edmund W. Creekmore, Jr PhD LCP Independent Examiner for the Virginia Supreme Court

This bill as written does little for the Adult SMI in a psychiatric emergency or for their families who may be desperately seeking effective court mandated outpatient services. This is due to its complexity and arbitrary requirement that a psychotically regressed and incapacitated adult with serious mental illness (SMI) first be subject to a TDO hearing twice over a 3 year period. For example, what does this bill do, really, for a psychotically regressed and incapacitated TDO respondent who has been psychiatrically well stabilized for years on antipsychotic medication, with no prior incidents, that no longer works, or that has debilitating side effects; however, the patient is subsequently TDO'd and presumed competent to refuse treatment or to allow family contacts due to his/her acutely delusional and paranoid decompensated state which "ties staff hands" due to common misunderstandings and misapplication of HIPAA privacy laws? What does HB 663 do for this patient and his family? How does the proposed HB663, as written, provide medically necessary, evidence based, court mandated and judicially supervised outpatient services for SMI patients meeting commitment criteria who do have capacity to consent and who can benefit from court mandated outpatient "problem solving" court dockets supervised by one judge who develops singular rapport with the SMI patient and his/her family who need it-- similar to that in evidence based, community based, criminal mental health dockets? Civil Mental health court dockets could be instrumental, if adopted into law, in encouraging such "at risk" individuals to develop their own physician and court approved care plans in transition to non-judicially supervised case management support and service plans by the CSB in the local community. What does HB663 do for these patients and their families? This "rewrite" of 37.2-817 is needlessly cumbersome, complex, and just as inscrutable to the average family member and advocate for the SMI as it's predecessor, in my opinion, as a forensic examiner. Giving the special justice the authority by legislative initiative to order a civil stay of the MOT order would provide an option for the judge, the patient, the family, and patient advocates in the community that would afford all the opportunity to divert the SMI TDO respondent on a voluntary basis for referral to court mandated civil court dockets and alternative dispute resolution for those willing to consent to and benefit from a referral to community based "treatment courts". The Hope Subcommittee in my opinion can do better! Edmund W. Creekmore, Jr PhD LCP Independent Examiner for the Virginia Supreme Court

We need to humanize our people. Bring back The US Consistition Allpw everyone TO HEAL

HB 668 is a bill to provide oversight for the Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation (VCBR), a mental health facility under the umbrella of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). VCBR should not be left out of the transparency requirements which DBHDS places on the other state facilities it oversees. With a goal of safe release into the community, abuses within any mental health facility will only create instability and impaired mental health. There have been suspicious suicides and deaths over the last few years at VCBR which have not been accurately reported to the DBHDS or any other required state agencies. In addition, the mistreatment and mismanagement during the pandemic resulted in a death rate higher than any other DBHDS facility. Reports of abuse, mistreatment, mismanagement, and misappropriation of funds are rampant. Any reports from the public or "residents" to the State Inspector General as well as DBHDS are largely ignored. A present goal for the new administration in the Commonwealth is complete transparency as well as improvement of mental health treatment. As a facility of DBHDS, VCBR must be included with all other facilities to meet these goals. Legislators have a responsibility to all citizens to provide that safety and transparency.. Information about any incidents at VCBR, as well as all other DBHDS facilities, should be reported and the administration be held accountable. Please support HB 668

I would like to speak-AMY Lee Story

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

Comments Document

HB688 (Mandatory Outpatient) as written would not have prevented Cho and Virginia Tech 2006.

Good morning My name is Judy Hackler, and I represent the Virginia Assisted Living Association (VALA). We agree to the intent of this bill, but we do not agree to the presented wording to accomplish the goal. We have been working in good faith with other stakeholders on this bill to develop amendments that were agreeable to all, but those amendments have not been completely applied. We also submitted written comments in the subcommittee that were not acknowledged. The published language is worded with direct conflicts to current requirements. This conflicting language would force assisted living facilities to choose which requirement to comply with and which one to violate. That is not in the best interest of the facilities, the residents, nor the Commonwealth. As a result of these conflicts, we ask you to pass by this bill to get the more appropriate amendments, or we oppose the bill as presented to us. Thank you.

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

Good morning, My name is Judy Hackler, and I am with the Virginia Assisted Living Association, also known as VALA. I would like to speak on HB690. After communicating with the stakeholders and agencies that proposed this bill, we agree to the purpose of the bill, and we are working with them to amend the language of the published bill to best serve the interests of the residents, the assisted living communities, and the Commonwealth. As of this morning, we have not seen any official changes published in LIS to the bill in the way of amendments or substitutes, and we encourage the committee to consider passing by the bill for this morning to allow us to review published amendments or substitutes, as we believe we can create a bill agreeable to all stakeholders. Thank you.

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

As a foster to adoptive parent, I support this bill and encourage passage. This would increase transparency and accountability for LDSS agencies.

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

Good afternoon. My name is Judith Dittman. I am the Chief Executive Officer for a Northern Virginia nonprofit organization called Second Story. Second Story’s mission is to step in at critical moments in a young person’s life when the support of a caring adult can make all the difference. To do this we provide safe havens and opportunities to grow and thrive for at-risk youth and for those experiencing homelessness. One of our safe havens is called Second Story for Youth in Crisis. It provides short-term (usually less than three weeks) shelter, counseling and wrap around support services for youth who are homeless, runaway, have been thrown out of their house or otherwise been abused and traumatized. All of these young people are between the ages of 13 and 17. These young people desperately want a safe place to stay and the ability to get the medical attention they have not been able to receive while on their own, especially if they are unaccompanied. They did not leave home thinking that it would be fun to access these critical supports on their own. In fact, many times the youth who are unaccompanied have been left by their parents, not the other way around. We have seen teens left alone in an apartment as their parents left the country. When the youth’s funds to pay rent run out, they have nowhere to turn. We work diligently to reunite youth with their families and are usually successful. But when a youth comes to our shelter door and does not have a family to call on, our options are severely limited. As the law stands now, we have 24 hours to gain the consent of a parent or guardian for the youth to stay in our safe haven. If that parent or guardian is not available there are currently no good options. HB 717 will give youth access while clarifying the guidelines that the provider community will follow to meet the needs of youth and families in our community. Many people are unaware of the number of youth who are homeless as they try to escape notice. Sleeping in their car or going from friend’s couch to friend’s couch. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, more than half of unaccompanied homeless youth are under 18 and sleep outside, in a car or in another place not meant for human habitation. There were over 20,000 students experiencing homelessness in Virginia’s schools in 2018-19, according to the National Center for Homeless education … including nearly 3,000 who were unaccompanied youth. Youth homelessness is a crisis in Virginia, and it is especially dangerous for unaccompanied youth. In trying to survive on their own many young people become involved in high risk behaviors that result in their becoming victims of sex trafficking and other violence. When you run out of friends’ couches to sleep on, you are easy prey for a sex trafficker. Reforms to Virginia state laws could help keep unaccompanied homeless youth safe. HB 353 would provide them much-needed access to physical and mental health care and related services. Currently, 31 states, including Maryland, and DC, have laws allowing minors to access housing, shelter, and other basic services without parental consent. I ask you to protect Virginia’s unaccompanied youth who are homeless by passing similar legislation. Judith Dittman

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

SchoolHouse Connection supports HB 353 and HB 717

My name is Malora Horn. I have 33 years of professional experience. My areas of expertise include the provision of mental health services and working with families/youth experiencing homelessness. In my current profession, I often work with older youth who are not living in permanent housing. Some of these youth were with their families prior to losing housing, but a number of them are also living on their "own". These students literally move from one place to the next and often are unable to have any stability. Please understand, some of these students' families may be staying with others but there isn't enough room for the family to stay together. When this happens, most often the "older" students will stay with friends. If a student is 18, entering into a shelter is relatively a simple process. However, if the student is under the age of 18, they aren't allowed to be there without a guardian or CPS will be contacted. I understand there are laws to protect our youth, however, to not support an unaccompanied youth and provide the option to stay in shelter and off of the street until a better plan can be determined, is very difficult and frustrating as a service provider. I understand for anyone under 18 there are additional concerns/liabilities for a shelter or medical providers, however, there must be a better solution, a compromise, a bridge we can create to offer easier access to necessary services these youth may need and currently not able to obtain without a "guardian's" permission. Many of our youth have been traumatized over and over. They may have been in foster care, chronically homeless or currently being abused by someone they know or as a result of human trafficking. I have worked with an 17 year old who decided to stay in an abandoned house instead of living with his guardian, due to the guardian's reported drug use. The only way for him to access services at his age was to either be emancipated or to go into foster care. Neither of these choices are ideal, but at 17, most can't financially take care of themselves. More and more unaccompanied youth are living on the streets, most of them don't chose this option, but most of them don't have any other choices available or access to shelter and medical services . Services continue to expand to address human trafficking and to increase funding and services for those who have addictions. It would make sense to continue to focus on the prevention aspect of how unaccompanied youth in particular don't become the victims, often as a way to survive or to numb the trauma they are experiencing. These youth need to have more access to services and an opportunity to have their basic needs met, especially when most of them don't make the choice to be on their own.

Hello, my name is …. My name is Kimberly Embe-Mamong and I am writing to you as a graduate social work student, young adult who experienced housing insecurity for numerous years, and seasoned researcher for Advocates for Richmond Youth to urge you to pass bills HB 363 and 717. During high school, I became homeless and an unaccompanied youth through unfortunate family circumstances. What was already a difficult experience to navigate was exacerbated by my inability to make decisions pertaining to my own wellbeing and independence that I was now entirely responsible for maintaining. For example, I was a senior in high school at the time. I was in the process of applying for college and had a lot of barriers to making decisions for myself because of all of the requirements related to needing my parents’ signatures. I was unable to attend any medical appointments on my own- as I had no insurance of my own or any way to pay for these expenses out of pocket. I could have benefited greatly from seeing a psychologist and general doctor to discuss the ways in which my homeless experience had begun to take such a large toll on my physical and mental health, and up until this year- I was unable to acquire insurance separate from my family’s plan affordable enough to even see a dentist. In addition to this- the fractured relationship with my family was already something I had felt immense shame around harboring and hiding when most of my friends and peers did not have to deal with such issues, I was made to feel even more embarrassed on a consistent basis when I could not produce necessary signatures and parental consent. I had no other options usually but to either relive my trauma over and over again, explaining my trauma to strangers in the hopes they’d be able to empathize, pity, or at a bare minimum not care enough about bureaucratic paperwork and policies to cut me some slack. I was stuck until I turned 18. This is why it is so imperative to pass both HB 353 and HB 717. While unaccompanied youth may have additional support outside from trusted people and systems in their life, they are largely responsible for making life decisions and managing the implications and any consequences that may arise. This responsibility coupled with the fact that these individuals know their circumstances and what’s best for them better than anyone else, continues to prove that they should have the right to advocate and make decisions for themselves concerning their housing and health- two fundamental aspects of their wellbeing.

Please support HB717 which states that an unaccompanied homeless youth shall be deemed an adult for the purpose of consenting to housing, including emergency shelter, and other services and establishes requirements for providers of housing, including emergency shelter, and other services for unaccompanied homeless youths. Our LGBTQ populations, especially youth focused groups, are at serious risk of losing state and local support. These efforts can help build on this work.

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak-AMY Lee Story

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

Dear Sir and Honorable Members of the Committee Industry representatives in the jurisdiction(s) indicated, fully support this bill ... we however would like to point out that the Virginia Department of Health was fully tasked in 2017 to improve and expand the Environmental Health Database to include the ability to capture and report on Conventional Onsite Sewage Systems. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?171+ful+HB2477 - 2017 Legislative Session 7. Improve the collection and management of data about onsite sewage systems and private wells, including (i) creating a web-based reporting system for conventional onsite sewage system operation and maintenance, (ii) accepting applications and payments online, (iii) making onsite sewage system and private well records available online, (iv) creating a complete electronic record of all permitted onsite sewage systems and private wells in the Commonwealth, and (v) creating procedures for tracking Notices of Alleged Violations and corrective actions; and The Department to date has been "unable" to provide or make changes to their database as required by legislation. We have had numerous teleconference meetings where private sector has voiced our concerns, and the VDH database administrator has given many excuses as to why they are unable to meet the legislative requirements and make changes. We hope that the committee may add some "teeth" or urgency to the matter for VDH to upgrade the database as required, for a central online reporting instrument is essential for the Chesapeake Bay reporting to work.

I oppose HB 769 as it is proposed for the following reasons: 1. Licensed operators, pursuant to 18VAC160-40, are not licensed pumpers. Individuals can hold multiple licenses – such as installer, operator, pumper, contractor. But a licensed operator, as a stand alone license, is not a pumper and has no pump out authority from either DPOR or VDH. 2. DPOR licenses operators, but does not license pumpers. VDH licenses pumpers through their Sewage Handling Permit program (see 12VAC5-610-240.B - Sewage handling permits. Any person who removes or contracts to remove and transport by vehicle the contents of any septic tank, sewage treatment plant, privy, holding tank, portable toilet, or any sewage septage or sewage sludges from any other device shall be deemed an owner and shall have a written sewage handling permit issued by the commissioner). 3. VDH is stressed to the point of incompetence with the Alternative Onsite maintenance program. VDH is mandated to enforce an annual inspection program for about 25,000 alternative septic systems. The program has been in place for the past 12 years. As of 2017, VDH's compliance is about 10% on the annual maintenance inspection program - out of 23,176 alternative systems, there were only 4,858 inspections for the two year period - 2016 & 2017. For 100% compliance, there should have been 46,352 inspections reported (4858/46,352 = 10.5%.). That’s a statewide compliance rate of 10% for only 26,000 systems. 4. The estimated number of onsite systems in each county is: i. Accomack, 21,356 ii. Essex, 5,914 iii. Gloucester, 16,923 iv. King and Queen, 3,532 v. King William, 7,373 vi. Lancaster, 7,689 vii. Mathews, 5,760 viii. Middlesex, 7,392 ix. Northampton, 7,493 x. Northumberland, 9,394 xi. Richmond, 3,999 xii. Westmoreland, 11,134 Therefore, the estimated total number of conventional septic systems is 97,000 (estimating 90% of the 107,959 dwelling units are served by septic) Does the General Assembly trust VDH to manage/compel 97,000 pump outs every 5 years? 5. DEQ has oversight and audit authority provided by statute. They routinely audit counties for CBPA compliance. If the CBPA pump out program is transferred to VDH, what agency is empowered to hold VDH accountable? 6. The CBPA regulations include enforcement and civil penalties. What specific type of enforcement and civil penalties are provided to VDH in the transfer of the program. 7. There are multiple causes for pump outs. The 5-year CBPA program is one of many reasons owners have their septic system pumped. What levels of responsibility are attributable to the owner, and to the pumper? Is the owner responsible for the pump out only? Is the pumper only responsible for reporting the pump out? What happens if a pumper fails to report? What happens if the owner refuses to comply with the 5 year mandate? 8. Is VDH going to require owners/pumpers to report ALL pump outs? The correct public policy focus should be on alternative system maintenance and the enforcement of the annual inspection program. Alternative systems are critical, as they are constructed in our most sensitive environments. VDH’s failure to enforce the annual inspection program over the past 12 years is a colossal abrogation of their duty to the Commonwealth.

I would like to speak-AMY Lee Story

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

THE BILLS I WISH TO SUBMIT CO MMENTS ON ARE NOT LISTED SO I CHOSE ONE AT RANDOM Good evening. My name is Judith Dittman. I am the Chief Executive Officer for a Northern Virginia nonprofit organization called Second Story. Second Story’s mission is to step in at critical moments in a young person’s life when the support of a caring adult can make all the difference. To do this we provide safe havens and opportunities to grow and thrive for at-risk youth and for those experiencing homelessness. One of our safe havens is called Second Story for Youth in Crisis. It provides short-term (usually less than three weeks) shelter, counseling and wrap around support services for youth who are homeless, runaway, have been thrown out of their house or otherwise been abused and traumatized. All of these young people are between the ages of 13 and 17. These young people desperately want a safe place to stay and the ability to get the medical attention they have not been able to receive while on their own, especially if they are unaccompanied. They did not leave home thinking that it would be fun to access these critical supports on their own. In fact, many times the youth who are unaccompanied have been left by their parents, not the other way around. We have seen teens left alone in an apartment as their parents left the country. When the youth’s funds to pay rent run out, they have nowhere to turn. We work diligently to reunite youth with their families and are usually successful. But when a youth comes to our shelter door and does not have a family to call on, our options are severely limited. As the law stands now, we have 24 hours to gain the consent of a parent or guardian for the youth to stay in our safe haven. If that parent or guardian is not available there are currently no good options. HB 717 will give youth access while clarifying the guidelines that the provider community will follow to meet the needs of youth and families in our community. Many people are unaware of the number of youth who are homeless as they try to escape notice. Sleeping in their car or going from friend’s couch to friend’s couch. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, more than half of unaccompanied homeless youth are under 18 and sleep outside, in a car or in another place not meant for human habitation. There were over 20,000 students experiencing homelessness in Virginia’s schools in 2018-19, according to the National Center for Homeless education … including nearly 3,000 who were unaccompanied youth. Youth homelessness is a crisis in Virginia, and it is especially dangerous for unaccompanied youth. In trying to survive on their own many young people become involved in high risk behaviors that result in their becoming victims of sex trafficking and other violence. When you run out of friends’ couches to sleep on, you are easy prey for a sex trafficker. Reforms to Virginia state laws could help keep unaccompanied homeless youth safe. HB 353 would provide them much-needed access to physical and mental health care and related services. Currently, 31 states, including Maryland, and DC, have laws allowing minors to access housing, shelter, and other basic services without parental consent. I ask you to protect Virginia’s unaccompanied youth who are homeless by passing similar legislation. Judith Dittman, CEO Second Story 291 Skipjack Lane Cobbs Creek, VA 23035

I am a physician no longer practicing who is in the process of becoming a certified PRS. My Zoom training was with Jason Pritchard. I served in the Navy for 25 years and practiced medicine for 12 years as a family medicine physician. I serve my church as a Stephen Minister in training as well as serve a local community service organization called House of Mercy. I plead guilty to aggravated sexual battery against my girlfriend of two years at the time, for an incident that occurred in September 2017. I was incarcerated for my crime and am now on probation in good standing. I was in the throes of active alcoholism at the time. Now in recovery, I am actively involved in AA and serve as my home group’s GSR. My story is one of genuine repentance, resiliency, rehabilitation, and service. I am comfortable speaking is such a forum and have substantive things to say regarding why this bill should be passed. Thank you.

I have what is considered a Barrier Crime on my record from 30 years ago; Statutory Burglary (non-residence, non-violent) directly related to my substance abuse then. I have since served all time, satisfied any probation/parole, paid all court costs/fines, achieved sobriety, obtained a double BA in Psychology & Sociology, and a MS in Mental Health Counseling. However, the collateral consequences of convictions stemming from immaturity, poor decisions, and addiction15-30 years ago remain as punishment almost akin to ongoing double jeopardy where no matter the rehabilitation, reform, or restitution, I am still faced with prosecution and persecution over and over again. What does it say about the penal system if all it does is punish without correcting and reforming individuals to re-enter society as citizens, as humans who have the ability to change and go on to work in professions to help others help themselves change; or to help other prevent the same poor choices and mistakes in life? What does it say about the department of Probation & Parole? What does it say about DBHDS, DMAS, and/or Mental Health and Addiction Treatment if people are deemed castaways uncapable of self-development, positive change, and will never be trustworthy in society, yet released into society with unequal opportunities? What good is restoring our right to vote and serve jury duty if the politicians we vote for do nothing to help vindicate those of us who paid our debt to society? What good does it do to just "Ban the Box" when the background checks still deem us as "ineligible for hire" and we have to walk off that job humiliated, defeated? Contributing factors to relapse & recidivism include systemic & institutional racism, discrimination, poverty, unemployment, and limited community resources preventing true Equal Opportunity. All of which can be linked, but not limited to, collateral consequences, barrier crimes statutes, and biased, Draconian laws prevalent and persistent in the Commonwealth & Confederate State of Virginia. Please remove the rigid Barrier Crimes laws and discriminatory practices of biased policies facing the incarcerated, former offenders, recovering alcoholics/addicts, those with mental health issues, and Blacks who are disproportionately adversely affected more than any other race and demographic. Thank you. -Wahid W. Shabazz

I would like to speak-AMY Lee Story

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

The best men and women to help other people struggling with the disease of addiction are the people that have been through the same thing!

BARRIER CRIMES IMPACT THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE There are critical staff vacancies throughout the behavioral healthcare system. Utilizing peers with lived experience will assist in alleviating some of those vacancies. Peer Recovery Specialists with barrier crimes have more difficulty finding work in the behavioral health field due to barrier crime convictions. There is a population of trained Peer Recovery Specialists in Virginia who have barrier crime convictions, often committed in pre-recovery while untreated, but are unable to seek employment in their desired profession at their local Community Services Board, or at other state facilities. People with mental health or substance abuse challenges could benefit from services provided by Peer Recovery Specialists. Over and over we hear from people that when they’ve met someone who has had a similar life experience, they feel an immediate sense of connection (e.g. she/he “gets it”. The peer workforce is not as effective as it could be due to the few exclusions to barrier crimes in the behavioral health field. Peers that have experience with incarceration due to barrier crimes and the resulting stigma surrounding searching for viable employment offer a unique perspective to other peers in similar circumstances VOCAL, a statewide organization that supports peer-facilitated mental health recovery, asks that you support House Bill 805.

Mental Health America of Virgina strongly supports efforts to revise the Barrier Crimes statutes to give behavioral health agencies the opportunity to hire otherwise qualified staff when their criminal history has no bearing on public or individual safety if hired. The behavioral health workforce in Virginia has been understaffed for several years, and is now in a crisis situation, with long waitnig lists and denied care for many individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders. Direct service providers have great needs to fill positions and these out of date statutes prevent them from serving many people in need. The current statutes have a particularly disqualifying impact on peer recovery specialists, whose qualifications for the job include their own journey of recovery from addiction or mental illness, along with the training and certification to prepare them to help those seeking treatment and recovery for similar challenges.

I support this bill, as an adoptive parent of two now-young adults who were in foster care in Virginia. This will increase the pool of potential caregivers, while still maintaining oversight and approval processes used by LDSS in considering and approving foster and kinship placements.

I would like to speak-AMY Lee Story

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

In regards to HB241, I can personally attest to the need for patients to have access to complex medical equipment when transferring to skilled nursing facilities. I work in inpatient rehab and am appalled that patients have their one means of independence (complex power wheelchairs) taken away just because they require extended care at a long term facility. This must be passed and changed.

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

In regards to HB241, I can personally attest to the need for patients to have access to complex medical equipment when transferring to skilled nursing facilities. I work in inpatient rehab and am appalled that patients have their one means of independence (complex power wheelchairs) taken away just because they require extended care at a long term facility. This must be passed and changed.

I support all of these bills to increase coverage for children, to train care providers in the pernicious influence of cultural bias and systematic racism that can skew our medical decisions (without us even realizing it). I worked as a hospital RN, and then a Nurse Practitioner for 23 years. Nurse practitioners have the education and professional certification requirements to work collaboratively. We do not need practice agreements or supervision by a medical doctor to work within the law and limits of our profession. I do not agree with any measures to limit the dissemination of birth control to women who seek help in limiting conception. I do not know the details of Mr LaRock’s bill, but I have followed his history of preference for the State to control women in their choices for their contraception and well-being within their life limitations. I believe doing all we can to educate girls and women to be their own decision makers, and equal to men spiritually, mentally, and legally will reduce the incidence of unwanted and too early pregnancy better than any heavy-handed scare tactics.

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

Good Afternoon Mr. Chairman and committee members. My name is Yolanda Bell. I am a Veteran who resides in Manassas and I am a constituent of Del Roem. I thank you for allowing me to speak today. I have come to testify in favor of guardianship reform for the last three years. As a key stakeholder in the JLARC Guardianship Study I implore you to Report HB1207. Vulnerable individuals, especially those who are unable to speak for themselves, require frequent and regular visits. To do anything less than a face to face visit places their health and at significant risk. Training is an integral part of ensuring the health and safety of our most vulnerable residents. And DARS is a pivotal piece in this process. A phone call in lieu of a face to face visit for vulnerable individuals is grossly insufficient especially those that have been placed in nursing homes which are almost always understaffed with overworked personnel. My sister suffered and ultimately lost her life because of this lack of oversight and isolation instituted by the guardians. If a guardian is not doing an eyes on visit things will be missed, and it will be to the detriment of vulnerable wards, especially those who cannot speak for or defend themselves. If guardians are not trained in what to look for and what to include in reports, it hamstrings the courts leaving them blind unable to help. It leaves individuals like my beloved sister Anastasia without anyone to fight for them because annual reports as they stand now are severely limited in what they require to be documented. My sister was 120+lbs when the guardians took her.  She weighed a mere 87lbs nine months later when they ended her life. She had no terminal illness. This is what happens when wards are allowed to be isolated from loving family and friends, when eyes on are taken away or not required.  When reporting requirements and oversight of guardians and by guardians is lax and almost nonexistent vulnerable wards suffer, are abused, neglected, and die. Anastasia literally had 13 holes in her body and too many bruises to count. Regular and frequent visits with reported findings would have prevented this from happening. When nursing facilities know people will be visiting they are more prone to ensure those residents are properly cared for and monitored. My sister suffered dearly. Why? Because she was severely isolated, and her particular guardians did not take complaints of abuse seriously, did not check on her, and were not required to document changes in her condition and the additional things needed that this bill provides. Please do not let this happen to anyone else. I implore you to unanimously pass HB1207. Thank you for your time and attention. Sincerely, Yolanda Bell Anastasia’s Voice

Comments Document

See attachment for testimony.

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak-AMY Lee Story

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story

I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.

I would like to speak please -Amy Lee Story