Some legislation for the 2009 General Assembly has already been pre-filed. Del. Albert Pollard wants to give his constituents a look at several of these items, with his comments on each one in italics:

HB 1602 requires that by 2013, local school divisions must employ one teacher who has current board certification as a behavior analyst for every 25 students with autism.
This is a well intentioned measure that has merit, but doesn’t take into account the fiscal impact it would have on smaller school districts such as ours. Additionally, it appears to be an unfunded mandate in a year when the budget is shrinking.

HB 1623 would limit the liability of commercial fisherman who participate in agri-tourism. The bill uses similar language from the Agritourism Activity Liability Act, passed in 2006, so that commercial watermen can get insurance and take paying tourists on the Bay.
The bill makes sense and does not remove liability for gross negligence. I intend to add my name as a co-patron.

HB 1615 prohibits operation of a motor vehicle, bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped on the highways in the Commonwealth while using any wireless telecommunication device for the purpose of sending, receiving, or reading any text message.
I will support the bill, but like a lot of measures that attempt to legislate common sense, it will be hard for police and deputies to enforce until an accident has already occurred.

HB 1624 mandates that the Board of Education include in its model policy on bullying, harassment, and intimidation specific things that create a “hostile educational environment by substantially interfering…and is motivated by an actual or perceived personal characteristic including race, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ancestry, physical attributes, socioeconomic status, familial status, or physical or mental ability or disability…”
Bullying is bad, and harassment because someone is different is plain wrong but writing laws trying to stop it is difficult at best. Teaching our children respect for others is an issue better addressed by parents, not the legislature.

HB 1635 would require, during a legislative session, a member to report within 24 hours any gift that would be reportable on his annual disclosure form.
In general, Virginia’s requirements for reporting of gifts and other ethics laws are so lax that measures to tighten them are worthy of support. My only suggestion is because of the overwhelming and time sensitive nature of the business of the legislative session, increasing the length of time to report a gift should be 48 hours rather than the 24 hours.