Virginia Senate subcommittee advances measures on reproductive-extradition shield, juvenile evaluations, police training, drones and traffic penalties

A Virginia Senate subcommittee on March 1 reported out multiple bills affecting reproductive-health protections, juvenile justice evaluations, law-enforcement training, drone operations near critical infrastructure and traffic-safety penalties.

The panel advanced an extradition-related measure aimed at protecting people who provide or receive reproductive health care in Virginia, approved a permissive juvenile-evaluation measure that adds mental-health and disability expertise, and moved forward a one-line training requirement for state police on interviewing people with developmental disabilities. The subcommittee also amended and advanced a drone-restrictions bill, approved several traffic-law clarifications and a new penalty for drivers who kill or seriously injure lawful pedestrians, and took one bill on evidence at traffic stops off the table.

Senate Bill 743, presented by Senator Favola, was described by the sponsor as an "extradition" bill that would protect health-care providers and individuals who come to Virginia or are licensed here from extradition to states that have prohibited certain reproductive-health services. "This is a bill that health-care providers have asked me to submit, and I think it's important," Senator Favola said. The sponsor said there was no fiscal impact. In committee, opponents urged rejection: Jeff Caruso of the Virginia Catholic Conference said the bill would give "certain providers an elevated and exclusive status" and urged opposition; Dr. Michael Huffman of the Virginia Assembly of Independent Baptists called the measure "morally wrong" and cited the U.S. Constitution's Article 4, Section 2, Clause 2…