The Courts of Justice Criminal Law Subcommittee advanced eight bills, including measures to decriminalize suicide, expand trafficking vacatur remedies, eliminate indigent defense fees, and protect minor sex trafficking victims from arrest. The most contentious actions were the suspension of a nitrous oxide bill over drafting concerns and a 7-3 vote to report the suicide decriminalization bill after sharp opposition on public safety and insurance grounds.
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Delegate Colson argued the bill would bar any commercial establishment such as Walmart from selling products containing nitrous oxide canisters because the only carve-out requires a business to be 'solely engaged' in catering or food processing. Counsel confirmed Delegate Colson's reading: 'if they are not solely engaged in that business, then yes, they would be barred under this language.' Patron Delegate Kent maintained that culinary use was carved out, but counsel's clarification contradicted that characterization.
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“Virginia has treated these rights as services with a price tag attached, charging people for fees to access a public defender or a jury of their peers. But the safeguards of justice should not require a membership fee. And the sixth Amendment is not a luxury item.”
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Sign in to subscribeCourts of Justice Subcommittee on Criminal Law will come to order. Please open the roll. Members cast your attendance. We have seven present. Close the roll. Excuse me, I just ate. Little breakfast bar and it's right there. Excuse me, if I may, while I take this break. I just want to make sure that everyone who may be online at this time are in the audience. It's in part because it's a Friday afternoon and there's no predicted for some of the members who will try to get home. So two things. One, that we have two bills that have been stricken from the docket. So I want to make sure that you're aware of that. And that is Converse Fowler. I believe that would be HB 1302 has been stricken from the docket. And Then also Rasul's 1070 will go by for the day. So if you're on for those, they will not be heard today. Secondly, for the order as members come in, I will be recognizing them first, despite the fact of how this is listed. And also for those who are testifying in the room. My habit is to find out how many are speaking…
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