Weekly updates from the General Assembly – Delegate Chris Collins

The 2018 General Assembly session is now concluding its third week! Several very important bills have already passed through the House and are on the way to the Senate. This week I will be providing you updates on several key issues that I have been working on including legislation for adoption records and autism insurance coverage.

Adoption Legislation

Last week the House of Delegates passed three adoption bills that received bipartisan support.

My House Bill 291 streamlines the retention of and access to adoption files. The bill simplifies access to adoption files regarding court orders for adoptees and/or adopters so they can more easily obtain personal vital records.

House Bill 227, carried by Delegate Christopher Stolle, also passed through the House. This bill requires courts to consider the results of a national criminal history background check conducted on the prospective adoptive parent. The legislation is in response to a case out of Virginia Beach where a young female was found dead from an overdose. After an investigation it was learned that her adoptive parent had a long felony criminal history.

House Bill 241 was carried by Delegate Emily Brewer. This bill shortens the length of time, from three years to two years, that a child must live with a close family member before adoption proceedings can begin. The closest relatives of a child provide that child with the best chance of success during a tumultuous time.

Autism Insurance Legislation

HB1311, legislation to remove the cap on insurance coverage for Autistic individuals, did not make it through the Commerce and Labor sub-committee it was assigned. I was asked to strike the bill, or withdraw it, in an effort to ensure that Senator Vogel’s SB593, which passed through committee and is now in the finance committee, would have better chance of passing in the House. SB593 has been amended to raise the cap from 10 years of age to 18 and was passed out of the Senate Commerce and Labor committee unanimously. If SB593 passes in the Senate, and comes to the House, I will do what I can to ensure its passage.

Follow my legislation by clicking on the link below.

Track Legislation

Daily Session and Committee Videos

Have you been wondering how you can watch the House of Delegates daily sessions? The link below will direct you to the live feed as well as archived videos from previous days.

Daily Session Videos

Interested in watching videos of House Committee meetings? Please click on the link below for instructions to view Committee videos.

Committee Video Instructions

I encourage you to keep in touch with me and my office over the coming months. I value the feedback you provide on a continual basis as it helps me do a better job of representing you. You can email me at delccollins@house.virginia.gov or call my office in Richmond at (804) 698-1029.

I will provide you with weekly email updates during the 2018 General Assembly Session and will schedule my Coffee with Chris events after Session to report on important topics and take questions.

Thank you for your support and I look forward to serving you in 2018.

Delegate Chris Collins