Aspiring public elementary and secondary school teachers are no longer required to participate in non-academic training sessions more than once within six months of being hired and once every five years after that.
The law is meant to stop teachers from being required to spend more than 25 hours total over five years on mandatory training that is not directly related to teaching subjects, but if the school board or superintendent deems it necessary, additional training may be required.
For women who utilize reproductive apps to track and maintain information relating to their menstrual cycle or sexual health, apps can no longer sell or misuse this data without a consumer’ s explicit consent.
Data related to reproductive or sexual health services or supplies, location information used to obtain such services, reproductive or sexual health status, the use or purchase of contraceptives or other medications, records of reproductive healthrelated surgeries, and information about bodily functions are all classified as protected information that companies are prohibited from sharing.
Gift cards cannot expire earlier than five years after purchase or last reload, and the card must have a clear expiration date and a phone number or website where the date can be checked. This website must also allow holders to check how much money is left.
As for fees, gift cards cannot have dormancy fees, inactivity fees, or any fees that can reduce the value of the card, except for cards that are part of a promotion or a loyalty program.
New criminal offenses have received updated classifications. For instance, mail theft is now considered a felony and will be classified as a Class 6 felony for stealing, destroying, or tampering with someone else’ s mail.
There will be penalties for stunt driving behaviors like burnouts or street takeovers. Gun threats against buildings or transit systems are now considered a Class 5 felony, whether it is a threat or a false claim of a shooting or attack.
Although college students are the exception to the new cell phone ban and the various other educational restrictions imposed on primary and secondary public schools, students should remain aware of these new laws that could potentially impact their way of living.
For more specifics surrounding any of these laws, visit https:// dls. virginia. gov /.
INSERT IMAVIRGINIA LT. GOV. WINSOME EARLE-SEARS, TOP LEFT, AND HOUSE SPEAKER, DON SCOTT, D-PORTSMOUTH, APPLAUD AS VIRGINIA GOV. GLENN YOUNGKIN DELIVERS HIS ANNUAL STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS PHOTO BY STEVE HELBER / WVTF. ORG
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