Sponsors: Ryan McDougle

Biennial appropriation act. Provides that the Commonwealth’s biennial appropriations shall start on July 1 of odd-numbered years beginning with the biennial appropriation act for the period July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2019. The bill requires that the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016, would not be a part of any biennial appropriation act (i.e., it would be a single-year transitional budget).

Biennial appropriation act. Provides that the Commonwealth’s biennial appropriations will start on July 1 of odd-numbered years beginning with the biennial appropriation act for the period July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2019. The bill requires that the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016, would not be a part of any biennial appropriation act (i.e., it would be a single-year transitional budget).

Criminal history record information check; making false statements; penalty. Provides that any person who knowingly makes a materially false statement on criminal history background check forms required for the purchase and transfer of firearms is guilty of a Class 5 felony. Current law uses the phrase “willfully and intentionally” rather than “knowingly.” The bill contains technical amendments.

Local gas severance taxes. Makes technical amendments that provide a period of time in which natural gas companies may appeal a local gas severance tax assessment made on or after January 1, 2014, for license years 2014, 2013, 2012, or 2011. In 2012, the General Assembly passed legislation delaying the time period in which natural gas companies could appeal gas severance tax assessments and suspending the collection of gas severance tax assessments. The bill creates a time period in which natural gas companies may appeal such assessments.

Criminal history record information check; making false statements; penalty. Provides that any person who knowingly makes a materially false statement on criminal history background check forms required for the purchase and transfer of firearms is guilty of a Class 5 felony. Current law uses the phrase “willfully and intentionally” rather than “knowingly.” The bill contains technical amendments.

Landlord and managing agent immunity for mold claims. Provides that landlords and managing agents are not liable for civil damages in an action for exposure to mold arising from the condition within the interior of a dwelling unit brought by a tenant, authorized occupant, or guest or invitee if the mold condition is caused solely by the negligence of the tenant. The bill also provides that managing agents with no maintenance responsibilities are not liable for damages unless the agents have actual knowledge of the mold condition and fail to disclose the existence of the condition to the landlord and any prospective or actual tenants. The bill provides further that if a written move-in inspection report reflects that there is no visible evidence of mold in a dwelling unit, and the tenant does not object in writing to such report within five days of his receipt of the report, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that no mold existed at the time of the move-in inspection. The bill also requires landlords and managing agents with maintenance responsibilities to perform mold remediation if visible evidence of mold occurs within a dwelling unit. This bill is identical to HB 221.