Bill Text: VA HB208 | 2024 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Comprehensive plan; locality may consider adopting a healthy communities strategy.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2024-04-17 - House sustained Governor's veto [HB208 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2024-HB208-Comm_Sub.html

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24105704D
HOUSE BILL NO. 208 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns on January 19, 2024) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Simonds) A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-2223.6, relating to comprehensive plan; healthy communities strategy.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 15.2-2223.6 as follows:

§15.2-2223.6. Comprehensive plan; healthy communities strategy.

A. Beginning July 1, 2024, a locality may, during the next scheduled and all subsequent reviews of its comprehensive plan, as required in §15.2-2230, consider adopting a healthy communities strategy that meets the requirements of this section.

B. The healthy communities strategy may include:

1. Identifying major sources of pollution or hazardous waste sites within the locality's jurisdiction, on the basis of data from any federal, state, or local environmental agency or health department;

2. Identifying policies to mitigate the unique or compounded health risks to residents that may be caused by the pollution sources or hazardous waste sites identified pursuant to subdivision 1 by means  that include the reduction of pollution exposure; the improvement of air and water quality; emergency management; resilience to increased flooding and excessive heat; and the promotion of public facilities, food access, safe and sanitary homes, and physical activity;

3. Identifying objectives and policies to promote civic engagement in public decision-making processes by residents;

4. Identifying objectives and policies that prioritize improvements and programs that promote healthy communities, including affordable broadband Internet access, job training, access to healthy foods, access to aging in place assistance, equitable access to public parks and greenways, increased tree canopy, public transit services, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, electric vehicle charging, and other clean transportation options; and

5. Identifying objectives and policies that encourage linking public transit with community and health services and siting or co-locating health services in unconventional settings to ensure convenient access for all community members.