17100848D<br><center><b>
HOUSE BILL NO. 2094
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Offered January 11, 2017
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Prefiled January 10, 2017
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<i>A BILL to amend and reenact &sect;<a href="http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/15.2-915">15.2-915</a> of the Code of 
 Virginia, relating to localities; control of firearms in government buildings.</i>
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Patrons-- Price and Simon
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Committee Referral Pending
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<p>Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:</p>
 
 
<p>1. That &sect;<a href="http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/15.2-915">15.2-915</a> of the Code of Virginia is amended and 
 reenacted as follows:</p>
 
 
<p>&sect;<a href="http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/15.2-915">15.2-915</a>. Control of firearms; applicability to authorities 
 and local governmental agencies.</p>
 
 
<p><s class=str>A. No </s><i class=new>A </i>locality<s class=str> shall</s><i class=new> may</i> 
 adopt or enforce any ordinance, resolution<i class=new>,</i> 
 or motion, as permitted by &sect;<a href="http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/15.2-1425">15.2-1425</a>, and<s class=str> no</s><i class=new> an authorized</i> agent of such 
 locality<s class=str> shall</s><i class=new> may</i> take<s class=str> any</s><i class=new> an</i> administrative action<s class=str>,</s> governing the<s class=str> purchase,</s> possession<s class=str>, transfer, ownership, 
 carrying, storage or transporting</s> of 
 firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof<s class=str> other 
 than those expressly authorized by statute. For purposes of this section, a 
 statute that does not refer to firearms, ammunition, or components or 
 combination thereof, shall not be construed to provide express authorization</s><i class=new> in, or 
 carrying of firearms, ammunition, or components or 
 combination thereof into, any 
 building owned or used by such locality for governmental purposes</i>.</p>
 
 
<p><s class=str>Nothing in this section 
 shall prohibit a locality from adopting workplace rules relating to terms and 
 conditions of employment of the workforce. However, no locality shall adopt any 
 workplace rule, other than for the purposes of a community services board or 
 behavioral health authority as defined in &sect;<a href="http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/37.2-100">37.2-100</a>, that prevents an employee 
 of that locality from storing at that locality's workplace a lawfully possessed 
 firearm and ammunition in a locked private motor vehicle. Nothing in this 
 section shall prohibit a law-enforcement officer, as defined in &sect;<a href="http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/9.1-101">9.1-101</a>, from 
 acting within the scope of his duties.</s></p>
 
 
<p><s class=str>The provisions of this 
 section applicable to a locality shall also apply to any authority or to a 
 local governmental entity, including a department or agency, but not including 
 any local or regional jail, juvenile detention facility, or state-governed entity, 
 department, or agency.</s></p>
 
 
<p><s class=str>B. Any local ordinance, 
 resolution or motion adopted prior to the effective date of this act governing 
 the purchase, possession, transfer, ownership, carrying or transporting of 
 firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof, other than those 
 expressly authorized by statute, is invalid.</s></p>
 
 
<p><s class=str>C. In addition to any 
 other relief provided, the court may award reasonable attorney fees, expenses, 
 and court costs to any person, group, or entity that prevails in an action 
 challenging (i) an ordinance, resolution, or motion as being in conflict with 
 this section or (ii) an administrative action taken in bad faith as being in 
 conflict with this section.</s></p>
 
 
<p><s class=str>D. For purposes of this 
 section, "workplace" means "workplace of the locality."</s></p>