Summary: Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority. Clarifies (i) that the members of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) Authority appointed by the Governor and the Joint Rules Committee are voting members of the Authority and (ii) the authority of VEDP to direct the Attorney General to enforce contracts related to the award of economic incentives. The bill adds a member of the VEDP Authority, to be appointed by the chairman, to each of the Committee on Business Development and Marketing and the Committee on International Trade and clarifies that these committees are advisory in nature. The bill also extends to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) the existing closed meeting exemption for discussion of portions of the VEDP strategic, marketing, and operational plans that are exempt from public disclosure. Current law requires that VEDP report on these plans to the JLARC subcommittee on economic development but does not provide an exemption for discussion of the portions of those plans not subject to public disclosure. The bill contains an emergency clause.

Summary: Beehive Grant Fund; basic beehive units. Provides that any individual registered as a beekeeper with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (the Department) may apply for no more than three basic beehive units per year. The bill requires the Department to process applications for such units in the order in which it receives them and to cease accepting applications if the Beehive Grant Fund is exhausted. The bill authorizes the Department to use funds from the Beehive Grant Fund to fund the purchase, construction, or distribution of the beehive units and allows the Department to work cooperatively with the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service to carry out the program.

Summary: Virginia Research Investment Committee; membership; emergency. Replaces the Secretary of Technology with the Secretary of Commerce and Trade on the Virginia Research Investment Committee. The bill contains an emergency clause.

Summary: Bonds for institutions of higher education. Authorizes issuance of bonds in an amount up to $21 million for revenue-producing capital projects at institutions of higher education. The bill contains an emergency clause. This bill is identical to SB 232.

Summary: Virginia Retirement System; technical amendments. Makes technical amendments to Title 51.1, Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement, including clarifying that medical boards may be composed of not only physicians but also other health care professionals and that the only federal civilian service eligible to be purchased as membership credit is full-time service. This bill is identical to SB 248.