Signed by Governor Ralph Northam

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the Attorney General to file a civil suit or inquire into any unlawful practices or patterns by law enforcement officers.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the state or any locality to engage in a pattern or practice of conduct by any law enforcement officer agency that deprives people of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by federal or state law (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the attorney general to make the following actions when they have reasonable cause to believe that a violation of the above highlight has occurred (Sec. 1):

• File a civil action to obtain appropriate equitable and declaratory relief to eliminate the pattern or practice; and

• Inquire into or seek to conciliate any unlawful pattern and practice.

• Specifies that the attorney general is empowered to issue a civil investigative demand whenever they have reasonable cause to believe a violation of the first highlight has occurred (Sec. 1).

• Establishes a Division of Human Rights within the Department of Law to assist in the prevention of and relief from alleged unlawful discriminatory practices (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the power and duties of the Division will be to do the following, including (Sec. 1):

• Receive, investigate, seek to consolidate, refer to another agency, hold hearings, and make findings and recommendations upon receiving complaints alleging unlawful discriminatory practices, including complaints alleging a pattern and practice of unlawful discriminatory practices;

• Adopt, promulgate, amend, and rescind regulations consistent with the provisions of this bill and the Virginia Human Rights Act;

• Inquire into accidents that may constitute unlawful acts of discrimination or unfounded charges of unlawful discrimination; 

• Seek prevention of or relief from an alleged unlawful discriminatory practice; and

• Receive complaints, seek to consolidate, and inquire into accidents that may constitute an unlawful pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives people of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by state or federal law and take action within the Division’s authority, including requesting the attorney general to issue a civil investigative demand designed to prevent such conduct.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the Attorney General to file a civil suit or inquire into any unlawful practices or patterns by law enforcement officers.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the state or any locality to engage in a pattern or practice of conduct by any law enforcement officer agency that deprives people of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by federal or state law (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the attorney general to make the following actions when they have reasonable cause to believe that a violation of the above highlight has occurred (Sec. 1):

• File a civil action to obtain appropriate equitable and declaratory relief to eliminate the pattern or practice; and

• Inquire into or seek to conciliate any unlawful pattern and practice.

• Specifies that the attorney general is empowered to issue a civil investigative demand whenever they have reasonable cause to believe a violation of the first highlight has occurred (Sec. 1).

• Establishes a Division of Human Rights within the Department of Law to assist in the prevention of and relief from alleged unlawful discriminatory practices (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the power and duties of the Division will be to do the following, including (Sec. 1):

• Receive, investigate, seek to consolidate, refer to another agency, hold hearings, and make findings and recommendations upon receiving complaints alleging unlawful discriminatory practices, including complaints alleging a pattern and practice of unlawful discriminatory practices;

• Adopt, promulgate, amend, and rescind regulations consistent with the provisions of this bill and the Virginia Human Rights Act;

• Inquire into accidents that may constitute unlawful acts of discrimination or unfounded charges of unlawful discrimination; 

• Seek prevention of or relief from an alleged unlawful discriminatory practice; and

• Receive complaints, seek to consolidate, and inquire into accidents that may constitute an unlawful pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives people of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by state or federal law and take action within the Division’s authority, including requesting the attorney general to issue a civil investigative demand designed to prevent such conduct.

Full Bill Text