Commonwealth Times

Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Briefs

House considers bill to expand Sunday liquor sales

Selling liquor on Sunday traditionally has been prohibited in Virginia, but a bill in the House would allow state-owned liquor stores in several cities to stay open seven days a week.

Delegate Thomas D. Gear, R-Hampton, introduced House Bill 908 to let ABC stores in cities with 100,000 residents or more sell alcohol on Sundays. The list includes Richmond, Hampton, Newport News and Chesapeake.

In 2004, a bill was passed that allowed the liquor stores operated by the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to open on Sunday in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and some cities in Northern Virginia.

"If they want hard liquor, I'd rather them buy it at the (ABC) store and take it home … than go to a restaurant and drive home," Gear said.

One group opposed to the bill is the Virginia Assembly of Independent Baptists. Executive Director Jack Knapp said alcohol is already too available.

"If I could have my way, we would go back to prohibition, but I know that's not going to happen," Knapp said.

Knapp lobbied against the expansion of liquor sales in 2004. He said if it passed, Sunday hours would incrementally be authorized in more localities in the future.

Brief by Alexander Harris

School sex-offender ban might be extended

Sex offenders will not be allowed on school property at any time if a new bill is passed in the General Assembly. Currently, offenders are banned only during school hours.

House Bill 567, proposed by Delegate Anne B. Crockett-Stark, R-Wytheville, would make it illegal for a convicted, violent sex offender to be on the premises of a public or private elementary school, a secondary school or a children's day-care center at any time without prior consent from the commonwealth's attorney and from the facilities' administration.

The bill is being addressed in the House Courts of Justice Criminal Law subcommittee.

Caleb Cox, Crockett-Stark's legislative assistant, said the bill aims to clear up language on whether school hours include activities, such as sports, that usually take place after a normal school day.

A Wythe County assistant commonwealth attorney suggested the bill after noting that a violent sex offender was attending every pee-wee football game held at one of the county schools.

Cox said the bill would act as an additional safeguard against offenders who aren't approved to be on school property.

Brief by Travis Lyle

No satisfaction for Virginia song lovers

If there is a song in the hearts of Virginians, the Senate has put it on pause for a year.

Senate Bill 736, sponsored by Sen. Ralph K. Smith, R-Roanoke, would have made "Cradle of Liberty," by Thomas L. DeBusk, Virginia's official state song. However, the bill was carried over until next year in the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee.

Cynthia Langley of Norfolk sang along to a recording of "Cradle of Liberty" in front of the Senate committee Wednesday.

DeBusk said he and Langley are friends and first met in church, where they sang in the choir.

Both the committee and the audience applauded after the performance. A few audience members stood to whistle and shout praise.

Sen. Frank W. Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, said the song was "one of the better versions I've heard," but he called for the formation of a commission to select a new state song from a group of applicants.

"It made it farther than last year, as it didn't get killed immediately. So, I'm happy with that," DeBusk said. "It got a great response here today, so I think over time, perhaps, it will carry some weight."

While Langley remained optimistic, she said she wished the committee had sent the song for a vote in the full Senate and then to the House.

Brief by Alex Bahr

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Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Briefs

House considers bill to expand Sunday liquor sales

Selling liquor on Sunday traditionally has been prohibited in Virginia, but a bill in the House would allow state-owned liquor stores in several cities to stay open seven days a week.

Delegate Thomas D. Gear, R-Hampton, introduced House Bill 908 to let ABC stores in cities with 100,000 residents or more sell alcohol on Sundays. The list includes Richmond, Hampton, Newport News and Chesapeake.

In 2004, a bill was passed that allowed the liquor stores operated by the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to open on Sunday in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and some cities in Northern Virginia.

"If they want hard liquor, I'd rather them buy it at the (ABC) store and take it home … than go to a restaurant and drive home," Gear said.

One group opposed to the bill is the Virginia Assembly of Independent Baptists. Executive Director Jack Knapp said alcohol is already too available.

"If I could have my way, we would go back to prohibition, but I know that's not going to happen," Knapp said.

Knapp lobbied against the expansion of liquor sales in 2004. He said if it passed, Sunday hours would incrementally be authorized in more localities in the future.

Brief by Alexander Harris

School sex-offender ban might be extended

Sex offenders will not be allowed on school property at any time if a new bill is passed in the General Assembly. Currently, offenders are banned only during school hours.

House Bill 567, proposed by Delegate Anne B. Crockett-Stark, R-Wytheville, would make it illegal for a convicted, violent sex offender to be on the premises of a public or private elementary school, a secondary school or a children's day-care center at any time without prior consent from the commonwealth's attorney and from the facilities' administration.

The bill is being addressed in the House Courts of Justice Criminal Law subcommittee.

Caleb Cox, Crockett-Stark's legislative assistant, said the bill aims to clear up language on whether school hours include activities, such as sports, that usually take place after a normal school day.

A Wythe County assistant commonwealth attorney suggested the bill after noting that a violent sex offender was attending every pee-wee football game held at one of the county schools.

Cox said the bill would act as an additional safeguard against offenders who aren't approved to be on school property.

Brief by Travis Lyle

No satisfaction for Virginia song lovers

If there is a song in the hearts of Virginians, the Senate has put it on pause for a year.

Senate Bill 736, sponsored by Sen. Ralph K. Smith, R-Roanoke, would have made "Cradle of Liberty," by Thomas L. DeBusk, Virginia's official state song. However, the bill was carried over until next year in the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee.

Cynthia Langley of Norfolk sang along to a recording of "Cradle of Liberty" in front of the Senate committee Wednesday.

DeBusk said he and Langley are friends and first met in church, where they sang in the choir.

Both the committee and the audience applauded after the performance. A few audience members stood to whistle and shout praise.

Sen. Frank W. Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, said the song was "one of the better versions I've heard," but he called for the formation of a commission to select a new state song from a group of applicants.

"It made it farther than last year, as it didn't get killed immediately. So, I'm happy with that," DeBusk said. "It got a great response here today, so I think over time, perhaps, it will carry some weight."

While Langley remained optimistic, she said she wished the committee had sent the song for a vote in the full Senate and then to the House.

Brief by Alex Bahr

Page 1 of 1

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