Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Law Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

State and Local Government Law

2014

Richmond Public Interest Law Review

Articles 1 - 6 of 6

Full-Text Articles in Law

Renewed Commitment: The Latest Chapter In Reforming Virginia's Mental Health System, The Honorable Jennifer L. Mcclellan Jan 2014

Renewed Commitment: The Latest Chapter In Reforming Virginia's Mental Health System, The Honorable Jennifer L. Mcclellan

Richmond Public Interest Law Review

In the wake of the highly publicized Virginia Tech tragedy, the 2008 General Assembly Session adopted mental health reforms that focused on the provision of emergency services during the detention and commitment process, and an increase in funding to implement these reforms and strengthen emergency services. Despite the reforms, the issue of inadequate capacity to meet the increasing demand for mental health services remains in a number of key areas, including emergency services and a decline in in-patient psychiatric bed capacity while population growth continues.


An Analysis Of The Political And Legal Debates Concerning Medicaid Expansion In Virginia, Rick Mayes Ph.D, Benjamin Paul Jan 2014

An Analysis Of The Political And Legal Debates Concerning Medicaid Expansion In Virginia, Rick Mayes Ph.D, Benjamin Paul

Richmond Public Interest Law Review

The Supreme Court's historic June 2012 ruling regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius set the stage for a massive federalism battle over Medicaid expansion in the United States. The original language of the Act was intended to nationalize Medicaid by having every state expand their program's eligibility to all individuals up to 138% of the federal poverty level. This would have significantly reshaped Medicaid, a joint federal-state health insurance program, into a universal entitlement for all low-income citizens. Currently, Medicaid eligibility varies dramatically from state to state. The Court held that the …


Unclaimed Remains And Next Of Kin: A New Path To The Final Resting Spot, W. Scott Johnson Esquire Jan 2014

Unclaimed Remains And Next Of Kin: A New Path To The Final Resting Spot, W. Scott Johnson Esquire

Richmond Public Interest Law Review

In response to requests from health care facilities, law enforcement agencies, and funeral service establishments, Senator Kenny Alexander (DNorfolk) convened a workgroup of stakeholders to rewrite the statutes dealing with unclaimed remains and next of kin. In addition to serving the General Assembly, Senator Alexander owns several prominent funeral service establishments and is a funeral service licensee. His experience proved invaluable to the process. The stakeholder meetings began in the fall of 2013 and culminated in the introduction of Senate Bill 304 in the 2014 Session of the Virginia General Assembly. The bill passed without a single negative vote through …


Veteran's Law Symposium: Keynote Address Delivered November 8, 2013, Tim Kaine Jan 2014

Veteran's Law Symposium: Keynote Address Delivered November 8, 2013, Tim Kaine

Richmond Public Interest Law Review

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine delivered this keynote address at the 2013 Journal of Law and the Public Interest Symposium. In this transcript of his speech, Senator Kaine discusses the importance of improving service for veterans disability claims, how the changing nature of society affects military and veterans issues, fundamental questions about 21st century warfare, and concludes by answering questions form the audience.


The Judiciary In Virginia: Changes And Challenges In Virginia: One Trial Judge's Perspective, Thoma D. Horne Retired Judge Jan 2014

The Judiciary In Virginia: Changes And Challenges In Virginia: One Trial Judge's Perspective, Thoma D. Horne Retired Judge

Richmond Public Interest Law Review

With the convening of the 2014 Virginia General Assembly, members of the Senate and House received the anticipated 2013 Judicial Workload Assessment Report-a weighted case load study produced by the National Center for State Courts and commissioned by the legislature during its 2012 session. The purpose of the study was to help guide both the future selection of judges and the allocation of the political boundaries to be served by those judges. The results of the weighted caseload study as contained in the 2013 Report would validate many of those concerns expressed earlier by the 2011 Judicial Boundary Realignment Committee …


Screening The Poor: The Legality Of Drug Testing For Welfare Benefits, Jacquelyn Bolen Jan 2014

Screening The Poor: The Legality Of Drug Testing For Welfare Benefits, Jacquelyn Bolen

Richmond Public Interest Law Review

On March 8, 2014, at the conclusion of the 2014 Virginia General Assembly regular session, Virginia joined at least 17 other states that, in this year alone, have introduced proposals to screen or test applicants for illegal substances prior to obtaining public assistance. Following the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, which permitted states to conduct drug testing as part of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, states began proposing drug screenings for applicants of public welfare benefits. Despite a 2003 Sixth Circuit decision holding that suspicionless drug testing is unconstitutional, in …