February 09, 2012 - 11:24 pm
BY JIM NOLAN
Senators defeated a measure that would have required all registered voters to declare their party affiliation or independent status, effectively killing the measure for the year.
Senate Bill 62, sponsored by Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin, was defeated 24-16. Similar measures in the House of Delegates failed to escape a House committee. Critics said the measure would have suppressed votes in primary elections and cost millions to implement.
The chamber acted decisively, however, on the issue of reporting sexual abuse of children. They overwhelmingly endorsed Senate Bill 239 by a vote of 37-3.
Sponsored by Sen. Richard H Stuart, R-Westmoreland, and several other Republican and Democratic members, the legislation would decrease the time period during which sexual abuse must be reported from 72 hours to 24 hours.
It would also increase the fine on persons who fail to report abuse involving rape, sodomy and sexual penetration, raising a second violation of the law from a maximum $1,000 fine offense to a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by a $2,500 fine and up to a year in jail.
