Speaker Howell stated, “I am proud to appoint Delegate Greason to this important committee.  Tag’s business acumen and reform-minded approach to government operations make him well suited to take on this leadership assignments and I know he’ll ably serve those he’s so proud to represent.  Like so many, I look forward to working closely with Delegate Greason to expand jobs and opportunities in the 32nd House District and throughout Virginia.”

The Committee on General Laws has one of the most diverse issues of any committee. It works on various consumer and citizen protection measures such as the regulation of professions and occupations; open government laws and regulation of housing and property (landlord-tenant relations, regulation of property owner and condominium associations); and the regulation of gambling and ABC. The Committee also considers important state government matters, including the organization of departments and agencies and intergovernmental relations, including interstate compacts. The Committee is also responsible for veterans’ affairs.

Greason stated, “I look forward to the new assignment with great enthusiasm due to the broad range of issues that come before the committee, allowing me a greater opportunity to better serve my constituents. With my military background and upbringing, issues involving veterans’ affairs will be of particular interest.”

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Delegate Tag Greason, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, has been selected to participate in the 2010 Program for Emerging Political Leaders, sponsored by the State Legislative Leaders Foundation and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.

Delegate Greason is one of only fifty state legislators chosen from a nationwide pool of over 180 outstanding nominees.

This prestigious program is held every year on the campus of the University of Virginia for a select group of state legislators who have been nominated by the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate or Minority Leader from their state. Leaders are asked to nominate one or more members who by their actions have demonstrated those qualities we associate with leadership—integrity, compassion, intelligence, vision, and common sense.

The goal of this program is to inspire these men and women to continued careers in public service. Class discussions will examine qualities and characteristics of leadership including: ethical leadership, the art of compromise and coalition building and the philosophical underpinnings of representative democracy.

As Stephen G. Lakis, President of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation has noted, “These legislators represent the best and the brightest, and are destined for future leadership roles in their state.  You can’t help but feel proud and more confident about our unique system of representative democracy. They are just that good!”

CONTACT: Papalinka Paradise
Tel: 508-771-3821
Fax: 508-778-2553
pparadise@sllf.org
www.sllf.org

– End –

From the War Memorial website:

“Walk inside the Virginia War Memorial and you enter hallowed ground. For here on its soaring glass and marble walls are the names of more than 11,600 Virginia heroes who gave their lives to keep our country free. Its reason for being and its effect on those who view its hallowed walls and artifacts. Located overlooking historic Richmond business district and the James River, the War Memorial was created by the Virginia General Assembly to honor Virginia’s war dead.”

Visit the Virginia War Memorial site to learn more.

Caliente Restaurant – Brambleton Plaza
Realtors interested in attending may call ReMAX Gateway: 703/652-5776

Start Time: 04:00 PM
Date: 2010-04-28

For those interested in attending go to: http://vsae.affiniscape.com/cde.cfm?event=300906

Start Time: 6:00 PM
Date: 2010-05-05

Location: Ashburn Library.
Join Tag and Sen. Mark Herring.
Directions: http://bit.ly/cZui5H

Both Greason and Hope stated they are humbled to be chosen to head up such an impressive group. The non partisan caucus comprised of 12 Republicans and 9 Democrats plan to build on their strength in the House of Delegates to promote legislation that will benefit all Virginians. The interim period before the 2011 session will allow individual members to determine their legislative agendas for next year, and determine what legislation they will support as a whole.

“ The 2010 freshmen class stands in a unique position to enact meaningful legislation at a time of great economic turmoil. While we all come from different parts of the Commonwealth, we’re unified in the common goal to make government more efficient,” stated Delegate Hope.  Greason added, “Now that the budget is behind us and we have supported the Governor in his economic development plans, we will turn our collective focus on government reform and transparency.  We can do a better job at delivering services to our constituents…and be more efficient at the same time.  Our class will be a big part of that effort.”

Other members of the freshman class include:

• Delegates Robin Abbott (D-Newport News, James City)
• Richard Anderson (R-Prince William, Woodbridge)
• Richard Bell  (R-Augusta, Highland, Rockingham Counties (Part), Staunton)
• Betsy Carr (D-City of Richmond and Chesterfield County)
• Bill Cleaveland (R-Parts of Botetourt and Roanoke, Part of the city of Roanoke)
• Barbara Comstock (R- Great Falls, McLean, and parts of Herndon (R- Vienna)
• John Cox (R-Part of Hanover County and Town of Ashland)
• James Edmunds (R- Halifax, Charlotte, Prince Edward and Nottoway (Part)
• Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax County (Part), Burke, and Springfield)
• Scott Garrett (R-Amherst County (Part) City of Lynchburg)
• Matthew James (D-Parts of the Cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk and Portsmouth)
• Mark Keam ( D-Vienna, Oakton and Parts of Dunn Loring and Fairfax)
• Kaye Kory (D-Part of Fairfax County)
• James LeMunyon (R-Part of Fairfax and Loudoun Counties)
• James Morefield (R-Parts of Buchanan, Russell and Tazewell Counties)
• Scott Surovell (D-Southern Fairfax County)
• Luke Torian (D-Prince William (Eastern-Part; Town of Dumfries and Town of Quantico)
• Ron Villanueva (R-City of Virginia Beach (Part)

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RICHMOND, VA – The General Assembly passed HB 1252, which was drafted by Delegate Thomas A. “Tag” Greason (R-32). The bill cleared both houses of the General Assembly with unanimous support. The House of Delegates voted to support the measure by a vote of 98-0 as did the Senate by a vote of 40-0. The bill will now be forwarded on for Governor McDonnell’s signature which will put the legislation into effect on July 1, 2010.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Plowman and his staff raised concerns regarding a particular piece of the Virginia Code with Delegate Greason. These concerns sent Greason into action in crafting HB 1252 which expands the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and recover missing children or missing senior adults.

In its current form, the Virginia Code allows law enforcement to obtain a subpoena for cell phone records and data from a Judge if probable cause is shown. Unfortunately, the ability to issue this Order is limited only to criminal investigations.

“If a child goes missing or an elderly person with Alzheimer’s wanders off, no crime is committed, and as such, no subpoena can legally issue for these records,” stated Plowman. Records such as these can often help law enforcement locate missing persons very quickly where the first 48 hours is deemed critical.

“When you have a child or an endangered adult go missing, time is of the essence,” said Plowman. “The use of cellular phones is so common in our society that tracking the data from cell towers that includes call numbers, dates, times and locations has become invaluable in investigations.”

HB 1252 was presented initially on January 18, 2010 and referred to the House Committee for Courts of Justice and its Criminal Law Subcommittee before being reported out to the full House of Delegates. Once sent to the Senate, the bill was then reviewed by the Senate Courts of Justice Committee before being sent to the Senate floor.

“I’m pleased that I’ve been able to make such a meaningful impact toward public safety efforts in my first two months in office,” stated Greason. “There are few things more important than the safety our children and our elders. I’m proud to have been able to be a part of providing tools to law enforcement to assist them in keeping our loved ones safe.”

“I can’t describe the tremendous amount of positive feedback on this bill that I’ve received from law enforcement officials across the state,” continued Greason. “This was not a situation that was unique to Loudoun County and it seems the statewide effects of this legislation will be quickly recognized by our Law Enforcement community.”

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