Senator McDougle Sponsors Legislation to

Change the Virginia Council on Indians

Richmond – Earlier this session, Senator Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover) agreed to sponsor Senate Bill 1136 which changes the membership of the Virginia Council on Indians. The changed Council would include the chiefs of the Virginia Tribes officially recognized in the Commonwealth, two at large members appointed by the Governor from the Indian population residing in Virginia, and one nonvoting member of the Governor’s senior staff. Many of the chiefs would like to focus on the unity and advancement of the Virginia’s recognized tribes. This legislative measure creates the opportunity for the chiefs to come together on a consistent basis to advance issues facing Virginia’s recognized tribes. The Council will also establish a non voting advisory committee consisting of representatives of recognized and non-recognized Indian tribes.

The newly constituted Council will be lead by W.F. “Frank” Adams, Chairman of the Virginia Council on Indians. Adams is a resident of King William County, is the Assistant Chief and tribal representative to the Council from the Upper Mattaponi Tribe and is a member of the King William County Board of Supervisors. He was appointed Chairman of the Council on Indians by Governor Kaine on January 31, 2007.

Chairman Adams commented, “I think the Virginia Council on Indians is a very helpful organization for Virginia Indians and non Virginia Indians living in Virginia. I hope that this bill will make the Virginia Council on Indians stronger and more user friendly.” For those hoping to learn more about Virginia Indians, statements and information will come directly from the Chiefs on the Council under this new legislation.

As a current legislative member of the Council on Indians, Senator Ryan McDougle agreed to sponsor this legislation. The bill did pass through the Senate and will now be voted on in the House of Delegates.

Senator McDougle Sponsors Legislation to Fight Gang Participation

Richmond- Last week Senator McDougle presented Senate Bill 876, which would aid law enforcement in the fight against gang participation and gang related crime. The bill passed the Senate unanimously and was communicated to the House.

In the 2007 General Assembly, Senator McDougle has placed priority on legislation that keeps criminals off our streets. Senate Bill 876 allows a person to be charged for criminal street gang participation for a first offense distribution of heroin or cocaine. Currently, a person can only be charged for criminal street gang participation if they have distributed illegal drugs multiple times. By allowing law enforcement to charge a person for criminal street gang participation for a first offense drug distribution, dangerous and violent criminals will be kept off our streets and away from our community.

“As a former prosecutor with the Hanover County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, I recognize that tough laws are necessary to reduce violent crime and protect our families. By passing this legislation, we are making our community a safer place by giving law enforcement officials and prosecutors the tools they need to crack down on gang participation and violent crimes,” said McDougle.

Senator McDougle Sponsors Bill for a More Efficient DMV

Richmond- In an effort to reduce lines at DMV and save tax payers millions of dollars, Senator Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover) presented Senate Bill 1337. The bill also seeks to reduce license fraud by directing DMV to create a plan for all Virginia drivers and learners permits to be centrally manufactured and sent to the licensee or permittee by mail.

“As your representative in the State Senate, I am always looking for ways to save taxpayers money and implement cost effective measures in government. I believe this legislation does exactly that by reducing DMV overhead and saving the citizens time in line at DMV customer service centers,” said McDougle.

This legislation will require DMV to implement new business practices for non driver’s license transactions prior to the implementation of the Federal Real Identification mandates which become effective in the spring of 2008. Currently, Federal Real Identification requirements will force Virginians to renew their driver’s licenses or ID card in person at a DMV service center. Without substantial changes in current procedures, Virginians will be forced to endure long lines and waste time to obtain a drivers license. Initial projections indicate McDougle’s legislation may reduce by up to 60% the number of transactions which physically occur in a DMV customer service center. Additionally, cost savings could approach $20 million dollars annually.

McDougle’s Senate Bill 1337 passed the Senate and currently awaits action in the House of Delegates Transportation Committee.

Senator McDougle Sponsors Legislation to Encourage

Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs for Jail Inmates

Richmond – After partnering with and listening to the feedback of several local sheriffs and community advocates, Senator Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover) decided to sponsor Senate Bill 1069, which will allow local or regional jails to establish drug and alcohol treatment programs for their inmates. This legislation will encourage voluntary treatment programs that are modeled after current drug treatment programs present in a limited number of local and regional jails across the Commonwealth. The programs currently in use were established to assist jail inmates in eliminating the negative influence of drug and/or alcohol abuse and addiction in their lives. McDougle’s bill contains no fiscal impact and would enable local jails to design a program without any additional cost to taxpayers.

Senator McDougle, representatives from the Public Safety Secretariat, and the Senate budget committee took time over the summer to visit state and local correctional facilities. One example of this program’s potential for success is Henrico Sheriff Mike Wade’s drug and alcohol treatment program in Henrico Jail East. McDougle decided to take a proactive step to allow any local or regional jail to take similar steps towards creating programs to assist their inmates. Henrico’s program, RISE, (Recovery in a Secure Environment) was created to address the overriding cause of most incarcerations — drug abuse. A recent survey of inmates conducted by the Sheriff’s Department found that 74 percent of the Henrico jail population attributes their incarceration directly or indirectly to drugs and alcohol. In response to such trends, Henrico employed its first social model recovery program in August 2000, utilizing a 36-bed housing unit. Unlike previous rehab programs in which substance abuse or addiction specialists served as instructors, the social model relies mainly on addicts helping each other, sharing experiences only they can truly know.

“Many inmates spend a few nights or weeks in jail and never receive the proper rehabilitation and treatment for their serious drug and alcohol addictions. These offenders hit the streets again and go through a cycle of continued drug addition and then they often fall back into a pattern of committing crimes. I am pleased to offer a plan which will encourage regional and local jails to study the programs of other localities and establish a new drug and alcohol treatment program if one is not in place,” said McDougle.

McDougle’s legislation also requires each new program to make a report to the General Assembly, listing the percentage of jail inmates participating, the availability of the program on a continuing basis to repeat criminal offenders, and the overall effectiveness of the program in preventing re-incarceration. Senate Bill 1069 passed the Senate and will now be considered for a vote in the House of Delegates.

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Senator McDougle’s Legislation Works to

Enhance Law Enforcement’s Retirement

Richmond – Last week Senator Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover) stood in front of the Senate Finance Committee to argue for reasonable retirement benefits for our law enforcement officers. McDougle aims to ensure additional and needed retirement benefits for deputy sheriffs and state police officers. This important piece of legislation passed through the Senate Finance committee successfully and passed the full Senate this week. The bill will soon be considered in the House of Delegates.

“Our law enforcement officers work hard to keep our communities safe and are continuously placed in dangerous situations. They deserve to receive a reasonable retirement plan for their commitment to serving our Commonwealth. After talking to and working with local and state public safety officers, I am honored to sponsor this legislation on behalf of our officers,” said McDougle.

According to the information provided by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, Virginia ranks fourth in the nation so far this year for law enforcement deaths in the line of duty, but Virginia provides the second lowest multiplier (among 49 states providing similar retirement systems) for its law enforcement officers. By increasing the multiplier from 1.7% to 2.0%, Virginia law enforcement would move from 48th to 46th place.

Senator McDougle’s newly crafted legislation enables participating localities to provide law enforcement retirement benefits to all deputy sheriffs in Virginia effective July 1, 2007. This also allows localities to enhance the retirement multiplier from 1.7% to 2.0% for local deputy sheriffs and officers effective January 1, 2008.

McDougle is a former prosecutor and often partners with local, state and national law enforcement officers and agencies to discuss and craft innovative public safety legislative solutions.

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