Today, Senator Jennifer McClellan’s (D-Richmond) Domestic Workers Bill of Rights (SB1310) and HIV Law Modernization bill (SB 1138) were signed into law by Governor Ralph Northam. The bills will protect domestic workers from discrimination and harassment, and reform outdated and ineffective 1980s-era laws that criminalize HIV.

These bills are among the ten McClellan bills that passed during the 2021 Special Session. Earlier this month, Sen. McClellan received the #1 most progressive rating in the Virginia Senate from Virginia Progressive Legislative Action Network for the 2021 special legislative session. 

“I am very glad to see these crucial legislation signed into law by Governor Northam that will provide generational reforms, protections, and investments to communities across the Commonwealth,” Sen. McClellan said. “My agenda this session focused directly on uplifting Virginia families during this crisis, and I’m proud to have worked to deliver the help our communities need right now.”

“As the daughter, niece and grand-daughter of domestic workers, I know that domestic workers have been the backbone of the American economy for generations,” McClellan said of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. “The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the importance of domestic workers to our communities and has underscored the inequitable treatment they have received for far too long. The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights ends Jim Crow-era exclusions from our worker protection laws, and ensures that all domestic workers have the right to work without discrimination in safe and healthy conditions.”

“Being HIV positive is not a threat to public safety, it is not a crime, and it is time for our laws to reflect that,” McClellan said of the HIV bill, which was chief co-patroned by Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton). “I am proud that Virginia has reformed our HIV criminalization laws. This marks a big step toward treating individuals with HIV with the dignity and respect they deserve and promoting public health.” 

The following McClellan bills were signed into law today: 

Workers Rights

1. The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights (SB 1310) expands workplace protections to domestic workers by ensuring they are covered by the Virginia Human Rights Act and workplace health and safety requirements. This builds on McClellan’s 2020 law making domestic workers eligible for the minimum wage, which took effect July 1, 2020. Delegate Marcia Price (D-Newport News) and Delegate Wendy Gooditis (D-Clarke) carried the companion bills in the House.

Criminal Justice

2. The HIV Law Modernization bill (SB 1138) reforms outdated and ineffective 1980s-era laws that criminalize HIV. These laws have proved ineffective from a public health perspective and stigmatize HIV positive status. Sen. McClellan and Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton) are co-chief patrons of this bill.

The following McClellan were signed into law earlier this month: 

Education 

3. McClellan’s Child Care Stabilization and Quality Care bill (SB 1316) helps stabilize the child care industry, which has been devastated by the COVID-19 crisis. McClellan’s bill provides greater financial stability for child care providers by launching a new two-year pilot program creating flexibility in how federal subsidy dollars are used. The bill also addresses child care staffing shortages by allowing portable background checks.

Homeowner Protections

4. The Preserving the American Dream Act (SB 1327) creates additional protections from foreclosure to help Virginians stay in their homes, including changing the foreclosure notice period from 14 to 60 days and requiring the mortgage company to provide information about legal assistance and housing counselors. Additionally, it requires localities to provide plans to maintain and improve manufactured housing and ensure residents of manufactured home communities are provided information about their opportunities to have a greater say in the future of their communities. Delegate Luke Torian (D-Prince William) carried the companion bill in the House.

Reproductive Health

5. A bill to repeal the ban on abortion coverage on the health exchange (SB 1276) makes Virginia the first state in the South to remove the ban on abortion coverage for health insurance plans offered through the health benefits exchange. This will make it possible for more Virginians to afford a full range of reproductive health care. Delegate Sally Hudson (D-Charlottesville) carried the companion bill in the House. 

Youth Engagement

6. The Civic Youth Engagement bill (SB 1439) allows middle and high school students one excused absence per year to participate in a civic event. Delegate Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke) carried the companion bill in the House. This bill was a collaboration between the Virginia Young Democrats Teen Caucus and the Teenage Republican Federation of Virginia.