A Virginia Senate committee on Wednesday advanced four bills affecting child welfare, benefit notices and nutrition programs and set one bill aside for the day.

The most substantial items included Senate Bill 801, which clarifies that children identified by the juvenile and domestic relations (JDR) system are eligible for funding under the Children's Services Act; Senate Bill 818, which requires local social services departments to notify certain parties when a child in foster care becomes eligible for Social Security or Department of Veterans Affairs benefits; and two bills directing state outreach and reporting on food-assistance programs (SB 1019 on WIC outreach to food banks, and SB 1020 on a report about restaurants participating in the SNAP restaurant-meals option). Each measure was forwarded by the committee, with amendment as noted.

Senate Bill 801: Children's Services Act eligibility

Senator Favola, sponsor, told the committee that SB 801 "clarifies our current law and our current practice by stating that children who are in need of services, as recognized by frequently the JDR system, are eligible for funding under the Children's Services Act." The committee recorded no fiscal impact and advanced the bill by voice and roll call; the clerk announced the measure "moves on by a vote of 7 to 0." Scott Reiner, who runs the Children's Services Act program, attended for questions.

Senate Bill 818: notification when foster children receive federal or VA benefits

Senator Favola described SB 818 as a "notification bill" aimed at ensuring local social services departments notify the child (if aged 12 or older), the child's parent or prior custodian, a guardian ad litem and any appointed legal counsel when a foster child begins receiving Social Security Administration or Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. Colleen Miller, a representative of the Disability Law Center of Virginia, spoke in support, saying the organization "support[s] the bill" and that it has been under development for several years with sponsors and House members.

Committee members debated the mechanics and a clarifying amendment. Delegate Orrock proposed inserting the phrase "in person or" after the word "notice" to allow written notice to be provided either in person or by certified mail; the amendment was adopted. Committee discussion addressed how certified mail would be handled when a child resides at a foster placement and whether a child aged 12 should be expected to sign for certified mail; Senator Favola noted the change follows existing federal and state practice treating some children at that age as able to handle certain business matters. The committee advanced SB 818 as amended by an 8-to-0 vote.

SB 1164: laid over for the day

At the patron's request, Senate Bill 1164 "will go by for the day," per the chair's announcement; that procedural step was recorded by voice vote.

SB 1019: WIC outreach to food banks

Senator Roem presented SB 1019, which directs the Department of Health to provide information, resources and education to food banks across the Commonwealth about existing outreach opportunities to help individuals complete WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) applications. Roem said the bill clarifies authority after prior uncertainty about whether food banks had explicit permission to help enroll clients. The committee moved SB 1019 forward by a vote of 8 to 0.

SB 1020: report on SNAP restaurant-meals participation

Senator Roem also sponsored SB 1020, directing the department to submit a report to the governor and General Assembly by Dec. 1 listing (1) the number of restaurants that have applied to participate in the federal restaurant-meals program, (2) names and addresses of approved restaurants, (3) plans for expanding participation, (4) identified barriers to expansion and recommendations to address them, and (5) other relevant data. Delegate Orrock successfully proposed an amendment making the expansion plans permissive ("possible expansion") rather than mandatory, so the report would include expansion plans only if supported by the collected data. The committee advanced SB 1020 as amended by an 8-to-0 vote.

Votes at a glance

- SB 801 (Children's Services Act eligibility) ' Reported out of committee; recorded vote 7-0.
- SB 818 (Notification to foster children and parties about SSA/VA benefits) ' Amended to add "in person or" notice; reported as amended; recorded vote 8-0.
- SB 1164 ' Patron requested bill "will go by for the day" (procedural, no final vote on merits recorded).
- SB 1019 (Department outreach to food banks about WIC) ' Reported out of committee; recorded vote 8-0.
- SB 1020 (Report on SNAP restaurant-meals program) ' Amended (made expansion plans permissive); reported as amended; recorded vote 8-0.

What this means next

All advanced bills will proceed to the next steps in the Senate process; the committee record shows votes and amendments but does not set final enactment. Committee members and agency staff indicated technical clarifications and implementation details (for example, how certified mail or in-person notice will be recorded and how agencies will gather restaurant contact data) will be worked out during implementation or in follow-on administration and reporting.

The committee adjourned with a note about the full Health and Human Services committee meeting scheduled later the same day.