Abstract
Virginia lawmakers all but wrapped up a special legislative session Oct. 16 by approving a new state budget that gives bonuses to police, pays for a host of new criminal justice reforms and extends moratoriums on evictions and utility shutoffs during the COVID‐19 pandemic, the Martinsville Bulletin reported. The budget now goes to Gov. Ralph Northam, who can propose changes before it is finalized. Among the bills, lawmakers gave final approval to a bill to establish community care teams around the state to respond to emergency calls involving people with mental health issues. The teams would be led by mental health providers, with police as backup support. The legislation is named after Marcus‐David Peters, a teacher who was fatally shot after he charged at a Richmond police officer during a mental health crisis in 2018. “This is a bill that's going to save people's lives, I have no doubt,” said Sen. Jeremy McPike.
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