Virginia SB 1457: Utility vegetation management activities; notices to property owners required, civil penalties.

Bill Text

Bill Tracking - 2017 session > Legislation 

• 
• 

• Virginia General Assembly
• LIS Home
• LIS Help
• Privacy Statement
• Live Help 

• LIS Classic
• Login

SEARCH SITE

QUICK LINKS 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Log in 
LIS Home 
General Assembly Home 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Session Tracking: 
Bills & Resolutions 
Members 
Committees 
Meetings 
Calendars 
Communications 
House Minutes 
Senate Minutes 
Statistics 
Lobbyist-in-a-Box 
Personal lists 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Search: 
Code of Virginia 
Administrative Code 
Bills & Resolutions 
Summaries 

OTHER SESSIONS 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
2023 Session 
2022 Session 
2022 Special Session I 
2021 Session 
2021 Special Session I 
2021 Special Session II 
2020 Session 
2020 Special Session I 
2019 Session 
2019 Special Session I 
2018 Session 
2018 Special Session I 
2018 Special Session II 
2017 Session 
2016 Session 
2015 Session 
2015 Special Session I 
2014 Session 
2014 Special Session I 
2013 Session 
2013 Special Session I 
2012 Session 
2012 Special Session I 
2011 Session 
2011 Special Session I 
2010 Session 
2009 Session 
2009 Special Session I 
2008 Session 
2008 Special Session I 
2008 Special Session II 
2007 Session 
2006 Session 
2006 Special Session I 
2005 Session 
2004 Session 
2004 Special Session I 
2004 Special Session II 
2003 Session 
2002 Session 
2001 Session 
2001 Special Session I 
2000 Session 
1999 Session 
1998 Session 
1998 Special Session I 
1997 Session 
1996 Session 
1995 Session 
1994 Session 
1994 Special Session I 
1994 Special Session II 

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

• Code of Virginia
• Virginia Administrative Code 

• Constitution of Virginia
• Charters
• Authorities
• Compacts 

• Uncodified Acts
• RIS Users (account required) 
SEARCHABLE DATABASES

• Bills & Resolutions
session legislation
• Bill Summaries
session summaries 

• Reports to the General Assembly
House and Senate documents 

• Legislative Liaisons
State agency contactsACROSS SESSIONS

• Subject Index: Since 1995
• Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
• Summaries: Since 1994 
Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2017 SESSION

• history | 
hilite | 
pdf | 
print version 
17103785D

SENATE BILL NO. 1457 

Offered January 16, 2017 

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 5 of 
 Chapter 10 of Title 56 a section numbered 56-260.2, relating to vegetation management 
 by public service corporations; notices required; civil penalties; special fund 
 established. 
---------- 

Patron-- Black 

---------- 

Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor 

---------- 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 
 5 of Chapter 10 of Title 56 a section numbered 56-260.2 as follows:

� 56-260.2. Vegetation 
 management; notices; investigation of complaints; civil penalties.

A. As used in this section, 
 unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Notice of planned 
 vegetation management activities" shall be in writing and 
 include (i) a description of the planned vegetation 
 management activities, including plans to remove 
 trees within the affected area; (ii) a map depicting 
 the parcels upon which such activities will occur; (iii) a schedule 
 for the conduct of the activities; (iv) a description 
 of the procedures by which the person to whom the notice 
 is mailed may appeal the conduct of the planned 
 vegetation management activities, including the deadline for filing such a 
 challenge and the address of a website and a 
 toll-free telephone number through which a 
 written disclosure of all dispute resolution opportunities and processes, 
 rights, and remedies provided by law may be 
 obtained; and (v) a 
 toll-free telephone number through which callers may 
 communicate with a representative of the utility regarding the planned vegetation 
 management activities.

"Tree" means a perennial woody plant with 
 branches forming a distinct elevated crown and that has a main 
 trunk that is at least six inches in diameter at a height of four 
 feet.

"Utility" means any 
 investor-owned electric utility or cooperative 
 electric utility that transmits or distributes electric energy for use by 
 retail customers in the Commonwealth and includes 
 any affiliate thereof or person contracting therewith, directly 
 or indirectly, who conducts or is authorized to conduct vegetation management activities 
 for or on behalf of the electric utility.

"Vegetation" means 
 trees and other plants.

"Vegetation management 
 activities" means the removal of vegetation or the prevention 
 of vegetative growth to maintain 
 safe conditions around energized conductors and ensure 
 reliable electric service. Vegetation management consists of biological, 
 chemical, cultural, manual, and 
 mechanical methods to control vegetation in order to prevent hazards 
 caused by the encroachment of vegetation on energized conductors and to provide 
 uti