Bill > SB88

This bill amends existing law to ensure that individuals who are civilly committed to residential behavioral health facilities operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services are counted and reallocated for redistricting and reapportionment purposes, similar to how incarcerated individuals are treated. This means that for the purpose of drawing electoral district boundaries, these individuals will be considered residents of their last known address in Virginia if they had one, or the location of the facility if their prior address is unknown or outside of Virginia. The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services will be required to provide specific data to the Division of Legislative Services, mirroring the information already collected from correctional facilities, to facilitate this reallocation. The adjusted population data, which will include these civilly committed individuals, will be used for redistricting and reapportionment but will not affect the distribution of state or federal aid, and personal address information will remain confidential.