SB 358

Abstract

Seafood industry workforce liaison. Directs the Governor or the Secretary of Labor to designate a liaison to address seafood industry workforce needs by (i) promoting the interests of seafood industry employees and employers; (ii) assisting employees and employers in understanding the rights and processes available to them, including those related to temporary worker visas; (iii) answering inquiries; (iv) providing referrals to public and private agencies upon request; and (v) reporting annually on the liaison's activities to the House Committees on Commerce and Energy and Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committees on Commerce and Labor and Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources. The bill requires the liaison to carry out his duties with impartiality and provides that he is immune from civil liability in the performance of his duties. The bill also provides that certain records and communications are exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The bill directs the Governor or the Secretary of Labor to designate a current employee of the executive branch to serve in this capacity in lieu of hiring a new employee.

Seafood industry workforce liaison. Directs the Governor to designate a liaison to address seafood industry workforce needs by (i) promoting the interests of seafood industry employees and employers; (ii) assisting employees and employers in understanding the rights and processes available to them, including those related to temporary worker visas; (iii) answering inquiries; (iv) providing referrals to public and private agencies upon request; and (v) reporting annually on the liaison's activities to the House Committees on Commerce and Energy and Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committees on Commerce and Labor and Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources. The bill requires the liaison to carry out his duties with impartiality and provides that he is immune from civil liability in the performance of his duties. The bill also provides that certain records and communications are exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

Seafood Industry Employment Ombudsman; officecreated. Directs the Commissioner of Marine Resources to appointa Seafood Industry Employment Ombudsman (the Ombudsman) and establishan Office of the Seafood Industry Employment Ombudsman (the Office)to assist employees and employers in the seafood industry in understandingtheir rights and the processes available to them, including rightsand processes available according to the laws and regulations governingtemporary worker visas. The bill requiresthat the Ombudsman is an attorney and provides that the Ombudsmanand Office personnel are immune from civil liability in their performanceof their duties. The bill also requires the Office to maintain theconfidentiality of records and exempts confidential materials andcommunications from mandatory disclosure under the Virginia Freedomof Information Act. Finally, the bill authorizes the Marine Resources Commission to adopt regulations necessary to carry out the provisionsof the bill.