What's happening at the legislature?

A special election will be held today for a House of Delegates seat representing the Northern Neck.

Democrat Albert C. Pollard Jr. of Lancaster County and Republican Lee Anne Washington of White Stone are vying to succeed Republican Robert J. Wittman. He succeeded the late Rep. Jo Ann Davis in Congress.

Panel approves bills to protect helpers

The Senate Courts of Justice Committee unanimously approved yesterday two bills to protect from liability health-care providers and "Good Samaritans" who render care in emergencies.

House Bill 403, sponsored by Del. Phillip A. Hamilton, R-Newport News, would protect workers from liability for injury or wrongful death during an emergency, if the problem was the result of a lack of resources at the scene. The bill does not provide immunity if the care rendered is grossly negligent or considered willful misconduct.

House Bill 1294, sponsored by Del. Clifford L. Athey, Jr., R-Warren, would expand the immunity from liability of Good Samaritans who provide care at the scene of an accident to include care provided in a medical triage area.

Police would get $1.25 million

Virginia authorities would receive $1.25 million to nail more online child-sex predators under the House Appropriations Committee's recommended budget.

There are 19,000 computer hard drives in Virginia containing child pornography, according to law-enforcement officials, but only 48 people trained and licensed in the state to investigate the crimes.

The $1.25 million investment in the Southern and Northern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces would allow a 100 percent increase in cases investigated and arrests, according to Del. Brian J. Moran, D-Alexandria, who sponsored House Bill 1189.

"Alicia's Law" is named for Alicia Kozakiewicz, who was 13 when she was abducted by an Internet predator, held hostage and tortured in his Virginia basement.

Bowling with Bolling: Pages get treat

After Democrats and Republicans sparred over the budget on the Senate floor yesterday, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling eschewed the rhetorical boxing for, well, bowling.

Bolling, who presides over the Senate floor sessions, took 34 Senate pages to the Sunset Lanes on West Broad Street. In past Senate sessions, Bolling has taken pages to a Richmond hockey game and a basketball game, said spokesman Randy Marcus.

"This year he decided to do bowling with Bolling," said Marcus, "because, well, it's really obvious."

Marcus said the lieutenant governor, who played baseball and football in high school, rolls between 130 and 140 but does not have a bowling shirt.

-- From Staff, Wire Reports