Wednesday, April 16, 2008; B06

VIRGINIA TECH

A year after the shooting rampage at Virginia Tech, Sen. James Webb (D-Va.) introduced legislation yesterday aimed at making it easier for colleges to share information about students who might be a danger to themselves or others.

The legislation would amend the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 to clarify when educators may legally release information about a troubled student.

The Virginia Tech massacre raised concerns among educators nationwide about balancing privacy and safety. A panel appointed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) found that "widespread confusion" about privacy restrictions led to communication lapses among officials who dealt with mentally ill student Seung Hui Cho before he shot and killed 32 people before killing himself.

The U.S. Department of Education has also proposed regulations to help educators interpret the law.

-- Maria Glod

Prince William County's illegal immigration enforcement initiative will cost $520,000 more than anticipated in the coming budget year because of overcrowding at the county jail, County Executive Craig S. Gerhart told supervisors yesterday.

That raises the cost of the initiative to $6.9 million for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Under a new county policy, police must check the residency status of criminal suspects who they believe might be in the country illegally.

In other fiscal matters, Gerhart recommended that the board contribute $4.8 million less than proposed to a "revenue stabilization" reserve fund to make up for the county's revenue shortfall. He also recommended tapping a capital reserve fund to pay for a regional public safety communication system. The county has a separate emergency fund for natural disaster expenses.

Supervisors are scheduled to adopt a budget this month.

-- Kristen Mack

Former governor James S. Gilmore III (R) reported yesterday he has raised $396,000 for his U.S. Senate campaign during the first three months of the year and has $208,000 in the bank, according to Ana Gamonal, a Gilmore spokeswoman.

Gilmore, who is competing against Del. Robert G. Marshall and Robert D. "Bob" Berry for the GOP nomination, has raised about $747,000 since November.

Gilmore lags behind probable Democratic nominee Mark R. Warner in the money race. Warner, also a former governor, announced last week that he has $4.4 million in the bank.

-- Tim Craig

The same court that two months ago struck down Virginia's regional transportation financing plans is considering a similar case challenging the state's planned transfer of the Dulles Toll Road to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

The Virginia Supreme Court heard oral arguments yesterday in a lawsuit filed by two Northern Virginia residents against state transportation officials and agencies.

The lawsuit alleges that the transfer would violate the state constitution, because it wasn't approved by the General Assembly.

Richmond Circuit Court Judge Margaret P. Spencer dismissed the lawsuit in March 2007, ruling that the state has sovereign immunity against such claims. Plaintiffs Patrick Gray and Gray Nagle appealed, and a decision is likely in June.

In February, the state's high court ruled unanimously that the state improperly delegated taxing power to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, which is not elected by the citizens. The decision essentially gutted the state's 2007 transportation funding plan.

That ruling was one of several that Patrick McSweeney, attorney for the plaintiffs, cited in arguing that the Dulles Toll Road transfer is also unconstitutional.

Under the 50-year deal, the airports authority would operate the road and collect tolls, some of which would be spent on construction of a 23-mile Metrorail extension to Dulles.

-- Associated Press