Virginia Law

Article 2. Executive Reorganization.

The Governor shall from time to time examine the organization of all executive agencies and shall determine what changes therein are necessary to:

1. Promote better execution of the laws, the more effective management of the executive branch of state government and of its agencies and functions, and the expeditious administration of the public business;

2. Reduce expenditures and promote economy to the fullest extent consistent with the efficient operation of state government;

3. Increase the efficiency of the operations of state government to the fullest extent practicable;

4. Group, coordinate, and consolidate agencies and functions of state government, as nearly as may be, according to major purposes;

5. Reduce the number of agencies by consolidating those having similar functions under a single head, and to abolish such agencies or functions thereof that are not necessary for the efficient conduct of the state government; and

6. Eliminate overlapping and duplication of effort.

1977, c. 505, § 2.1-8.1; 2001, c. 844.

For the purpose of this chapter:

"Agency" means an administrative unit of state government, including any department, institution, commission, board, council, authority, or other body, however designated.

"Board" means any collegial body in the executive branch of state government created by the General Assembly.

"Function" means an activity, assignment or set of operations.

"Reorganization" means a transfer, consolidation, coordination, or abolition of a function, or the assignment or reassignment of responsibility and authority for the execution of a function.

1977, c. 505, § 2.1-8.2; 2001, c. 844.

When the Governor, after investigation, finds that the:

1. Transfer of the whole or a part of an agency, or of the whole or a part of the functions thereof, to the jurisdiction and control of another agency;

2. Abolition of all or a part of the functions of an agency;

3. Transfer or abolition of the whole or a part of the responsibilities of a board;

4. Abolition of a board;

5. Consolidation or coordination of the whole or a part of an agency, or of the whole or a part of the functions thereof, with the whole or a part of another agency or the functions thereof;

6. Consolidation or coordination of a part of an agency or the functions thereof with another part of the same agency or the functions thereof;

7. Abolition of the whole or a part of an agency which agency or part does not have, or on the taking effect of the reorganization plan will not have, any functions; or

8. Authorization for the exercise of functions or responsibilities by an agency, board, or officer to whom such functions or responsibilities have been transferred; is necessary to accomplish one or more of the purposes of § 2.2-127, he shall prepare a plan for reorganization and transmit the plan to each house of the General Assembly at least forty-five days prior to the commencement of a regular or special session of the General Assembly.

1977, c. 505, § 2.1-8.3; 2001, c. 844.

A reorganization plan transmitted by the Governor under § 2.2-129:

1. May change the name or title of any agency, agency head, or board, council, commission or other collegial body affected by a reorganization, and shall designate the name or title of any new agency, agency head, or collegial body resulting from a reorganization;

2. May provide for the appointment of the head of any agency affected by, or resulting from, a reorganization, for an initial term not to exceed the balance of the term of the incumbent Governor, and for four-year terms thereafter;

3. May provide for the compensation of the head of an agency, not to exceed the rate found by the Governor to be applicable to comparable officers in the executive branch;

4. Shall provide for the transfer or other disposition of the records, property, and personnel affected by a reorganization;

5. Shall provide for the transfer of such unexpended balances of appropriations, and other funds, available for use in connection with a function or agency affected by a reorganization, or for the use of the agency that has the functions after the reorganization plan is effective. However, the unexpended balances so transferred may be used only for the purposes for which the appropriation was originally made; and

6. Shall provide for terminating the affairs of an agency that is abolished.

1977, c. 505, § 2.1-8.4; 2001, c. 844.

A reorganization plan may not provide for, and a reorganization under this chapter shall not have the effect of, authorizing an agency to exercise a function that is not authorized by law at the time the plan is transmitted to the General Assembly.

1977, c. 505, § 2.1-8.5; 2001, c. 844.

A. A reorganization plan transmitted by the Governor to the General Assembly under this chapter shall become effective only if the Senate and the House of Delegates each approve the reorganization plan by a resolution by a majority of the members present and voting in each house. Any portion of the reorganization plan may be deleted by either the Senate or the House of Delegates in the resolution approving the plan. The Governor may withdraw a reorganization plan transmitted to the General Assembly under this chapter at any time before its effective date. A reorganization plan or portions thereof as approved by the Senate and the House of Delegates shall become effective on the first day of the fourth month following the adjournment of the General Assembly at which such plan was approved, unless a different date is specified in the plan.

B. A reorganization plan that is adopted pursuant to this section shall be printed in the Acts of Assembly and in the Code of Virginia.

1977, c. 505, §§ 2.1-8.6, 2.1-8.7; 2001, c. 844.

A. A statute enacted, and a regulation or other action made, prescribed, issued, granted, or performed in respect of or by an agency or function affected by a reorganization under this chapter, before the effective date of the reorganization, has, except to the extent rescinded, modified, superseded, or made inapplicable by or under authority of law or by the abolition of a function, the same effect as if the reorganization had not been made. However, if the statute, regulation or other action has vested the functions in the agency from which it is removed under the reorganization plan, the function, insofar as it is to be exercised after the plan becomes effective, shall be deemed as vested in the agency under which the function is placed by the plan.

B. For the purpose of subsection A, "regulation or other action" means a regulation, rule, order, policy, determination, directive, authorization, permit, privilege, requirement, designation, or other action.

C. A suit, action, or other proceeding lawfully commenced by or against the head of an agency or other officer of the Commonwealth or member of a state board, council, commission or other collegial body, in his official capacity or in relation to the discharge of his official duties, shall not abate by reason of the taking effect of a reorganization plan under this chapter.

D. The appropriations or portions of appropriations unexpended by reason of the operation of this chapter shall not be used for any purpose, but shall revert to the state treasury.

1977, c. 505, § 2.1-8.8; 2001, c. 844.