Virginia Law

Part A. Office of the Governor.

Chapter 1. Governor.

Article 1. General Provisions.

A. The Governor and all officers of the Commonwealth shall receive annually for their services such salaries as are fixed by law.

B. The Governor may employ the necessary administrative assistants, including a chief of staff, and fix their salaries within the limitation of funds appropriated for executive control of the Commonwealth. Any chief of staff appointed by the Governor shall be confirmed by a majority of the members in each house of the General Assembly.

C. The Governor may employ the staff required to perform necessary services in the operation of the Executive Mansion.

Code 1950, §§ 2-34, 14-9 to 14-16, 14-18 to 14-26; 1962, c. 356; 1964, c. 386, § 14.1-12; 1966, cc. 55, 677, § 2.1-38; 1968, cc. 223, 562; 1970, cc. 262, 759; 1977, c. 672; 1984, cc. 104, 750, 779; 1998, c. 872; 2001, c. 844.

The Governor may appoint the clerical force necessary to the efficient operation of his office, but the aggregate amount paid such clerks shall not exceed the sum provided by law. The Governor may expend for the contingent expenses of his office such sums as are provided by law.

Code 1950, §§ 14-11, 14-25; 1964, c. 386, § 14.1-13; 1970, c. 260; 1998, c. 872, § 2.1-38.3; 2001, c. 844.

The personal staff of the Governor and commander in chief shall consist of the Adjutant General of the Commonwealth and any additional aides detailed by the Governor from the commissioned personnel of the National Guard of Virginia, the officers reserve corps or the naval reserve corps, or officers of the army or navy of the United States, retired or former officers of the army or navy of the United States, which detail shall operate for the time being as a commission to each officer so detailed as aide-de-camp. Commissions as military aides to the Governor shall be issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth with the rank the Governor deems appropriate and shall continue in effect at the pleasure of the Governor during his term in office. The commissions shall be honorary in nature and shall not constitute a commission in the militia of the Commonwealth or entitle the recipient to any pay or benefits. The insignia to be worn by aides when performing their duties shall be prescribed by the Governor. No officer so detailed shall be compelled to serve. Officers so detailed shall not be relieved from their ordinary duties, except when actually on duty with the Governor. No officer shall be detailed under this section unless he is a qualified voter of the Commonwealth. In addition, the Governor may appoint and commission with the rank of colonel as a personal aide, the Clerk of the House of Delegates.

Code 1950, § 2-36; 1958, c. 119; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-40; 1984, c. 17; 2001, c. 844.

A. Except as otherwise provided by the Constitution or law, the Governor shall have the authority and responsibility for the formulation and administration of the policies of the executive branch, including resolution of policy and administrative conflicts between and among agencies.

B. The Governor shall be the Chief Personnel Officer of the Commonwealth. He shall direct the execution of Chapter 29 (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.). The Governor may employ personnel assistants and employees necessary to carry out Chapter 29 (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.). The Governor shall have the following powers and duties relating to state personnel administration:

1. Establish and maintain a classification plan for the service of the Commonwealth, and from time to time, make such amendments as may be necessary. The classification plan shall provide for the grouping of all positions in classes based upon the respective duties, authority, and responsibilities. Each position in the service of the Commonwealth shall be allocated to the appropriate class title.

2. Establish and administer a compensation plan for all employees, and from time to time make such amendments as may be necessary. The compensation plan shall be uniform; and for each class of positions there shall be set forth a minimum and a maximum rate of compensation and any necessary or equitable intermediate rates.

3. Adopt necessary rules, not in conflict with Chapter 29 (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.), to provide for the administration of the duties imposed by Chapter 29 (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.), and to govern minimum hours of work, attendance regulations, leaves of absences for employees and the order and manner in which layoffs shall be made.

C. The Governor shall be the chief planning and budget officer of the Commonwealth.

Code 1950, §§ 2-46, 2-81; 1966, cc. 55, 677, §§ 2.1-52, 2.1-113; 1975, c. 390; 1976, cc. 725, 760, 761 §§ 2.1-41.1, 2.1-114.2, 2.1-387; 1978, c. 846; 1984, c. 720; 2001, c. 844.

The Governor may designate and empower any secretary or other officer in the executive branch of state government who is required to be confirmed by the General Assembly or either house thereof, to perform without approval, ratification, or other action by the Governor any function that is vested in the Governor by law, or which such officer is required or authorized by law to perform only with or subject to the approval, ratification of the Governor; however nothing contained in this section shall relieve the Governor of his responsibility in office for the acts of any secretary or officer designated by him to perform such functions. Any designation or authorization under this section shall be (i) in the form of a written executive order, (ii) subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations the Governor deems advisable, and (iii) revocable in whole or in part at any time by the Governor.

1976, c. 731, § 2.1-39.1; 2001, c. 844.

No person appointed to any office by the Governor, whose appointment is subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, shall enter upon, or continue in, office after the General Assembly has refused to confirm his appointment. Nor shall such person be eligible for reappointment during the recess of the General Assembly to fill the vacancy caused by the refusal to confirm.

Code 1950, § 2-35; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-39; 2001, c. 844.

A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Governor shall appoint the administrative head of each agency of the executive branch of state government except the:

1. Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority;

2. Director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia;

3. Executive Director of the Department of Wildlife Resources;

4. Executive Director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation;

5. Executive Director of the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board;

6. Librarian of Virginia;

7. Administrator of the Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council;

8. Executive Director of the Virginia Housing Development Authority; and

9. Executive Director of the Board of Accountancy.

However, the manner of selection of those heads of agencies chosen as set forth in the Constitution of Virginia shall continue without change. Each administrative head and Secretary appointed by the Governor pursuant to this section shall (i) be subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, (ii) have the professional qualifications prescribed by law, and (iii) serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

B. As part of the confirmation process for each administrative head and Secretary, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall provide copies of the resumes and statements of economic interests filed pursuant to § 2.2-3117 to the chairs of the House of Delegates and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections. For appointments made before January 1, copies shall be provided to the chairs within 30 days of the appointment or by January 7 whichever time is earlier; and for appointments made after January 1 through the regular session of that year, copies shall be provided to the chairs within seven days of the appointment. Each appointee shall be available for interviews by the Committees on Privileges and Elections or other applicable standing committee. For the purposes of this section and § 2.2-107, there shall be a joint subcommittee of the House of Delegates and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections consisting of five members of the House Committee and three members of the Senate Committee appointed by the respective chairs of the committees to review the resumes and statements of economic interests of gubernatorial appointees. The members of the House of Delegates shall be appointed in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates. No appointment confirmed by the General Assembly shall be subject to challenge by reason of a failure to comply with the provisions of this subsection pertaining to the confirmation process.

C. For the purpose of this section, "agency" includes all administrative units established by law or by executive order that are not (i) arms of the legislative or judicial branches of government; (ii) institutions of higher education as classified under §§ 22.1-346, 23.1-1100, 23.1-3210, and 23.1-3216; (iii) regional planning districts, regional transportation authorities or districts, or regional sanitation districts; and (iv) assigned by law to other departments or agencies, not including assignments to secretaries under Article 7 (§ 2.2-215 et seq.) of Chapter 2 of this title.

D. The resumes and applications for appointment submitted by persons who are appointed by the Governor pursuant to this section shall be available to the public upon request.

E. Severance benefits provided to any departing agency head, whether or not appointed by the Governor, shall be publicly announced by the appointing authority prior to such departure.

1977, c. 542, § 2.1-41.2; 1979, c. 294; 1981, c. 589; 1983, c. 298; 1984, c. 104; 1986, c. 565; 1994, c. 661; 1995, cc. 767, 816; 1996, c. 812; 1998, c. 427; 2000, cc. 382, 400; 2001, cc. 832, 844; 2003, cc. 981, 1021; 2005, cc. 803, 938; 2006, c. 254; 2010, cc. 136, 145; 2016, c. 729; 2020, c. 958.

A. Except as provided in the Constitution of Virginia, or where the manner of selection of members of boards and commissions is by election by the General Assembly, or as provided in Title 3.2 or § 54.1-901, but notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Governor shall appoint all members of boards, commissions, councils or other collegial bodies created by the General Assembly in the executive branch of state government to terms of office as prescribed by law. Each member appointed pursuant to this section shall be subject to confirmation by the General Assembly and shall have the professional qualifications prescribed by law.

As part of the confirmation process for each gubernatorial appointee, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall provide copies of the resume and statement of economic interests filed pursuant to § 2.2-3117 or 2.2-3118, as appropriate, to the chairs of the House of Delegates and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections. For the purposes of this section and § 2.2-106, there shall be a joint subcommittee of the House of Delegates and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections consisting of five members of the House Committee and three members of the Senate Committee appointed by the respective chairs of the committees to review the resumes and statements of economic interests of gubernatorial appointees. The members of the House of Delegates shall be appointed in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates. No appointment confirmed by the General Assembly shall be subject to challenge by reason of a failure to comply with the provisions of this paragraph pertaining to the confirmation process.

B. The resumes and applications for appointment submitted by persons who are appointed by the Governor pursuant to this section shall be available to the public upon request.

1977, c. 447, § 2.1-42.1; 1978, c. 834; 2001, c. 844; 2005, cc. 803, 938; 2016, c. 729.

A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Governor may remove from office for malfeasance, misfeasance, incompetence, misconduct, neglect of duty, absenteeism, conflict of interests, failure to carry out the policies of the Commonwealth as established in the Constitution or by the General Assembly, or refusal to carry out a lawful directive of the Governor any member of any board, commission, council or other collegial body established by the General Assembly in the executive branch of state government except those boards provided for in subsection C of § 23.1-1300, subsection A of § 23.1-3100, and subsection A of § 23.1-3200 and fill the vacancy resulting from the removal subject to confirmation by the General Assembly.

B. The Governor shall set forth in a written public statement his reasons for removing any member pursuant to this section at the time the removal occurs. The Governor is the sole judge of the sufficiency of the cause for removal as set forth in this section.

Code 1950, § 2-39; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-43; 1977, c. 446; 1988, c. 765; 2001, c. 844; 2016, c. 588.

Whenever the Governor deems it necessary and proper, he may require any state officer, superintendent, board, or employee to appear before him, and he may also require the production of any official books, accounts, vouchers, and other papers relating to their offices and duties. The Governor may issue subpoenas or other writs for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this section. The Governor may employ accountants to properly inspect such records, vouchers, or other papers.

Code 1950, § 2-40; 1956, c. 424; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-44; 2001, c. 844.

For purposes of this section:

"Appointed position" means a position appointed by the Governor or other appointing authority in accordance with law.

"Covered appointee" means any person serving in an appointed position who is eligible for severance benefits under the Workforce Transition Act of 1995 (§ 2.2-3200 et seq.), including but not limited to, any (i) officer, (ii) agency head, or (iii) member of a board, commission, council, or other collegial body.

Upon initial appointment or reappointment, the Governor or other appointing authority, or their designee, shall obtain a signed statement from each covered appointee providing that such person has read and understands the severance benefits for which he is eligible under the Workforce Transition Act of 1995. The Governor or other appointing authority, or their designee shall provide all such statements to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The Secretary shall provide for such statements to be retained in the records of the Commonwealth.

2006, cc. 813, 902.

The officers of the executive branch of state government and superintendents and boards of state institutions shall make to the Governor reports at the times prescribed by law or at any time the Governor may require on any subject relating to their offices and institutions. The reports shall be in a written or electronic format and contain such information as the Governor may require. The reports shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and under his supervision, summarized and recorded in books kept for the purpose.

Code 1950, § 2-38; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-42; 2001, c. 844; 2012, c. 434.

A. In order to protect or preserve the interests or legal rights of the Commonwealth and its citizens, the Governor may, by and with the advice of the Attorney General, institute any action, suit, motion or other proceeding, in the name of the Commonwealth, in the Supreme Court of the United States or any other court or tribunal in which such action, suit, motion or other proceeding may be properly commenced and prosecuted.

B. In accordance with subsection A and pursuant to his duty to protect or preserve the general welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth, the Governor may institute any action, suit, motion or other proceeding on behalf of its citizens, in the name of the Commonwealth acting in its capacity as parens patriae, where he has determined that existing legal procedures fail to adequately protect existing legal rights and interests of such citizens.

Code 1950, § 2-43; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-49; 1975, c. 241; 2001, c. 844.

Any officer to whom any order or warrant of the Governor is directed shall make return to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, who shall preserve it in his office.

Code 1950, § 2-44; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-50; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Governor may suspend, temporarily and for a period not to exceed one year, any mandate, or portion thereof, prescribed by any unit of the executive branch of state government on a county, city, town, or other unit of local government upon a finding that it faces fiscal stress and the suspension of the mandate or portion thereof would help alleviate the fiscal hardship.

However, for a period beginning July 1, 2010, and ending July 1, 2012, the Governor may suspend any such mandate for a period not to exceed two years upon proper application by a locality pursuant to this section.

B. No application shall be made by the locality until approved by resolution of the governing body.

C. At the time of application, the following information shall be published in the Virginia Register: (i) the name of the petitioning locality, (ii) the mandate or portion thereof requested to be suspended, (iii) the impact of the suspension of the mandate on the ability of the local government to deliver services, (iv) the estimated reduction in current budget from the suspension, and (v) the time period requested for suspension. Publication in the Virginia Register shall occur at least 20 days in advance of any suspension by the Governor.

D. No later than January 1 of each year, the Governor shall submit to the General Assembly a report that identifies each petitioning locality, the mandate or portion thereof for which suspension was sought, and the response provided to the locality.

E. Nothing in this section shall apply to the Department of Education.

In making a determination of fiscal stress, the Governor may consider, but is not limited to, the following factors: any changes in anticipated revenue, income distribution of residents, revenue effort, revenue capacity, and changes in local population and employment levels.

1991, c. 638, § 2.1-51.5:1; 1993, c. 230; 1994, c. 158; 2001, c. 844; 2003, c. 169; 2010, c. 79.

The Governor may adopt regulations for coordination of official communications on behalf of the Commonwealth by any officer, agency or employee of the Commonwealth with the government of the United States, another state or foreign nation. Subject to the ultimate authority of the General Assembly to prescribe the policies of the Commonwealth and within the framework of policy established by the General Assembly, all communications shall be at the policy direction of the Governor; however, communications by the General Assembly or the Supreme Court of Virginia with the legislature or the judiciary, respectively, of the United States, another state or foreign nation, shall be at the discretion of the General Assembly and the Supreme Court of Virginia. Actions taken under § 2.2-611 shall be subject to the provisions of this section.

1976, c. 704, § 2.1-38.2; 2001, c. 844.

A. As used in this section, unless the context requires otherwise:

"New job" means employment of an indefinite duration, created as the direct result of the private investment, for which the firm pays the wages and standard fringe benefits for its employee, requiring a minimum of either (i) 35 hours of the employee's time a week for the entire normal year of the firm's operations, which "normal year" must consist of at least 48 weeks or (ii) 1,680 hours per year.

Seasonal or temporary positions, positions created when a job function is shifted from an existing location in the Commonwealth to the location of the economic development project, positions with suppliers, and multiplier or spin-off jobs shall not qualify as new jobs. The term "new job" shall include positions with contractors provided that all requirements included within the definition of the term are met.

"New teleworking job" means a new job that is held by a Virginia resident, for which the majority of the work is performed remotely, and that pays at least 1.2 times the Virginia minimum wage, as provided by the Virginia Minimum Wage Act (§ 40.1-28.8 et seq.).

"Prevailing average wage" means that amount determined by the Virginia Employment Commission to be the average wage paid workers in the city or county of the Commonwealth where the economic development project is located. The prevailing average wage shall be determined without regard to any fringe benefits.

"Private investment" means the private investment required under this section.

B. There is created the Commonwealth's Development Opportunity Fund (the Fund) to be used by the Governor to attract economic development prospects and secure the expansion of existing industry in the Commonwealth. The Fund shall consist of any funds appropriated to it by the general appropriation act and revenue from any other source, public or private. The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller, and any funds remaining in the Fund at the end of a biennium shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Interest earned on the Fund shall be credited to the Fund. The Governor shall report to the Chairmen of the House Committees on Appropriations and Finance and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations as funds are awarded in accordance with this section.

C. Funds shall be awarded from the Fund by the Governor as grants or loans to political subdivisions. The criteria for making such grants or loans shall include (i) job creation, (ii) private capital investment, and (iii) anticipated additional state tax revenue expected to accrue to the state and affected localities as a result of the capital investment and jobs created. Loans shall be approved by the Governor and made in accordance with guidelines established by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and approved by the Comptroller. Loans shall be interest-free unless otherwise determined by the Governor and shall be repaid to the Fund. The Governor may establish the interest rate to be charged; otherwise, any interest charged shall be at market rates as determined by the State Treasurer and shall be indicative of the duration of the loan. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership shall be responsible for monitoring repayment of such loans and reporting the receivables to the Comptroller as required.

Beginning with the five fiscal years from fiscal year 2006-2007 through fiscal year 2010-2011, and for every five fiscal years' period thereafter, in general, no less than one-third of the moneys appropriated to the Fund in every such five-year period shall be awarded to counties and cities having an annual average unemployment rate that is greater than the final statewide average unemployment rate for the calendar year that immediately precedes the calendar year of the award. However, if such one-third requirement will not be met because economic development prospects in such counties and cities are unable to fulfill the applicable minimum private investment and new jobs requirements set forth in this section, then any funds remaining in the Fund at the end of the five-year period that would have otherwise been awarded to such counties and cities shall be made available for awards in the next five fiscal years' period.

D. Funds may be used for public and private utility extension or capacity development on and off site; public and private installation, extension, or capacity development of high-speed or broadband Internet access, whether on or off site; road, rail, or other transportation access costs beyond the funding capability of existing programs; site acquisition; grading, drainage, paving, and any other activity required to prepare a site for construction; construction or build-out of publicly or privately owned buildings; training; or grants or loans to an industrial development authority, housing and redevelopment authority, or other political subdivision for purposes directly relating to any of the foregoing. However, in no case shall funds from the Fund be used, directly or indirectly, to pay or guarantee the payment for any rental, lease, license, or other contractual right to the use of any property.

It shall be the policy of the Commonwealth that moneys in the Fund shall not be used for any economic development project in which a business relocates or expands its operations in one or more Virginia localities and simultaneously closes its operations or substantially reduces the number of its employees in another Virginia locality, unless the procedures set forth in § 30-310 are followed. The Secretary of Commerce and Trade shall enforce this policy and for any exception thereto shall, pursuant to § 30-310, submit such projects to the MEI Project Approval Commission established pursuant to § 30-309.

E. 1. a. Except as provided in this subdivision, no grant or loan shall be awarded from the Fund unless the project involves a minimum private investment of $5 million and creates at least 50 new jobs for which the average wage, excluding fringe benefits, is no less than the prevailing average wage. For projects, including but not limited to projects involving emerging technologies, for which the average wage of the new jobs created, excluding fringe benefits, is at least twice the prevailing average wage for that locality or region, the Governor shall have the discretion to require no less than one-half the number of new jobs as set forth for that locality in this subdivision.

b. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision a, a grant or loan may be awarded from the Fund if the project involves a minimum private investment of $100 million and creates at least 25 new jobs for which the average wage, excluding fringe benefits, is no less than the prevailing average wage.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision 1 a, in localities (i) with an annual unemployment rate for the most recent calendar year for which such data is available that is greater than the final statewide average unemployment rate for that calendar year or (ii) with a poverty rate for the most recent calendar year for which such data is available that exceeds the statewide average poverty rate for that year, a grant or loan may be awarded from the Fund pursuant to subdivision 1 a if the project involves a minimum private investment of $2.5 million and creates at least 25 new jobs for which the average wage, excluding fringe benefits, is no less than 85 percent of the prevailing average wage.

3. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions 1 a and 2, in localities (i) with an annual unemployment rate for the most recent calendar year for which such data is available that is greater than the final statewide average unemployment rate for that calendar year and (ii) with a poverty rate for the most recent calendar year for which such data is available that exceeds the statewide average poverty rate for that year, a grant or loan may be awarded from the Fund pursuant to such subdivisions if the project involves a minimum private investment of $1.5 million and creates at least 15 new jobs for which the average wage, excluding fringe benefits, is no less than 85 percent of the prevailing average wage.

4. For projects that are eligible under subdivision 2 or 3, the average wage of the new jobs, excluding fringe benefits, shall be no less than 85 percent of the prevailing average wage. In addition, for projects in such localities, the Governor may award a grant or loan for a project paying less than 85 percent of the prevailing average wage but still providing customary employee benefits, only after the Secretary of Commerce and Trade has made a written finding that the economic circumstances in the area are sufficiently distressed (i.e., high unemployment or underemployment and negative economic forecasts) that assistance to the locality to attract the project is nonetheless justified. However, the minimum private investment and number of new jobs required to be created as set forth in this subsection shall still be a condition of eligibility for an award from the Fund. Such written finding shall promptly be provided to the chairs of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations and the House Committee on Appropriations.

5. A business beneficiary may count new teleworking jobs toward the minimum number of new jobs required under subdivision 1, 2, or 3, if so permitted in the contract required by subdivision F 2.

6. The minimum private investment required under subdivision 1, 2, or 3 may be reduced or waived if at least 75 percent, measured against the minimum number of new jobs required, of jobs created by the business beneficiary are new teleworking jobs, if so permitted in the contract required by subdivision F 2.

F. 1. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership shall assist the Governor in developing objective guidelines and criteria that shall be used in awarding grants or making loans from the Fund. The guidelines may require that as a condition of receiving any grant or loan incentive that is based on employment goals, a recipient company must provide copies of employer quarterly payroll reports that have been provided to the Virginia Employment Commission to verify the employment status of any position included in the employment goal. The guidelines may include a requirement for the affected locality or localities to provide matching funds which may be cash or in-kind, at the discretion of the Governor; however, if the minimum private investment is reduced or waived pursuant to subdivision E 6, the Governor may provide full or partial relief from such matching requirement. The guidelines and criteria shall include provisions for geographic diversity and a cap on the amount of funds to be provided to any individual project. At the discretion of the Governor, this cap may be waived for qualifying projects of regional or statewide interest. In developing the guidelines and criteria, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership shall use the measure for Fiscal Stress published by the Commission on Local Government of the Department of Housing and Community Development for the locality in which the project is located or will be located as one method of determining the amount of assistance a locality shall receive from the Fund.

2. a. Notwithstanding any provision in this section or in the guidelines, each political subdivision that receives a grant or loan from the Fund shall enter into a contract with the Commonwealth, through the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority as its agent, and each business beneficiary of funds from the Fund. A person or entity shall be a business beneficiary of funds from the Fund if grant or loan moneys awarded from the Fund by the Governor are paid to a political subdivision and (i) subsequently distributed by the political subdivision to the person or entity or (ii) used by the political subdivision for the benefit of the person or entity but never distributed to the person or entity.

b. The contract between the political subdivision, the Commonwealth, and the business beneficiary shall provide in detail (i) the fair market value of all funds that the Commonwealth has committed to provide, (ii) the fair market value of all matching funds (or in-kind match) that the political subdivision has agreed to provide, (iii) how funds committed by the Commonwealth (including but not limited to funds from the Fund committed by the Governor) and funds that the political subdivision has agreed to provide are to be spent, (iv) the minimum private investment to be made and the number of new jobs to be created agreed to by the business beneficiary, (v) the average wage (excluding fringe benefits) agreed to be paid in the new jobs, (vi) the prevailing average wage, and (vii) the formula, means, or processes agreed to be used for measuring compliance with the minimum private investment and new jobs requirements, including consideration of any layoffs instituted by the business beneficiary over the course of the period covered by the contract.

The contract shall state the date by which the agreed upon private investment and new job requirements shall be met by the business beneficiary of funds from the Fund and may provide for the political subdivision and the Commonwealth to grant up to a 15-month extension of such date if deemed appropriate by the political subdivision and the Commonwealth subsequent to the execution of the contract. Any extension of such date granted by the political subdivision shall be in writing and promptly delivered to the business beneficiary, and the political subdivision shall simultaneously provide a copy of the extension to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.

The contract shall provide that if the private investment and new job contractual requirements are not met by the expiration of the date stipulated in the contract, including any extension granted by the political subdivision and the Commonwealth, the business beneficiary shall be liable to the political subdivision and the Commonwealth for repayment of a portion of the funds provided by the political subdivision under the contract and liable to the Commonwealth for repayment of a portion of the funds provided from the Commonwealth's Development Opportunity Fund. The contract shall include a formula for purposes of determining the portion of such funds to be repaid. The formula shall, in part, be based upon the fair market value of all funds that have been provided by the Commonwealth and the political subdivision and the extent to which the business beneficiary has met the private investment and new job contractual requirements. All such funds repaid to the political subdivision or the Commonwealth that relate to the award from the Commonwealth's Development Opportunity Fund shall promptly be remitted to the State Treasurer. Upon receipt by the State Treasurer of such payment, the Comptroller shall deposit such repaid funds into the Commonwealth's Development Opportunity Fund.

c. The contract shall be amended to reflect changes in the funds committed by the Commonwealth or agreed to be provided by the political subdivision.

d. Notwithstanding any provision in this section or in the guidelines, whenever layoffs instituted by a business beneficiary over the course of the period covered by a contract cause the net total number of the new jobs created to be fewer than the number agreed to, then the business beneficiary shall return the portion of any funds received pursuant to the repayment formula established by the contract.

3. Notwithstanding any provision in this section or in the guidelines, prior to executing any such contract with a business beneficiary, the political subdivision shall provide a copy of the proposed contract to the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall review the proposed contract (i) for enforceability as to its provisions and (ii) to ensure that it is in appropriate legal form. The Attorney General shall provide any written suggestions to the political subdivision within seven days of his receipt of the copy of the contract. The Attorney General's suggestions shall be limited to the enforceability of the contract's provisions and the legal form of the contract.

4. Notwithstanding any provision in this section or in the guidelines, a political subdivision shall not expend, distribute, pledge, use as security, or otherwise use any award from the Fund unless and until such contract as described herein is executed with the business beneficiary.

G. Within the 30 days immediately following each quarter, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership shall provide a report to the Chairmen of the House Committees on Appropriations and Finance and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations which shall include, but is not limited to, the following information regarding grants and loans awarded from the Fund during the immediately preceding six-month period for economic development projects: the name of the company that is the business beneficiary of the grant or loan and the type of business in which it engages; the location (county, city, or town) of the project; the amount of the grant or loan committed from the Fund and the amount of all other funds committed by the Commonwealth from other sources and the purpose for which such grants, loans, or other funds will be used; the amount of all moneys or funds agreed to be provided by political subdivisions and the purposes for which they will be used; the number of new jobs agreed to be created by the business beneficiary; the amount of investment in the project agreed to be made by the business beneficiary; the timetable for the completion of the project and new jobs created; the prevailing average wage; and the average wage (excluding fringe benefits) agreed to be paid in the new jobs.

H. The Governor shall provide grants and commitments from the Fund in an amount not to exceed the dollar amount contained in the Fund. If the Governor commits funds for years beyond the fiscal years covered under the existing appropriation act, the State Treasurer shall set aside and reserve the funds the Governor has committed, and the funds shall remain in the Fund for those future fiscal years. No grant or loan shall be payable in the years beyond the existing appropriation act unless the funds are currently available in the Fund.

I. On a quarterly basis, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership shall notify the Governor, his campaign committee, and his political action committee of awards from the Fund made in the prior quarter. Within 18 months of the date of each award from the Fund, the Governor, his campaign committee, and his political action committee shall submit to the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council established in § 30-355 a report listing any contribution, gift, or other item with a value greater than $100 provided by the business beneficiary of such award to the Governor, his campaign committee, or his political action committee, respectively, during (i) the period in which the business beneficiary's application for such award was pending and (ii) the one-year period immediately after any such award was made.

J. 1. Notwithstanding any provision of this section, the Governor may give grants or loans to any eligible company, as defined in § 58.1-405.1, provided that such company shall be required to distribute at least half of such grant or loan to its employees in jobs located in a qualified locality, as defined in § 58.1-405.1. If the Governor gives a grant or loan pursuant to this subsection, it shall not be required to meet other provisions in this section, including provisions, restrictions, and procedural requirements related to job creation, investment, local matching funds, or contracts with business beneficiaries.

2. The grant or loan shall not exceed $2,000 per new job, as defined in § 58.1-405.1; however, the Governor may give a new grant or loan each year to the same eligible company.

3. An eligible company's eligibility for or receipt of a grant or loan pursuant to this subsection shall not prevent it from receiving any other grant or loan for which it may be qualified pursuant to this section.

1996, cc. 590, 598, 859, § 2.1-51.6:5; 1999, cc. 787, 816; 2001, c. 844; 2006, cc. 251, 890; 2007, c. 654; 2010, cc. 78, 470, 580, 611, 735, 768; 2011, cc. 539, 574, 587; 2013, c. 547; 2015, cc. 763, 777; 2016, c. 641; 2017, c. 663; 2018, cc. 801, 802, 829; 2020, c. 591; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 386.

There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the COVID-19 Relief Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated to the Fund and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Governor solely for the purposes of responding to the Commonwealth's needs related to the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Governor or his designee.

2020, cc. 1217, 1277.

The Governor may serve in his official capacity on the board of directors of any entity established to ensure the implementation in the Commonwealth of a national tobacco trust established to provide payments to tobacco growers and tobacco quota owners to ameliorate adverse economic consequences resulting from a national settlement of states' claims against tobacco manufacturers.

2000, c. 1048, § 2.1-41.3; 2001, c. 844.

It shall be the responsibility of the Governor to establish and administer an anti-crime partnership program within the Commonwealth and to authorize, direct, and coordinate existing and future activities of agencies of the Commonwealth in such program. The Governor, in addition to all other duties and responsibilities conferred on him by the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth, may enter into written anti-crime partnership agreements with political subdivisions of the Commonwealth to assist and enhance their ability to reduce the incidence of violent and drug-related crime and fear of crime.

In addition to such other terms and conditions to which the parties agree, each partnership agreement shall (i) provide for the creation of a partnership committee to advise and direct the partnership, (ii) enumerate the responsibilities of the Commonwealth and the political subdivisions involved, and (iii) state the duration of the partnership, providing for dates on which the partnership will begin and end.

The Governor may provide to anti-crime partnerships established pursuant to this section such technical and personnel resources of the Commonwealth as he determines and such financial resources as provided in the general appropriation act.

1992, c. 663, § 2.1-51.6:3; 2001, c. 844.

Repealed by Acts 2012, cc. 803 and 835, cl. 104.

It shall be the responsibility of the Governor to administer the highway safety program within the Commonwealth and to authorize, direct and coordinate existing and future activities of agencies of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions in such program. The Governor, in addition to all other duties and responsibilities conferred on him by the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth, may contract and do all other things necessary on behalf of the Commonwealth to secure the full benefits available to the Commonwealth under the federal Highway Safety Act of 1966, and any amendments thereto, and in so doing, cooperate with federal and state agencies, private and public agencies, interested organizations, and individuals, to effectuate the purposes of that act and any amendments thereto, and the highway safety program within the Commonwealth.

The Governor shall be the official having the ultimate responsibility for dealing with the United States government with respect to programs and activities pursuant to the federal Highway Safety Act of 1966 and any amendments thereto. To that end he shall be responsible for related activities of any and all departments and agencies of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions. He may designate such persons, agencies and commissions to assist him in coordinating the activities contemplated under the federal act, this section, and the state's highway safety program.

1968, c. 160, § 2.1-51.6; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Governor may prescribe, by general or special executive orders, regulations for the purchase, use, storage, maintenance and repair of all motor vehicles owned by the Commonwealth, and in the possession of any state department, institution or agency where his supervision is not forbidden by the Constitution.

B. The Governor may use any building or land owned by the Commonwealth, and not required to be used for other purposes, for storing and garaging state-owned motor vehicles. He may employ watchmen or guards, mechanics and other labor to repair and service such vehicles, and provide for the purchase of gasoline, oil and other supplies for such vehicles, and allocate among the various departments and agencies using such vehicles their proportionate part of the cost of repairs, servicing, gasoline, oil, and other supplies.

C. The Governor may create in the State Treasurer's office a special fund to be reflected on the books of the Comptroller, out of which all costs and expenses incurred pursuant to this section shall be paid. All allocations of costs and charges for repairing and servicing motor vehicles made against any institution, agency, or department shall, when approved by the department head, be paid into the special fund by interdepartmental transfers on the Comptroller's books. All funds so paid or transferred into the special fund are appropriated for the purposes of this section and shall be paid out on warrants of the Comptroller issued upon vouchers signed by the state officer or employee designated by the Governor.

D. The Governor may, by executive order or regulation, impose upon the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget, or any other agency of the executive branch of the state government, any or all administrative duties pertaining to the administration of this section.

E. If any state officer, agent or employee fails to comply with any rule, regulation or order of the Governor made pursuant to this section, the Comptroller shall, upon order of the Governor, refuse to issue any warrant on account of expenses incurred, or to be incurred in the purchase, operation, maintenance, or repair of any motor vehicle now or to be in the possession or under the control of such officer, agent or employee, or the Governor may order some state officer or agent to take possession of the vehicle and transfer it to some other department, institution, agency, officer, agent or employee, or to make such other disposition as the Governor may direct.

Code 1950, § 2-42; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-47; 2001, c. 844.

No passenger-type automobile shall be purchased by the Commonwealth or any officer or employee on behalf of the Commonwealth without the prior written approval of the Governor. The Governor may transfer surplus motor vehicles among the departments, institutions and agencies, and the Director of the Department of Accounts shall determine the value of the surplus equipment for the purpose of maintaining the financial accounts of the departments, agencies and institutions affected by such transfers.

1954, c. 365, § 2-42.1; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-48; 2001, c. 844.

A. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 1-505, the Governor may authorize the use of the seals of the Commonwealth for commercial purposes upon a finding that such use promotes an appropriate image of the Commonwealth, its heritage and its history, and that such use is carried out in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth. In considering whether the use of the seals in association with a product promotes an appropriate image of the Commonwealth, preference shall be given to products that (i) preserve traditional methods of production, including handcrafting techniques, (ii) enhance public appreciation of the Commonwealth's aesthetic values, and (iii) incorporate workmanship and materials of the highest quality. A prospective licensee shall be deemed qualified to protect and promote the image of the Commonwealth if it holds licenses to produce products associated with museums and sites of major historical importance in the Commonwealth, including but not limited to homes of Presidents of the United States and restored historical areas.

B. The Governor may direct the State Treasurer to cause to be minted gold, platinum, and silver coins for commemorative use that bear the seals of the Commonwealth on the obverse side of the coin and scenes of natural or historically significant locations in the Commonwealth as recommended by the Board of Directors of the Virginia Tourism Authority on the reverse side. Except as provided in subsection C, proceeds from the sale of such coins shall be deposited in the Cooperative Marketing Fund established pursuant to § 2.2-2319.

C. The Secretary of the Commonwealth and the Director of the Division of Purchases and Supply shall assist the Governor in determining the appropriateness of (i) any contract entered into for the commercial use of the seals of the Commonwealth, (ii) the product intended to be sold, (iii) any marketing activities undertaken to promote the sale of the product, and (iv) the pricing structure, including royalties to be paid to the Commonwealth for such use and sale. Any such royalties paid to the Commonwealth shall be deposited in the general fund.

1995, c. 295, § 2.1-51.6:4; 2001, c. 844; 2005, c. 839; 2011, c. 755; 2013, c. 763.

Rooms and space in public buildings at the seat of government, other than the Capitol, whether the rooms or space are occupied, may be vacated, assigned, and reassigned by the Governor to such departments, divisions, agencies, and officers of the Commonwealth as the Governor deems proper. The Governor shall not vacate, assign or reassign any rooms or space occupied by the Supreme Court, the General Assembly, the State Corporation Commission or other independent agencies, without the consent and approval of such bodies.

Code 1950, § 2-41; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-46; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Governor shall establish rules to provide for the regulation of athletic leaves of absence for state employees as follows:

1. A public employee who qualifies as a member of the United States team for athletic competition on the Pan American or Olympic level in a sport contested in such competition may be granted leave of absence upon approval of the appropriate cabinet secretary without loss or reduction of pay, time, annual leave, or efficiency rating for the purpose of preparing for and engaging in competition on such levels. In no event shall the paid leave under this subdivision exceed the period of the official training camp and competition combined or ninety calendar days a year, whichever is less. A public employee who qualifies and applies as a member of the United States team for athletic competition on the international level other than the Pan American or Olympic games may be granted a leave of absence without pay.

2. A public employee who qualifies and applies for an athletic leave of absence under the provisions of this subdivision shall notify his employer of his desire for such leave at least thirty days before the effective date of the leave; however, if the official training camp for international or Olympic games commences less than thirty days after the employee's selection as a member of the United States team, the employee shall notify his employer of his desire for athletic leave immediately upon his selection as a member of such team.

3. All or any portion of the approved athletic leave of absence provided for in this subdivision may be canceled retroactively by the employer if the employee does not participate in the training or competition for approved reasons or for reasons that are unrelated to the physical and/or mental ability to compete.

4. If the absence of a state employee necessitates the hiring of a substitute during the employee's absence, the Commonwealth shall reimburse the governmental branch, department, agency, board, institution, or commission of the Commonwealth for actual costs incurred in employing the substitute.

B. As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Public employee" means any full-time employee of the Commonwealth or of any branch of the state government, of any executive department of the Commonwealth, or of any agency, board, institution or commission of the State; however, no elected official shall be considered a public employee for purposes of this section.

"Athlete" means an individual who is dedicated to improving a skill or skills in a particular physical exercise, sport, or game requiring strength, agility, or stamina and for whom this effort does not result in financial gain or remuneration.

"International or Olympic competition" means any athletic competition involving athletes from two or more nation-states.

1981, c. 335, § 2.1-114.2:1; 2001, c. 844.

The Governor may accept, in the name of the Commonwealth, the property known as The White House of the Confederacy, any building that may be erected by the Confederate Memorial Literary Society, and the property known as The Lee House, located at 707 East Franklin Street in the City of Richmond, together with any moneys or other assets, including items being housed and displayed in such buildings or any of them, belonging to the Confederate Memorial Literary Society. The buildings and their contents thereof shall thereafter be preserved and maintained for historic purposes by the Commonwealth. Upon the transfer of title to the property to the Commonwealth, the Governor shall appoint a board of trustees consisting of thirteen persons appointed from the Commonwealth at large, which shall thereafter be charged with the preservation and maintenance of the properties and the administration of any funds that may be received or donated by the Confederate Memorial Literary Society or from any other source. The members of the board first appointed shall be appointed as follows: four for terms of four years, four for terms of three years, four for terms of two years, and one for a term of one year. Subsequent appointments shall be for terms of four years except appointments to fill vacancies, which shall be for the unexpired terms.

The board shall appoint a treasurer, who shall have custody of its funds and shall be bonded in such amount as the board may determine. Expenditures from such funds shall be made by the treasurer as the board directs, for any purpose, in the discretion of the board, consonant with the purpose for which the same are donated.

The board may fix, charge and collect admission fees to the buildings under its custody and control, and expend moneys so received in the upkeep, maintenance and operation of such buildings as historic shrines.

1966, c. 412, §§ 9-84.1, 9-84.2, 9-84.3, 9-84.4; 2001, c. 844.

A. Before the end of his term of office, the Governor shall have delivered to The Library of Virginia for safekeeping all correspondence and other records of his office during his term. This section shall not apply to correspondence or other records of a strictly personal or private nature, or active files necessary for the transaction of business by the Office of the Governor, the decision thereon to be made by the Governor after consultation with the Librarian of Virginia. Records delivered to The Library of Virginia shall be made accessible to the public, once cataloging has been completed.

B. Should any subsequent Governor need such records for the transaction of business of the Office of the Governor, the records may be reviewed at the Library and copied, if necessary, but the Governor and his staff shall ensure that the original records are preserved intact and remain in The Library of Virginia.

Code 1950, § 2-40.1; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-45; 1988, c. 476; 1994, c. 64; 2001, c. 844; 2003, c. 590.

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.

Article 3. Gubernatorial Commissions.

A. The Governor may create gubernatorial commissions for purposes related to his authority and responsibility. These entities shall be referred to as "Commissions."

B. For the purpose of this chapter, "gubernatorial commission" includes any temporary study group, task force, blue ribbon panel or any similar collegial body created by the Governor.

1984, c. 615, §§ 2.1-51.35, 2.1-51.36; 2001, c. 844.

A. Each gubernatorial commission shall be created by executive order. The executive order shall specify (i) the specific duties of the commission, (ii) the date of creation, (iii) the date of expiration, (iv) the sources from which staff support are to be provided and a reasonable estimate of the amount of staff support expected over the lifetime of the commission, (v) an estimate of the costs to be incurred, and (vi) the source of funding.

B. Funding for gubernatorial commissions shall be provided only from funds (i) appropriated for the Governor's discretionary use, (ii) appropriated for the purposes for which the task force was established, or (iii) contributed by the private sector for the purposes for which the task force was established. Staff support for gubernatorial commissions may be provided by agencies or institutions with related purposes.

C. Gubernatorial commissions shall be created for a period not to exceed one year. Upon reevaluation, a commission may be extended one time by issuance of a new executive order for a period not to exceed one additional year. A commission shall not extend beyond the term of the Governor under whom it is created.

D. The Governor shall make a report every six months to the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations and House Committee on Appropriations specifying for each gubernatorial commission the amount and costs of staff support provided and the sources of the staff support.

1984, c. 615, § 2.1-51.37; 2001, c. 844.

Article 4. Security of Government Databases.

Repealed by Acts 2002, c. 247, effective July 1, 2002.

Chapter 2. Governor's Secretaries.

Article 1. General Provisions.

A. The Governor's Secretaries shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly if in session when the appointment is made, and if not in session, then at its next succeeding session. Each Secretary shall hold office at the pleasure of the Governor for a term coincident with that of the Governor making the appointment or until a successor is appointed and qualified. Before entering upon the discharge of duties, each Secretary shall take an oath to faithfully execute the duties of the office.

B. Each Secretary shall be subject to direction and supervision by the Governor. Except as provided in Article 4 (§ 2.2-208 et seq.), the agencies assigned to each Secretary shall:

1. Exercise their respective powers and duties in accordance with the general policy established by the Governor or by the Secretary acting on behalf of the Governor;

2. Provide such assistance to the Governor or the Secretary as may be required; and

3. Forward all reports to the Governor through the Secretary.

C. Unless the Governor expressly reserves such power to himself and except as provided in Article 4 (§ 2.2-208 et seq.), each Secretary may:

1. Resolve administrative, jurisdictional, operational, program, or policy conflicts between agencies or officials assigned;

2. Direct the formulation of a comprehensive program budget for the functional area identified in § 2.2-1508 encompassing the services of agencies assigned for consideration by the Governor;

3. Hold agency heads accountable for their administrative, fiscal and program actions in the conduct of the respective powers and duties of the agencies;

4. Direct the development of goals, objectives, policies and plans that are necessary to the effective and efficient operation of government;

5. Sign documents on behalf of the Governor that originate with agencies assigned to the Secretary; and

6. Employ such personnel and to contract for such consulting services as may be required to perform the powers and duties conferred upon the Secretary by law or executive order.

D. Severance benefits provided to any departing Secretary shall be publicly announced by the Governor prior to such departure.

E. As used in this chapter, "Governor's Secretaries" means the Secretary of Administration, the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Finance, the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs.

1972, c. 641, § 2.1-51.7; 1975, c. 390; 1976, cc. 729, 730, 732, 733, 734, 743, §§ 2.1-51.8:1, 2.1-51.13, 2.1-51.14, 2.1-51.16, 2.1-51.17, 2.1-51.26; 1984, c. 720, § 2.1-51.33; 1986, c. 492, § 2.1-51.39; 1998, c. 646; 1990, cc. 1, 317, §§ 2.1-51.41, 2.1-51.42; 1993, c. 699; 1996, cc. 500, 617; 1998, c. 793; 1999, cc. 412, 421, 433, §§ 2.1-51.44, 2.1-51.45; 2000, c. 937; 2001, c. 844; 2004, cc. 940, 963; 2006, c. 254; 2011, cc. 780, 858; 2014, cc. 115, 490; 2020, c. 738; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 401, 453.

A. Each Secretary shall be considered an extension of the Governor in the management coordination and cohesive direction of the executive branch of state government ensuring that the laws are faithfully executed.

B. Each Secretary shall be paid the compensation fixed by law.

1972, c. 641, § 2.1-51.10; 1984, c. 720, § 2.1-51.10:1; 2001, c. 844.

The expenses of the offices of the Governor's Secretaries shall be paid from funds provided for the purpose by law; however, in addition, the Governor may supplement such funds from appropriations made to his office for the executive control of the Commonwealth or for discretionary purposes.

1972, c. 641, § 2.1-51.12; 2001, c. 844.

Article 2. Secretary of Administration.

The position of Secretary of Administration (the Secretary) is created. The Secretary shall be responsible to the Governor for the following agencies and boards: Department of Human Resource Management, Information Technology Advisory Council, Department of General Services, Compensation Board, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Virginia Information Technologies Agency, Virginia Geographic Information Network Advisory Board, and 9-1-1 Services Board. The Governor may, by executive order, assign any other state executive agency to the Secretary, or reassign any agency listed above to another Secretary.

1976, c. 743, §§ 2.1-51.25, 2.1-51.27; 1978, c. 84; 1980, c. 620; 1981, c. 315; 1984, cc. 720, 746; 1985, c. 447; 1988, cc. 424, 839; 1993, c. 542; 1994, cc. 4, 85; 1995, c. 837; 1997, c. 858; 1999, cc. 412, 421, 433; 2000, cc. 66, 657, 947, 1006; 2001, c. 844; 2002, c. 572; 2003, cc. 197, 657, 670, 884; 2006, c. 150; 2008, cc. 387, 689; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2020, c. 738.

A. The Secretary shall establish a comprehensive statewide telecommuting and alternative work schedule policy under which eligible employees of state agencies, as determined by state agencies, may telecommute or participate in alternative work schedules, and the Secretary shall periodically update such policy as necessary.

B. The telecommuting and alternative work schedule policy described in subsection A shall include, but not be limited to, model guidelines, rules and procedures for telecommuting and participation in alternative work schedules, and identification of the broad categories of positions determined to be ineligible to participate in telecommuting and the justification for such a determination. Such policy may also include an incentive program, to be established and administered by the Department of Human Resource Management, that may encourage state employees to telecommute or participate in alternative work schedules and that may encourage the state agencies' management personnel to promote telecommuting and alternative work schedules for eligible employees.

C. The Secretary shall have the following duties related to promoting the telecommuting and alternative work schedule:

1. Promote and encourage use of telework alternatives for public and private employees, including but not limited to appropriate policy and legislative initiatives. Upon request, the Secretary may advise and assist private-sector employers in the Commonwealth in planning, developing, and administering programs, projects, plans, policies, and other activities for telecommuting by private-sector employees and in developing incentives provided by the private sector to encourage private sector employers in the Commonwealth to utilize employee telecommuting.

2. Advise and assist state agencies and, upon request of the localities, advise and assist localities in planning, developing, and administering programs, projects, plans, policies, and other activities to promote telecommuting by employees of state agencies or localities.

3. Coordinate activities regarding telework with, and regularly report to, a panel consisting of the Secretaries of Commerce and Trade, Finance, and Transportation. The Secretary of Administration shall serve as chair of the panel. Additional members may be designated by the Governor. Staff support for the panel shall be provided by the offices of the Secretaries of Administration and Transportation, and the Governor shall designate additional agencies to provide staff support as necessary.

4. Report annually to the General Assembly on telework participation levels and trends of both private and public-sector employees in the Commonwealth.

2001, c. 405, § 2.1-51.31:1; 2004, cc. 701, 755; 2005, c. 421; 2009, c. 86; 2020, c. 738.

Repealed by Acts 2009, c. 180, cl. 2.

On or before November 30 of each year, the Secretary shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the number of state jobs eliminated in the immediately preceding fiscal year due to the privatization of commercial activities to a commercial source.

As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Commercial activities" means an activity performed by or for state government that is not an inherently governmental activity and that may feasibly be obtained from a commercial source at lower cost than the activity being performed by state employees.

"Commercial source" means any business or other concern that is eligible for a contract award in accordance with the Virginia Public Procurement Act (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.).

2005, c. 476; 2012, cc. 803, 835.

The Secretary may convene ad hoc working groups to promote alternative dispute resolution procedures.

2012, cc. 803, 835.

A. As used in this section, "state agency" means any agency, institution, board, bureau, commission, council, or instrumentality of state government in the executive branch.

B. It shall be the policy of the Commonwealth to promote and increase the employment of individuals with disabilities directly employed at all levels and occupations by state agencies, institutions, boards, and authorities of the Commonwealth. To assist in achieving this policy, it shall be the goal of the Commonwealth to increase by five percent the level of employment of individuals with disabilities by the state by fiscal year 2023. The Secretary shall coordinate and lead efforts to achieve the goals of the Commonwealth established by this section.

C. To further this goal, the Commonwealth shall:

1. Use available hiring authorities, consistent with statutes, regulations, and prior executive orders;

2. Increase efforts to accommodate individuals with disabilities within state government employment by increasing the retention and return to work of individuals with disabilities;

3. Expand existing efforts for the recruitment, accommodation, retention, and advancement of individuals with disabilities for positions available in state government;

4. Designate senior-level staff within each state agency to be responsible for increasing the employment of individuals with disabilities within the state agency; and

5. Require state agencies to prepare a plan to increase employment opportunities at the agencies for individuals with disabilities.

D. Each state agency shall submit a plan to increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities to the Secretary no later than December 31, 2017, and each July 1 thereafter. The Secretary shall (i) establish guidelines regarding the development and content of state agency plans and (ii) establish a reporting system for tracking and reporting the progress of state agencies toward meeting the employment goals of the Commonwealth established by this section.

E. All state agencies shall examine existing policies relating to the employment of individuals with disabilities, including a review of recruitment efforts, interviewing criteria, testing procedures, and resources to accommodate applicants and workers with disabilities.

F. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require (i) the creation of new positions or the changing of existing qualification standards for any position or (ii) any state employee or applicant for state employment to disclose his disability status involuntarily.

G. The Secretary, in collaboration with the Department of Human Resource Management, shall develop an annual report on the number of individuals with disabilities directly employed by the state agencies. The information shall be included in the annual demographic report of the Department of Human Resource Management.

H. The Secretary shall report on the progress of state agencies toward meeting the employment goals of the Commonwealth to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations by September 1 of each year.

2017, cc. 358, 371; 2020, c. 50.

A. As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Board" means the Executive Data Board.

"CDO" means the Chief Data Officer of the Commonwealth.

"Commonwealth Data Trust" means a secure, multi-stakeholder data exchange and analytics platform with common rules for data security, privacy, and confidentiality. The Commonwealth Data Trust shall include data from state, regional, and local governments, from public institutions of higher education, and from any other sources deemed necessary and appropriate.

"Council" means the Data Governance Council.

"Group" means the Data Stewards Group.

"Office" means the Office of Data Governance and Analytics.

"Open data" means data that is collected by an agency that is not prohibited from being made available to the public by applicable laws or regulations or other restrictions, requirements, or rights associated with such data.

B. There is created in the Office of the Secretary of Administration the Office of Data Governance and Analytics to foster and oversee the effective sharing of data among state, regional, and local public entities and public institutions of higher education, implement effective data governance strategies to maintain data integrity and security, and promote access to Commonwealth data. The purpose of the Office shall be to (i) improve compliance with the Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act (§ 2.2-3800 et seq.); (ii) increase access to and sharing of Commonwealth data, including open data, between state, regional and local public entities and public institutions of higher education across all levels of government; (iii) Increase the use of data and data analytics to improve the efficiency and efficacy of government services and improve stakeholder outcomes; and (iv) establish the Commonwealth as a national leader in data-driven policy, evidence-based decision making, and outcome-based performance management.

C. The Office shall have the following powers and duties:

1. To support the collection, dissemination, analysis, and proper use of data by state agencies and public entities as defined in the Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act (§ 2.2-3800 et seq.);

2. To facilitate and guide data-sharing efforts between state, regional, and local public entities and public institutions of higher education;

3. To develop innovative data analysis and intelligence methodologies and best practices to promote data-driven policy making, decision making, research, and analysis;

4. To manage and administer the Commonwealth Data Trust;

5. To assist the Chief Data Officer and the Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth in the development of a comprehensive six-year Commonwealth strategic plan for information technology;

6. In cooperation with the Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth, to provide technical assistance to state agencies, local governments, and regional entities to establish and promote data sharing and analytics projects including data storage, data security, privacy, compliance with federal law, the de-identification of data for research purposes, and the appropriate access to and presentation of open data and datasets to the public;

7. To develop measures and targets related to the performance of the Commonwealth's data governance, sharing, analytics, and intelligence program;

8. To undertake, identify, coordinate, and oversee studies linking government services to stakeholder outcomes;

9. To implement a website dedicated to (i) hosting open data from state, regional, and local public entities and public institutions of higher education and (ii) providing links to any other additional open data websites in the Commonwealth;

10. To provide staff and operational support to the Virginia Data Commission, Executive Data Board, Data Governance Council, and Data Stewards Group;

11. To apply for and accept grants from the United States government and agencies and instrumentalities thereof and any other source. To those ends, the Office shall have the power to comply with such conditions and execute such agreements as may be necessary or desirable;

12. To solicit, receive, and consider proposals for funding projects or initiatives from any state or federal agency, local or regional government, public institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, or private person or corporation;

13. To enter into public-private partnerships and agreements with public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth to conduct data sharing and analytics projects;

14. To solicit and accept funds, goods, and in-kind services that are part of any accepted project proposal;

15. To establish ad hoc committees or project teams to investigate related technology or technical issues and provide results and recommendations for Office action; and

16. To establish such bureaus, sections, or units as the Office deems appropriate to carry out its goals and responsibilities.

D. There is created in the Office of the Secretary of Administration the position of Chief Data Officer of the Commonwealth to oversee the operation of the Office. The CDO shall exercise and perform the duties conferred or imposed upon him by law and perform such other duties as may be required by the Governor and the Secretary of Administration. The CDO shall not be considered the custodian of any public records in or derived from the Commonwealth Data Trust. The CDO shall:

1. Establish business rules, guidelines, and best practices for the use of data, including open data, in the Commonwealth. Such rules, guidelines, and best practices shall address, at a minimum, (i) the sharing of data between state, regional, and local public entities and public institutions of higher education, and, when appropriate, private entities; (ii) data storage; (iii) data security; (iv) privacy; (v) compliance with federal law; (vi) the de-identification of data for research purposes; and (vii) the appropriate access to and presentation of open data and datasets to the public;

2. Assist state, regional, and local public entities, public institutions of higher education, and employees thereof, with the application of the Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act (§ 2.2-3800 et. seq.) and understanding the applicability of federal laws governing privacy and access to data to the data sharing practices of the Commonwealth;

3. Assist the Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth with matters related to the creation, storage, and dissemination of data upon request;

4. Encourage and coordinate efforts of state, regional, and local public entities and public institutions of higher education to access and share data, including open data, across all levels of government in an effort to improve the efficiency and efficacy of services, improve outcomes, and promote data-driven policy making, decision making, research, and analysis;

5. Oversee the implementation of a website dedicated to (i) hosting open data from state, regional, and local public entities and public institutions of higher education and (ii) providing links to any other additional open data websites in the Commonwealth;

6. Enter into contracts for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section;

7. Rent office space and procure equipment, goods, and services necessary to carry out the provisions of this section; and

8. Report on the activities of the Office, the Commonwealth Data Trust, and the Virginia Data Commission established pursuant to Article 13 (§ 2.2-2558 et seq.) of Chapter 25 annually by December 1 to the Governor and the General Assembly.

E. The Commonwealth Data Trust shall be governed by a multi-level governance structure as follows:

1. The Executive Data Board shall consist of the directors or chief executives, or their designees, of executive branch agencies engaged in data sharing and analytics projects with the Commonwealth Data Trust. The CDO shall chair the Board. Members of the Board shall (i) translate the Commonwealth's data-driven policy goals and objectives into performance targets at their respective agencies; (ii) allocate appropriate resources at their respective agencies to support data governance, sharing, and analytics initiatives; and (iii) provide any reports to the Office regarding their respective agencies' data analytics work and implementation of recommendations.

2. The Data Governance Council shall consist of employees of the agencies represented on the Board, selected by the Board members from their respective agencies. The CDO, or his designee, shall chair the Council. The Council shall (i) liaise between state agency operations and the CDO; (ii) advise the CDO on data technology, policy, and governance structure; (iii) administer data governance policies, standards, and best practices, as set by the Board; (iv) oversee data sharing and analytics projects; (v) review open data assets prior to publication; (vi) provide to the Board any reports on the Council's recommendations and work as required by the Board; (vii) develop necessary privacy and ethical standards and policies for Commonwealth Data Trust resources; (viii) monitor the sharing of Commonwealth Data Trust member-contributed data resources; (ix) review and approve new Commonwealth Data Trust-managed data resources; and (x) conduct any other business the CDO deems necessary for Commonwealth Data Trust governance.

3. The Data Stewards Group shall consist of employees from executive branch agencies with technical experience in data management or data analytics. Executive branch agencies shall be encouraged to designate at least one agency data steward to serve on the Group and may designate multiple data stewards as appropriate based upon organizational or data system responsibilities. The Group shall (i) provide the Board and Council with technical subject matter expertise in support of data policies, standards, and best practices; (ii) implement data sharing and analytics projects promoting data accessibility, sharing, and reuse, thereby reducing redundancy across the Commonwealth; (iii) coordinate and resolve technical stewardship issues for standardized data; (iv) ensure data quality processes and standards are implemented consistently by agencies in the Commonwealth; (v) provide communication and education to data users on the appropriate use, sharing, and protection of the Commonwealth's data assets; (vi) promote the collection and sharing of metadata by registering data assets in the Virginia Data Catalog; (vii) liaise with agency project managers and information technology investment staff to ensure adherence to Commonwealth data standards and data sharing requirements; and (viii) support informed, data-driven decision making through compliance with Commonwealth data policies, standards, and best practices.

F. In carrying out the provisions of this section, the Office shall coordinate and collaborate with, to the fullest extent authorized by federal law and notwithstanding any state law to the contrary, all agencies set forth in subsection A of § 2.2-212 and subsection A of § 2.2-221; any other state, regional, and local public bodies, including community services boards; local law-enforcement agencies; any health and human services-related entity of a political subdivision that receives state funds; public institutions of higher education; and, when appropriate, private entities.

G. The Office shall be considered an agent of any state agency in the executive branch of government that shares information or data with the office, and shall be an authorized recipient of information under any statutory or administrative law governing the information or data. Interagency data shared pursuant to this section shall not constitute a disclosure or release of information or data under any statutory or administrative law governing the information or data.

H. The Office shall be responsible for overseeing and supporting any workforce development data systems authorized under the Secretary of Labor to ensure the interoperability of the systems, to facilitate data sharing, to identify innovative technology solutions, and to support processes that create data-informed decisions.

2018, c. 679; 2023, cc. 46, 47.

Unless the Governor expressly reserves such power to himself, the Secretary may, with regard to strategy development, planning, and budgeting for technology programs in the Commonwealth:

1. Continuously monitor and analyze the technology investments and strategic initiatives of other states to ensure that the Commonwealth remains competitive.

2. Designate specific projects as enterprise information technology projects, prioritize the implementation of enterprise information technology projects, and establish enterprise oversight committees to provide ongoing oversight for enterprise information technology projects. At the discretion of the Governor, the Secretary shall designate a state agency or public institution of higher education as the business sponsor responsible for implementing an enterprise information technology project and shall define the responsibilities of lead agencies that implement enterprise information technology projects. For purposes of this subdivision, "enterprise" means an organization with common or unifying business interests. An enterprise may be defined at the Commonwealth level or Secretariat level for programs and project integration within the Commonwealth, Secretariats, or multiple agencies.

3. Establish Internal Agency Oversight Committees and Secretariat Oversight Committees as necessary and in accordance with § 2.2-2021.

4. Review and approve the Commonwealth strategic plan for information technology, as developed and recommended by the Chief Information Officer pursuant to subdivision A 3 of § 2.2-2007.1.

5. Communicate regularly with the Governor and other Secretaries regarding issues related to the provision of information technology services in the Commonwealth, statewide technology initiatives, and investments and other efforts needed to achieve the Commonwealth's information technology strategic goals.

2020, c. 738.

Article 2.1. Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry.

The position of Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry (the Secretary) is created. The Secretary shall be responsible to the Governor for the following agencies: Department of Forestry, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia Agricultural Council, and Virginia Racing Commission. The Governor, by executive order, may assign any state executive agency to the Secretary, or reassign any agency listed in this section to another Secretary.

2004, cc. 940, 963; 2008, c. 860; 2014, c. 432.

Article 3. Secretary of Commerce and Trade.

The position of Secretary of Commerce and Trade (the Secretary) is created. The Secretary shall be responsible to the Governor for the following agencies: Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority, Commonwealth of Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority, Virginia International Trade Corporation, Virginia Tourism Authority, Department of Energy, Department of Housing and Community Development, Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, Virginia Housing Development Authority, Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, and Board of Accountancy. The Governor, by executive order, may assign any state executive agency to the Secretary, or reassign any agency listed in this section to another Secretary.

The Secretary shall implement the provisions of the Virginia Biotechnology Research Act (§ 2.2-5500 et seq.).

1986, c. 492, §§ 2.1-51.38, 2.1-51.40; 1988, cc. 67, 173; 1989, c. 165; 1991, c. 337; 1993, cc. 499, 699; 1994, c. 472, § 2.1-51.39:2; 1995, c. 89; 1996, cc. 589, 590, 598, 599, 702; 1999, cc. 412, 421, 433; 2001, cc. 832, 844; 2004, cc. 57, 940, 963; 2013, c. 482; 2014, c. 432; 2016, c. 749; 2017, cc. 30, 31; 2020, cc. 738, 1164, 1169; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 453, 532.

A. During the first year of each new gubernatorial administration, the Secretary, with the assistance of a cabinet-level committee appointed in accordance with subsection B, shall develop and implement a written comprehensive economic development policy for the Commonwealth. In developing this policy, the Secretary and the committee shall review the economic development policy in effect at the commencement of the Governor's term of office. The Secretary shall make such revisions to the existing policy as the Secretary deems necessary to ensure that it is appropriate for the Commonwealth. Once the policy has been adopted by the Secretary and the committee and approved by the Governor, it shall be submitted to the General Assembly for its consideration.

B. During the first year of each new gubernatorial administration, the Governor shall issue an executive order creating a cabinet-level committee to assist the Secretary in the development of the comprehensive economic development policy for the Commonwealth. The Secretary shall be the chairman of the committee, and the Secretaries of Administration, Agriculture and Forestry, Education, Health and Human Resources, Labor, Natural and Historic Resources, and Transportation shall serve as committee members. The Governor may also appoint members of regional and local economic development groups and members of the business community to serve on the committee.

1991, c. 562, § 2.1-51.39:1; 1993, c. 699; 2001, c. 844; 2004, c. 989; 2015, c. 166; 2020, c. 738; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 401, 453.

A. There is hereby established the Economic Crisis Strike Force (Strike Force) for the purpose of serving as a working group to respond as needed to economic disasters in Virginia communities by (i) immediately providing a single point of contact for citizens in affected communities to assist with accessing available government and private sector services and resources, (ii) assisting localities in developing short-term and long-term strategies for addressing the economic crisis, and (iii) identifying opportunities for workforce retraining, job creation, and new investment.

B. The Strike Force shall be chaired by the Secretary of Commerce and Trade and be deployed at the direction of the Governor. Membership shall include high level representatives designated by the Secretaries of Education, Health and Human Resources, and Labor and by the respective heads of the following agencies: the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Labor and Industry, the Department of Medical Assistance Services, the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, the Department of Social Services, the Virginia Community College System, the Virginia Employment Commission, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and the Virginia Tourism Authority. The Strike Force shall also include representatives from such other agencies as may be designated by the Governor to meet the needs of a particular affected community. In addition, the Governor may designate such citizens as he deems appropriate to advise the Strike Force.

C. Staff support for the Strike Force shall be provided by the Office of the Governor and the Secretary of Commerce and Trade. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall assist the Strike Force upon request.

D. On or before December 1 of each year, the Strike Force shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on its activities.

E. For the purposes of this section, "economic disaster" means an employment loss of at least five percent during the immediately preceding six-month period, the closure or downsizing of a major regional employer in an economically distressed area, a natural disaster or act of terrorism for which the Governor has declared a state of emergency, or other economic crisis situations, which in the opinion of the Governor adversely affect the welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth.

2006, cc. 79, 80; 2013, c. 482; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 453.

A. The position of Commonwealth Broadband Chief Advisor (Chief Advisor) is hereby established within the office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade.

1. The purpose of the Chief Advisor is to serve as Virginia's single point of contact and integration for broadband issues, efforts, and initiatives and to increase the availability and affordability of broadband throughout all regions of the Commonwealth.

2. The Chief Advisor shall be selected for his knowledge of, background in, and experience with information technology, broadband telecommunications, and economic development in a private, for-profit, or not-for-profit organization.

B. The Chief Advisor shall be designated by the Secretary of Commerce and Trade. Staff for the Chief Advisor shall be provided by the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Chief Advisor, upon request.

C. The Chief Advisor shall:

1. Integrate activities among different federal and state agencies and departments, and localities, and coordinate with Internet service providers in the Commonwealth;

2. Provide continual research into public grants and loans, in addition to private and nonprofit funding opportunities, available to provide incentives and help defray the costs of broadband infrastructure buildouts and upgrades;

3. Maintain broadband maps, the Integrated Broadband Planning and Analysis Toolbox, and other data to help decision makers understand where broadband needs exist and help develop strategies to address these needs;

4. Continually monitor and analyze broadband legislative and policy activities, as well as investments, in other nations, states, and localities to ensure that the Commonwealth remains competitive and up to date on best practices to address the Commonwealth's unique broadband needs, create efficiencies, target funding, and streamline operations;

5. Monitor the trends in the availability and deployment of and access to broadband communications services, which include, but are not limited to, high-speed data services and Internet access services of general application, throughout the Commonwealth and advancements in communications technology for deployment potential;

6. Research and evaluate emerging technologies to determine the most effective applications for these technologies and their benefits to the Commonwealth;

7. Monitor federal legislation and policy, in order to maximize the Commonwealth's effective use of and access to federal funding available for broadband development programs, including but not limited to the Connect America Fund program;

8. Coordinate with Virginia agencies and departments to target funding activities for the purpose of ensuring that Commonwealth funds are spent effectively to increase economic and social opportunities through widespread and affordable broadband deployment;

9. Coordinate with Virginia agencies and departments, including, but not limited to, DHCD, the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, and the Virginia Resources Authority, to review funding proposals and provide recommendations for Virginia grants and loans for the purpose of ensuring that Commonwealth funds are spent effectively on projects most likely to result in a solid return on investment for broadband deployment throughout the Commonwealth;

10. Serve as a central coordinating position and repository for any broadband-related projects and grants related to the mission herein, including, but not limited to, information from DHCD, the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, the CIT, the Virginia Growth and Opportunity Board, and the Virginia Resources Authority;

11. Support the efforts of both public and private entities within the Commonwealth to enhance or facilitate the deployment of and access to competitively priced advanced electronic communications services and Internet access services of general application throughout the Commonwealth;

12. Specifically work toward establishing affordable, accessible broadband services to unserved areas of the Commonwealth and monitor advancements in communication that will facilitate this goal;

13. Advocate for and facilitate the development and deployment of applications, programs, and services, including but not limited to telework, telemedicine, and e-learning, that will bolster the usage of and demand for broadband level telecommunications;

14. Serve as a broadband information and applications clearinghouse for the Commonwealth and a coordination point for broadband-related services and programs in the Commonwealth;

15. After consultation with the Virginia Growth and Opportunity Board, the Broadband Advisory Council, and the Joint Commission on Technology and Science, (i) develop a strategic plan that includes specific objectives, metrics, and benchmarks for developing and deploying broadband communications, including in rural areas, which minimize the risk to the Commonwealth's assets and encourage public-private partnerships, across the Commonwealth; such strategic plan and any changes thereto shall be submitted to the Governor, the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, the Chairman of the Joint Commission on Technology and Science, the Chairman of the Broadband Advisory Council, and the Chairman of the Virginia Growth and Opportunity Board and (ii) present to these organizations annually on updates, changes, and progress made relative to this strategic plan, other relevant broadband activities in the Commonwealth, and suggestions to further the objectives of increased broadband development and deployment, including areas such as, but not limited to, the following: education, telehealth, economic development, and workforce development, as well as policies that may facilitate broadband deployment at the state and local level; and

16. Submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual report for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports on broadband development and deployment activities that shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas: education, telehealth, workforce development, and economic development in regard to (i) broadband deployment and program successes, (ii) obstacles to program and resource coordination, (iii) strategies for improving such programs and resources needed to help close the Commonwealth's rural digital divide, and (iv) progress made on the objectives detailed in the strategic plan. The Chief Advisor shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Chief Advisor no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

D. The Chief Advisor may form such advisory panels and commissions as deemed necessary, convenient, or desirable to advise and assist in exercising the powers and performing the duties conferred by this section. Persons appointed to advisory committees shall be selected for their knowledge of, background in, or experience with information technology, broadband telecommunications, or economic development in a private, for-profit, or not-for-profit organization.

E. The disclosure requirements of Article 5 (§ 2.2-3113 et seq.) of the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act shall apply to members of the advisory committees.

2018, c. 766; 2020, c. 738.

A. In order to evaluate and promote the economic potential and development of the urban areas in the Commonwealth, during the first year of each new gubernatorial administration, the Secretary, with the assistance of a cabinet-level committee appointed in accordance with subsection B, shall develop a report on the condition of the state's urban areas and establishing priorities for addressing those conditions. The report shall include the following components:

1. A review of economic and social conditions in the cities of the Commonwealth;

2. The identification of inequities between those urban areas experiencing economic growth and relatively low fiscal stress and those urban areas experiencing economic decline and relatively high levels of fiscal stress;

3. The establishment of specific and quantifiable benchmarks for addressing economic and social conditions and inequities within urban areas;

4. Prioritized recommendations for specific actions by state agencies intended to meet the established performance benchmarks within a prescribed schedule; and

5. A system for tracking agency progress in meeting the benchmarks during the succeeding biennia.

B. During the first year of each new gubernatorial administration, the Governor shall issue an executive order creating a cabinet-level committee to assist the Secretary in the development of an urban policy vision and priorities for the Commonwealth. The Secretary shall be the chairman of the committee, and the Secretaries of Education, Health and Human Resources, Natural and Historic Resources and Transportation shall serve as committee members. The Governor may also appoint representatives of local government from Virginia's urban areas to serve as committee members. During the third year of each new gubernatorial administration the Secretary shall review and report on the performance of each agency in meeting the established benchmarks.

1999, c. 519, § 2.1-51.39:3; 2001, c. 844; 2004, c. 238; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 401.

Expired.

Repealed by Acts 2020, c. 591, cl. 2.

Unless the Governor expressly reserves such power to himself, the Secretary may, with regard to strategy development, planning, and budgeting for technology programs in the Commonwealth:

1. Monitor trends and advances in fundamental technologies of interest and importance to the economy of the Commonwealth and direct and approve a stakeholder-driven technology strategy development process that results in a comprehensive and coordinated view of research and development goals for industry, academia, and government in the Commonwealth. This strategy shall be updated biennially and submitted to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and the President pro tempore of the Senate;

2. Work closely with the appropriate federal research and development agencies and program managers to maximize the participation of Commonwealth industries and baccalaureate institutions of higher education in these programs consistent with agreed strategy goals;

3. Direct the development of plans and programs for strengthening the technology resources of the Commonwealth's high technology industry sectors and for assisting in the strengthening and development of the Commonwealth's Regional Technology Councils;

4. Direct the development of plans and programs for improving access to capital for technology-based entrepreneurs;

5. Assist the Joint Commission on Technology and Science created pursuant to § 30-85 in its efforts to stimulate, encourage, and promote the development of technology in the Commonwealth;

6. Strengthen interstate and international partnerships and relationships in the public and private sectors to bolster the Commonwealth's reputation as a global technology center;

7. Develop and implement strategies to accelerate and expand the commercialization of intellectual property created within the Commonwealth;

8. Ensure that the Commonwealth remains competitive in cultivating and expanding growth industries, including life sciences, advanced materials and nanotechnology, biotechnology, and aerospace; and

9. Monitor the trends in the availability and deployment of and access to broadband communications services, which include but are not limited to competitively priced, high-speed data services and Internet access services of general application, throughout the Commonwealth and advancements in communications technology for deployment potential. The Secretary shall report annually by December 1 to the Governor and General Assembly on those trends.

2020, c. 738.

Within sixty days prior to the beginning of each regular legislative session, the Secretary and the Secretary of Education shall jointly present a report to the General Assembly summarizing private sector and education partnership programs and recommendations to promote efficiency and growth in business and education partnerships.

1993, cc. 248, 752, § 2.1-51.40:1; 2001, c. 844.

Article 4. Secretary of Education.

A. The position of Secretary of Education (the Secretary) is created. The Secretary shall be responsible to the Governor for the following agencies: Department of Education, State Council of Higher Education, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, The Science Museum of Virginia, Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia, The Library of Virginia, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Board of Regents of Gunston Hall, the Commission for the Arts, and the Board of Visitors of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind. The Governor may, by executive order, assign any other state executive agency to the Secretary, or reassign any agency listed above to another Secretary.

B. Unless the Governor expressly reserves such a power to himself, the Secretary may (i) resolve administrative, jurisdictional, or policy conflicts between any agencies or officers for which he is responsible and (ii) provide policy direction for programs involving more than a single agency.

C. The Secretary may direct the preparation of alternative policies, plans, and budgets for education for the Governor and, to that end, may require the assistance of the agencies for which he is responsible.

D. The Secretary shall direct the formulation of a comprehensive program budget for cultural affairs encompassing the programs and activities of the agencies involved in cultural affairs.

E. The Secretary shall consult with the agencies for which he is responsible and biennially report to the General Assembly on the coordination efforts among such agencies.

1976, c. 733, §§ 2.1-51.19, 2.1-51.20, 2.1-51.21; 1977, c. 413; 1979, c. 314; 1985, cc. 193, 447, 505; 1986, cc. 335, 603; 1987, c. 458; 1992, c. 630; 1993, cc. 653, 665; 1994, c. 64; 1998, cc. 701, 899; 1999, cc. 840, 855; 2001, c. 844; 2003, c. 452; 2009, c. 210; 2015, c. 140.

A. In recognition of the fact that early care and education of young children is linked to academic success and workforce readiness, the Commission on Early Childhood Care and Education (the Commission) is hereby established for the purpose of providing recommendations for and tracking progress on the financing of a comprehensive birth-to-five early childhood care and education system as established in § 22.1-289.03 that provides stable, high-quality early childhood care and education services for families who need them the most, empowers parents with choices that meet their needs and preferences, and supports both school readiness and workforce participation.

B. The Commission shall have a total membership of no fewer than 31 members that shall consist of nine legislative members, no fewer than 18 nonlegislative citizen members, and four ex officio members. Members shall be appointed as follows: five members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; four members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules on the recommendation of the Chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Health; and no fewer than 18 nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Secretary of Education. The Secretary of Education, upon receiving recommendations for appointments from the Virginia Council for Private Education, the Virginia Child Care Association, the Virginia Head Start Association, the Virginia Alliance for Family Child Care Associations, and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, shall appoint nonlegislative citizen members to the Commission in a manner that ensures representation from each of the nine Ready Regions identified by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (Ready Regions). Nonlegislative citizen members shall include one representative of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, one representative of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, one representative of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, three executive-level representatives of the private business sector who each represent different Ready Regions, one local government representative recommended by the Virginia Association of Counties and the Virginia Municipal League, one administrator from a public early childhood education program, one administrator from a faith-based private early childhood education program, one administrator from a non-faith-based private early childhood education program, one administrator from a Head Start program, one administrator from a family child care program, one representative from an organization advocating for children with disabilities, three parents or guardians of children who are age-eligible or who were recently age-eligible to participate in early childhood care and education in the Commonwealth, one educator from a public early childhood education program, and one educator from a private early childhood education program. The Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Commissioner of Social Services, or their designees, shall serve ex officio with voting privileges.

C. The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

1. Expand access to and the quality of child care in all regions of the Commonwealth;

2. Analyze all existing and potential new opportunities for financing early childhood care and education programs with a focus on outcomes that are verifiable by data;

3. Retain, grow, and strengthen the quality of the Commonwealth's early childhood care and education workforce;

4. Gather and study information and data to accomplish its purposes as set forth in this section;

5. Gather and analyze data on the current and the projected five-year availability, quality, cost, and affordability of early childhood care and education throughout the Commonwealth for children from birth to age five, determine needs and priorities for early childhood care and education, and develop funding recommendations focused on family choice, access, affordability, and quality, giving due consideration to potential unforeseen impacts of funding and policy changes on the early childhood care and education sector;

6. Annually report on specific expenditures, outcomes, and impact, including the number of children served, demographics, child-level assessment data via the Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP), classroom-level assessment data via the Unified Virginia Quality Birth to Five System (VQB5), teacher turnover and retention data, and parental employment data;

7. Support the development of an integrated early childhood longitudinal data process to capture and link access, quality, and educator data with preschool growth and school readiness outcome data through third grade and facilitate the sharing and use of such data and the seamless integration of the early childhood longitudinal data process with other student longitudinal data systems and processes; and

8. Monitor and support ongoing research and evaluation conducted by the Department of Education, the University of Virginia, and the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, and any other higher education or research institutions as deemed relevant, to continuously improve the quality of early childhood care and education services in the Commonwealth.

D. One of the most important factors in learning outcomes for young children is exposure to high-quality teacher-student interactions made possible through the hiring, training, and retention of skilled educators who support their growth and learning. In recognizing the importance of strong professional supports and competitive compensation to retaining skilled educators, the Commission shall prioritize financing early childhood care and education services using the Department of Education's cost of quality estimation model. Adoption of this model will ensure that early childhood care and education programs are resourced to attract and retain talented educators and consistently deliver high-quality services, yielding strong school readiness and literacy outcomes for participating young children. As part of this effort, the Commission should consider best practices and innovations in the private and public sector from across the Commonwealth and the country. The Commission should consider different sources of revenue and establish long-term goals and targets for affordable access to quality care and education for all birth-to-five children in the Commonwealth. Based on disparities in school readiness outcomes, the Commission should ensure that all recommendations address the needs of the Commonwealth's most vulnerable children, families, and early childhood educators. The Commission shall review the goals set forth in this subsection and other priorities within the early childhood care and education system and submit no later than October 1 of each year recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, the House Committee on Commerce and Energy, the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor, the House Committee on Education, and the Senate Committee on Education and Health. The Commission shall also post such recommendations on its website in a manner and format that ensure ease of access by interested parents and other members of the public.

E. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. All legislative members and nonlegislative citizen members may be reappointed.

F. After the initial staggering of terms, legislative members and nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for terms of three years.

G. No legislative member or nonlegislative citizen member shall serve more than two consecutive three-year terms. The remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment.

H. The Commission shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership. The chairman shall be a legislative member. The vice-chairman shall be a nonlegislative citizen member who is an executive-level representative of the private business sector. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. The meetings of the Commission shall be held at least four times per year at the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of the members so request.

I. Recommendations and other actions by the Commission shall require an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Commission.

J. The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation shall provide for the facilitation of the work of the Commission under the direction of the Secretary of Education or his designee and with the guidance of a steering committee that includes the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, one legislative member, one executive-level representative of the private business sector, one representative of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, and one parent or guardian of a child who is age-eligible or was recently age-eligible to participate in early childhood care and education in the Commonwealth.

K. The chairman may request and access the expertise of additional representatives and organizations relating to the Commission's goals and priorities.

L. The Commission may appoint, employ, and remove an executive director and such other persons as it deems necessary, and determine their duties and fix their salaries or compensation within the amounts appropriated therefor. The Commission may also employ experts who have special knowledge of the issues before it.

M. The Commission may request and shall receive from every department, division, board, bureau, commission, authority, or other agency created by the Commonwealth, or to which the Commonwealth is party, or from any political subdivision of the Commonwealth, cooperation and assistance in the performance of its duties.

2016, c. 652; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 446; 2023, cc. 8, 9.

Repealed by Acts 2004, c. 37.

Article 5. Secretary of Finance.

A. The position of Secretary of Finance (the Secretary) is created. The Secretary shall be responsible for the following agencies: Department of Accounts, Department of Planning and Budget, Department of Taxation, Department of the Treasury, and Virginia Resources Authority. The Governor, by executive order, may assign any other state executive agency to the Secretary of Finance, or reassign any agency listed.

B. To the greatest extent practicable, the agencies assigned to the Secretary shall pay all amounts due and owing by the Commonwealth through electronic transfers of funds from the general fund or appropriate special fund to the bank account of the payee or a party identified by law to receive funds on behalf of the payee. All wire transfer costs associated with the electronic transfer shall be paid by the payee subject to exemptions authorized by the State Treasurer affecting the investment, debt, and intergovernmental transactions of the Commonwealth and its agencies, institutions, boards, and authorities.

1984, c. 720, §§ 2.1-51.32, 2.1-51.33, 2.1-51.34; 1985, c. 72; 1996, c. 500; 2001, c. 844; 2011, cc. 798, 871; 2017, cc. 30, 31.

Article 6. Secretary of Health and Human Resources.

A. The position of Secretary of Health and Human Resources (the Secretary) is created. The Secretary of Health and Human Resources shall be responsible to the Governor for the following agencies: Department of Health, Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, Department of Health Professions, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Social Services, Department of Medical Assistance Services, Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, the Office of Children's Services, the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority, and the Opioid Abatement Authority. The Governor may, by executive order, assign any other state executive agency to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, or reassign any agency listed above to another Secretary.

B. As requested by the Secretary and to the extent authorized by federal law, the agencies of the Secretariat shall share data, records, and information about applicants for and recipients of services from the agencies of the Secretariat, including individually identifiable health information for the purposes of (i) streamlining administrative processes and reducing administrative burdens on the agencies, (ii) reducing paperwork and administrative burdens on the applicants and recipients, and (iii) improving access to and quality of services provided by the agencies.

C. Unless the Governor expressly reserves such power to himself, the Secretary shall (i) serve as the lead Secretary for the coordination and implementation of the long-term care policies of the Commonwealth and for the blueprint for livable communities 2025 throughout the Commonwealth, working with the Secretaries of Transportation, Commerce and Trade, and Education, and the Commissioner of Insurance, to facilitate interagency service development and implementation, communication, and cooperation; (ii) serve as the lead Secretary for the Children's Services Act, working with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to facilitate interagency service development and implementation, communication, and cooperation; and (iii) coordinate the disease prevention activities of agencies in the Secretariat to ensure efficient, effective delivery of health related services and financing.

1976, c. 729, §§ 2.1-51.13, 2.1-51.14, 2.1-51.15; 1978, c. 635; 1982, cc. 345, 459; 1983, c. 20; 1984, cc. 720, 781; 1985, cc. 447, 448; 1987, cc. 219, 698; 1988, cc. 646, 765; 1989, cc. 614, 695; 1990, c. 458; 1991, c. 563; 1994, c. 755; 1996, cc. 492, 902; 1998, c. 793; 2000, c. 937; 2001, cc. 577, 777, 844; 2004, cc. 14, 142; 2006, cc. 344, 380; 2007, cc. 10, 399, 534, 581; 2009, cc. 813, 840; 2010, cc. 411, 801; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2014, cc. 115, 490; 2015, c. 366; 2017, c. 467; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 306, 307.

In order to respond to the needs of substance abusing women and their children, the Secretary shall develop criteria for (i) enhancing access to publicly funded substance abuse treatment programs in order to effectively serve pregnant substance abusers; (ii) determining when a drug-exposed child may be referred to the early intervention services and tracking system available through Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1431 et seq.; (iii) determining the appropriate circumstances for contact between hospital discharge planners and local departments of social services for referrals for family-oriented prevention services, when such services are available and provided by the local social services agency; and (iv) determining when the parent of a drug-exposed infant, who may be endangering a child's health by failing to follow a discharge plan, may be referred to the child protective services unit of a local department of social services.

The Secretary shall consult with the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Commissioner of Social Services, the Commissioner of Health, community services boards, behavioral health authorities, local departments of social services, and local departments of health in developing the criteria required by this section.

1992, c. 428, § 2.1-51.15:1; 2001, c. 844; 2009, cc. 813, 840.

A. In order to respond to the burgeoning population of seniors in the Commonwealth, the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Commissioner of Insurance shall develop a public information campaign to inform the citizens of the Commonwealth of (i) the impending crisis in long-term care, (ii) the effect of the impending crisis on the Virginia Medicaid program and on the finances of families and their estates, (iii) innovative alternatives and combinations of institutional and community-based long-term care services, and (iv) the requirements for long-term care insurance certificates and policies and the meaning of terminology used in such certificates and policies.

B. The Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Commissioner of Insurance shall enlist the assistance of the Board of Health and the Commissioner of Health, in the exercise of their responsibilities set forth in Title 32.1 to protect, implement, and preserve the public health, in disseminating the information concerning long-term care to the public.

2005, c. 92.

The Secretary of Health and Human Resources, in consultation with the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, shall establish an integrated system for coordinating the planning and provision of services for children with incarcerated parents among state, local, nonprofit agencies, and faith-based organizations in order to provide such children with services needed to continue parental relationships with the incarcerated parent, where appropriate, and encourage healthy relationships in the family and community.

2006, c. 366; 2014, cc. 115, 490.

A. In order to promote the implementation of electronic prescribing by health practitioners, health care facilities, and pharmacies in order to prevent prescription drug abuse, improve patient safety, and reduce unnecessary prescriptions, the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, in consultation with the Secretary of Administration, shall establish a website with information on electronic prescribing for health practitioners. The website shall contain (i) information concerning the process and advantages of electronic prescribing, including using medical history data to prevent drug interactions, prevent allergic reactions, and deter abuse of controlled substances; (ii) information regarding the availability of electronic prescribing products, including no-cost or low-cost products; (iii) links to federal and private-sector websites that provide guidance on selecting electronic prescribing products; and (iv) links to state, federal, and private-sector incentive programs for the implementation of electronic prescribing.

B. The Secretary of Health and Human Resources, in consultation with the Secretary of Administration, shall regularly consult with relevant public and private stakeholders to assess and accelerate the implementation of electronic prescribing in Virginia. For purposes of this section, relevant stakeholders include, but are not limited to, organizations that represent health practitioners, organizations that represent health care facilities, organizations that represent pharmacies, organizations that operate electronic prescribing networks, organizations that create electronic prescribing products, and regional health information organizations.

2009, c. 479; 2020, c. 738.

The Secretary shall convene, as appropriate, such other heads of executive branch secretariats, state agencies and other public and private agencies and entities to develop a blueprint for livable communities and long-term services and supports for older Virginians and people with disabilities. The blueprint shall include planning through the year 2025 and shall be comprehensive and inclusive of issues related to active, daily life in communities across the Commonwealth. The blueprint shall build upon existing plans and reports and shall focus on (i) community integration and involvement, (ii) availability and accessibility of services and supports, and (iii) integration and participation in the economic mainstream. The blueprint shall be submitted to the Governor and Chairs of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations no later than June 30, 2011.

2010, cc. 411, 801.

The Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security shall encourage the dissemination of information about specialized training in evidence-based strategies to prevent and minimize mental health crises in all jurisdictions. This information shall be disseminated to, but not limited to, law-enforcement personnel, other first responders, hospital emergency department personnel, school personnel, and other interested parties, to the extent possible. These strategies shall include (i) crisis intervention team (CIT) training for law-enforcement personnel and other first responders as designated by the community CIT task force and (ii) mental health first aid training for other first responders, hospital emergency department personnel, school personnel, and other interested parties. The Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security shall encourage adherence to the models of training and achievement of programmatic goals and standards. The goals for CIT training shall include (i) training participants to recognize the signs and symptoms of behavioral health disorders; (ii) teaching participants the skills necessary to de-escalate crisis situations and how to support individuals in crisis; (iii) educating participants about community-based resources available to individuals in crisis; and (iv) enhancing participants' ability to communicate with health systems about the nature of the crisis to include rules regarding confidentiality and protected health information. The goals for mental health first aid training shall be to teach the public (to include first responders, school personnel, and other interested parties) how to recognize symptoms of mental health problems, how to offer and provide initial help, and how to guide a person toward appropriate treatments and other supportive help.

2014, c. 601.

The Boards of Health, Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Social Services, and Medical Assistance Services and the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services shall review their regulations and policies related to service delivery in order to ascertain and eliminate any discrimination against individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

1989, c. 613, § 2.1-51.14:1; 1992, c. 755; 2001, c. 844; 2009, cc. 813, 840; 2012, cc. 803, 835.

A. There is hereby created in the Department of the Treasury a special nonreverting fund that shall be known as the Healthy Lives Prescription Fund.

B. The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. The Fund shall consist of such moneys appropriated by the General Assembly and any funds available from the federal government, donations, grants, and in-kind contributions made to the Fund for the purposes stated herein. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund.

C. Moneys in the Fund shall be available to develop and implement programs that will enhance current prescription drug programs for citizens of the Commonwealth who are without insurance or ability to pay for prescription drugs and to develop innovative programs to make such prescription drugs more available.

D. The Secretary shall provide an annual report on the status of the Fund and efforts to meet the goals of the Fund.

2003, cc. 661, 674.

Article 6.1. Secretary of Labor.

The position of Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) is created. The Secretary shall be responsible to the Governor for the following agencies: the Department of Labor and Industry, the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement, and the Virginia Employment Commission. The Governor, by executive order, may assign any state executive agency to the Secretary.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 453; 2023, cc. 624, 625.

A. The Secretary shall assist the Governor in his capacity as the Chief Workforce Development Officer for the Commonwealth pursuant to § 2.2-435.6. The Secretary shall be responsible for the duties assigned to him pursuant to this article, Chapter 4.2 (§ 2.2-435.6 et seq.), Article 24 (§ 2.2-2470 et seq.) of Chapter 24, and other tasks as may be assigned to him by the Governor.

B. The Chief Workforce Development Officer's responsibilities as carried out by the Secretary of Labor shall include:

1. Developing a strategic plan for the statewide delivery of workforce development and training programs and activities. The strategic plan shall be developed in coordination with the development of the comprehensive economic development policy required by § 2.2-205. The strategic plan shall include mandatory performance measures for all workforce development programs across state government that link the objectives of such programs and activities to the record of state agencies, local workforce development boards, and other relevant entities in attaining such objectives. The Secretary shall have the authority to require compliance with such mandatory performance measures by all workforce development program administrators and providers across state government;

2. Determining the appropriate allocation, to the extent permissible under applicable federal law, of funds and other resources that have been appropriated or are otherwise available for disbursement by the Commonwealth for workforce development programs and activities;

3. Ensuring that the Commonwealth's workforce development efforts are implemented in a coordinated and efficient manner by, among other activities, taking appropriate executive action to this end and recommending to the General Assembly necessary legislative actions to streamline and eliminate duplication in such efforts;

4. Providing oversight and directing efficient implementation of workforce development and training programs by Cabinet Secretaries and agencies responsible for such programs;

5. Developing, in consultation with the Virginia Board of Workforce Development, (i) certification standards and metrics for programs and providers and (ii) uniform policies and procedures, including standardized forms and applications, for one-stop centers;

6. Monitoring, in coordination with the Virginia Board of Workforce Development, the effectiveness of each one-stop center and recommending actions needed to improve its effectiveness;

7. Establishing measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the local workforce development boards and conducting annual evaluations of the effectiveness of each local workforce development board. As part of the evaluation process, the Governor shall recommend to such boards specific best management practices;

8. Conducting annual evaluations of the performance of workforce development and training programs and activities across state government and their administrators and service providers using the performance measures developed through the strategic planning process described in subdivision 1. The evaluations shall include, to the extent feasible, (i) a comparison of the per-person costs for each program or activity; (ii) a comparative rating of each program or activity based on its success in meeting program objectives consisting of individuals placed in jobs, jobs retained, and wages or earnings paid, as determined by the Secretary; and (iii) an explanation of the extent to which each agency's appropriation requests incorporate the data reflected in the cost comparison described in clause (i) and the comparative rating described in clause (ii). These evaluations, including the comparative rankings, shall be considered in allocating resources for workforce development and training programs. These evaluations shall be submitted to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor and included in the biennial reports pursuant to subdivision 10;

9. Monitoring federal legislation and policy in order to maximize the Commonwealth's effective use of access to federal funding available for workforce development programs; and

10. Submitting biennial reports, which shall be included in the Governor's executive budget submissions to the General Assembly, on improvements in the coordination of workforce development efforts statewide. The reports shall identify (i) program success rates in relation to performance measures established by the Secretary in consultation with the Virginia Board of Workforce Development, (ii) obstacles to program and resource coordination, and (iii) strategies for facilitating statewide program and resource coordination.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 453; 2023, cc. 624, 625.

Article 7. Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources.

The position of Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources (the Secretary) is created. The Secretary shall be responsible to the Governor for the following agencies: Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Historic Resources, Marine Resources Commission, Department of Wildlife Resources, and the Department of Environmental Quality and for the Chief Resilience Officer pursuant to § 2.2-220.5. The Governor may, by executive order, assign any state executive agency to the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources or reassign any agency listed in this section to another Secretary.

1972, c. 641, §§ 2.1-51.7, 2.1-51.9; 1974, cc. 44, 45, 354, 420; 1975, c. 390; 1976, cc. 729, 732, 733, 734, 743, 767; 1978, c. 32; 1979, c. 294; 1982, c. 459; 1984, cc. 590, 720, 739, 750; 1985, cc. 193, 447, 448; 1986, cc. 335, 492, 567, 492; 1988, cc. 608, 707, 891; 1989, c. 656; 1992, c. 887; 2001, c. 844; 2004, c. 142; 2005, c. 41; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2020, c. 958; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 401; 2022, c. 786.

The Secretary shall:

1. Serve as the lead Secretary for the coordination of technical assistance, information, and training to ensure that consistent water quality information is provided to all citizens of the Commonwealth; and

2. Consult with the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and cooperate with appropriate state and federal agencies in the development and implementation of a comprehensive program to monitor the quality of the waters, habitat, and the living resources of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

1984, c. 183, § 2.1-51.8:2; 1986, c. 492; 2001, c. 844; 2004, c. 58; 2008, c. 368.

The Secretary shall establish the "Friend of the Bay Award" program. The program shall annually recognize those individuals, businesses, organizations and other entities that have made significant efforts to preserve and enhance the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The program shall make such awards on a noncompetitive basis, using criteria to be developed by the Secretary, in consultation with those agencies within the Secretariat, the Virginia delegation to the Chesapeake Bay Commission and the Citizens Advisory Committee to the Chesapeake Executive Council.

1994, c. 392, § 2.1-51.8:3; 2001, c. 844.

The Secretary shall coordinate the development of Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs) pursuant to the total maximum daily load (TMDL) for the Chesapeake Bay released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in December 2010 and amendment thereto. The WIPs shall be designed to improve water quality and restore the living resources of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The WIPs shall be developed in consultation with affected stakeholders, including local government officials; wastewater treatment operators; seafood industry representatives; commercial and recreational fishing interests; developers; farmers; local, regional and statewide conservation and environmental interests; and the Virginia delegation to the Chesapeake Bay Commission.

1996, c. 1031, § 2.1-51.12:1; 1999, c. 548; 2001, c. 844; 2003, c. 885; 2015, c. 380.

Repealed by Acts 2016, c. 120, cl. 1.

Repealed by Acts 2015, c. 48, cl. 1.

By November 1 of each year, the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources shall report to the Governor and the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources on the implementation of the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. The Secretary may use documents, reports, and other materials developed in cooperation with other signatories to the agreement, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other relevant federal agencies or nongovernmental organizations, to fulfill this reporting requirement.

2001, c. 259, § 2.1-51.12:4; 2015, c. 475; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 401.

A. The Secretaries of Natural and Historic Resources and Agriculture and Forestry shall coordinate the development of strategic actions to be taken by the Commonwealth, individual state and federal agencies, private businesses, and landowners related to invasive species prevention, early detection and rapid response, control and management, research and risk assessment, and education and outreach. Such strategic actions shall include the development of a state invasive species management plan. The plan shall include a list of invasive species that pose the greatest threat to the Commonwealth. The primary purposes of the plan shall be to address the increasing threats of invasive species, to improve coordination among state and federal agencies' efforts regarding invasive species prevention and management and information exchange, and to educate the public on related matters. The Secretaries of Natural and Historic Resources and Agriculture and Forestry shall update the state invasive species management plan at least once every four years. The Department of Conservation and Recreation shall provide staff support.

B. The Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources shall establish and serve as chair of an advisory group to develop an invasive species management plan and shall coordinate and implement recommendations of that plan. Other members of the advisory group shall include the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Conservation and Recreation, Environmental Quality, Forestry, Health, Transportation, and Wildlife Resources; the Marine Resources Commission; the Virginia Cooperative Extension; the Virginia Institute of Marine Science; representatives of the agriculture and forestry industries; the conservation community; interested federal agencies; academic institutions; and commercial interests. The Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry shall serve as the vice-chair of the advisory group. The advisory group shall meet at least twice per year, shall utilize ad hoc committees as necessary with special emphasis on working with affected industries, landowners, and citizens, and shall assist the Secretary to:

1. Prevent additional introductions of invasive species to the lands and waters of the Commonwealth;

2. Procure, use, and maintain native species to replace invasive species;

3. Implement targeted control efforts on those invasive species that are present in the Commonwealth but are susceptible to such management actions;

4. Identify and report the appearance of invasive species before they can become established and control becomes less feasible;

5. Implement immediate control measures if a new invasive species is introduced in Virginia, with the aim of eradicating that species from Virginia's lands and waters if feasible given the degree of infestation; and

6. Recommend legislative actions or pursue federal grants to implement the plan.

Nothing in this section shall affect the authorities of any agency represented on the advisory group with respect to invasive species.

C. The Secretaries of Natural and Historic Resources, Agriculture and Forestry, and Administration shall coordinate the development of strategic actions to be taken by state agencies to prioritize the use of native plant species. Such strategic actions shall (i) identify state properties appropriate to restore to natural communities and native species habitats, (ii) encourage all state agencies to prioritize native plants and trees when planting or propagating on state properties, and (iii) provide guidance to state agencies that manage state properties on restoration of properties degraded by invasive plants by planting more natural communities and native species habitats.

D. As used in this section, "invasive species" means a species, including its seeds, eggs, spores or other biological material capable of propagating that species, that is not native to the ecosystem and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health; however, "invasive species" does not include (i) any agricultural crop generally recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as suitable to be grown in the Commonwealth or (ii) any aquacultural organism recognized by the Marine Resources Commission or the Department of Wildlife Resources as suitable to be propagated in the Commonwealth.

2009, cc. 144, 619; 2020, c. 958; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 401; 2023, c. 193.

The Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, with assistance from the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, shall establish and maintain a database of the critical data attributes for onsite best management practices implemented in the Commonwealth that limit the amount of nutrients and sediment entering state waters. The database shall document voluntary actions taken by the agricultural and silvicultural sectors and should enable the application of the collected data towards projections of progress towards Virginia's water quality goals by sharing the data with the appropriate federal or state agencies. To the extent possible or appropriate, the database shall (i) be uniform in content and format to applications in the other states of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, (ii) maintain the confidentiality of information, and (iii) use existing methods of data collection including reports to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency, soil and water conservation districts, and localities for the purpose of land use valuation. Any information collected pursuant to this section shall be exempt from the Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.).

2010, c. 172; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 401.

The Secretary shall report participation by affected localities in the Community Rating System (CRS) of the National Flood Insurance Program (42 U.S.C. § 4001 et seq.) to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2018. The report shall list any affected locality that does not participate in the CRS, determine the costs and benefits to localities of participation in the CRS, and recommend any legislation necessary to encourage participation.

2017, c. 274.

A. The Governor shall designate a Chief Resilience Officer. The Chief Resilience Officer shall serve as the primary coordinator of resilience and adaptation initiatives in Virginia and as the primary point of contact regarding issues related to resilience, recurrent flooding, all flooding-related pre-disaster hazard mitigation, and adaptation. The Chief Resilience Officer shall be equally responsible for all urban, suburban, and rural areas of the Commonwealth.

B. The Chief Resilience Officer's duties, in consultation with the Special Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Adaptation and Protection, shall include but not be limited to the following:

1. Identify and monitor those areas of the Commonwealth that are at greatest risk from recurrent flooding and increased future flooding and recommend actions that both the private and public sectors should consider in order to increase the resilience of such areas.

2. Upon the request of any locality in the Commonwealth in which is located a substantial flood defense or catchment area, including a levee, reservoir, dam, catch basin, or wetland or lake improved or constructed for the purpose of flood control, review and comment on plans for the construction or substantial reinforcement of such flood defense or catchment area.

3. Serve as the primary point of contact on all issues relating to pre-disaster hazard mitigation and coordinate the planning of resilience initiatives across state government.

4. Create and oversee the implementation of a Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan and a Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan in accordance with § 10.1-602 to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from significant multi-hazard threats with minimum damage to social well-being, health, the economy, and the environment.

5. Initiate and assist with the pursuit of funding opportunities for resilience initiatives at both the state and local levels and help to oversee and coordinate funding initiatives of all agencies of the Commonwealth.

6. Coordinate the dissemination of the best available science, legal guidance, and planning strategies to the public.

7. Beginning July 1, 2023, and every two years thereafter, report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the status of flood resilience in the Commonwealth. The report shall serve as an evaluation of flood protection for critical infrastructure, including human and natural infrastructure. The report shall identify risks to critical transportation, energy, communication, water and food supply, waste management, health, and emergency services infrastructure. The report shall also include the status of flood resilience planning. In preparing the report, the Chief Resilience Officer shall also coordinate with the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and shall be assisted by all relevant Secretariats and agencies.

2022, c. 786.

Article 8. Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security.

A. The position of Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security (the Secretary) is created. The Secretary shall be responsible to the Governor for the following agencies: the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Forensic Science, Virginia Parole Board, Department of Emergency Management, Department of State Police, Department of Fire Programs, and Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council. The Governor may, by executive order, assign any other state executive agency to the Secretary, or reassign any agency listed above to another Secretary.

B. The Secretary shall by reason of professional background have knowledge of law enforcement, public safety, or emergency management and preparedness issues, in addition to familiarity with the structure and operations of the federal government and of the Commonwealth.

Unless the Governor expressly reserves such power to himself, the Secretary shall:

1. Work with and through others, including federal, state, and local officials as well as the private sector, to develop a seamless, coordinated security and preparedness strategy and implementation plan.

2. Serve as the point of contact with the federal Department of Homeland Security.

3. Provide oversight, coordination, and review of all disaster, emergency management, and terrorism management plans for the state and its agencies in coordination with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and other applicable state agencies.

4. Work with federal officials to obtain additional federal resources and coordinate policy development and information exchange.

5. Work with and through appropriate members of the Governor's Cabinet to coordinate working relationships between state agencies and take all actions necessary to ensure that available federal and state resources are directed toward safeguarding Virginia and its citizens.

6. Designate a Commonwealth Interoperability Coordinator to ensure that all communications-related preparedness federal grant requests from state agencies and localities are used to enhance interoperability. The Secretary shall ensure that the annual review and update of the statewide interoperability strategic plan is conducted as required in § 2.2-222.2. The Commonwealth Interoperability Coordinator shall establish an advisory group consisting of representatives of state and local government and constitutional offices, broadly distributed across the Commonwealth, who are actively engaged in activities and functions related to communications interoperability.

7. Serve as one of the Governor's representatives on regional efforts to develop a coordinated security and preparedness strategy, including the National Capital Region Senior Policy Group organized as part of the federal Urban Areas Security Initiative.

8. Serve as a direct liaison between the Governor and local governments and first responders on issues of emergency prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.

9. Educate the public on homeland security and overall preparedness issues in coordination with applicable state agencies.

10. Serve as chairman of the Secure and Resilient Commonwealth Panel.

11. Encourage homeland security volunteer efforts throughout the state.

12. Coordinate the development of an allocation formula for State Homeland Security Grant Program funds to localities and state agencies in compliance with federal grant guidance and constraints. The formula shall be, to the extent permissible under federal constraints, based on actual risk, threat, and need.

13. Work with the appropriate state agencies to ensure that regional working groups are meeting regularly and focusing on regional initiatives in training, equipment, and strategy to ensure ready access to response teams in times of emergency and facilitate testing and training exercises for emergencies and mass casualty preparedness.

14. Provide oversight and review of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management's annual statewide assessment of local and regional capabilities, including equipment, training, personnel, response times, and other factors.

15. Employ, as needed, consultants, attorneys, architects, engineers, accountants, financial experts, investment bankers, superintendents, managers, and such other employees and agents as may be necessary, and fix their compensation to be payable from funds made available for that purpose.

16. Receive and accept from any federal or private agency, foundation, corporation, association, or person grants, donations of money, real property, or personal property for the benefit of the Commonwealth, and receive and accept from the Commonwealth or any state, any municipality, county, or other political subdivision thereof, or any other source, aid or contributions of money, property, or other things of value, to be held, used, and applied for the purposes for which such grants and contributions may be made.

17. Receive and accept from any source aid, grants, and contributions of money, property, labor, or other things of value to be held, used, and applied to carry out these requirements subject to the conditions upon which the aid, grants, or contributions are made.

18. Make grants to local governments, state and federal agencies, and private entities with any funds of the Secretary available for such purpose.

19. Provide oversight and review of the law-enforcement operations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority.

20. Take any actions necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers granted or reasonably implied to this Secretary and not otherwise inconsistent with the law of the Commonwealth.

1976, c. 732, §§ 2.1-51.16, 2.1-51.18; 1978, cc. 455, 606, 607, 820; 1984, cc. 720, 779; 1985, cc. 447, 448; 1986, c. 60; 1988, cc. 67, 173, 888; 1989, c. 733; 1990, cc. 1, 317; 1992, c. 81; 1996, c. 503; 2001, c. 844; 2006, cc. 150, 326; 2011, cc. 780, 858; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2014, cc. 115, 490; 2015, cc. 38, 730; 2020, c. 88.

The Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security shall establish an integrated system for coordinating the planning and provision of offender transitional and reentry services among and between state, local, and nonprofit agencies in order to prepare inmates for successful transition into their communities upon release from incarceration and for improving opportunities for treatment, employment, and housing while on subsequent probation, parole, or post-release supervision.

It is the intent of the General Assembly that funds used for the purposes of this section be leveraged to the fullest extent possible and that direct transitional and reentry employment and housing assistance for offenders be provided in the most cost effective means possible, including through agreements with local nonprofit pre- and post-release service organizations.

2005, c. 153; 2014, cc. 115, 490.

The Secretary shall provide annual reports to the Governor and the General Assembly on juvenile offender demographics by offense, age, committing court, previous court contacts of offenders, and, beginning in July 1998, recidivism rates of juveniles committed to agencies within the Secretariat. The annual report shall also include summaries of any juvenile program evaluations completed in the previous year on programs operated by the Departments of Juvenile Justice, Corrections or Criminal Justice Services and whose evaluation was directed by the General Assembly or the Secretary.

1976, c. 732, § 2.1-51.17; 1984, c. 720; 1990, cc. 1, 317; 1996, c. 617; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Secretary shall ensure that, consistent with the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the Commonwealth implements a continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating, and taking corrective action pursuant to securing the Commonwealth at both the state and local level against man-made and natural disasters. To that end, the Secretary shall take action to assign responsibility among agencies, jurisdictions, and subdivisions of the Commonwealth to affect the highest state of readiness posed by both man-made and natural disasters. In doing so, the Secretary shall ensure that preparedness initiatives will be effectively and efficiently coordinated, implemented, and monitored.

B. The Secretary shall also oversee and monitor the development, maintenance, and implementation of a comprehensive and measurable homeland security strategy for the Commonwealth. To ensure a comprehensive strategy, the Secretary shall coordinate the homeland security strategy with the Secure and Resilient Commonwealth Panel, as established in § 2.2-222.3, and all state and local, public and private, councils that have a homeland security focus within the Commonwealth. The strategy shall ensure that the Commonwealth's homeland security programs are resourced, executed, and assessed according to well-defined and relevant Commonwealth homeland security requirements. In support of the strategy, the Secretary shall provide oversight of the designated State Administrative Agency (SAA) for homeland security to ensure that applications for grant funds by state agencies or local governments describe well-defined requirements for planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating, and taking corrective action measures essential to Commonwealth security.

C. The homeland security strategy shall (i) designate a state proponent for each goal identified in the strategy; (ii) identify which state agencies shall have responsibility for prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery requirements associated with each goal; (iii) prescribe metrics to those state agencies to quantify readiness for man-made and natural disasters; (iv) ensure that state agencies follow rigorous planning practices; and (v) conduct annual reviews and updates to ensure planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating, and taking corrective action is fully implemented at state and local levels of government.

D. The Secretary shall ensure that state agencies develop and maintain rigorously developed response plans in support of the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operations Plan (COVEOP). The Secretary shall designate the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) as the primary agent to ensure that state agencies are compliant with the COVEOP. The Secretary shall further require that VDEM ensure the development of state agency and local disaster response plans and procedures, and monitor the status and quality of those plans on a cyclical basis to establish that they are feasible and suitable and can be implemented with available resources.

E. The Secretary shall be responsible for the coordination and development of state and local shelter, evacuation, traffic, and refuge of last resort planning. The Secretary shall ensure that jurisdictions and subdivisions of the Commonwealth have adequate shelter, evacuation, traffic, and refuge of last resort plans to support emergency evacuation in the event of a man-made or natural disaster. To that end, the Secretary shall direct VDEM to monitor, review, and evaluate on a cyclical basis all shelter, evacuation, traffic, and refuge of last resort plans to ensure they are feasible and suitable and can be implemented with available resources.

F. The Secretary shall also ensure that plans for protecting public critical infrastructure are both developed and fully implemented by those state agencies, jurisdictions, and subdivisions of the Commonwealth with responsibility for critical infrastructure protection.

G. The Secretary is authorized, consistent with federal and state law and procurement regulations thereof, to contract for private and public sector services in homeland security and emergency management to enable, enhance, augment, or supplement state and local planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating, and corrective action capability as he deems necessary to meet Commonwealth security goals with such funds as may be made available to the Secretary or the Department of Emergency Management annually for such services.

2014, cc. 115, 490; 2019, c. 615.

The Secretary through the Commonwealth Interoperability Coordinator shall ensure that the annual review and update of the statewide interoperability strategic plan is accomplished and implemented to achieve effective and efficient communication between state, local, and federal communications systems.

All state agencies and localities shall achieve consistency with and support the goals of the statewide interoperability strategic plan by July 1, 2015, in order to remain eligible to receive state or federal funds for communications programs and systems.

2014, cc. 115, 490.

A. The Secure and Resilient Commonwealth Panel (the Panel) is established as an advisory board, within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government. The Panel shall consist of 38 members as follows: four members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates, one of whom shall be the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Safety and one of whom shall be a member of the Subcommittee on Public Safety of the House Committee on Appropriations; two nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; four members of the Senate of Virginia to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, one of whom shall be the Chairman of the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology and one of whom shall be a member of the Subcommittee on Public Safety of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations; two nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, the Secretaries of Administration, Commerce and Trade, Health and Human Resources, Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security, and Veterans and Defense Affairs, the State Coordinator of Emergency Management, the Superintendent of State Police, the Adjutant General of the Virginia National Guard, and the State Health Commissioner, or their designees; two local first responders; two local government representatives; two physicians with knowledge of public health; five members from the business or industry sector; and two nonlegislative citizen members from the Commonwealth at large. Except for appointments made by the Speaker of the House of Delegates and the Senate Committee on Rules, all appointments shall be made by the Governor. Additional ex officio members may be appointed to the Panel by the Governor. Legislative members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office or until their successors shall qualify. Nonlegislative citizen members shall serve for terms of four years. Ex officio members shall serve at the pleasure of the person or entity by whom they were appointed. The Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security shall be the chairman of the Panel.

B. The Panel shall have as its primary focus emergency management and homeland security within the Commonwealth to ensure that prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery programs, initiatives, and activities, both at the state and local levels, are fully integrated, suitable, and effective in addressing risks from man-made and natural disasters. The Panel shall where necessary review, evaluate, and make recommendations concerning implementation of such initiatives. The Panel shall also make such recommendations as it deems necessary to enhance or improve the resiliency of public and private critical infrastructure to mitigate against man-made and natural disasters.

C. The Panel shall carry out the provisions of Title 3, P.L. 99-499. The Panel shall convene at least biennially to discuss (i) changing and persistent risks to the Commonwealth from threats, hazards, vulnerabilities, and consequences and (ii) plans and resources to address those risks.

D. The Panel shall designate an Emergency Management Awareness Group (the Group) consisting of the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Public Safety and the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology to facilitate communication between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government. The Group shall convene at the call of the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security during a state of emergency to share critical information concerning such situation and the impact on the Commonwealth and its branches of government. The Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security shall (i) advise the Panel whenever the Group meets and (ii) facilitate communication between the Group and the Panel. The Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security shall assist, to the extent provided by law, in obtaining access to classified information for the Group when such information is necessary to enable the Group to perform its duties.

E. Members of the Panel shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties as provided in § 2.2-2825.

F. Staff support for the Panel and funding for the costs of expenses of the members shall be provided by the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security.

G. The Secretary shall facilitate cabinet-level coordination among the various agencies of state government related to emergency preparedness and shall facilitate private sector preparedness and communication.

2014, cc. 115, 490; 2016, cc. 200, 216; 2017, c. 512; 2018, c. 822; 2019, c. 615.

Repealed by Acts 2022, c. 786, cl. 2.

Repealed by Acts 2012, cc. 164 and 456, cl. 2.

The Secretary shall publish annually a list of those localities that have acquired any aircraft through forfeiture procedures. The list shall include a description of each aircraft so acquired. The Secretary shall develop a program to encourage the use of such aircraft for travel associated with law-enforcement purposes, including but not limited to, extradition of prisoners and arrestees within and without the Commonwealth.

1995, c. 464, § 2.1-51.17:01; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Secretary shall establish a public safety information exchange program with those states that share a border with Canada or Mexico and are willing to participate in the exchange. The purpose of the information exchange shall be to share criminal information and, when authorized by the proper authority, intelligence information to address threats posed within the Commonwealth by (i) the organization or operation of criminal enterprises by transnational gangs; (ii) the production, transportation, distribution, or use of illegal drugs, firearms, or explosives; (iii) the activities of international or domestic terror organizations, agents, or sponsors thereof; and (iv) the criminal repercussions that result from the presence in the Commonwealth of persons or organizations illegally present in the United States.

B. The public safety information exchange program shall be administered by the Secretary and other state and local agencies designated by the Secretary.

C. The Secretary shall seek the cooperation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or any such successor agencies, and any other federal intelligence organizations as necessary, in order to facilitate the sharing of state and federal information and intelligence among the states participating in the exchange program.

2011, c. 503.

Article 9. Secretary of Technology.

Repealed by Acts 2020, c. 738, cl. 2.

Repealed by Acts 2003, cc. 981 and 1021.

Article 10. Secretary of Transportation.

The position of Secretary of Transportation (the "Secretary") is created. The Secretary shall be responsible to the Governor for the following agencies: Department of Transportation, Department of Rail and Public Transportation, Department of Aviation, Department of Motor Vehicles, the Virginia Port Authority, and the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board. The Governor, by executive order, may assign any state executive agency to the Secretary, or reassign any agency listed in this section to another Secretary.

1990, cc. 1, 317, §§ 2.1-51.41, 2.1-51.43; 1992, c. 167; 1993, c. 757; 2001, c. 844.

A. There is hereby established the Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment of the Secretary of Transportation (the Office), consisting of a director, appointed by the Secretary of Transportation, and such additional transportation professionals as the Secretary of Transportation shall determine. It shall be the duty of the Office to support and advise the Secretary in his role as chairman of the Commonwealth Transportation Board.

B. The goals of the Office shall be:

1. To promote transparency and accountability of the programming of transportation funds, including the development of the Six-Year Improvement Program pursuant to § 33.2-214 and the statewide prioritization process pursuant to § 33.2-214.1;

2. To ensure that the Commonwealth has a multimodal transportation system that promotes economic development and all transportation modes, intermodal connectivity, environmental quality, accessibility for people and freight, and transportation safety;

3. To encourage the use of innovation and best practices to improve the efficiency of the Commonwealth's surface transportation network and to enhance the efficacy of strategies to improve such efficiency; and

4. To promote the coordination between transportation investments and land use planning.

C. The responsibilities of the Office shall be:

1. To oversee and coordinate with the Department of Transportation and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation the development of, for the Commonwealth Transportation Board's approval, the Six-Year Improvement Program pursuant to § 33.2-214 for the Commonwealth Transportation Board;

2. To implement the statewide prioritization process developed by the Commonwealth Transportation Board pursuant to § 33.2-214.1;

3. To develop, for the Commonwealth Transportation Board's approval, the Statewide Transportation Plan pursuant to § 33.2-353;

4. To develop measures and targets related to the performance of the Commonwealth's surface transportation network for the Commonwealth Transportation Board's approval, including any performance measurement required by Title 23 or 49 of the United States Code and any measures adopted by the Board pursuant to § 33.2-353;

5. To undertake, identify, coordinate, and oversee studies of potential highway, transit, rail, and other improvements or strategies, to help address needs identified in the Statewide Transportation Plan pursuant to § 33.2-353;

6. To assist the Commonwealth Transportation Board in the development of a comprehensive, multimodal transportation policy, which may be developed as part of the Statewide Transportation Plan pursuant to § 33.2-353;

7. To provide technical assistance to local governments and regional entities, including assistance to establish and promote urban development areas pursuant to § 15.2-2223.1;

8. To oversee and coordinate with the Department of Transportation and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation the development of, for the Commonwealth Transportation Board's approval, the annual budget and the six-year financial plan for the Commonwealth Transportation Fund; and

9. To oversee, subject to approval of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Bank established pursuant to § 33.2-1502 and the Toll Facilities Revolving Account established pursuant to § 33.2-1529.

D. In carrying out its responsibilities pursuant to subsection C, the Office shall coordinate with the Department of Transportation and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, as appropriate, and coordinate with the Department of Transportation on all road, bridge, and tunnel projects and with the Department of Rail and Public Transportation on all rail and transit projects.

2002, c. 361; 2006, c. 942; 2007, cc. 80, 219; 2009, cc. 670, 690; 2017, cc. 166, 273; 2018, c. 828.

Article 11. Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs.

The position of Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs (the Secretary) is created. The Secretary shall be responsible to the Governor for the following agencies: Department of Military Affairs, Department of Veterans Services, Veterans Services Foundation, and Virginia Military Advisory Council. The Governor may, by executive order, assign any other state executive agency to the Secretary, or reassign any agency listed above to another Secretary.

The Secretary shall by reason of professional background have knowledge of veterans affairs and military affairs, in addition to familiarity with the structure and operations of the federal government and of the Commonwealth.

2011, cc. 780, 858; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2014, cc. 115, 490; 2020, c. 88.

Unless the Governor expressly reserves such power to himself, the Secretary shall:

1. Serve as the Governor's liaison for veterans affairs and provide active outreach to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the veterans service organizations, and the veterans community in Virginia to support and assist Virginia's veterans in identifying and obtaining the services, assistance, and support to which they are entitled.

2. Work with federal officials to obtain additional federal resources and coordinate veterans policy development and information exchange.

3. Work with and through appropriate members of the Governor's Cabinet to coordinate working relationships between state agencies and take all actions necessary to ensure that available federal and state resources are directed toward assisting veterans and addressing all issues of mutual concern to the Commonwealth and the armed forces of the United States, including quality of life issues unique to Virginia's active duty military personnel and their families, the quality of educational opportunities for military children, the future of federal impact aid, preparedness, public safety and security concerns, transportation needs, alcoholic beverage law enforcement, substance abuse, social service needs, possible expansion and growth of military facilities in the Commonwealth, and intergovernmental support agreements with state and local governments under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. § 2336.

4. Educate the public on veterans and defense issues in coordination with applicable state agencies.

5. Serve as chairman of the Virginia Military Advisory Council to establish a working relationship with Virginia's active duty military bases.

6. Monitor and enhance efforts to provide assistance and support for veterans living in Virginia and members of the Virginia National Guard and Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves not in active federal service in the areas of (i) medical care, (ii) mental health and rehabilitative services, (iii) housing, (iv) homelessness prevention, (v) job creation, and (vi) education.

7. Seek additional federal resources to support veterans services.

8. Monitor efforts to provide services to veterans, those members of the Virginia National Guard, and Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves who qualify for veteran status, and their immediate family members, including the dissemination of relevant materials and the rendering of technical or other advice.

9. Serve as the Governor's liaison and provide active outreach to localities of the Commonwealth and veterans support organizations in the development, implementation, and review of local veterans services programs as part of the state program.

10. Serve as the Governor's defense liaison and provide active outreach to the U.S. Department of Defense and the defense establishment in Virginia to support the military installations and activities in the Commonwealth to continue to enhance Virginia's current military-friendly environment, and foster and promote business, technology, transportation, education, economic development, and other efforts in support of the mission, execution, and transformation of the United States government military and national defense activities located in the Commonwealth.

11. Promote the industrial and economic development of localities included in or adjacent to United States government military and other national defense activities and those of the Commonwealth because the success of such activities depends on cooperation between the localities, the Commonwealth, and the United States military and national defense activities.

12. Provide technical assistance and coordination between the Commonwealth, its political subdivisions, and the United States government military and national defense activities located within the Commonwealth.

13. Employ, as needed, consultants, attorneys, architects, engineers, accountants, financial experts, investment bankers, superintendents, managers, and such other employees and agents as may be necessary, and to fix their compensation to be payable from funds made available for that purpose.

14. Receive and accept from any federal or private agency, foundation, corporation, association, or person grants, donations of money, real property, or personal property for the benefit of the Commonwealth and receive and accept from the Commonwealth or any state, any municipality, county, or other political subdivision thereof, and from any other source, aid or contributions of money, property, or other things of value, to be held, used, and applied for the purposes for which such grants and contributions may be made.

15. Receive and accept from any source aid, grants, and contributions of money, property, labor, or other things of value to be held, used, and applied to carry out these requirements subject to the conditions upon which the aid, grants, or contributions are made.

16. Make grants to local governments, state and federal agencies, and private entities with any funds of the Secretary available for such purpose.

17. Take any actions necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers granted or reasonably implied to this Secretary and not otherwise inconsistent with the law of the Commonwealth.

18. Work with veterans services organizations and counterparts in other states to monitor and encourage the timely and accurate processing of veterans benefit requests by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including requests for services connected to health care, mental health care, and disability payments.

19. In conjunction with subdivision 6, coordinate with federal, state, local, and private partners to assist homeless veterans in obtaining a state-issued identification card, in order to enable these veterans to access the available federal, state, local, and other resources they need to attain financial stability or address other issues that have adversely affected their lives.

20. Develop a grant application, procedures, and guidelines for and oversee the implementation and administration of the Virginia Military Community Infrastructure Grant Program and Fund.

2011, cc. 780, 858; 2013, c. 151; 2014, cc. 115, 490; 2016, c. 689; 2022, cc. 345, 346.

Repealed by Acts 2014, c. 115, cl. 2, effective March 3, 2014, and c. 490, cl. 2, effective April 2, 2014.

A. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Virginia Military Community Infrastructure Grant Fund. The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of a biennium shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used, in the sole discretion of the Governor, to provide an annual grant award to eligible military communities in the Commonwealth and carry out the purposes of the Virginia Military Community Infrastructure Grant Program described in subsection B. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Secretary.

B. The Fund shall be used by the Governor to support military communities in the Commonwealth by awarding grants to aid the planning and design, construction, or completion of infrastructure projects that enhance military readiness, installation resiliency, or quality of life for military communities. Any such project shall be clearly defined, shall include a measurable outcome in support of the task force mission of protecting military installations in the Commonwealth, and shall typically be completed within two years of contracting.

C. The Secretary shall develop guidance and criteria to be used in awarding grants under the Program, and an annual grant application, which shall include, at a minimum, requirements for the grantee to:

1. Report expenditures each quarter;

2. Retain all invoices, bills, receipts, canceled checks, proof of payment, and similar documentation to substantiate expenditures of grant funding;

3. Provide a 50 percent cash match from nonstate funds; and

4. Return excess state grant funding within 30 days after the term of the grant expires.

D. Prior to the distribution of any funds, any grantee seeking funding pursuant to this section shall submit a grant application to the Secretary for consideration. The Commonwealth shall have the right to make inspections and copies of the books and records of a grantee at any time. A grantee shall undergo an audit for the grant period and provide a copy of the audit report to the Secretary.

E. As used in this section:

"Fund" means the Virginia Military Community Infrastructure Grant Fund created pursuant to this section.

"Infrastructure" means any project that will (i) preserve, protect, and enhance military installations; (ii) support the state's position in research and development related to or arising out of military missions and contracting; and (iii) improve the military-friendly environment for service members, military dependents, military retirees, and businesses that bring military-related and base-related jobs to the Commonwealth.

"Military community" means any locality that can demonstrate that more than five percent of the community's economy is derived from military funding.

"Program" means the Virginia Military Community Infrastructure Grant Program created pursuant to this section.

2022, cc. 345, 346.

Article 12. Virginia Environmental Justice Act.

For purposes of this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Community of color" means any geographically distinct area where the population of color, expressed as a percentage of the total population of such area, is higher than the population of color in the Commonwealth expressed as a percentage of the total population of the Commonwealth. However, if a community of color is composed primarily of one of the groups listed in the definition of "population of color," the percentage population of such group in the Commonwealth shall be used instead of the percentage population of color in the Commonwealth.

"Environment" means the natural, cultural, social, economic, and political assets or components of a community.

"Environmental justice" means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of every person, regardless of race, color, national origin, income, faith, or disability, regarding the development, implementation, or enforcement of any environmental law, regulation, or policy.

"Environmental justice community" means any low-income community or community of color.

"Fair treatment" means the equitable consideration of all people whereby no group of people bears a disproportionate share of any negative environmental consequence resulting from an industrial, governmental, or commercial operation, program, or policy.

"Fenceline community" means an area that contains all or part of a low-income community or community of color and that presents an increased health risk to its residents due to its proximity to a major source of pollution.

"Low income" means having an annual household income equal to or less than the greater of (i) an amount equal to 80 percent of the median income of the area in which the household is located, as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and (ii) 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

"Low-income community" means any census block group in which 30 percent or more of the population is composed of people with low income.

"Meaningful involvement" means the requirements that (i) affected and vulnerable community residents have access and opportunities to participate in the full cycle of the decision-making process about a proposed activity that will affect their environment or health and (ii) decision makers will seek out and consider such participation, allowing the views and perspectives of community residents to shape and influence the decision.

"Population of color" means a population of individuals who identify as belonging to one or more of the following groups: Black, African American, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, other non-white race, mixed race, Hispanic, Latino, or linguistically isolated.

"State agency" means any agency, authority, institution, board, bureau, commission, council, or instrumentality of state government in the executive branch of government.

2020, cc. 1212, 1257.

It is the policy of the Commonwealth to promote environmental justice and ensure that it is carried out throughout the Commonwealth, with a focus on environmental justice communities and fenceline communities.

2020, cc. 1212, 1257.

Chapter 3. Assistant to the Governor for Intergovernmental Affairs.

A. There is created in the Office of the Governor, the position of Assistant to the Governor for Intergovernmental Affairs (the Assistant to the Governor) to serve as the link between the Commonwealth and the United States Congress; the White House; federal departments, agencies bureaus, offices and entities; and other states and territories.

B. The Assistant to the Governor for Intergovernmental Affairs shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

1978, c. 515, § 2.1-564; 1979, c. 429; 1981, c. 315; 1982, c. 421; 2001, c. 844; 2011, cc. 827, 867; 2013, cc. 231, 401.

A. The Assistant to the Governor shall be responsible for tasks assigned by law or by the Governor.

B. The Assistant to the Governor may hire staff and accept offers of service from volunteers on a full-time or part-time basis.

C. The Assistant to the Governor may obtain, either in the City of Washington, D.C., or at some location within the Commonwealth within 25 miles of Washington, D.C., such office space as he deems necessary for carrying out the duties imposed on him by this chapter.

1978, c. 515, §§ 2.1-565, 2.1-566; 1981, c. 315; 2001, c. 844; 2011, cc. 827, 867; 2013, cc. 231, 401.

It shall be the responsibility of the Assistant to the Governor, generally, to serve as an institutional and organizational link between the government of the Commonwealth and those agencies, bureaus, departments, offices, and entities of the United States government located in the City of Washington, D.C., and its immediate environs. The responsibilities of the Assistant to the Governor shall include, but not necessarily be limited to:

1. Monitoring, tracking, and conducting in-depth analyses of federal legislation and regulations that have a direct impact on the Commonwealth and providing the Governor, the appropriate Cabinet Secretaries, and state agencies with up-to-date information on the status of such federal legislation and regulations, including the potential impact on the Commonwealth and coordination of state positions on such legislation and regulations;

2. Influencing the development and outcome of federal legislation by keeping the Virginia Congressional Delegation informed about the Governor's priorities and the impact that such legislation will have on the management, the budget, and the citizens of the Commonwealth;

3. Providing advice regarding written or oral testimony to be presented by the Governor or state agency heads before Congressional committees;

4. Alerting state agencies to early opportunities for federal grants and working with the Department of Planning and Budget to monitor and track the status of federal grant applications submitted by state agencies;

5. Joining in cooperative efforts with other states, through other offices of intergovernmental affairs, governors associations, and interstate groups with which the Commonwealth has an affiliation, on issues of mutual concern;

6. Serving as an information source about the Commonwealth upon the request of (i) another state's governor's office or Congressional member's staff, (ii) the White House, (iii) a federal agency, or (iv) the embassy of a foreign country;

7. Assisting state agency officials in (i) resolving administrative problems that may occur between the state agency and federal agencies and (ii) obtaining needed information from the federal government;

8. Arranging meetings between federal and state officials; and

9. Reporting twice yearly to the members of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, the House Committee on Appropriations, and the Governor on all federal mandates and regulations that may have an effect on the Commonwealth. These reports shall be presented by January 31 and July 31 of each year and shall contain the recorded votes of each member of the Virginia Congressional Delegation for all such legislation.

1978, c. 515, § 2.1-567; 1981, c. 315; 1994, c. 479; 1997, c. 67; 2001, c. 844; 2011, cc. 827, 867; 2013, cc. 231, 401.

It is the public policy of the Commonwealth to support federal efforts to encourage pooling of health insurance by small businesses, provided any such health insurance plans remain subject to state law.

2006, c. 910.

The Assistant to the Governor shall be charged with the coordination of his work with that of the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget. The Department of Planning and Budget shall provide the Assistant to the Governor with such support, beyond that provided for in §§ 2.2-301 and 2.2-302, as may prove necessary.

1978, c. 515, § 2.1-568; 1981, c. 315; 2001, c. 844; 2011, cc. 827, 867; 2013, cc. 231, 401.

Chapter 3.1. Office of Commonwealth Preparedness.

Repealed by Acts 2011, cc. 780 and 858, cl. 2, effective April 6, 2011.

Chapter 3.2. Office of the State Inspector General.

Article 1. General Provisions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Employee" means any person who is regularly employed full time on either a salaried or wage basis, whose tenure is not restricted as to temporary or provisional appointment, in the service of, and whose compensation is payable by, no more often than biweekly, in whole or in part, a state agency.

"Nonstate agency" means any public or private foundation, authority, institute, museum, corporation, or similar organization that is (i) not a unit of state government or a political subdivision of the Commonwealth as established by general law or special act and (ii) wholly or principally supported by state funds. "Nonstate agency" shall not include any such entity that receives state funds (a) as a subgrantee of a state agency, (b) through a state grant-in-aid program authorized by law, (c) as a result of an award of a competitive grant or a public contract for the procurement of goods, services, or construction, or (d) pursuant to a lease of real property as described in subdivision 5 of § 2.2-1149.

"Office" means the Office of the State Inspector General.

"Officer" means any person who is elected or appointed to a public office in a state agency.

"State agency" means any agency, institution, board, bureau, commission, council, or instrumentality of state government in the executive branch listed in the appropriation act. "State agency" also includes any local department of social services.

2011, cc. 798, 871; 2017, c. 590.

A. There is hereby created the Office of the State Inspector General, which shall be headed by a State Inspector General appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. The State Inspector General shall be appointed for a four-year term. The State Inspector General shall have at least five years of demonstrated experience or expertise in accounting, public administration, or audit investigations as a certified public accountant or a certified internal auditor. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for the unexpired term and shall be effective until 30 days after the next session of the ensuing General Assembly and, if confirmed, thereafter for the remainder of such term. The Governor may remove the State Inspector General from office for malfeasance, misfeasance, incompetence, misconduct, neglect of duty, absenteeism, conflict of interests, or failure to carry out the policies of the Commonwealth as established in the Constitution or by the General Assembly. The Governor shall set forth in a written public statement his reasons for removing the State Inspector General at the time the removal occurs.

B. The State Inspector General shall exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred or imposed upon him by law. The State Inspector General shall be responsible for the overall supervision of the Office.

C. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit or prevent the General Assembly from reviewing the operations of any state agency or directing such review or audit by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission or the Auditor of Public Accounts or to otherwise limit the statutory responsibilities of either the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission or the Auditor of Public Accounts.

2011, cc. 798, 871.

A. The State Inspector General shall have power and duty to:

1. Operate and manage the Office and employ such personnel as may be required to carry out the provisions of this chapter;

2. Make and enter contracts and agreements as may be necessary and incidental to carry out the provisions of this chapter and apply for and accept grants from the United States government and agencies and instrumentalities thereof, and any other source, in furtherance of the provisions of this chapter;

3. Receive complaints from whatever source that allege fraud, waste, including task or program duplication, abuse, or corruption by a state agency or nonstate agency or by any officer or employee of the foregoing and determine whether the complaints give reasonable cause to investigate;

4. Receive complaints under § 2.2-2832 from persons alleging retaliation by an officer or employee of a state agency for providing testimony before a committee or subcommittee of the General Assembly and determine whether the complaints give reasonable cause to investigate;

5. Investigate the management and operations of state agencies, nonstate agencies, and independent contractors of state agencies to determine whether acts of fraud, waste, abuse, or corruption have been committed or are being committed by state officers or employees or independent contractors of a state agency or any officers or employees of a nonstate agency, including any allegations of criminal acts affecting the operations of state agencies or nonstate agencies. However, no investigation of an elected official of the Commonwealth to determine whether a criminal violation has occurred, is occurring, or is about to occur under the provisions of § 52-8.1 shall be initiated, undertaken, or continued except upon the request of the Governor, the Attorney General, or a grand jury;

6. Prepare a detailed report of each investigation stating whether fraud, waste, abuse, or corruption has been detected. If fraud, waste, abuse, or corruption is detected, the report shall (i) identify the person committing the wrongful act or omission, (ii) describe the wrongful act or omission, and (iii) describe any corrective measures taken by the state agency or nonstate agency in which the wrongful act or omission was committed to prevent recurrences of similar actions;

7. Provide timely notification to the appropriate attorney for the Commonwealth and law-enforcement agencies whenever the State Inspector General has reasonable grounds to believe there has been a violation of state criminal law;

8. Administer the Fraud and Abuse Whistle Blower Reward Fund created pursuant to § 2.2-3014;

9. Oversee the Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline;

10. Conduct performance reviews of state agencies to assess the efficiency, effectiveness, or economy of programs and to ascertain, among other things, that sums appropriated have been or are being expended for the purposes for which the appropriation was made and prepare a report for each performance review detailing any findings or recommendations for improving the efficiency, effectiveness, or economy of state agencies, including recommending changes in the law to the Governor and the General Assembly that are necessary to address such findings;

11. Coordinate and require standards for those internal audit programs in existence as of July 1, 2012, and for other internal audit programs in state agencies and nonstate agencies as needed in order to ensure that the Commonwealth's assets are subject to appropriate internal management controls;

12. As deemed necessary, assess the condition of the accounting, financial, and administrative controls of state agencies and nonstate agencies and make recommendations to protect the Commonwealth's assets;

13. Assist agency internal auditing programs with technical auditing issues and coordinate and provide training to the Commonwealth's internal auditors;

14. Assist citizens in understanding their rights and the processes available to them to express concerns regarding the activities of a state agency or nonstate agency or any officer or employee of the foregoing;

15. Maintain data on inquiries received, the types of assistance requested, any actions taken, and the disposition of each such matter;

16. Upon request, assist citizens in using the procedures and processes available to express concerns regarding the activities of a state or nonstate agency or any officer or employee of the foregoing;

17. Ensure that citizens have access to the services provided by the State Inspector General and that citizens receive timely responses to their inquiries from the State Inspector General or his representatives; and

18. Do all acts necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

B. If the State Inspector General receives a complaint from whatever source that alleges fraud, waste, abuse, or corruption by a public institution of higher education that is (i) a covered institution as defined by the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act (§ 23.1-1000 et seq.) and (ii) classified as a Level 3 institution by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, or any of its officers or employees, the State Inspector General shall, but for reasonable and articulable causes, refer the complaint to the internal audit department of the public institution of higher education for investigation. However, if the complaint concerns the president of the institution or its internal audit department, or if the State Inspector General otherwise concludes that his office should investigate the complaint to ensure a comprehensive and fully independent investigation, the investigation shall be conducted by the State Inspector General. The State Inspector General may provide assistance for investigations as may be requested by the public institution of higher education.

The public institution of higher education shall provide periodic updates on the status of investigations, whether they originated internally or were referred by the State Inspector General, and report annually to the State Inspector General on the results of all such investigations.

C. The State Inspector General shall establish procedures governing the intake and investigation of complaints alleging allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, or corruption by a state agency or nonstate agency or by any officer or employee of a state agency or nonstate agency. Such procedures shall:

1. Provide that the State Inspector General, or his designee, shall review each decision to dismiss an allegation reported to the State Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Hotline at the initial intake stage without further investigation.

2. Require that (i) investigators of the Office of the State Inspector General directly investigate allegations of serious administrative violations and (ii) other agency internal audit divisions may investigate allegations meeting certain criteria specified by the State Inspector General, only if the internal audit division has demonstrated the ability to conduct investigations in an independent, effective, and timely manner. Criteria may include allegations below a specified dollar threshold.

3. Require oversight by the Office of the State Inspector General of all investigations referred to other agencies to ensure quality, timeliness, and independence.

4. Develop a process for the regular review of the status of recommendations made by the Office of the State Inspector General as a result of an investigation conducted pursuant to this chapter.

2011, cc. 798, 871; 2013, cc. 717, 723; 2014, c. 788; 2016, c. 628; 2020, c. 354.

A. The definitions found in § 37.2-100 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the terms used in this section.

B. In addition to the duties set forth in this chapter, the State Inspector General shall have the following powers and duties to:

1. Provide inspections of and make policy and operational recommendations for state facilities and for providers, including licensed mental health treatment units in state correctional facilities, in order to prevent problems, abuses, and deficiencies in and improve the effectiveness of their programs and services. The State Inspector General shall provide oversight and conduct announced and unannounced inspections of state facilities and of providers, including licensed mental health treatment units in state correctional facilities, on an ongoing basis in response to specific complaints of abuse, neglect, or inadequate care and as a result of monitoring serious incident reports and reports of abuse, neglect, or inadequate care or other information received. The State Inspector General shall conduct unannounced inspections at each state facility at least once annually;

2. Inspect, monitor, and review the quality of services provided in state facilities and by providers as defined in § 37.2-403, including licensed mental health treatment units in state correctional facilities;

3. Access any and all information, including confidential consumer information, related to the delivery of services to consumers in state facilities or served by providers, including licensed mental health treatment units in state correctional facilities. However, the State Inspector General shall not be given access to any proceedings, minutes, records, or reports of providers that are privileged under § 8.01-581.17, except that the State Inspector General shall be given access to any privileged information in state facilities and licensed mental health treatment units in state correctional facilities. All consumer information shall be maintained by the State Inspector General as confidential in the same manner as is required by the agency or provider from which the information was obtained;

4. Keep the General Assembly and the Joint Commission on Health Care fully and currently informed by means of reports required by § 2.2-313 concerning significant problems, abuses, and deficiencies relating to the administration of the programs and services of state facilities and of providers, including licensed mental health treatment units in state correctional facilities, to recommend corrective actions concerning the problems, abuses, and deficiencies, and report on the progress made in implementing the corrective actions;

5. Provide oversight of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and community-based providers to identify system-level issues and conditions affecting quality of care and safety and provide recommendations to alleviate such issues and conditions;

6. Implement a program to promote awareness of the complaints line operated by the Office of the State Inspector General among residents of facilities operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and persons receiving services from community-based providers regulated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services;

7. Review, comment on, and make recommendations about, as appropriate, any reports prepared by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the critical incident data collected by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services in accordance with regulations adopted under § 37.2-400 to identify issues related to quality of care, seclusion and restraint, medication usage, abuse and neglect, staff recruitment and training, and other systemic issues;

8. As deemed necessary, monitor, review, and comment on regulations adopted by the Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; and

9. Receive reports, information, and complaints from the Commonwealth's designated protection and advocacy system concerning issues related to quality of care provided in state facilities and by providers, including licensed mental health treatment units in state correctional facilities, and conduct independent reviews and investigations.

2013, cc. 571, 717, 723; 2014, c. 788; 2020, c. 354.

The State Inspector General shall (i) review the condition of the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission's accounting, financial, and administrative controls to ensure that the purposes set forth in Chapter 31 (§ 3.2-3100 et seq.) of Title 3.2 are lawfully achieved; (ii) investigate to resolve allegations of fraudulent, illegal, or inappropriate activities concerning (a) disbursements from the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Endowment created pursuant to § 3.2-3104 and (b) distributions from the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Fund created pursuant to § 3.2-3106; and (iii) detect fraud, waste, and abuse and take actions to prevent the same.

2013, cc. 717, 723.

A. The definitions found in § 53.1-1 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the terms used in this section.

B. In addition to the duties set forth in this chapter, the State Inspector General shall review, comment on, and make recommendations about, as appropriate, any reports prepared by the Department of Corrections and any critical incident data collected by the Department of Corrections in accordance with regulations adopted to identify issues related to quality of care, seclusion and restraint, medication usage, abuse and neglect, staff recruitment and training, and other systemic issues.

C. Nothing in this section shall be construed to grant the Office any authority over the operation and security of local jails that is not specified in other provisions of law.

2013, cc. 717, 723; 2014, c. 788.

A. The definitions found in § 66-12 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the terms used in this section.

B. In addition to the duties set forth in this chapter, the State Inspector General shall review, comment on, and make recommendations about, as appropriate, any reports prepared by the Department of Juvenile Justice and any critical incident data collected by the Department of Juvenile Justice in accordance with regulations adopted to identify issues related to quality of care, seclusion and restraint, medication usage, abuse and neglect, staff recruitment and training, and other systemic issues.

C. Nothing in this section shall be construed to grant the Office any authority over the operation and security of detention homes that is not specified in other provisions of law.

2013, cc. 717, 723; 2014, c. 788.

A. Each state agency and every officer and employee shall (i) promptly report any allegations of criminal acts or acts of fraud, waste, abuse, or corruption and (ii) cooperate with, and provide assistance to, the State Inspector General in the performance of any investigation. This reporting requirement shall be deemed satisfied for officers or employees of an agency once the agency head reports to the State Inspector General any allegations of criminal acts, fraud, waste, abuse, or corruption within the agency. Each state agency shall make its premises, equipment, personnel, books, records, and papers readily available to the State Inspector General upon request.

B. When a state agency head or officer discovers any unauthorized, illegal, irregular, or unsafe handling or expenditure of state funds, or if it comes to his attention that any unauthorized, illegal, or unsafe handling or expenditure of state funds is contemplated but not consummated, he shall promptly report the same to the State Inspector General.

C. The State Inspector General may enter upon the premises of any state agency at any time, without prior announcement, if necessary to the successful completion of an investigation. In the course of an investigation, the State Inspector General may question any officer or employee serving in, and any person transacting business with, the state agency and may inspect and copy any books, records, or papers in the possession of the state agency. The State Inspector General shall preserve the confidentiality of any information obtained from a state agency during the course of an investigation in accordance with applicable state and federal law.

2011, cc. 798, 871; 2013, cc. 717, 723.

Neither the Governor nor his chief of staff, counsel, director of policy, or Cabinet Secretaries shall interfere with or exert undue influence upon any investigation by the Office of the State Inspector General of fraud, waste, abuse, or corruption by a state agency or nonstate agency or by any officer or employee of a state agency or nonstate agency.

2022, c. 600.

A. The State Inspector General may designate himself and no more than 30 members of the investigations unit of the Office to have the same powers as a sheriff or a law-enforcement officer in the investigation of allegations of criminal behavior affecting the operations of a state agency or nonstate agency pursuant to his duties as set forth in this chapter. Such employees shall be subject to any minimum training standards established by the Department of Criminal Justice Services under § 9.1-102 for law-enforcement officers prior to exercising any law-enforcement power under this subsection.

The State Inspector General and the Superintendent of the Virginia State Police shall enter into a Memorandum of Understanding setting forth the respective roles and responsibilities of their agencies, including but not limited to the categories of investigations that will be overseen by each agency and how to avoid redundancy or operation conflicts. The Memorandum of Understanding will be approved by the Governor's chief of staff and will be reviewed periodically at the request of either agency, but not less than every four years, and revised as agreed to by the agencies and endorsed by the Governor's chief of staff.

B. The State Inspector General or investigators as may be designated by him also shall have the authority to issue summonses for violations of the statutes that the State Inspector General is required to enforce. In the event a person issued such a summons fails or refuses to discontinue the unlawful acts or refuses to give a written promise to appear at the time and place specified in the summons, the investigator may appear before a magistrate or other issuing authority having jurisdiction to obtain a criminal warrant pursuant to § 19.2-72.

C. All investigators appointed by the State Inspector General are vested with the authority to administer oaths or affirmations for the purpose of receiving complaints and conducting investigations of violations of the statutes and regulations that the State Inspector General is required to enforce. Such investigators are vested with the authority to obtain, serve, and execute any warrant, paper, or process issued by any court or magistrate or under the authority of the State Inspector General, and request and receive criminal history information under the provisions of § 19.2-389.

2011, cc. 798, 871; 2013, cc. 717, 723.

A. The State Inspector General or a designated subordinate may issue a subpoena for the appearance of an individual before any hearing conducted by the Office. The subpoena shall be served by the State Inspector General or a designated subordinate and enforced by the court of that jurisdiction.

B. The State Inspector General may make an ex parte application to the circuit court for the county or city wherein evidence sought is kept for the issuance of a subpoena duces tecum in furtherance of an investigation or to request production of any relevant records, documents, and physical or other evidence of any person, partnership, association, or corporation located in the Commonwealth. The court may issue and compel compliance with such a subpoena upon a showing of reasonable cause. Upon determining that reasonable cause exists to believe that evidence may be destroyed or altered, the court may issue a subpoena duces tecum requiring the immediate production of evidence.

2011, cc. 798, 871.

A. The State Inspector General shall prepare an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly summarizing the activities of the Office. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to: (i) a description of any significant problems, abuses, and deficiencies related to the management or operation of state agencies or nonstate agencies during the reporting period; (ii) a description of the recommendations for any corrective actions made by the Office during the reporting period with respect to significant problems, abuses, or deficiencies identified; (iii) a summary of matters referred to the attorneys for the Commonwealth and law-enforcement agencies and actions taken on them during the reporting period; (iv) information concerning the numbers of complaints received and types of investigations completed by the Office during the reporting period; (v) the development and maintenance of internal audit programs in state agencies and nonstate agencies; and (vi) the results of any state agency performance reviews, including a summary of any findings or recommendations for improving the efficiency of state agencies. The annual report shall cover the period July 1 until June 30 of the immediately preceding fiscal year. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, annual reports shall be transmitted directly to the Governor and the General Assembly.

B. The State Inspector General shall notify the Governor's chief of staff, the Speaker, Majority Leader, and Minority Leader of the House of Delegates, and the President pro tempore, Majority Leader, and Minority Leader of the Senate of problems, abuses, or deficiencies relating to the management or operation of a state agency or nonstate agency.

C. The State Inspector General shall keep the appropriate Secretaries advised of the Office's activities as they relate to each respective Secretary on at least a quarterly basis, and of any significant problems, abuses, or deficiencies relating to the management or operation of a state agency within each such Secretary's area of responsibility. However, when the State Inspector General becomes aware of significant problems, abuses, or deficiencies relating to the management or operation of a Secretary's office, the State Inspector General shall report the same immediately to the Governor's chief of staff.

D. The State Inspector General may conduct such additional investigations and make such reports relating to the management and operation of state agencies as are, in the judgment of the State Inspector General, necessary or desirable.

E. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the reports, information, or documents required by or under this section shall be transmitted directly to the Governor's chief of staff and the General Assembly by the State Inspector General.

F. Records that are confidential under federal or state law shall be maintained as confidential by the State Inspector General and shall not be further disclosed, except as required by law.

2011, cc. 798, 871; 2013, cc. 717, 723.

Article 2. Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

Repealed by Acts 2013, cc. 717 and 723, cl. 2.

Article 3. Corrections.

Repealed by Acts 2013, cc. 717 and 723, cl. 2.

Article 4. Juvenile Justice.

Repealed by Acts 2013, cc. 717 and 723, cl. 2.

Article 5. Transportation.

Repealed by Acts 2013, cc. 717 and 723, cl. 2.

Article 6. Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization.

Repealed by Acts 2013, cc. 717 and 723, cl. 2.

Chapter 4. Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Article 1. General Provisions.

A. The Governor shall appoint, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, a Secretary of the Commonwealth for a term commencing on the Monday after the third Wednesday in January after his inauguration. The appointment shall be for a term of four years. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for the unexpired term and shall be effective until thirty days after the next meeting of the ensuing General Assembly and, if confirmed, thereafter for the remainder of the term.

B. The Secretary of the Commonwealth, before he acts as such, shall, in addition to the other oaths prescribed by law, take an oath to keep secret such matters as he may be required by the Governor to conceal.

Code 1950, § 2-59; 1958, c. 1, § 2-57.1; 1966, c. 677, §§ 2.1-65, 2.1-67; 2001, c. 844.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth, who shall be ex officio Secretary to the Governor, shall be in direct charge of the division of records.

Code 1950, § 2-58; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-66; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall:

1. Serve as the Governor's liaison to the Virginia Indian tribes; and

2. Report annually on the status of Indian tribes in Virginia.

B. The Secretary of the Commonwealth may establish a Virginia Indian advisory board to assist the Secretary in reviewing applications seeking recognition as a Virginia Indian tribe and to make recommendations to the Secretary, the Governor, and the General Assembly on such applications and other matters relating to recognition as follows:

1. The members of any such board shall be composed of no more than seven members to be appointed by the Secretary as follows: at least three of the members shall be members of Virginia recognized tribes to represent the Virginia Indian community, and one nonlegislative citizen member shall represent the Commonwealth's scholarly community. The Librarian of Virginia, the Director of the Department of Historic Resources, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, or their designees, shall serve ex officio with voting privileges. Nonlegislative citizen members of any such board shall be citizens of the Commonwealth. Ex officio members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for a term of two years. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be for the unexpired terms. All members may be reappointed. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall appoint a chairperson from among the members for a two-year term. Members shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825.

2. Any such board shall have the following powers and duties:

a. Establish guidance for documentation required to meet the criteria for full recognition of the Virginia Indian tribes that is consistent with the principles and requirements of federal tribal recognition;

b. Establish a process for accepting and reviewing all applications for full tribal recognition;

c. Appoint and establish a workgroup on tribal recognition composed of nonlegislative citizens at large who have knowledge of Virginia Indian history and current status. Such workgroup (i) may be activated in any year in which an application for full tribal recognition has been submitted and in other years as deemed appropriate by any such board and (ii) shall include at a minimum a genealogist and at least two scholars with recognized familiarity with Virginia Indian tribes. No member of the workgroup shall be associated in any way with the applicant. Members of the workgroup shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825;

d. Solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, grants, donations, bequests, or other funds or real or personal property for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the board;

e. Make recommendations to the Secretary for full tribal recognition based on the findings of the workgroup and the board; and

f. Perform such other duties, functions, and activities as may be necessary to facilitate and implement the objectives of this subsection.

C. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Virginia Indigenous People's Trust Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose, any tax revenue accruing to the Fund pursuant to § 58.1-4125, and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. After payment of the costs of administration of the Fund, moneys in the Fund shall be used to make disbursements on a quarterly basis in equal amounts to each of the six Virginia Indian tribes federally recognized under P.L. 115-121 of 2018. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

2014, c. 582; 2016, c. 746; 2020, cc. 1197, 1248.

Whenever in the Code of Virginia the Secretary is required to send any mail or notice by certified mail and such mail or notice is sent certified mail, return receipt requested, then any subsequent, identical mail or notice that is sent by the Secretary may be sent by regular mail.

2011, c. 566.

A. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall (i) be keeper of the seals of the Commonwealth; (ii) keep a record of all executive acts, arrange and preserve all records and papers belonging to the executive branch of state government; (iii) be charged with the clerical duties of that department; and (iv) render to the Governor, in the dispatch of executive business, such services as he requires. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall record or register all papers or documents required by law to be registered or recorded in his office, and, when required, furnish a copy of any record in his office under the seal of the Commonwealth.

B. The Secretary of the Commonwealth may authenticate records of any court of the Commonwealth and of any department of the government. He shall keep a register of all city, incorporated town, county, and district officers, and, when required, give a certificate of the election and qualification of any such officer.

C. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall make an annual report to the Governor, identifying the following: (i) the governing boards of all public institutions of higher education, and other boards appointed by the Governor; (ii) all commissions issued under appointments made by the Governor, except commissions to notaries public; (iii) all departments, boards, councils, commissions, and other collegial bodies created in the executive branch of state government; and (iv) such other matters as the Governor requires.

The annual report shall also include:

1. An organizational chart of state government that (i) identifies each agency, department, and institution of state government and (ii) contains a brief description of the duties of each agency, department, and institution. The Secretary of the Commonwealth may include such other information in the organizational chart as the Secretary deems appropriate. Annually, the Secretary shall make such revisions to the organizational chart as are necessary to ensure its accuracy. The organizational chart shall be posted on the Commonwealth's website; and

2. Information and photographs of the members of the General Assembly; these materials shall be maintained for the Secretary's use in the annual report by the Clerks of the House of Delegates and the Senate.

The reports shall be transmitted by the Governor to the General Assembly, printed as other annual reports are printed, bound in a separate volume, and disposed of according to law.

D. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall collect all fees described in § 2.2-409, and all other fees of office and commissions, accruing and pay them into the state treasury.

E. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall, as soon as practicable, forward a copy of any absolute pardon granted by the Governor to a person for the commission of a crime that such person did not commit to the circuit court for the county or city in which such person was convicted of the crime for which the Governor granted the absolute pardon.

Code 1950, §§ 2-60, 14-13; 1956, c. 217; 1964, c. 386, § 14.1-14; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-68; 1998, c. 872; 1999, c. 51; 2001, c. 844; 2012, c. 271; 2019, c. 181.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall conserve a copy of each of the compacts to which the Commonwealth is now or has been a party, commencing with the compact entered into with the state of North Carolina that is referenced in chapter XXIX of the October Session of the 1778 Acts of the General Assembly. The record shall contain the dates on which the compacts were confirmed by the Commonwealth.

In accordance with § 30-154.1, beginning July 1, 2001, the Virginia Code Commission shall annually forward to the Secretary of the Commonwealth any newly enacted, amended or repealed compact as it was adopted by the Commonwealth.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall also maintain all records relating to the appointment of persons in accordance with compacts confirmed by the Commonwealth.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall report to the Governor and the Virginia Commission on Interstate Cooperation within fifteen days after the convening of each legislative session, and at such other times as deemed appropriate, on appointments and vacancies to the interstate boards, commissions and committees established for the purposes of such compacts.

1976, c. 198, § 2.1-68.1; 2001, cc. 100, 844.

Whenever any record of any court in the Commonwealth or of any department of the government is to be used in another state in the United States, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall authenticate the same in the manner and give the certificates required by the laws of the state when such record is to be used, as far as practicable.

Code 1950, § 2-61; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-69; 2001, c. 844.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall prepare by the fifteenth of January in each year a list of all vacancies that are scheduled to arise during that year on all boards, commissions, councils or other collegial bodies appointed by the Governor. The list shall be presented to the Governor and the General Assembly as soon as practicable following its preparation, and the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall make copies of the list available to the public at cost.

1979, c. 141, § 2.1-42.2; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall periodically, during the interim between sessions of the General Assembly, present to the chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Privileges and Elections a list of the names of all persons appointed by the Governor that require confirmation by the General Assembly. A list shall be presented by June 1, August 1, October 1, and December 1, and shall include the names of all persons so appointed since adjournment or since the last required report, the position to which appointed, and the person whom the appointee will succeed.

B. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall report to the General Assembly by December 1 of each year, the number of persons appointed to any state board, commission, agency or authority, categorized by race, gender and national origin. Information on the race, gender and national origin of appointees shall be obtained through voluntary self-identification following appointment. Such information shall be used solely for the purpose of compiling the statistical information required under this section and any personally identifiable information collected under this section shall be confidential and shall be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.).

1994, c. 846, § 2.1-42.3; 1995, c. 579; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall maintain an electronic database of collegial bodies to which the Governor makes appointments. The database shall be organized by collegial body and include the following information:

1. Authority for each appointment;

2. Term length and term expiration dates for each appointee;

3. Eligibility requirements or other restrictions affecting the next appointment;

4. Name, address, and telephone number of each appointee;

5. Identity of the chairman and vice-chairman and the method of their election; and

6. Name of the affiliated agency or entity that provides staff support and the name and telephone number of the contact person within such agency or entity.

B. Agencies and entities of the Commonwealth that provide staff support to a collegial body shall notify the Secretary of the Commonwealth of an appointee's death or resignation and any changes to the contact information for an appointee or staff or a appointee's eligibility status.

C. The electronic database or copy thereof shall be transferred to each Governor-elect upon request.

2003, cc. 532, 556.

Reserved.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall be responsible for the collection from the governmental subdivisions of the Commonwealth of information relevant to their boundary changes and the dissemination of such information to the appropriate departments of state government.

1978, c. 641, § 2.1-71.1; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall charge the following fees for services rendered in his office to be paid by the person for whom the service is rendered at the time it is done:

And for filing in his office any paper required by law to be filed, the same fee as is allowed by law for recording similar papers.

B. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall charge a technology fee of $10 in addition to the fees set out in subsection A for commissioning of a notary public or electronic notary public, which funds shall be deposited into the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Technology Trust Fund established by the comptroller and used only to obtain and update office automation and information technology equipment including software and conversion services; to preserve, maintain, and enhance records, including but not limited to the costs of repairs, maintenance, service contracts, and system upgrades; and to improve public access to records. There shall be no transfers out of the fund, including transfers to the general fund.

Code 1950, § 14-114; 1964, c. 386, § 14.1-103; 1966, c. 272; 1976, c. 559; 1979, c. 14; 1984, c. 362; 1987, cc. 449, 459; 1998, cc. 259, 872, § 2.1-71.2; 2001, c. 844; 2007, cc. 269, 362, 590.

A. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall appoint in his office the assistants allowed by law.

B. During the absence of the Secretary of the Commonwealth from his office his duties shall be performed by the Deputy Secretary, but when such absence is for more than five days at a time, notice thereof shall be given to the Governor.

Code 1950, §§ 2-63, 2-64; 1966, c. 677, §§ 2.1-72, 2.1-73; 2001, c. 844.

Article 2. Registration of Names or Insignia of Certain Organizations.

Any association, lodge, order, fraternal society, beneficial association, or fraternal and beneficial society or association, historical, military, or veterans' organization, labor union, foundation, federation, or any other society, organization or association, degree, branch, subordinate lodge, or auxiliary thereof, whether incorporated or unincorporated, the principles and activities of which are not repugnant to the Constitution and laws of the United States or the Commonwealth, may register, in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, a facsimile, duplicate, or description of its name, badge, motto, button, declaration, charm, emblem, rosette or other insignia, and may, by reregistration, alter or cancel the name.

Code 1950, § 38-308; 1952, c. 225, § 2-64.1; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-74; 2001, c. 844.

Application for registration, alteration, or cancellation under this article shall be made by the chief officer of the association, lodge, order, fraternal society, beneficial association, or fraternal and beneficial society or association, historical, military, or veterans' organization, labor union, foundation, federation, or other society, organization, or association, degree, branch, subordinate lodge, or auxiliary thereof, upon blanks to be provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Code 1950, § 38-309; 1952, c. 225, § 2-64.2; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-75; 2001, c. 844.

Registration shall be for the use, benefit, and on behalf of all associations, degrees, branches, subordinate lodges, and auxiliaries of such associations, lodge, order, fraternal society, beneficial association, or fraternal and beneficial society or association, historical, military, or veterans' organization, labor union, foundation, federation, or other society, organization, or association, degree, branch, subordinate lodge, or auxiliary thereof, and the individual members of such organizations, throughout the Commonwealth.

Code 1950, § 38-310; 1952, c. 225, § 2-64.3; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-76; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall keep a properly indexed record of the registration provided for by § 2.2-411, which record shall also show any altered or canceled registration.

B. Upon granting registration provided in § 2.2-411, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall issue his certificate to the petitioners, setting forth the fact of such registration.

C. The fees of the Secretary of the Commonwealth for registration, alteration, cancellation, searches, and certificates issued pursuant to this article shall be the same as provided by law for similar services.

Code 1950, § 38-311; 1952, c. 225, § 2-64.4; 1966, c. 677, §§ 2.1-77, 2.1-79, 2.1-81; 2001, c. 844.

No registration shall be granted or alteration permitted to any association, lodge, order, fraternal society, beneficial association, or fraternal and beneficial society or association, historical, military, or veterans' organization, labor union, foundation, federation, or other society, organization, or association, degree, branch, subordinate lodge, or auxiliary thereof, having a name, badge, motto, button, decoration, charm, emblem, rosette, or other insignia, similar to, imitating, or so nearly resembling as to be calculated to deceive, any other name, badge, button, decoration, charm, emblem, rosette, or other insignia whatsoever, already registered pursuant to the provisions of § 2.2-411.

Code 1950, § 38-312; 1952, c. 225, § 2-64.5; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-78; 2001, c. 844.

Any state department, division, board, commission, agency or facility owned and operated by the Commonwealth, which develops or creates, or commissions the development or creation of a motto or slogan for its use pursuant to or in furtherance of the programs or business of the department, division, agency or facility, shall without delay register the motto or slogan with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, who shall maintain a record of such registration to be open to public inspection during normal office hours.

However, public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth and units of the Virginia National Guard shall be exempt from the requirements of this section.

1972, c. 403, § 2.1-81.1; 2001, c. 844.

A. Upon registration of a motto or slogan as provided in § 2.2-416, no individual, partnership, association or corporation shall employ such motto or slogan or a recognizable variation thereof on any article offered for sale to the public at a price above the actual cost of production of the article without the express consent of the registrant, which, if it approved of such use, may require payment of a reasonable fee or royalty for the use of its motto or slogan and, in addition, may impose restrictions upon such use.

B. No individual, partnership, association or corporation shall otherwise publicly use a recognizable variation of a registered motto or slogan for any purpose without the express consent of the registrant. Such consent may in any event be revoked by the registrant upon thirty days' written notice to the licensee. All fees or royalties collected pursuant to this section shall be paid into the general fund of the state treasury.

Public use of a registered motto or slogan or a recognizable variation of a registered motto or slogan for any purpose without the express consent of the registrant or the continued use of a registered motto or slogan or recognizable variation thereof following withdrawal of consent to such use by the registrant shall be punishable by a fine of no more than $1,000. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.

1972, c. 403, §§ 2.1-81.2, 2.1-81.3; 2001, c. 844.

Article 3. Registration of Lobbyists.

The General Assembly finds and declares the following:

1. The operation of open and responsible government requires the fullest opportunity to be afforded to the people to petition their government for the redress of grievances and to express freely their opinions on legislative and executive actions.

2. The identity and expenditures of certain persons who attempt to influence legislative and executive actions with respect to legislation and executive orders should be publicly identified to preserve and maintain the integrity of government.

1994, cc. 857, 937, § 2.1-779; 2001, c. 844.

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Anything of value" means:

1. A pecuniary item, including money, or a bank bill or note;

2. A promissory note, bill of exchange, order, draft, warrant, check, or bond given for the payment of money;

3. A contract, agreement, promise, or other obligation for an advance, conveyance, forgiveness of indebtedness, deposit, distribution, loan, payment, gift, pledge, or transfer of money;

4. A stock, bond, note, or other investment interest in an entity;

5. A receipt given for the payment of money or other property;

6. A right in action;

7. A gift, tangible good, chattel, or an interest in a gift, tangible good, or chattel;

8. A loan or forgiveness of indebtedness;

9. A work of art, antique, or collectible;

10. An automobile or other means of personal transportation;

11. Real property or an interest in real property, including title to realty, a fee simple or partial interest, present or future, contingent or vested within realty, a leasehold interest, or other beneficial interest in realty;

12. An honorarium or compensation for services;

13. A rebate or discount in the price of anything of value unless the rebate or discount is made in the ordinary course of business to a member of the public without regard to that person's status as an executive or legislative official, or the sale or trade of something for reasonable compensation that would ordinarily not be available to a member of the public;

14. A promise or offer of employment; or

15. Any other thing of value that is pecuniary or compensatory in value to a person.

"Anything of value" does not mean a campaign contribution properly received and reported pursuant to Chapter 9.3 (§ 24.2-945 et seq.) of Title 24.2.

"Compensation" means:

1. An advance, conveyance, forgiveness of indebtedness, deposit, distribution, loan, payment, gift, pledge, or transfer of money or anything of value; or

2. A contract, agreement, promise or other obligation for an advance, conveyance, forgiveness of indebtedness, deposit, distribution, loan, payment, gift, pledge, or transfer of money or anything of value, for services rendered or to be rendered.

"Compensation" does not mean reimbursement of expenses if the reimbursement does not exceed the amount actually expended for the expenses and it is substantiated by an itemization of expenses.

"Council" means the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council established in § 30-355.

"Executive action" means the proposal, drafting, development, consideration, amendment, adoption, approval, promulgation, issuance, modification, rejection, or postponement by an executive agency or official of legislation or executive orders issued by the Governor. "Executive action" includes procurement transactions.

"Executive agency" means an agency, board, commission, or other body in the executive branch of state government. "Executive agency" includes the State Corporation Commission, the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, and the Virginia Lottery.

"Executive official" means:

1. The Governor;

2. The Lieutenant Governor;

3. The Attorney General;

4. Any officer or employee of the office of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General other than a clerical or secretarial employee;

5. The Governor's Secretaries, the Deputy Secretaries, and the chief executive officer of each executive agency; or

6. Members of supervisory and policy boards, commissions and councils, as defined in § 2.2-2100, however selected.

"Expenditure" means:

1. A purchase, payment, distribution, loan, forgiveness of a loan or payment of a loan by a third party, advance, deposit, transfer of funds, a promise to make a payment, or a gift of money or anything of value for any purpose;

2. A payment to a lobbyist for salary, fee, reimbursement for expenses, or other purpose by a person employing, retaining, or contracting for the services of the lobbyist separately or jointly with other persons;

3. A payment in support of or assistance to a lobbyist or the lobbyist's activities, including the direct payment of expenses incurred at the request or suggestion of the lobbyist;

4. A payment that directly benefits an executive or legislative official or a member of the official's immediate family;

5. A payment, including compensation, payment, or reimbursement for the services, time, or expenses of an employee for or in connection with direct communication with an executive or legislative official;

6. A payment for or in connection with soliciting or urging other persons to enter into direct communication with an executive or legislative official; or

7. A payment or reimbursement for categories of expenditures required to be reported pursuant to this chapter.

"Expenditure" does not mean a campaign contribution properly received and reported pursuant to Chapter 9.3 (§ 24.2-945 et seq.) of Title 24.2.

"Fair market value" means the price that a good or service would bring between a willing seller and a willing buyer in the open market after negotiations. If the fair market value cannot be determined, the actual price paid for the good or service shall be given consideration.

"Gift" means anything of value, including any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other item having monetary value, and includes services as well as gifts of transportation, local travel, lodgings, and meals, whether provided in-kind or by purchase of a ticket, payment in advance, or reimbursement after the expense has been incurred.

"Gift" does not mean:

1. Printed informational or promotional material;

2. A gift that is not used and, no later than 60 days after receipt, is returned to the donor or delivered to a charitable organization and is not claimed as a charitable contribution for federal income tax purposes;

3. A devise or inheritance;

4. A gift of a value of less than $20;

5. Any offer of a ticket, coupon, or other admission or pass unless the ticket, coupon, admission, or pass is used;

6. Any food or beverages provided to an individual at an event at which the individual is performing official duties related to his public service;

7. Any food and beverages received at or registration or attendance fees waived for any event at which the individual is a featured speaker, presenter, or lecturer;

8. An unsolicited award of appreciation or recognition in the form of a plaque, trophy, wall memento, or similar item that is given in recognition of public, civic, charitable, or professional service;

9. Any gift to an individual's spouse, child, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, or first cousin; a person to whom the donee is engaged to be married; the donee's or his spouse's parent, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, step-parent, step-grandparent, step-grandchild, step-brother, or step-sister; or the donee's brother's or sister's spouse or the donee's son-in-law or daughter-in-law;

10. Travel provided to facilitate attendance by a legislator at a regular or special session of the General Assembly, a meeting of a legislative committee or commission, or a national conference where attendance is approved by the House Committee on Rules or its Chairman or the Senate Committee on Rules or its Chairman;

11. Travel related to an official meeting of, or any meal provided for attendance at such meeting by, the Commonwealth, its political subdivisions, or any board, commission, authority, or other entity, or any charitable organization established pursuant to § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code affiliated with such entity, to which such person has been appointed or elected or is a member by virtue of his office or employment; or

12. Attendance at a reception or similar function where food, such as hors d'oeuvres, and beverages that can be conveniently consumed by a person while standing or walking are offered.

"Immediate family" means (i) the spouse and (ii) any other person who resides in the same household as the executive or legislative official and who is a dependent of the official.

"Legislative action" means:

1. Preparation, research, drafting, introduction, consideration, modification, amendment, approval, passage, enactment, tabling, postponement, defeat, or rejection of a bill, resolution, amendment, motion, report, nomination, appointment, or other matter by the General Assembly or a legislative official;

2. Action by the Governor in approving, vetoing, or recommending amendments for a bill passed by the General Assembly; or

3. Action by the General Assembly in overriding or sustaining a veto by the Governor, considering amendments recommended by the Governor, or considering, confirming, or rejecting an appointment of the Governor.

"Legislative official" means:

1. A member or member-elect of the General Assembly;

2. A member of a committee, subcommittee, commission, or other entity established by and responsible to the General Assembly or either house of the General Assembly; or

3. Persons employed by the General Assembly or an entity established by and responsible to the General Assembly.

"Lobbying" means:

1. Influencing or attempting to influence executive or legislative action through oral or written communication with an executive or legislative official; or

2. Solicitation of others to influence an executive or legislative official.

"Lobbying" does not mean:

1. Requests for appointments, information on the status of pending executive and legislative actions, or other ministerial contacts if there is no attempt to influence executive or legislative actions;

2. Responses to published notices soliciting public comment submitted to the public official designated in the notice to receive the responses;

3. The solicitation of an association by its members to influence legislative or executive action; or

4. Communications between an association and its members and communications between a principal and its lobbyists.

"Lobbyist" means:

1. An individual who is employed and receives payments, or who contracts for economic consideration, including reimbursement for reasonable travel and living expenses, for the purpose of lobbying;

2. An individual who represents an organization, association, or other group for the purpose of lobbying; or

3. A local government employee who lobbies.

"Lobbyist's principal" or "principal" means the entity on whose behalf the lobbyist influences or attempts to influence executive or legislative action. An organization whose employees conduct lobbying activities on its behalf is both a principal and an employer of the lobbyists. In the case of a coalition or association that employs or retains others to conduct lobbying activities on behalf of its membership, the principal is the coalition or association and not its individual members.

"Local government" means:

1. Any county, city, town, or other local or regional political subdivision;

2. Any school division;

3. Any organization or entity that exercises governmental powers that is established pursuant to an interstate compact; or

4. Any organization composed of members representing entities listed in subdivisions 1, 2, or 3 of this definition.

"Local government employee" means a public employee of a local government.

"Person" means an individual, proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, joint stock company, syndicate, business trust, estate, company, corporation, association, club, committee, organization, or group of persons acting in concert.

"Procurement transaction" means all functions that pertain to obtaining all goods, services, or construction on behalf of an executive agency, including description of requirements, selection and solicitation of sources, preparation and award of contract, and all phases of contract administration where the stated or expected value of the contract is $5 million or more.

"Secretary" means the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

"Value" means the actual cost or fair market value of an item or items, whichever is greater. If the fair market value cannot be determined, the actual amount paid for the item or items shall be given consideration.

"Widely attended event" means an event at which at least 25 persons have been invited to attend or there is a reasonable expectation that at least 25 persons will attend the event and the event is open to individuals (i) who are members of a public, civic, charitable, or professional organization, (ii) who are from a particular industry or profession, or (iii) who represent persons interested in a particular issue.

1994, cc. 857, 937, § 2.1-780; 2001, c. 844; 2006, cc. 787, 843, 892; 2014, cc. 225, 792, 804; 2015, cc. 763, 777; 2016, cc. 773, 774; 2017, cc. 829, 832.

The registration and reporting provisions of this article shall not apply to:

1. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and their immediate staffs or the Governor's Secretaries and their immediate staffs, acting in an official capacity;

2. Members of the General Assembly and other legislative officials and legislative employees acting in an official capacity;

3. Local elected officials acting in an official capacity;

4. Any employee of a state executive agency acting in an official capacity;

5. A duly elected or appointed official or employee of the United States acting in an official capacity;

6. An individual who limits lobbying solely to (i) formal testimony before a public meeting of an executive agency or legislative body and registers the appearance in the records of the agency or body and (ii) testimony and information compelled by action of an executive agency or legislative body;

7. A person who receives $500 or less in compensation and reimbursements, excluding personal living and travel expenses that are not reimbursed from any other source, in a calendar year for his lobbying activities;

8. A person who receives no compensation or anything of value for lobbying, and does not expend more than $500, excluding personal living and travel expenses that are not reimbursed from any other source, in lobbying in the calendar year; or

9. An employee of a business, other entity, or local government whose job duties do not regularly include lobbying.

1994, cc. 857, 937, § 2.1-781; 2001, c. 844; 2006, c. 843; 2015, cc. 763, 777.

A. The chief administrative officer of each board, department, institution, or agency of the Commonwealth shall file a registration statement with the Secretary of the Commonwealth on behalf of the officers and employees who will be engaged in lobbying as defined in § 2.2-419 and shall comply with the provisions of this article that require lobbyists to register with the Secretary of the Commonwealth. No fee shall be collected for registrations required by this section.

B. Any state governmental body required to file a registration under this section shall comply with the provisions of this article relating to registration.

C. The registration requirements of this section shall not apply to:

1. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General and their immediate staffs, or the Governor's Secretaries and their deputies and immediate staffs, acting in an official capacity;

2. Members of the General Assembly and other legislative officials and legislative employees acting in an official capacity;

3. The chief administrative officer of each department or division in the executive branch of state government;

4. The chief administrative officer of each division of the State Corporation Commission; or

5. Any state government employee acting in an official capacity.

1994, c. 915, § 2.1-781.1; 2001, c. 844.

A. A lobbyist shall register with the Secretary of the Commonwealth prior to engaging in lobbying. A lobbyist who engages in lobbying entirely outside the capital city shall comply with this section by registering with the Secretary within fifteen days after first engaging in lobbying. Registration shall be required annually and expire May 1 of each year.

B. The chief administrative officer of each local government shall register with the Secretary of the Commonwealth and file a statement pursuant to § 2.2-423 if any local government employees will act as lobbyists on its behalf. No registration fee shall be required. Each local government shall file a consolidated report in accordance with the reporting requirements of § 2.2-426 and shall maintain locally a copy of the report that is available for inspection and copying during regular business hours.

C. All registrations required by this section shall be filed electronically in accordance with the standards approved by the Council.

1994, cc. 857, 937, § 2.1-782; 2001, c. 844; 2017, cc. 829, 832.

A. The registration statement shall be on a form provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth and include the following information:

1. The name and business address and telephone number of the lobbyist;

2. The name and business address and telephone number of the person who will keep custody of the lobbyist's and the lobbyist's principal's accounts and records required to comply with this article, and the location and telephone number for the place where the accounts and records are kept;

3. The name and business address and telephone number of the lobbyist's principal;

4. The kind of business of the lobbyist's principal;

5. For each principal, the full name of the individual to whom the lobbyist reports;

6. For each principal, a statement whether the lobbyist is employed or retained and whether exclusively for the purpose of lobbying;

7. The position held by the lobbyist if he is a part-time or full-time employee of the principal;

8. An identification of the subject matter (with as much specificity as possible) with regard to which the lobbyist or lobbyist's principal will engage in lobbying; and

9. The statement of the lobbyist, which shall be signed either originally or by electronic signature as authorized by the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (§ 59.1-479 et seq.), that the information contained on the registration statement is true and correct.

B. The lobbyist and the lobbyist's principal shall be notified at the time of the registration that the principal may elect to waive the principal signature requirement on disclosure filings submitted by its registered lobbyist after the filing of the registration statement. The waiver shall be on a form prescribed by the Council and may be filed electronically with the Council in accordance with the standards approved by it pursuant to § 30-356.

C. Whenever any change, modification, or addition to his status as a lobbyist is made, including the termination of his status as a lobbyist, the lobbyist shall, within one week of such change, modification, or addition, furnish full information regarding the same to the Secretary of the Commonwealth on forms provided by the Secretary.

D. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall furnish a copy of this article to any individual offering to register as a lobbyist and shall mail by certified mail a copy of this article and a copy of the information furnished by the lobbyist to the person whom the lobbyist represents to be his principal.

E. If the principal to whom the information is sent under subsection D does not, within 10 days of such mailing, file an affidavit, signed by the person or duly authorized agent of the person, denying that the lobbyist appears on his behalf, such person shall be deemed to have appointed the Secretary of the Commonwealth his agent for service of process in any prosecution arising for violation of this article. If such affidavit is filed, the Secretary shall notify the attorney for the Commonwealth of the City of Richmond.

1994, cc. 857, 937, § 2.1-783; 2001, c. 844; 2011, cc. 123, 177; 2014, cc. 792, 804; 2017, cc. 829, 832.

The Secretary shall collect an annual registration fee of $100 from the lobbyist for each principal for whom, or on whose behalf, the lobbyist will act. This fee shall be deposited into the general fund and used exclusively to fund the Council.

1994, cc. 857, 937, § 2.1-784; 2001, c. 844; 2015, cc. 763, 777.

A. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall maintain in a legislative docket the information filed under § 2.2-423 pertaining to lobbying involving legislative actions during any session of the General Assembly. The Secretary shall furnish current, complete lists thereof to the clerk of each house and to each member of the General Assembly once every two weeks during the session of the General Assembly beginning with the convening of the General Assembly.

B. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall prepare a list of executive officials, their positions and names, to be revised at least semi-annually and made available to lobbyists to assist them in complying with the provisions of this article.

1994, cc. 857, 937, § 2.1-785; 2001, c. 844.

A. Each lobbyist shall file with the Council a separate annual report of expenditures, including gifts, for each principal for whom he lobbies by July 1 for the preceding 12-month period complete through the last day of April.

B. Each principal who expends more than $500 to employ or compensate multiple lobbyists shall be responsible for filing a consolidated lobbyist report pursuant to this section in any case in which the lobbyists are each exempt under the provisions of subdivision 7 or 8 of § 2.2-420 from the reporting requirements of this section.

C. The report shall be on a form prescribed by the Council and shall be accompanied by instructions provided by the Council. All reports shall be submitted electronically and in accordance with the standards approved by the Council pursuant to the provisions of § 30-356.

D. A person who knowingly and intentionally makes a false statement of a material fact on the disclosure statement is guilty of a Class 5 felony.

E. The name of a legislative or executive official, or a member of his immediate family, attending any reportable entertainment event shall not be required to be disclosed by the principal if that legislative or executive official reimburses the principal for, or otherwise pays for, his attendance, or the attendance of a member of his immediate family, at the entertainment event. Reimbursement shall be calculated using the average value for each person attending the event.

F. Each lobbyist shall send to each legislative and executive official who is required to be identified by name on Schedule A or B of the Lobbyist's Disclosure Form a copy of Schedule A or B or a summary of the information pertaining to that official. Copies or summaries shall be provided to the official by January 10 for the preceding 12-month period complete through December 31. In addition, each lobbyist shall send to each legislator and executive official who is required to file a report of gifts accepted or received during a regular session of the General Assembly pursuant to § 2.2-3114.2 or 30-110.1 a summary of all gifts made by such lobbyist to each legislator or executive official or a member of his immediate family during the period beginning on January 1 complete through adjournment sine die of the regular session of the General Assembly. Summaries shall be provided to the legislator or executive official no later than three weeks after adjournment sine die. For purposes of this section, "adjournment sine die" means adjournment on the last legislative day of the regular session and does not include the reconvened session.

1994, cc. 857, 937, § 2.1-786; 1997, cc. 616, 635, 843; 1998, c. 732; 2000, c. 297; 2001, c. 844; 2002, cc. 248, 491; 2005, c. 90; 2006, c. 843; 2014, cc. 792, 804; 2015, cc. 763, 777; 2016, cc. 773, 774; 2017, cc. 829, 832.

Registration statements shall be open to public inspection and copying during the regular business hours of the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Lobbying reports shall be open to public inspection and copying during the regular business hours of the Council.

Registration statements shall be deemed to have been filed only when actually received in the office of the Secretary or mailed to the Secretary by registered, certified, or regular mail with the sender retaining sufficient proof of mailing, which may be a United States Postal Certificate of Mailing. Lobbying reports shall be deemed to have been filed only when received by the Council in accordance with the standards approved by the Council pursuant to § 30-356.

1994, cc. 857, 937, § 2.1-787; 2001, c. 844; 2016, cc. 773, 774.

A. The Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council shall accept any lobbyist's disclosure statements required by § 2.2-426 filed by computer or electronic means in accordance with the standards approved by the Council pursuant to the provisions of § 30-356.

B. The Secretary shall establish a lobbyist disclosure database, available to the public, from required disclosure statements filed electronically and may enter into that database information from required disclosure statements filed by other methods. The Secretary shall maintain such database until January 1, 2016.

1997, cc. 364, 392, § 2.1-787.1; 2001, c. 844; 2014, cc. 792, 804.

A lobbyist and a lobbyist's principal shall preserve for a period of two years all accounts, bills, books, papers, receipts, and other documents and records necessary to substantiate the expenditure reports submitted under this article.

1994, cc. 857, 937, § 2.1-788; 2001, c. 844.

A. A lobbyist or a lobbyist's principal may terminate the lobbyist's status as a lobbyist for such principal at any time prior to the expiration of his registration. Upon termination, the lobbyist may file the report required under § 2.2-426 at any time, but shall file the report no later than the deadline set forth in that section. Such report shall indicate that the lobbyist intends to use the report as the final accounting of lobbying activity and shall include information complete through the last day of lobbying activity and the effective date of the termination. The report shall be signed by the lobbyist's principal as otherwise required.

B. A lobbyist's principal who terminates the services of a lobbyist prior to the expiration of the lobbyist's registration shall provide actual notice to the lobbyist. Such notice shall inform the lobbyist that he is required to file the report required under § 2.2-426 no later than the deadline set forth in that section and that the lobbyist's failure to file such report by the deadline shall result in the assessment of civil penalties against the lobbyist pursuant to § 2.2-431. The lobbyist's principal shall also notify the Secretary of the Commonwealth of the early termination in accordance with subsection B of § 2.2-423.

1994, cc. 857, 937, § 2.1-789; 2001, c. 844; 2015, cc. 763, 777; 2017, cc. 829, 832.

A. Every lobbyist failing to file the statement prescribed by § 2.2-426 within the time prescribed therein shall be assessed a civil penalty of $50, and every individual failing to file the statement within 10 days after the time prescribed herein shall be assessed an additional civil penalty of $50 per day from the eleventh day of such default until the statement is filed. The Council shall notify the Secretary of any lobbyist's failure to file the statement within the time prescribed, and the penalties shall be assessed and collected by the Secretary. The Attorney General shall assist the Secretary in collecting the penalties, upon request.

B. Every lobbyist's principal whose lobbyist fails to file the statement prescribed by § 2.2-426 shall be assessed a civil penalty of $50, and shall be assessed an additional civil penalty of $50 per day from the eleventh day of such default until the statement is filed. The Council shall notify the Secretary of any lobbyist's failure to file the statement within the time prescribed, and the penalties shall be assessed and collected by the Secretary. The Attorney General shall assist the Secretary in collecting the penalties, upon request.

C. No individual who has failed to file the statement required by § 2.2-426 or who has failed to pay all penalties assessed pursuant to this section, shall register or act as a lobbyist as long as he remains in default.

D. Whenever any lobbyist or lobbyist's principal is or will be in default under § 2.2-426, and the reasons for such default are or will be beyond the lobbyist's control, the control of the lobbyist's principal, or both, the Secretary may suspend the assessment of any penalty otherwise assessable and accept a substituted statement, upon the submission of sworn proofs that shall satisfy him that the default has been beyond the control of the lobbyist or the lobbyist's principal, and that the substituted statement contains the most accurate and complete information available after the exercise of due diligence.

E. Penalties collected pursuant to this section shall be payable to the State Treasurer for deposit to the general fund and shall be used exclusively to fund the Council.

1994, cc. 857, 937, § 2.1-790; 2001, c. 844; 2015, cc. 763, 777; 2017, cc. 829, 832.

It shall be unlawful for any individual to lobby for compensation that is dependent in any manner upon the outcome of any legislative or executive action.

1994, cc. 857, 937, § 2.1-791; 2001, c. 844.

A. No lobbyist shall:

1. Lobby in violation of the provisions of this article;

2. Make any expenditure, or obligate himself to do so, in connection with lobbying, unless he fully discloses the expenditure as required in this article; or

3. Misrepresent in any material respect or omit any information required to be reported pursuant to this article.

B. No lobbyist's principal shall:

1. Fail to file any statement required to be filed by the provisions of this article;

2. Misrepresent in any material respect or omit any information required to be reported pursuant to this article; or

3. Violate any of the provisions of this article.

C. Except as provided in subsection D of § 2.2-426, any lobbyist or lobbyist's principal violating any provision of this article shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. However, a lobbyist who receives no compensation or anything of value for lobbying shall not be subject to the criminal penalties prescribed by this section.

1994, cc. 857, 937, § 2.1-792; 2001, c. 844.

Employment of a lobbyist for compensation by an officer, board, institution or agency of the Commonwealth, is expressly prohibited; however, this section shall not apply to any individual who is a full-time or part-time employee of such office, board, department, institution or agency of the Commonwealth.

1994, cc. 857, 937, § 2.1-793; 2001, c. 844.

The chairman or any full-time paid employee of a state political party, as defined in § 24.2-101, or a member of his immediate family, as defined in § 2.2-3101, shall not be employed as a lobbyist by any principal.

1994, cc. 857, 937, § 2.1-794; 2001, c. 844.

Chapter 4.1. Special Advisor for Workforce Development [Repealed].

Repealed by Acts 2006, cc. 696 and 751, cl. 4.

Chapter 4.2. Coordination of Workforce Development.

The Governor shall serve as Chief Workforce Development Officer for the Commonwealth.

2006, cc. 696, 751; 2014, c. 815; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 453.

Repealed by Acts 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 453, cl. 2, effective July 1, 2021.

Repealed by Acts 2023, cc. 624 and 625, cl. 2, effective July 1, 2023

Beginning November 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, each agency administering any publicly funded career and technical education and workforce development program shall submit to the Governor and the Virginia Board of Workforce Development a report detailing the program's performance against state-level metrics established by the Virginia Board of Workforce Development and the Secretary of Labor.

2015, cc. 275, 292; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 453.

A. The Secretary of Labor shall administer (i) a state workforce system and facilitate regional workforce systems that are business-driven, aligned with current and reliable labor market data, and targeted at providing participants with workforce credentials that have demonstrated value to employers and job seekers and (ii) a funding mechanism that adequately supports operations under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-128) (WIOA).

B. The Secretary of Labor shall produce an annual executive summary, no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly, of the interim activity undertaken to implement the responsibilities described in subsection A and to administer the WIOA.

2015, cc. 275, 292; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 453; 2023, cc. 624, 625.

Chapter 4.2:1. Special Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Adaptation and Protection.

A. The position of Special Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Adaptation and Protection (the Special Assistant) is created. The Special Assistant shall be the primary point of contact for the resources to address coastal adaptation and flooding mitigation. The Special Assistant shall be the lead in developing and in providing direction and ensuring accountability for a statewide coastal flooding adaptation strategy and shall initiate and assist with economic development opportunities associated with adaptation, development opportunities for the creation of business incubators, the advancement of the academic expertise at the Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency, coordination with the Virginia Growth and Opportunity Board, safeguarding strategic national assets threatened by coastal flooding, and pursuing federal, state, and local funding opportunities for adaptation initiatives.

B. In consultation with the Chief Resilience Officer designated pursuant to § 2.2-220.5, the Special Assistant shall:

1. Identify and monitor those areas of the Commonwealth that are at greatest risk from recurrent flooding and increased future flooding and recommend actions that both the private and public sectors should consider in order to increase the resilience of such areas;

2. Upon the request of any locality in the Commonwealth in which is located a substantial flood defense or catchment area, including a levee, reservoir, dam, catch basin, or wetland or lake improved or constructed for the purpose of flood control, review and comment on plans for the construction or substantial reinforcement of such flood defense or catchment area; and

3. Initiate and assist with the pursuit of funding opportunities for resilience initiatives at both the state and local levels and assist in overseeing and coordinating funding initiatives of all agencies of the Commonwealth.

2018, cc. 722, 723; 2020, c. 493; 2022, c. 786.

Chapter 4.2:2. Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

The position of Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (the Director) is created. The Director shall be appointed by the Governor. The Director shall (i) develop a sustainable framework to promote inclusive practices across state government; (ii) implement a measurable, strategic plan to address systemic inequities in state government practices; and (iii) facilitate methods to turn feedback and suggestions from state employees, external stakeholders, and community leaders into concrete equity policy.

2020, c. 712.

Chapter 4.3. Commonwealth Identity Management Standards.

A. The Secretary of Commerce and Trade in consultation with the Secretary of Administration, shall review and approve or disapprove, upon the recommendation of the Identity Management Standards Advisory Council pursuant to § 2.2-437, guidance documents that adopt (i) nationally recognized technical and data standards regarding the verification and authentication of identity in digital and online transactions; (ii) the minimum specifications and standards that should be included in an identity trust framework, as defined in § 59.1-550, so as to warrant liability protection pursuant to the Electronic Identity Management Act (§ 59.1-550 et seq.); and (iii) any other related data standards or specifications concerning reliance by third parties on identity credentials, as defined in § 59.1-550.

B. Final guidance documents approved pursuant to subsection A shall be posted on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall and published in the Virginia Register of Regulations as a general notice. The Secretary of Commerce and Trade shall send a copy of the final guidance documents to the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules established pursuant to § 30-73.1 at least 90 days prior to the effective date of such guidance documents. The Secretary of Commerce and Trade shall also annually file a list of available guidance documents developed pursuant to this chapter pursuant to § 2.2-4103.1 of the Virginia Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) and shall send a copy of such list to the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules.

2015, cc. 482, 483; 2017, c. 488; 2020, c. 738; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 258.

A. The Identity Management Standards Advisory Council (the Advisory Council) is established to advise the Secretary of Commerce and Trade on the adoption of identity management standards and the creation of guidance documents pursuant to § 2.2-436.

B. The Advisory Council shall consist of seven members, to be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor, with expertise in electronic identity management and information technology. Members shall include a representative of the Commonwealth of Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority, five representatives of the business community with appropriate experience and expertise, and one representative of Virginia consumers. In addition to the seven appointed members, the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles, or his designee, and the Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth, or his designee, may also serve as ex officio members with voting privileges on the Advisory Council. After the initial staggering of terms, members shall be appointed for terms of four years. Members may be reappointed.

The Advisory Council shall designate one of its members as chairman.

Members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in § 2.2-2825.

Staff to the Advisory Council shall be provided by the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade.

C. Proposed guidance documents and general opportunity for oral or written submittals as to those guidance documents shall be posted on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall and published in the Virginia Register of Regulations as a general notice following the processes and procedures set forth in subsection B of § 2.2-4031 of the Virginia Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.). The Advisory Council shall allow at least 30 days for the submission of written comments following the posting and publication and shall hold at least one meeting dedicated to the receipt of oral comment no less than 15 days after the posting and publication. The Advisory Council shall also develop methods for the identification and notification of interested parties and specific means of seeking input from interested persons and groups. The Advisory Council shall send a copy of such notices, comments, and other background material relative to the development of the recommended guidance documents to the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules.

2015, cc. 482, 483; 2017, c. 395; 2020, c. 738; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 258.

Chapter 4.4. Office of the Children's Ombudsman.

As used in this chapter, unless context requires another meaning:

"Abused or neglected child" means the same as that term is defined in § 63.2-100.

"Administrative act" includes an action, omission, decision, recommendation, practice, or other procedure of the Department, a local department, or a child-placing agency with respect to a particular child related to adoption, foster care, or protective services.

"Central registry" means the system maintained at the Department of Social Services pursuant to § 63.2-1515.

"Child" means an individual under the age of 18.

"Child-placing agency" means (i) any person who places children in foster homes, adoptive homes, or independent living arrangements pursuant to § 63.2-1819; (ii) a local board that places children in foster homes or adoptive homes pursuant to §§ 63.2-900, 63.2-903, and 63.2-1221; or (iii) an entity that assists parents with the process of delegating parental and legal custodial powers of their children pursuant to Chapter 10 (§ 20-166 et seq.) of Title 20. "Child-placing agency" does not include the persons to whom such parental or legal custodial powers are delegated pursuant to Chapter 10 (§ 20-166 et seq.) of Title 20. Officers, employees, or agents of the Commonwealth or any locality thereof, acting within the scope of their authority as such, who serve as or maintain a child-placing agency shall not be required to be licensed.

"Children's Ombudsman" or "Ombudsman" means the individual appointed to head the Office of the Children's Ombudsman under § 2.2-439.

"Children's residential facility" means the same as that term is defined in § 63.2-100.

"Child-serving agency" means (i) a state agency that provides services to children, including the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Social Services, and the Office of Children's Services, and (ii) a local entity that provides services to children and that receives funding from a state agency under clause (i). "Child-serving agency" does not include any law-enforcement agency.

"Complainant" means an individual who makes a complaint pursuant to § 2.2-441.

"Department" means the Department of Social Services.

"Foster care" means care provided to a child by a foster parent, children's residential facility, or group home licensed or approved by the Department under Chapter 9 (§ 63.2-900) of Title 63.2; care provided to a child in a relative's home under a court order; or any other care provided at the time the child's custody has been given to a government agency.

"Law-enforcement agency" means any crime victim and witness assistance program whose funding is provided in whole or in part by grants administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services pursuant to § 9.1-104, any state or local police or sheriff's department, any office of an attorney for the Commonwealth, or the Office of the Attorney General.

"Local department" means the local department of social services of any county or city in the Commonwealth.

"Office" means the Office of the Children's Ombudsman established under § 2.2-439.

2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750.

A. There is hereby created the Office of the Children's Ombudsman as a means of effecting changes in policy, procedure, and legislation; educating the public; investigating and reviewing actions of the Department, local departments, child-placing agencies, or children's residential facilities; and monitoring and ensuring compliance with relevant statutes, rules, and policies pertaining to child protective services and the placement, supervision, and treatment of, and improvement of delivery of care to, children in foster care and adoptive homes.

B. The Office of the Children's Ombudsman shall be headed by the Children's Ombudsman, who shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. The individual shall be qualified by training and experience to perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Children's Ombudsman and the Office of the Children's Ombudsman as provided in this chapter.

C. The appointment shall be for a term of four years. The Governor may remove the Ombudsman for cause in accordance with § 2.2-108. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for the unexpired term.

2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750.

A. The Ombudsman shall establish procedures for the Office for budget, expenditures, and employment. Subject to annual appropriations, the Ombudsman shall employ sufficient personnel to carry out the duties and powers prescribed by this chapter.

B. The Ombudsman shall establish procedures for receiving and processing complaints from complainants and individuals not meeting the definition of complainant, conducting investigations, holding informal hearings, and reporting findings and recommendations resulting from investigations.

C. Personnel employed by the Office shall receive mandatory training in domestic violence and in handling complaints alleging that a child is an abused or neglected child.

D. The Ombudsman shall notify a child-serving agency of any immediate safety concerns regarding a child or children who are part of an active or open child protective services or foster care case. This notification shall occur as soon as possible, but not later than one business day after the Ombudsman becomes aware of the concerns.

2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750.

A. Any of the following individuals may make a complaint to the Ombudsman with respect to a particular child, alleging that an administrative act is contrary to law, rule, or policy; imposed without an adequate statement of reason; or based on irrelevant, immaterial, or erroneous grounds:

1. The child, if the child is able to articulate a complaint;

2. A biological parent of the child;

3. A foster parent of the child;

4. An adoptive parent or a prospective adoptive parent of the child;

5. A legally appointed guardian of the child;

6. A guardian ad litem for the child;

7. A relative of the child or any person with a legitimate interest as defined in § 20-124.1;

8. A Virginia legislator;

9. An individual required to report that a child is alleged to be an abused or neglected child under § 63.2-1509; and

10. An attorney for any individual described in subdivisions 1 through 7.

B. Any individual may submit a complaint to the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman has the sole discretion and authority to determine if a complaint falls within the Ombudsman's duties and powers to investigate and if a complaint involves an administrative act. The Ombudsman may initiate an investigation upon receipt of a complaint from an individual not meeting the definition of complainant. An individual not meeting the definition of complainant is not entitled to receive information under this chapter as if such individual is a complainant. The individual is entitled to receive the recommendations of the Ombudsman and the Department or local department's response to the recommendations of the Ombudsman in accordance with state and federal law. During the course of an investigation, the Ombudsman may refer a case to a child-serving agency if the Ombudsman determines that such agency received a complaint on the case but did not conduct an investigation. If the Ombudsman refers a case to a child-serving agency, such agency shall conduct an investigation of the case or provide notice to the Ombudsman explaining why an investigation was not conducted or what alternative steps may have been taken to address the situation. If an investigation has been conducted, the child-serving agency shall report the results to the Ombudsman.

2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750.

In addition to any powers described in this chapter, the Children's Ombudsman has the authority to do all of the following with regard to children receiving child-protective services, in foster care, or placed for adoption and children who may have died as a result of alleged abuse or neglect:

1. Pursue all necessary action, including legal action, to protect the rights and welfare of such children;

2. Pursue legislative advocacy in the best interest of such children;

3. Review policies and procedures relating to any child-serving agency's involvement with such children upon the Ombudsman's own initiative or upon receipt of a complaint and make recommendations for improvement;

4. Initiate investigations of administrative acts of the Department, a local department, or a child-placing agency in cases relating to such children upon the Ombudsman's own initiative or upon receipt of a complaint; and

5. Subject to an appropriation of funds, commence and conduct investigations into alleged violations of the rights of a foster parent.

2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750.

A. The Ombudsman may do all of the following:

1. Determine, in the Ombudsman's sole discretion, if a complaint involves an administrative act.

2. Decide, in the Ombudsman's discretion, whether to investigate an administrative act.

3. Upon the Ombudsman's own initiative or upon receipt of a complaint and subject to an appropriation of funds, investigate an alleged violation of the rights of a foster parent.

4. Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, access records and reports necessary to carry out the Ombudsman's powers and duties under this chapter to the same extent and in the same manner as provided to the Department. The Ombudsman shall be provided access to medical and mental health disorder records in the same manner as access is provided to the Department. The Ombudsman may request substance use disorder records if the Ombudsman obtains a valid consent or a court order under 42 C.F.R. Part 2. In the course of a child fatality investigation, the Ombudsman may access records from the court of jurisdiction, Attorney General, prosecuting attorney, or any attorney retained by the Department or local department and reports from a county child fatality review team to the same extent and in the same manner as provided to the Department or local department under state law.

5. Request a subpoena from a court requiring the production of a record or report necessary to carry out the Ombudsman's duties and powers, including a child fatality investigation. If the person to whom a subpoena is issued fails or refuses to produce the record or report, the Ombudsman may petition the court for enforcement of the subpoena.

6. Hold informal hearings and request that individuals appear before the Ombudsman and give testimony or produce documentary or other evidence that the Ombudsman considers relevant to a matter under investigation.

7. Make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly concerning the need for child protective services, adoption, or foster care legislation, policy, or practice without prior review by other offices, departments, or agencies in the executive branch in order to facilitate rapid implementation of recommendations or for suggested improvements to the recommendations. No other office, department, or agency shall prohibit the release of an Ombudsman's recommendation to the Governor or the General Assembly.

B. The Ombudsman may investigate all child fatality cases that occurred or are alleged to have occurred due to abuse or neglect of a child in the following situations:

1. A child died during an active child protective services investigation or open services case, or there was a valid or invalid child protective services complaint within 12 months immediately preceding the child's death.

2. A child died while in foster care, unless the death is determined to have resulted from natural causes and there were no prior child protective services or licensing complaints concerning the foster home.

3. A child was returned home from foster care and there is an active foster care case.

4. A foster care case involving the deceased child or sibling was closed within 24 months immediately preceding the child's death.

C. Subject to state appropriations, an investigation under subsection B shall be completed within 12 months after the Ombudsman opens a child fatality case for investigation.

D. The Ombudsman is subject to the same standards for safeguarding the confidentiality of information under this section and the same sanctions for unauthorized release of information as the Department.

2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750.

A. Upon deciding to investigate a complaint from a complainant or an individual not meeting the definition of complainant, the Ombudsman shall notify the complainant or the individual not meeting the definition of complainant of the decision to investigate and shall notify the Department or local department or children's residential facility, or child-placing agency of the intention to investigate. If the Ombudsman declines to investigate a complaint or continue an investigation, the Ombudsman shall notify the complainant or the individual not meeting the definition of complainant and the Department or local department, or children's residential facility, or child-placing agency of the decision and of the reasons for the Ombudsman's action.

B. The Ombudsman shall advise a complainant of administrative remedies and may advise the individual to pursue all administrative remedies or channels of complaint open to the complainant before pursuing a complaint with the Ombudsman. Subsequent to the administrative processing of a complaint, the Ombudsman may conduct further investigations of a complaint upon the request of the complainant or upon the Ombudsman's own initiative.

C. If the Ombudsman finds in the course of an investigation that an individual's action is in violation of state or federal criminal law, the Ombudsman shall immediately report that fact to the local attorney for the Commonwealth or the Attorney General. If the complaint is against a child-placing agency, the Ombudsman shall refer the matter to the Department or local department for further action with respect to licensing or approval.

2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750.

A. The Department or local department and a child-placing agency shall do all of the following:

1. Upon the Ombudsman's request, grant the Ombudsman or the Office access to all information, records, and documents in the possession of the Department or local department, children's residential facility, or child-placing agency that the Ombudsman considers relevant and necessary in an investigation.

2. Assist the Ombudsman or the Office to obtain the necessary releases of those documents that are specifically restricted.

3. Upon the Ombudsman's request, provide the Ombudsman or the Office with progress reports concerning the administrative processing of a complaint.

4. Upon the Ombudsman's request, provide the Ombudsman or the Office the information requested under subdivision 1 or notification within 10 business days after the request that the Department or local department has determined that release of the information would violate federal or state law.

B. The Department or local department, an attorney involved with an adoption, and a child-placing agency shall provide information to a biological parent, prospective adoptive parent, or foster parent regarding the provisions of this chapter.

C. The Ombudsman and the Office shall have access, in the Ombudsman's own office, to departmental computer networks pertaining to protective services, foster care, adoption, juvenile delinquency, and the central registry, unless otherwise prohibited by state or federal law or if the release of the information to the Ombudsman would jeopardize federal funding. The cost of implementing this subsection shall be negotiated among the Office and the custodians of such networks.

2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750.

A. All statements, documentation, and other evidence received or maintained by the Office or its agents in connection with complaints made to or investigations undertaken pursuant to the Ombudsman's powers enumerated in § 2.2-442 shall be confidential and not subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.) and are not discoverable in legal proceedings. If the Ombudsman identifies action or inaction by the state through its agencies or services that failed to protect children, the Ombudsman shall provide any findings and recommendations to the agency affected by those findings and to the General Assembly upon request, and may provide those findings and recommendations to the complainant, to the extent consistent with state or federal law. The Ombudsman shall not disclose any information that impairs the rights of the child or the child's parents or guardians.

B. Unless otherwise part of the public record, the Office shall not release any of the following confidential information to the general public:

1. Records relating to a mental health evaluation or treatment of a parent or child;

2. Records relating to the evaluation or treatment of a substance abuse-related disorder of a parent or child;

3. Records relating to a medical diagnosis or treatment of a parent or child;

4. Records relating to domestic violence-related services and sexual assault services provided to a parent or child; or

5. Records relating to educational services provided to a parent or child.

C. Notwithstanding subsection B, if the Ombudsman determines that disclosure of confidential information is necessary to identify, prevent, or respond to the abuse or neglect of a child, the Ombudsman may disclose such information to the Department or local department, a court, a law-enforcement agency, or a prosecuting attorney investigating a report of known or suspected abuse or neglect of a child. The Ombudsman shall not release the address, telephone number, or other information regarding the whereabouts of a victim or suspected victim of domestic violence unless ordered to by a court.

D. Except as provided in subsection C, the Ombudsman shall not disclose information relating to an ongoing law-enforcement investigation or an ongoing child protective services investigation. The Ombudsman may release the results of its investigation to a complainant, or an individual not meeting the definition of complainant, if the Ombudsman receives notification of and determines that releasing the results of its investigation is not related to and will not interfere with an ongoing law-enforcement investigation or ongoing child protective services investigation.

E. The Ombudsman shall not disclose the identity of an individual making a complaint alleging that a child is an abused or neglected child unless that individual's written permission is obtained first or a court has ordered the Ombudsman to release such information.

F. The Ombudsman may release an individual's identity who makes an intentionally false report alleging that a child is an abused or neglected child, subject to other laws relating to such disclosure.

2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750.

A. The Ombudsman shall prepare a report of the factual findings of an investigation and make recommendations to the Department, local department, children's residential facility, or child-placing agency if the Ombudsman finds any of the following:

1. A matter should be further considered by the Department, local department, or child-placing agency.

2. An administrative act or omission should be modified, canceled, or corrected.

3. Reasons should be given for an administrative act or omission.

4. Other action should be taken by the Department, local department, children's residential facility, or child-placing agency.

B. At least 30 calendar days before publishing a report that is adverse to the Department, the local department, a children's residential facility, a child-placing agency, or the individual that is or was the subject of an investigation by the Ombudsman, the Ombudsman shall inform the Department, the local department, the children's residential facility, the child-placing agency, or the individual. When publishing a report adverse to the Department, local department, children's residential facility, child-placing agency, or individual, the Ombudsman shall include in the publication any statement of reasonable length made to the Ombudsman by the Department, local department, children's residential facility, child-placing agency, or individual in defense or mitigation of the action. The Ombudsman may request to be notified by the Department, local department, children's residential facility, child-placing agency, or individual, within a specified time, of any action taken on any recommendation presented.

C. The Ombudsman shall notify the complainant of the actions taken by the Ombudsman and by the Department, local department, children's residential facility, or child-placing agency.

D. The Ombudsman may provide to the complainant the following information:

1. A copy of the Ombudsman's report regarding the investigation's findings, recommendations to the Department or local department made according to the investigation, the Department or local department's response to the Ombudsman's findings and recommendations, and any epilogue to the Ombudsman's report and the Department or local department's response; or

2. Information that has otherwise been made public.

E. The Ombudsman shall not release information to the individual making the complaint if doing so could endanger the health or welfare of a child or another individual.

F. With respect to a child fatality case investigated under subsection B of § 2.2-443 and upon review of records or other information received under subdivision A 3 or 4 of § 2.2-443 in the course of a child fatality investigation, if there is no ongoing child protection proceeding involving a sibling of the child who died, the Ombudsman shall provide any necessary recommendations for improving systemic issues that are discovered during the investigation of the child fatality. The recommendations may be provided to the court of jurisdiction, the state court administrative office, the county child fatality review team, medical professionals, or attorneys or other legal professionals involved with the particular child who died. The recommendations shall also be summarized and included in the annual report referenced in subsection G.

G. The Ombudsman shall submit to the Governor, the director of the Department, and the General Assembly an annual report on the Ombudsman's activities, including any recommendations regarding the need for legislation or for a change in rules or policies.

2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750.

A. An official, the Department, a local department, a child-serving agency, a children's residential facility, or a child-placing agency shall not penalize any person for filing a complaint or cooperating with the Ombudsman in investigating a complaint.

B. An individual, the Department, a local department, a child-serving agency, a children's residential facility, or a child-placing agency shall not hinder the lawful actions of the Ombudsman or employees of the Ombudsman.

C. A report by the Ombudsman is not subject to prior approval by a person outside of the Office.

2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750.

Repealed by Acts 2023, c. 750, cl. 2, effective July 1, 2023

Part B. Department of Law.

Chapter 5. Department of Law.

Article 1. General Provisions.

The Attorney General shall be the chief executive officer of the Department of Law, and shall perform such duties as may be provided by law.

Code 1950, § 2-85; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-117; 2001, c. 844.

The Attorney General shall appoint a chief deputy Attorney General and may appoint the necessary deputy Attorneys General and assistant Attorneys General and fix their salaries within the limitation of the funds provided for the purpose in the general appropriation act.

If a vacancy occurs in the office of Attorney General for any reason, the chief deputy Attorney General shall serve as acting Attorney General until such time as the vacancy is filled pursuant to § 24.2-213. The acting Attorney General shall exercise all the powers, and duties, and enjoy all the perquisites of the office of Attorney General as are provided by law.

Code 1950, § 2-94; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-130; 1977, c. 596; 2001, c. 844.

The Attorney General may appoint such persons as he deems necessary for the efficient conduct of his office, and apportion, out of the appropriation for his office, such salaries among such persons as he deems proper, but the aggregate amount paid them shall not exceed the amount provided by law.

Code 1950, § 2-95; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-131; 2001, c. 844.

The Governor shall assign to the Attorney General office space for the Attorney General, his assistants and employees suitable for the transaction of the legal business of the Commonwealth.

Code 1950, § 2-96; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-132; 1994, c. 64; 2001, c. 844.

The Attorney General may expend for the contingent expenses of his office the sums appropriated for his office by the General Assembly. The Attorney General, the deputy and assistant Attorneys General, and other employees of the office shall be reimbursed for actual travel expenses in the performance of their duties in accordance with § 2.2-2823.

Code 1950, § 2-97; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-133; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Attorney General shall give his advice and render official advisory opinions in writing only when requested in writing so to do by one of the following: the Governor; a member of the General Assembly; a judge of a court of record or a judge of a court not of record; the State Corporation Commission; an attorney for the Commonwealth; a county, city or town attorney in those localities in which such office has been created; a clerk of a court of record; a city or county sheriff; a city or county treasurer or similar officer; a commissioner of the revenue or similar officer; a chairman or secretary of an electoral board; or the head of a state department, division, bureau, institution or board.

B. Except in cases where an opinion is requested by the Governor or a member of the General Assembly, the Attorney General shall have no authority to render an official opinion unless the question dealt with is directly related to the discharge of the duties of the official requesting the opinion. Any opinion request to the Attorney General by an attorney for the Commonwealth or county, city or town attorney shall itself be in the form of an opinion embodying a precise statement of all facts together with such attorney's legal conclusions.

Code 1950, § 2-86; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-118; 1968, c. 414; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 155; 1976, c. 715; 1999, c. 14; 2001, c. 844.

The Attorney General shall at the request of an attorney for the Commonwealth, provide legal service to such attorney for the Commonwealth in any proceedings brought against him seeking to restrain the enforcement of any state law.

Any costs chargeable against the defendant in any such case shall be paid by the Commonwealth from the appropriation for the payment of criminal charges.

1962, c. 235, § 2-86.2; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-120; 2001, c. 844.

A. All legal service in civil matters for the Commonwealth, the Governor, and every state department, institution, division, commission, board, bureau, agency, entity, official, court, or judge, including the conduct of all civil litigation in which any of them are interested, shall be rendered and performed by the Attorney General, except as provided in this chapter and except for any litigation concerning a justice or judge initiated by the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission. No regular counsel shall be employed for or by the Governor or any state department, institution, division, commission, board, bureau, agency, entity, or official. The Attorney General may represent personally or through one or more of his assistants any number of state departments, institutions, divisions, commissions, boards, bureaus, agencies, entities, officials, courts, or judges that are parties to the same transaction or that are parties in the same civil or administrative proceeding and may represent multiple interests within the same department, institution, division, commission, board, bureau, agency, or entity. The soil and water conservation district directors or districts may request legal advice from local, public, or private sources; however, upon request of the soil and water conservation district directors or districts, the Attorney General shall provide legal service in civil matters for such district directors or districts.

B. The Attorney General may represent personally or through one of his assistants any of the following persons who are made defendant in any civil action for damages arising out of any matter connected with their official duties:

1. Members, agents, or employees of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority;

2. Agents inspecting or investigators appointed by the State Corporation Commission;

3. Agents, investigators, or auditors employed by the Department of Taxation;

4. Members, agents, or employees of the State Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the State Board of Health, the State Department of Health, the Department of General Services, the State Board of Social Services, the Department of Social Services, the State Board of Local and Regional Jails, the Department of Corrections, the State Board of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Virginia Parole Board, or the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;

5. Persons employed by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the Department of Transportation, or the Department of Rail and Public Transportation;

6. Persons employed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles;

7. Persons appointed by the Commissioner of Marine Resources;

8. Police officers appointed by the Superintendent of State Police;

9. Conservation police officers appointed by the Department of Wildlife Resources;

10. Hearing officers appointed to hear a teacher's grievance pursuant to § 22.1-311;

11. Staff members or volunteers participating in a court-appointed special advocate program pursuant to Article 5 (§ 9.1-151 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1;

12. Any emergency medical services agency that is a licensee of the Department of Health in any civil matter and any guardian ad litem appointed by a court in a civil matter brought against him for alleged errors or omissions in the discharge of his court-appointed duties;

13. Conservation officers of the Department of Conservation and Recreation; or

14. A person appointed by written order of a circuit court judge to run an existing corporation or company as the judge's representative, when that person is acting in execution of a lawful order of the court and the order specifically refers to this section and appoints such person to serve as an agent of the Commonwealth.

Upon request of the affected individual, the Attorney General may represent personally or through one of his assistants (i) any basic or advanced emergency medical care attendant or technician possessing a valid certificate issued by authority of the State Board of Health in any civil matter in which a defense of immunity from liability is raised pursuant to § 8.01-225 or (ii) any member of the General Assembly in any civil matter alleging that such member in his official capacity violated the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.) pursuant to § 2.2-3713 or 2.2-3714.

C. If, in the opinion of the Attorney General, it is impracticable or uneconomical for such legal service to be rendered by him or one of his assistants, he may employ special counsel for this purpose, whose compensation shall be fixed by the Attorney General. The compensation for such special counsel shall be paid out of the funds appropriated for the administration of the board, commission, division, or department being represented or whose members, officers, inspectors, investigators, or other employees are being represented pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the Supreme Court may employ its own counsel in any matter arising out of its official duties in which it, or any justice, is a party.

D. Nothing herein shall limit the powers granted in § 16.1-88.03.

Code 1950, § 2-87; 1958, c. 542; 1966, cc. 222, 677, § 2.1-121; 1974, cc. 44, 45, 432; 1975, c. 372; 1976, cc. 580, 726; 1978, c. 96; 1979, c. 450; 1980, c. 255; 1981, c. 427; 1982, c. 636; 1984, cc. 703, 742; 1987, c. 326; 1988, c. 435; 1989, c. 733; 1990, cc. 637, 752, 791; 2001, c. 844; 2005, c. 236; 2007, cc. 248, 595; 2008, c. 577; 2009, cc. 813, 840; 2012, c. 563; 2013, cc. 585, 588, 646, 650; 2015, cc. 38, 502, 503, 730; 2017, c. 690; 2019, c. 357; 2020, cc. 759, 958.

A. The assets of a charitable corporation incorporated in or doing any business in Virginia shall be deemed to be held in trust for the public for such purposes as are established by the governing documents of such charitable corporation, the gift or bequest made to such charitable corporation, or other applicable law. The Attorney General shall have the same authority to act on behalf of the public with respect to such assets as he has with respect to assets held by unincorporated charitable trusts and other charitable entities, including the authority to seek such judicial relief as may be necessary to protect the public interest in such assets.

B. Nothing contained in this section is intended to modify the standard of conduct applicable under existing law to the directors of charitable corporations incorporated in or doing any business in Virginia.

2002, c. 792; 2004, c. 289.

There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Youth Internet Safety Fund, hereafter referred to as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All money as may be appropriated by the General Assembly and any gifts, bequests, grants, or donations shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for the purposes of education, public awareness, and other activities to promote the safe and secure use of the Internet. Unless otherwise restricted by the terms of the gift or bequest, the Attorney General may direct the sale, exchange, or other disposition of such gifts and bequests. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Attorney General.

2007, c. 309.

A. As deemed necessary to comply with or effectuate the terms of a settlement, judgment, verdict, or other court order relating to claims regarding the manufacturing, marketing, distribution, or sale of opioids and in accordance with an agreement between the Attorney General and participating localities, as defined in § 2.2-2365, the Attorney General shall designate funds from such settlements, judgments, verdicts, or other court orders for deposit in the Opioid Abatement Fund (the Fund) established pursuant to § 2.2-2374. The Attorney General shall cooperate with and assist the Opioid Abatement Authority in its administration of the Fund.

B. If the terms of a settlement, judgment, verdict, or other court order, or any agreement related thereto between the Attorney General and participating localities, include a local apportionment formula dividing any part of a settlement, judgment, or verdict among participating localities, or if the terms of a settlement, judgment, verdict, or other court order, or any agreement related thereto between the Attorney General and participating localities, as defined in § 2.2-2365, authorize participating localities to agree upon a local apportionment formula dividing any part of a settlement, judgment, or verdict, any such locality may submit the agreed-upon local apportionment formula to the Attorney General.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 306, 307.

Upon notification by a county, city or town of a pending civil action challenging the legality of its election district boundaries as required by § 24.2-304.5, the Attorney General shall review the papers in the civil action and may represent the interests of the Commonwealth in developing an appropriate remedy that is consistent with the requirements of Article VII, § 5 of the Constitution of Virginia, Chapter 3 (§ 24.2-304.04 et seq.) of Title 24.2, or Chapter 62 (§ 30-391 et seq.) of Title 30.

1989, c. 112, § 2.1-121.1; 1995, c. 249; 2001, c. 844; 2004, c. 1000; 2012, c. 1; 2023, c. 455.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the Attorney General finds after consultation with the head of the affected department that it is in the best interests of the Commonwealth to do so, the Attorney General may authorize any employee of his office or any employee of a department to represent that department or an affiliated body in any administrative proceedings before the department, an affiliated body or before any hearing officer or examiner appointed or employed by the department or affiliated body.

1991, c. 227, § 2.1-121.2; 2001, c. 844.

Investigators with the Office of the Attorney General as designated by the Attorney General shall be authorized to seize cigarettes as defined in § 3.2-4200, which are sold, possessed, distributed, transported, imported, or otherwise held in violation of § 3.2-4207 or 58.1-1037. In addition, such investigators shall be authorized to accompany and participate with special agents of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority or other law-enforcement officials engaging in an enforcement action under § 3.2-4207 or 58.1-1037.

2006, c. 695; 2015, cc. 38, 730.

No special counsel shall be employed for or by the Governor or any state department, institution, division, commission, board, bureau, agency, entity, official, justice of the Supreme Court, or judge of any circuit court or district court except in the following cases:

1. When the Governor determines that, because of the nature of the legal service to be performed, the Attorney General's office is unable to render such service, then the Governor shall issue an exemption order stating with particularity the facts and reasons leading to the conclusion that the Attorney General's office is unable to render such service. The Governor may then employ special counsel to render such service as he may deem necessary and proper. The compensation for such special counsel shall be paid out of the funds appropriated for the administration of the board, commission, division, or department to be represented or whose members, officers, inspectors, investigators, or other employees are to be represented pursuant to this section.

2. In cases of legal services in civil matters to be performed for the Commonwealth, where it is impracticable or uneconomical for the Attorney General to render such service, he may employ special counsel whose compensation shall be paid out of the appropriation for the Attorney General's office.

3. In cases of legal services in civil matters to be performed for any state department, institution, division, commission, board, bureau, agency, entity, official, member of the General Assembly, justice of the Supreme Court, or judge of any circuit court or district court where it is impracticable or uneconomical for the Attorney General's office to render such service, special counsel may be employed but only as set forth in subsection C of § 2.2-507, upon the written recommendation of the Attorney General, who shall approve all requisitions drawn upon the Comptroller for warrants as compensation for such special counsel before the Comptroller shall have authority to issue such warrants.

4. In cases where the Attorney General certifies to the Governor that he is unable to render certain legal services, the Governor may employ special counsel or other assistance to render such services as may be necessary.

Code 1950, § 2-88; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-122; 1975, c. 372; 1976, c. 726; 2001, c. 844; 2002, c. 572; 2007, c. 248; 2012, c. 847; 2014, c. 824; 2019, c. 357.

No state agency or state agent shall enter into a contingency fee contract for legal services in which contingency fees and expenses are reasonably anticipated to exceed $100,000 until an open and competitive negotiation process has been undertaken in accordance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.), applied mutatis mutandis. The contract shall be awarded to the attorney or firm that submits the most competitive proposal to provide such services considering the cost of the services, the qualifications of the attorney or firm to provide the services, the experience of the attorney or firm with similar legal matters, legal expertise generally, and such other relevant factors as may be identified by the Attorney General.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any contracts for legal fees entered into pursuant to § 2.2-507 for the purpose of implementing the Virginia Debt Collection Act (§ 2.2-4800 et seq.).

2002, c. 196.

In cases where the Attorney General certifies to the Governor that it would be improper for the Attorney General's office to render legal services due to a conflict of interests, the Attorney General shall negotiate an agreement with outside counsel to render the necessary legal services for the matter. The agreement shall include a reasonable fee for the necessary legal services rendered. Compensation shall be expended from funds appropriated to the Attorney General's office.

2014, c. 824.

A. Unless specifically requested by the Governor to do so, the Attorney General shall have no authority to institute or conduct criminal prosecutions in the circuit courts of the Commonwealth except in cases involving (i) violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (§ 4.1-100 et seq.), (ii) violation of laws relating to elections and the electoral process as provided in § 24.2-104, (iii) violation of laws relating to motor vehicles and their operation, (iv) the handling of funds by a state bureau, institution, commission or department, (v) the theft of state property, (vi) violation of the criminal laws involving child pornography and sexually explicit visual material involving children, (vii) the practice of law without being duly authorized or licensed or the illegal practice of law, (viii) violations of § 3.2-4212 or 58.1-1008.2, (ix) with the concurrence of the local attorney for the Commonwealth, violations of the Virginia Computer Crimes Act (§ 18.2-152.1 et seq.), (x) with the concurrence of the local attorney for the Commonwealth, violations of the Air Pollution Control Law (§ 10.1-1300 et seq.), the Virginia Waste Management Act (§ 10.1-1400 et seq.), and the State Water Control Law (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq.), (xi) with the concurrence of the local attorney for the Commonwealth, violations of Chapters 2 (§ 18.2-18 et seq.), 3 (§ 18.2-22 et seq.), and 10 (§ 18.2-434 et seq.) of Title 18.2, if such crimes relate to violations of law listed in clause (x) of this subsection, (xii) with the concurrence of the local attorney for the Commonwealth, criminal violations by Medicaid providers or their employees in the course of doing business, or violations of Chapter 13 (§ 18.2-512 et seq.) of Title 18.2, in which cases the Attorney General may leave the prosecution to the local attorney for the Commonwealth, or he may institute proceedings by information, presentment or indictment, as appropriate, and conduct the same, (xiii) with the concurrence of the local attorney for the Commonwealth, violations of Article 9 (§ 18.2-246.1 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 18.2, (xiv) with the concurrence of the local attorney for the Commonwealth, assisting in the prosecution of violations of §§ 18.2-186.3 and 18.2-186.4, (xv) with the concurrence of the local attorney for the Commonwealth, assisting in the prosecution of violations of § 18.2-46.2, 18.2-46.3, or 18.2-46.5 when such violations are committed on the grounds of a state correctional facility, and (xvi) with the concurrence of the local attorney for the Commonwealth, assisting in the prosecution of violations of Article 10 (§ 18.2-246.6 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 18.2.

In all other criminal cases in the circuit courts, except where the law provides otherwise, the authority of the Attorney General to appear or participate in the proceedings shall attach when the appellate court receives the record after a notice of appeal has been filed with the clerk of the circuit court noting an appeal to the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court. In all criminal cases before the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court in which the Commonwealth is a party or is directly interested, the Attorney General shall appear and represent the Commonwealth upon receipt of the record in the appellate court, unless, and with the consent of the Attorney General, the attorney for the Commonwealth who prosecuted the underlying criminal case files a notice of appearance to represent the Commonwealth in any such appeal. However, in an appeal regarding bail, bond, or recognizance pursuant to Article 1 (§ 19.2-119 et seq.) of Chapter 9 of Title 19.2 or subsection B of § 19.2-398, the attorney for the Commonwealth who prosecuted the underlying criminal case shall continue to represent the Commonwealth on appeal.

B. The Attorney General shall, upon request of a person who was the victim of a crime and subject to such reasonable procedures as the Attorney General may require, ensure that such person is given notice of the filing, of the date, time and place and of the disposition of any appeal or habeas corpus proceeding involving the cases in which such person was a victim. For the purposes of this section, a victim is an individual who has suffered physical, psychological or economic harm as a direct result of the commission of a crime; a spouse, child, parent or legal guardian of a minor or incapacitated victim; or a spouse, child, parent or legal guardian of a victim of a homicide. Nothing in this subsection shall confer upon any person a right to appeal or modify any decision in a criminal, appellate or habeas corpus proceeding; abridge any right guaranteed by law; or create any cause of action for damages against the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions, the Attorney General or any of his employees or agents, any other officer, employee or agent of the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions, or any officer of the court.

Code 1950, § 2-90; 1958, c. 235; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-124; 1974, c. 490; 1975, c. 42; 1984, c. 703; 1993, c. 866; 1995, cc. 565, 839; 1997, c. 801; 1998, cc. 507, 510; 2000, c. 239; 2001, c. 844; 2002, cc. 588, 623; 2003, c. 103; 2004, cc. 450, 883, 996; 2007, c. 409; 2009, c. 847; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 489; 2023, cc. 314, 315.

A. As used in this section:

"Law-enforcement officer" means the same as that term is defined in § 9.1-101.

"Locality" shall be construed to mean a county, city, or town as the context may require.

B. It is unlawful for the Commonwealth or any locality, or any agent thereof, or any person acting on behalf of the Commonwealth or any locality, to engage in a pattern or practice of conduct by law-enforcement officers of any agency of the Commonwealth or any locality that deprives persons of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the laws of the United States and the Commonwealth.

C. Whenever the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of subsection B has occurred, the Attorney General, for or in the name of the Commonwealth, may (i) file a civil action to obtain appropriate equitable and declaratory relief to eliminate the pattern or practice or (ii) inquire into or seek to conciliate any unlawful pattern and practice pursuant to § 2.2-520. The Attorney General may file a civil action to obtain appropriate relief to enforce a conciliation agreement arising out of such inquiry or conciliation. The Attorney General may include, as part of a conciliation agreement, a provision that the locality shall be ineligible for funding under Article 8 (§ 9.1-165 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1 upon a finding by any court of the Commonwealth that such locality is failing to comply with the conciliation agreement. Upon such a finding, the court shall declare the locality ineligible for funding until the locality comes into compliance with the conciliation agreement.

D. Whenever the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of subsection B has occurred, the Attorney General is empowered to issue a civil investigative demand. The provisions of § 59.1-9.10 shall apply mutatis mutandis to civil investigative demands issued pursuant to this section.

2020, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 18, 19.

There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Organized Retail Crime Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for the purposes of awarding grants to attorneys for the Commonwealth and law-enforcement agencies to investigate, indict, and prosecute violations of organized retail theft and associated fraud and property crimes. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Attorney General.

The Attorney General shall establish guidelines and procedures for the proper administration of the Fund including eligibility requirements and procedures for filing a grant application. The Attorney General shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly summarizing the activities of the Fund.

2023, cc. 357, 358.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Attorney General may expend funds appropriated to his office for the purpose of employing special counsel to investigate and prosecute a complaint that any person is engaged in the practice of law without being duly authorized or licensed so to do or is practicing law in violation of law. The compensation of the special counsel shall be paid out of the appropriation for the Attorney General's office. No special counsel shall be employed and paid except upon the request of the Executive Committee of the Virginia State Bar.

1958, c. 235, § 2-90.1; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-125; 1980, c. 269; 2001, c. 844.

The Attorney General shall represent the interests of the Commonwealth, its departments, boards, institutions and commissions in matters before or controversies with the officers and several departments of the government of the United States.

Code 1950, § 2-91; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-126; 2001, c. 844.

A. Except as provided in this section or former § 23-38.33:1, the Attorney General may compromise and settle disputes, claims and controversies involving all interests of the Commonwealth including, but not limited to the Virginia Tort Claims Act (§ 8.01-195.1 et seq.), and may discharge any such claims, but only after the proposed compromise, settlement or discharge, together with the reasons therefor, have been submitted in writing to the Governor and approved by him. Where any dispute, claim or controversy involves the interests of any department, institution, division, commission, board, authority or bureau of the Commonwealth, the Attorney General may compromise and settle or discharge the same provided the action is approved both by the Governor, as provided in this section, and by the head, or his designee, of the department, institution, division, board, authority or bureau that is interested. However, when any dispute, claim or controversy arises under the Virginia Tort Claims Act (§ 8.01-195.1 et seq.) or otherwise involves the interests of any department, institution, division, commission, board, authority or bureau of the Commonwealth, and the settlement amount does not exceed $250,000, the Attorney General or an assistant Attorney General assigned to such department, institution, division, commission, board, authority or bureau, or such other designee of the Attorney General, may compromise and settle or discharge the same provided the action is approved by the head, or his designee, of the department, institution, division, board or bureau whose interests are in issue. When the dispute, claim or controversy involves a case in which the Commonwealth has a claim for sums due it as the result of hospital, medical or dental care furnished by or on behalf of the Commonwealth, the Attorney General or such assistant Attorney General may compromise and settle and discharge the same when the settlement amount does not exceed $250,000.

B. No settlement under subsection A shall be made subject to a confidentiality agreement that prohibits the Commonwealth, a state agency, officer or employee from disclosing the amount of such settlement except where such confidentiality agreement is imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise is required by law.

C. No settlement under subsection A shall be made subject to a confidentiality agreement if such settlement requires that a matter or issue shall be the subject of (i) regulatory action pursuant to Article 2 (§ 2.2-4006 et seq.) of Chapter 40 of this title, or (ii) legislation proposed to be introduced in the General Assembly.

Code 1950, § 2-92; 1956, c. 387; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-127; 1973, c. 219; 1979, c. 266; 1986, c. 180; 1989, c. 75; 1995, cc. 359, 384; 2001, cc. 118, 844; 2004, c. 729; 2007, c. 217.

The Attorney General may serve in his official capacity on the board of directors of any entity established to ensure the implementation in the Commonwealth of a national tobacco trust established to provide payments to tobacco growers and tobacco quota owners to ameliorate adverse economic consequences resulting from a national settlement of states' claims against tobacco manufacturers.

2000, c. 1048, § 2.1-127.1; 2001, c. 844.

The Attorney General shall establish a Statewide Facilitator for Victims of Domestic Violence within the Office of the Attorney General. The Statewide Facilitator shall have the responsibility to (i) establish an address confidentiality program in accordance with § 2.2-515.2, (ii) assist agencies in implementing domestic violence programs, and (iii) report on the status of such programs to the House Committee on Courts of Justice and the Senate Committee on the Judiciary and the Virginia State Crime Commission by January 1 of each year.

2002, cc. 810, 818; 2007, c. 599; 2008, c. 649; 2011, cc. 97, 172.

A. As used in this section:

"Address" means a residential street address, school address, or work address of a person as specified on the person's application to be a program participant.

"Applicant" means a person who is a victim of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual violence or is a parent or guardian of a minor child or incapacitated person who is the victim of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual violence.

"Domestic violence" means an act as defined in § 38.2-508 and includes threat of such acts committed against an individual in a domestic situation, regardless of whether these acts or threats have been reported to law-enforcement officers. Such threat must be a threat of force which would place any person in reasonable apprehension of death or bodily injury.

"Program participant" means a person certified by the Office of the Attorney General as eligible to participate in the Address Confidentiality Program.

"Sexual or domestic violence programs" means public and not-for-profit agencies the primary mission of which is to provide services to victims of sexual or domestic violence, or stalking. Such programs may also include specialized services for victims of human trafficking.

"Sexual violence" means conduct that is prohibited under clause (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) of § 18.2-48, or § 18.2-61, 18.2-63, 18.2-64.1, 18.2-67.1, 18.2-67.2, 18.2-67.3, 18.2-67.4, 18.2-67.5, 18.2-348, 18.2-348.1, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 18.2-357.1, or 18.2-368, regardless of whether the conduct has been reported to a law-enforcement officer or the assailant has been charged with or convicted of the alleged violation.

"Stalking" means conduct that is prohibited under § 18.2-60.3, regardless of whether the conduct has been reported to a law-enforcement officer or the assailant has been charged with or convicted for the alleged violation.

B. The Statewide Facilitator for Victims of Domestic Violence shall establish a program to be known as the "Address Confidentiality Program" to protect victims of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual violence by authorizing the use of designated addresses for such victims. An individual who is at least 18 years of age, a parent or guardian acting on behalf of a minor, a guardian acting on behalf of an incapacitated person, or an emancipated minor may apply in person at (i) sexual or domestic violence programs that have been accredited by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Program Professional Standards Committee established pursuant to § 9.1-116.3 and are qualified to (a) assist the eligible person in determining whether the address confidentiality program should be part of such person's overall safety plan, (b) explain the address confidentiality program services and limitations, (c) explain the program participant's responsibilities, and, (d) assist the person eligible for participation with the completion of application materials or (ii) crime victim and witness assistance programs. The Office of the Attorney General shall approve an application if it is filed in the manner and on the form prescribed by the Attorney General and if the application contains the following:

1. A sworn statement by the applicant declaring to be true and correct under penalty of perjury that the applicant has good reason to believe that:

a. The applicant, or the minor or incapacitated individual on whose behalf the application is made, is a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking;

b. The applicant fears further acts of violence, stalking, retribution, or intimidation from the applicant's assailant, abuser, or trafficker; and

c. The applicant is not on active parole or probation supervision requirements under federal, state, or local law.

2. A designation of the Office of the Attorney General as agent for the purpose of receiving mail on behalf of the applicant;

3. The applicant's actual address to which mail can be forwarded and a telephone number where the applicant can be called;

4. A listing of any minor children residing at the applicant's actual address, each minor child's date of birth, and each minor child's relationship to the applicant; and

5. The signature of the applicant and any person who assisted in the preparation of the application and the date.

C. Upon approval of a completed application, the Office of the Attorney General shall certify the applicant as a program participant. An applicant shall be certified for three years following the date of the approval, unless the certification is withdrawn or invalidated before that date. A program participant may apply to be recertified every three years.

D. Upon receipt of first-class mail addressed to a program participant, the Attorney General or his designee shall forward the mail to the actual address of the program participant. The actual address of a program participant shall be available only to the Attorney General and to those employees involved in the operation of the Address Confidentiality Program and to law-enforcement officers. A program participant's actual address may be entered into the Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN) system so that it may be made known to law-enforcement officers accessing the VCIN system for law-enforcement purposes.

E. The Office of the Attorney General may cancel a program participant's certification if:

1. The program participant requests withdrawal from the program;

2. The program participant obtains a name change through an order of the court and does not provide notice and a copy of the order to the Office of the Attorney General within seven days after entry of the order;

3. The program participant changes his residence address and does not provide seven days' notice to the Office of the Attorney General prior to the change of address;

4. The mail forwarded by the Office of the Attorney General to the address provided by the program participant is returned as undeliverable;

5. Any information contained in the application is false;

6. The program participant has been placed on parole or probation while a participant in the address confidentiality program; or

7. The applicant is required to register with the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry pursuant to Chapter 9 (§ 9.1-900 et seq.) of Title 9.1.

For purposes of the address confidentiality program, residents of temporary housing for 30 days or less are not eligible to enroll in the address confidentiality program until a permanent residential address is obtained.

The application form shall contain a statement notifying each applicant of the provisions of this subsection.

F. A program participant may request that any state or local agency use the address designated by the Office of the Attorney General as the program participant's address, except when the program participant is purchasing a firearm from a dealer in firearms. The agency shall accept the address designated by the Office of the Attorney General as a program participant's address, unless the agency has received a written exemption from the Office of the Attorney General demonstrating to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that:

1. The agency has a bona fide statutory basis for requiring the program participant to disclose to it the actual location of the program participant; and

2. The disclosed confidential address of the program participant will be used only for that statutory purpose and will not be disclosed or made available in any way to any other person or agency.

A state agency may request an exemption by providing in writing to the Office of the Attorney General identification of the statute or administrative rule that demonstrates the agency's bona fide requirement and authority for the use of the actual address of an individual. A request for a waiver from an agency may be for an individual program participant, a class of program participants, or all program participants. The denial of an agency's exemption request shall be in writing and include a statement of the specific reasons for the denial. Acceptance or denial of an agency's exemption request shall constitute final agency action.

Any state or local agency that discloses the program participant's confidential address provided by the Office of the Attorney General shall be immune from civil liability unless the agency acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct.

A program participant's actual address shall be disclosed pursuant to a court order.

G. Records submitted to or provided by the Office of the Attorney General in accordance with this section shall be exempt from disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.) to the extent such records contain information identifying a past or current program participant, including such person's name, actual and designated address, telephone number, and any email address. However, access shall not be denied to the person who is the subject thereof, or the parent or legal guardian of a program participant in cases where the program participant is a minor child or an incapacitated person, except when the parent or legal guardian is named as the program participant's assailant.

H. Neither the Office of the Attorney General, its officers or employees, or others who have a responsibility to a program participant under this section shall have any liability nor shall any cause of action arise against them in their official or personal capacity from the failure of a program participant to receive any first class mail forwarded to him by the Office of the Attorney General pursuant to this section. Nor shall any such liability or cause of action arise from the failure of a program participant to timely receive any first class mail forwarded by the Office of the Attorney General pursuant to this section.

2007, c. 599; 2008, c. 649; 2011, cc. 97, 172; 2014, c. 439; 2017, c. 498; 2019, c. 458; 2020, c. 829.

The Attorney General shall annually, on or before May 1, deliver to the Governor a report of the state and condition of all important matters in which he has represented the Commonwealth during the preceding year. He shall also include in his report the official opinions rendered by him that he believes to be of general interest or helpful in promoting uniformity in the construction of the laws of the Commonwealth.

Code 1950, § 2-93; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-128; 1988, c. 122; 2001, c. 844.

Article 2. Division of Consumer Counsel.

A. There is created in the Department of Law a Division of Consumer Counsel (the Division) that shall represent the interests of the people as consumers.

B. The duties of the Division shall be to:

1. Appear before governmental commissions, agencies and departments, including the State Corporation Commission, to represent and be heard on behalf of consumers' interests, and investigate such matters relating to such appearance.

2. Make such studies related to enforcing consumer laws of the Commonwealth as deemed necessary to protect the interests of the consumer and recommend to the Governor and General Assembly the enactment of such legislation deemed necessary to promote and protect the interests of the people as consumers.

C. In addition, the Division shall:

1. Establish mechanisms by which to receive complaints and related inquiries from the Commonwealth's consumers involving violations or alleged violations of any law designed to protect the integrity of consumer transactions in the Commonwealth. Such mechanisms shall include establishing a statewide, toll-free telephone hotline to be administered by the Division; publicizing the existence of such hotline through public service announcements on television and radio and in newspapers and other media deemed necessary, convenient, or appropriate; and enhancing electronic communication with the Division through the Internet;

2. Establish and administer programs that facilitate resolution of complaints and related inquiries from the Commonwealth's consumers involving violations or alleged violations of any law designed to protect the integrity of consumer transactions in the Commonwealth. Such programs may utilize paid or unpaid personnel, law schools or other institutions of higher education, community dispute resolution centers, or any other private or public entity, including any local offices of consumer affairs established pursuant to § 15.2-963 that volunteer to participate in a program;

3. Promote consumer education in cooperation with the Department of Education and inform the public of policies, decisions, and legislation affecting consumers;

4. Serve as a central coordinating agency and clearinghouse for receiving and investigating complaints by the Commonwealth's consumers of illegal, fraudulent, deceptive or dangerous practices and referring appropriate complaints to the federal, state, and local departments or agencies charged with enforcement of consumer laws;

5. Maintain records of consumer complaints and their eventual disposition, which records shall be open for public inspection, provided that information disclosing the business interests of any person, trade secrets, or the names of customers shall be held confidential except to the extent that disclosure of such matters may be necessary for the enforcement of laws; and

6. Have the authority, in the same manner as provided in § 59.1-308.2, to inquire into consumer complaints regarding violations of § 46.2-1231 or 46.2-1233.1 involving businesses engaged in towing vehicles or to refer the complaint directly to the appropriate local enforcement officials.

D. In addition, the Division may inquire into consumer complaints involving towing and recovery operators and tow truck drivers regarding violations of § 46.2-118, 46.2-1217, 46.2-1231, or 46.2-1233.1.

E. The Division, in all investigations connected with enforcing consumer laws and appearances before governmental bodies shall, on behalf of the interests of the consumer, cooperate and coordinate its efforts with such commissions, agencies and departments in ensuring that any matters adversely affecting the interests of the consumer are properly controlled and regulated. The appearance of a representative of the Division before any governmental body shall in no way limit or alter the duties of such governmental body.

F. The Attorney General may employ and fix the salaries of such attorneys, employees and consultants, within the amounts appropriated to the Attorney General for providing legal service for the Commonwealth, and other services as may be provided for by law, as he may deem necessary in the operation of the Division of Consumer Counsel to carry out its functions.

1970, c. 781, §§ 2.1-133.1, 2.1-133.3; 2001, c. 844; 2012, cc. 803, 835.

Article 3. Division of Debt Collection.

A. There is created in the Department of Law a Division of Debt Collection that shall provide all legal services and advice related to the collection of funds owed to the Commonwealth, pursuant to § 2.2-507 and the Virginia Debt Collection Act (§ 2.2-4800 et seq.).

The Attorney General may appoint and fix the salaries of such attorneys and employees as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Division, within the amounts appropriated to the Division, and may supplement such funds from appropriations made to his office for the provision of legal services to the Commonwealth.

The Division may retain as special revenue up to 30 percent of receivables collected on behalf of state agencies and may contract with private collection agents for the collection of debts amounting to less than $15,000, as provided in the appropriation act.

B. There is hereby created on the books of the Comptroller a special, nonreverting fund to be known as the Debt Collection Recovery Fund (Fund). The Division shall deposit to the Fund all revenues generated by it, less any cost of recovery, from receivables collected on behalf of state agencies, pursuant to §§ 2.2-4805 and 2.2-4806. The Division shall transfer the remaining funds to the appropriate state agencies on a periodic basis or such other period of time approved by the Division.

C. Any direct payment received by an agency on an account that has been referred for collection to the Division shall be reported to the Division upon receipt by the agency. The agency shall cause the fees due the Division for obtaining the recovery to be reported to and paid to the Division; however, no fees shall be paid to the Division on payments to the agency resulting from the agency's participation in the Setoff Debt Collection Act, Article 21 (§ 58.1-520 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 58.1. The remaining portion of the direct payment shall be retained by the agency.

1990, c. 71, § 2.1-133.4; 2001, c. 844; 2004, c. 919; 2009, c. 797.

A. The Division shall oversee and ensure prompt delivery of the Commonwealth's accounts receivable in accordance with the Virginia Debt Collection Act (§ 2.2-4800 et seq.). The Division shall enforce the policies and procedures as set forth in § 2.2-4806 for reporting, accounting for, and collecting the Commonwealth's delinquent accounts receivable.

B. All agencies and institutions of the Commonwealth shall comply with all requirements established pursuant to § 2.2-4806 and by the Department of Law regarding the collection of the Commonwealth's accounts receivable.

2008, c. 637.

Article 4. Office of Civil Rights.

A. It is the policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia to provide for equal opportunities throughout the Commonwealth to all its citizens, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, familial status, marital status, or status as a veteran and, to that end, to prohibit discriminatory practices with respect to employment, places of public accommodation, including educational institutions, and real estate transactions by any person or group of persons, including state and local law-enforcement agencies, in order that the peace, health, safety, prosperity, and general welfare of all the inhabitants of the Commonwealth be protected and ensured.

B. To carry out this policy, there is created in the Department of Law an Office of Civil Rights (the Office) to assist in the prevention of and relief from alleged unlawful discriminatory practices. The Office exists to investigate and bring actions to combat discrimination based on the protected classes listed in subsection A.

C. The powers and duties of the Office shall be to:

1. Receive, investigate, seek to conciliate, refer to another agency, hold hearings pursuant to the Virginia Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.), and make findings and recommendations upon complaints alleging unlawful discriminatory practices, including complaints alleging a pattern and practice of unlawful discriminatory practices, pursuant to the Virginia Human Rights Act (§ 2.2-3900 et seq.);

2. Adopt, promulgate, amend, and rescind regulations consistent with this article and the provisions of the Virginia Human Rights Act (§ 2.2-3900 et seq.) pursuant to the Virginia Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.). However, the Office shall not have the authority to adopt regulations on a substantive matter when another state agency is authorized to adopt such regulations;

3. Inquire into incidents that may constitute unlawful acts of discrimination or unfounded charges of unlawful discrimination under state or federal law and take such action within the Office's authority designed to prevent such acts;

4. Seek through appropriate enforcement authorities, prevention of or relief from an alleged unlawful discriminatory practice;

5. Appoint and compensate qualified hearing officers from the list of hearing officers maintained by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia;

6. Promote creation of local commissions to aid in effectuating the policies of this article and to enter into cooperative worksharing or other agreements with federal agencies or local commissions, including the deferral of complaints of discrimination to federal agencies or local commissions;

7. Make studies and appoint advisory councils to effectuate the purposes and policies of the article and to make the results thereof available to the public;

8. Accept public grants or private gifts, bequests, or other payments, as appropriate;

9. Receive complaints, seek to conciliate, and inquire into incidents that may constitute an unlawful pattern or practice of conduct by law-enforcement officers that deprives persons of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the laws of the United States and the Commonwealth and take such action within the Office's authority, including requesting the Attorney General to issue a civil investigative demand pursuant to subsection D of § 2.2-511.1, designed to prevent such conduct; and

10. Furnish technical assistance upon request of persons subject to this article to further comply with the article or an order issued thereunder.

1987, c. 581, § 2.1-720; 2001, c. 844, § 2.2-2634; 2004, c. 58; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2020, c. 1140; 2020, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 18, 19; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 196.

Whenever the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that any person has engaged in or is engaging in any unlawful discriminatory practice, he may apply to the judge of the circuit court of the jurisdiction in which the respondent resides or is doing business for a subpoena duces tecum against any person refusing to produce such data and information. The judge of the court, upon good cause shown, may cause the subpoena to be issued. Any person failing to comply with such subpoena shall be subject to punishment for contempt by the court issuing the subpoena. For purposes of this section, "person" includes any individual, partnership, corporation, association, legal representative, mutual company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, employee, employer, employment agency, labor organization, joint labor-management committee, or an agent thereof.

1987, c. 581, § 2.1-721; 2000, c. 64; 2001, c. 844, § 2.2-2635; 2012, cc. 803, 835.

Filing of a written complaint with the Office shall be deemed filing with any state agency for the purpose of complying with any time limitation on the filing of a complaint, provided the time limit for filing with the other agency has not expired. The time limit for filing with other agencies shall be tolled while the Office is either investigating the complaint or making a decision to refer it. Complaints under this article shall be filed with the Office within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory event.

1987, c. 581, § 2.1-722; 2001, c. 844, § 2.2-2636; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 196.

A. The Office shall not make public, prior to a public hearing pursuant to § 2.2-520, investigative notes and other correspondence and information furnished to the Office in confidence with respect to an investigation or conciliation process involving an alleged unlawful discriminatory practice.

B. Nothing in this section, however, shall prohibit the distribution of information taken from inactive reports in a form that does not reveal the identity of the parties involved or other persons supplying information.

1987, c. 581, § 2.1-723; 2001, c. 844, § 2.2-2637; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 196.

A local human rights or human relations commission established prior to the effective date of this article or any predecessor statute may exercise any such additional powers as may have been granted heretofore to that commission pursuant to applicable provisions of §§ 15.2-725, 15.2-853, and 15.2-854 or municipal charter provisions.

1987, c. 581, § 2.1-724; 2000, c. 933; 2001, c. 844, § 2.2-2638; 2012, cc. 803, 835.

Part C. State Agencies Related to the General Operation of Government.

Chapter 6. General Provisions.

Article 1. In General.

Every independent administrative entity established by law and every collegial body established by law or executive order within the executive branch of state government shall be designated according to a standard nomenclature system. The following definitions shall be applied:

"Department" means an independent administrative agency within the executive branch.

"Board" means a permanent collegial body affiliated with an agency.

"Commission" or "Council" means a permanent collegial body either affiliated with more than one agency or independent of an agency within the executive branch.

"Division," "Bureau," "Section," "Unit" or other similar titles shall be reserved for internal groupings within agencies.

"Office" means an administrative office of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General or a governor's secretary.

Exceptions to this standard nomenclature shall be used only for agencies and entities with unique characteristics requiring unique descriptive titles, including museums, libraries and historic or commemorative attractions.

1984, c. 393, § 2.1-1.2; 2001, c. 844.

Each department established in this title shall have the following general powers to:

1. Employ such personnel as may be required to carry out the respective purposes for which such department was created;

2. Make and enter into contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and execution of its powers under this title;

3. Accept grants from the United States government and agencies and instrumentalities thereof and any other source. To these ends, each department shall have the power to comply with the conditions and execute the agreements necessary, convenient, or desirable; and

4. Do all acts necessary or convenient to carry out the respective purposes for which the department was created.

1968, c. 223, § 2.1-63.2; 1974, c. 420, § 2.1-372; 1976, cc. 760, 761, §§ 2.1-114.4, 2.1-390; 1982, c. 345; 1984, cc. 728, 746, §§ 2.1-563.16, 2.1-708; 1985, cc. 72, 265, § 2.1-234.31; 1988, c. 839, § 2.1-738; 1995, c. 357; 1996, c. 727; 1997, c. 858; 1998, c. 808; 1999, cc. 342, 412, 421, 433; 2000, cc. 483, 491; 2001, c. 844.

Whenever in this title a state agency is required to send any mail or notice by certified mail and such mail or notice is sent certified mail, return receipt requested, then any subsequent, identical mail or notice that is sent by such agency may be sent by regular mail.

As used in this section, "state agency" means the same as that term is defined in § 2.2-4347.

2011, c. 566.

A. The heads of state agencies shall be the appointing authorities of the respective agencies, and shall establish and maintain within their agencies methods of administration relating to the establishment and maintenance of personnel standards on a merit basis that are approved by the Governor for the proper and efficient enforcement of the Virginia Personnel Act (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.). But the Governor shall exercise no authority with respect to the selection or tenure of office of any individual employed in accordance with such methods, except when the Governor is the appointing authority.

Appointing authorities may assign to the personnel officers or to other officers and employees of their agencies such personnel duties as they see fit.

Agencies shall establish and maintain rosters of their employees that shall set forth, as to each employee, the class title, pay, and status and such other data as they may deem desirable to produce significant facts pertaining to personnel administration.

Agencies shall establish and maintain such promotion and employment lists, rated according to merit and fitness, as they deem desirable. Agencies may make use of the employment list kept by the Department of Human Resource Management in lieu of keeping employment lists for their agencies.

Agencies shall supply the Governor with any information he deems necessary for the performance of his duties in connection with the administration of Virginia Personnel Act (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.).

B. The heads of state agencies shall establish and maintain a comprehensive diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic plan in coordination with the Governor's Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

The plan shall integrate the diversity, equity, and inclusion goals into the agency's mission, operations, programs, and infrastructure to enhance equitable opportunities for the populations served by the agency and to foster an increasingly diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace environment.

The plan shall include best practices that (i) proactively address potential barriers to equal employment opportunities pursuant to federal and state equal employment opportunity laws; (ii) foster pay equity pursuant to federal and state equal pay laws; (iii) promote diversity and equity in hiring, promotion, retention, succession planning, and agency leadership opportunities; and (iv) promote employee engagement and inclusivity in the workplace.

Each agency shall establish an infrastructure to effectively support ongoing progress and accountability in achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion goals in coordination with the Governor's Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Each agency shall submit an annual report to the Governor assessing the impact of the strategic plan on the populations served by the agency and on the agency's workforce and budget.

1976, c. 761, § 2.1-114.7; 2000, cc. 66, 657; 2001, c. 844; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 168.

A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the agency director of each agency in the executive branch of state government shall have the power and duty to (i) supervise and manage the department or agency and (ii) prepare, approve, and submit to the Governor all requests for appropriations and to be responsible for all expenditures pursuant to appropriations.

B. The director of each agency in the executive branch of state government, except those that by law are appointed by their respective boards, shall not proscribe any agency employee from discussing the functions and policies of the agency, without prior approval from his supervisor or superior, with any person unless the information to be discussed is protected from disclosure by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.) or any other provision of state or federal law.

C. Subsection A shall not be construed to restrict any other specific or general powers and duties of executive branch boards granted by law.

D. This section shall not apply to those agency directors that are appointed by their respective boards or by the Board of Education. Directors appointed in this manner shall have the powers and duties assigned by law or by the board.

E. In addition to the requirements of subsection C of § 2.2-619, the director of each agency in any branch of state government shall, at the end of each fiscal year, report to (i) the Secretary of Finance and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations a listing and general description of any federal contract, grant, or money in excess of $1 million for which the agency was eligible, whether or not the agency applied for, accepted, and received such contract, grant, or money, and, if not, the reasons therefore and the dollar amount and corresponding percentage of the agency's total annual budget that was supplied by funds from the federal government and (ii) the Chairmen of the House Committees on Appropriations and Finance, and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations any amounts owed to the agency from any source that are more than six months delinquent, the length of such delinquencies, and the total of all such delinquent amounts in each six-month interval. Clause (i) shall not be required of public institutions of higher education.

F. Notwithstanding subsection D, the director of every agency and department in the executive branch of state government, including those appointed by their respective boards or the Board of Education, shall be responsible for securing the electronic data held by his agency or department and shall comply with the requirements of the Commonwealth's information technology security and risk-management program as set forth in § 2.2-2009.

G. The director of every department in the executive branch of state government shall have the power and duty to comply with the provisions of § 2.2-1209.

1985, c. 212, § 2.1-20.01:1; 1992, c. 672; 1995, c. 219; 1996, c. 98; 1997, c. 491; 1999, cc. 70, 892; 2001, c. 844; 2004, cc. 488, 638; 2015, cc. 261, 768; 2017, c. 527; 2022, cc. 626, 627.

The chief executive officer shall be responsible for any duty or task imposed upon his agency. The chief executive officer may delegate or assign to any officer or employee of his agency any tasks required to be performed by him or the agency and, in the case of an agency with a supervisory board, such board may delegate or assign the tasks. Except as otherwise provided by law, the chief executive officer may also delegate to any officer or employee of any state or quasi-state agency nondiscretionary duties conferred or imposed upon the chief executive officer or his agency by law where the delegation of duties is necessary to achieve efficiency and economy in the administration of government. The chief executive officer or supervisory board delegating or assigning tasks shall remain responsible for the performance of such tasks.

Any delegation pursuant to this section shall, where appropriate, be accompanied by written guidelines for the exercise of the tasks delegated. Where appropriate, the guidelines shall require that agency heads receive summaries of actions taken. Such delegation shall not relieve the chief executive officer or supervisory board of the responsibility to ensure faithful performance of the duties and tasks.

1988, c. 273, § 2.1-20.01:2; 2001, c. 844; 2005, c. 839.

The head of each state agency shall designate an existing employee who shall be responsible for reviewing policy and program decisions under consideration by the agency in light of the effect of such decisions on senior citizens and adults with disabilities. The designated employee shall advise and alert the agency head of opportunities to make policies, programs, and regulations senior-friendly and disability-friendly.

2006, c. 345.

A. The head of each state agency shall designate an existing employee, known as an energy manager, who shall be responsible for implementing improvements to state buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency and climate change resiliency.

B. The energy manager shall:

1. Maintain a list of the facilities owned and leased by his agency, including buildings and interior spaces. Such list shall indicate energy usage and any prior energy audit or energy saving performance contract.

2. Enter energy and water consumption and building-related information into the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account for any building or facility over 5,000 square feet, beginning with the largest facilities not yet accounted for, as follows:

a. By January 1, 2021, five percent of agency facilities;

b. By January 1, 2022, 20 percent of agency facilities;

c. By January 1, 2023, 45 percent of agency facilities;

d. By January 1, 2024, 70 percent of agency facilities; and

e. By January 1, 2025, 100 percent of agency facilities.

3. By January 1, 2021, or as each utility account is established, whichever is later, coordinate with the Department of Energy to link utility accounts to the state portfolio master account and to provide to the Department of Energy access to such ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account.

4. On an ongoing basis, identify priority buildings and spaces for energy audits or energy saving performance contracts. In determining priorities, the energy manager may consider how energy usage may be reduced and the feasibility of installing energy saving or on-site renewable energy systems.

5. Provide to the Department of Energy the priority building list on an annual basis.

2020, c. 961; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 532.

When any officer in charge of or at the head of any division or department of the state government shall, because of sickness or for any other reason, be unable to perform the duties of his office and no provision is made for someone, or for the appointment of someone, to exercise the powers and perform the duties of such office while the officer is sick or unable to act, the Governor may appoint some person temporarily to fill such office as acting head or in charge of such division or department, who shall after qualifying exercise the powers and perform the duties of such office until the incumbent returns or the office is otherwise filled.

Code 1950, § 2-16; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-20; 2001, c. 844.

In the formulation and implementation of policies and regulations, each department and division of the executive branch and those boards affiliated with a state agency within the executive branch of state government shall consider the impact of the policies and regulations on family formation, stability, and autonomy. This section shall not be construed to confer a right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the Commonwealth, its agencies, officers, or any other person.

1995, c. 530, § 2.1-7.2; 2001, c. 844.

A. Whenever a state employee is transferred for a limited period of time from one state agency to another without transferring appropriations, as may be provided by law, the transfer shall be reported by the transferring agency to the Department of Human Resource Management, including the name and classification of the employee, the name of the transferring and receiving agencies and the length of time of transfer. If, at a subsequent time, the length of time is shortened or extended, a subsequent report of that fact shall also be submitted.

B. A consolidated report of all current transfers and all that have begun and ended within the preceding three-month period shall be prepared as of the first day of each January, April, July and October. A copy of each report shall be submitted to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations and the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget no later than three working days after the effective date of the report.

1982, c. 414, § 2.1-114.7:1; 2000, cc. 66, 657; 2001, c. 844.

A. Agencies, institutions, collegial bodies, and other governmental entities that are specifically required by the Code of Virginia to report annually or biennially to the Governor and General Assembly shall post such annual or biennial reports on the respective entity's website on or before October 1 of each year, unless otherwise specified. No hard copies of annual and biennial reports shall be printed except in instances where copies are requested by a member of the General Assembly in accordance with the provisions of § 30-34.4:1. The Governor may require any agency to furnish an annual or biennial report in a written or electronic format.

B. Each state entity required to submit a report to multiple legislative branch entities pursuant to subsection C may develop a single consolidated report containing the required information. Such report shall be (i) formatted to comply with any specific reporting requirement, and (ii) provided in a manner designed to clearly delineate each legislative branch entity for which specific information is provided.

C. Any agency, institution, collegial body, or other governmental entity outside of the legislative branch of government required to submit a report to the General Assembly or any committee, subcommittee, commission, agency, or other body within the legislative branch or to the chairman or agency head of such entity shall distribute a copy of such report to each member of the General Assembly who requests a copy in accordance with the provisions of § 30-34.4:1. A consolidated report developed pursuant to subsection B shall satisfy any reporting requirement under this subsection. The cost of printing and distributing reports shall be borne by the reporting entity or its supporting agency.

D. Any agency, institution, collegial body, or other governmental entity outside of the legislative branch of government required to submit a report to (i) the General Assembly or any committee, subcommittee, commission, agency, or other body within the legislative branch or (ii) the chairman or agency head of any such entity shall make such reports available as read-only and text-searchable Portable Document Format (.pdf) files or some other widely used and accessible read-only and text-searchable electronic document format. All requests for such reports shall be made electronically unless expressly requested otherwise.

1984, c. 734, § 2.1-2.1; 2001, c. 844; 2004, c. 650; 2009, c. 550; 2011, c. 845; 2012, c. 434; 2020, c. 421.

Publications, as defined in § 42.1-93, of any agency, institution, collegial body, or other governmental entity shall be available as read-only and text-searchable Portable Document Format (.pdf) files or some other widely used and accessible read-only and text-searchable electronic document format. All requests for such publications shall be made electronically unless expressly requested otherwise.

2020, c. 421.

A. Pursuant to the State Publications Depository Program (§ 42.1-92 et seq.), every agency, institution, collegial body, or other state governmental entity of any branch of government shall furnish a maximum of 20 copies of each of its publications, as defined in § 42.1-93, or, if authorized by the Library, other publication information as may be designated by the Library to facilitate the acquisition and distribution of publications, regardless of physical form or characteristics.

B. Every agency, institution, collegial body, or other state governmental entity of any branch of government shall provide information requested by the Library to assist in the publication of an annual catalog of state agency publications as required by § 42.1-95 of the State Publications Depository Program.

C. For purposes of this section, "Library" means The Library of Virginia.

1977, c. 672, §§ 2.1-467.2, 2.1-467.4; 1979, c. 403; 1981, c. 234; 1992, c. 181; 1994, c. 64; 1998, c. 427; 2001, c. 844; 2004, cc. 28, 152; 2006, c. 59.

All agencies and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth shall provide, at no cost, copies of documents requested by the Department of State Police or other law-enforcement officers as part of an active criminal investigation.

"Law-enforcement officer" means the same as that term is defined in § 9.1-101.

1997, c. 44, § 2.1-2.2; 2001, c. 844.

A. Any department, agency, bureau or institution of the Commonwealth may (i) accept grants of funds made by the United States government or any department or agency thereof, to be applied to purposes within the functions of such state department, agency, bureau or institution, and (ii) administer and expend such funds for the purposes for which they are granted.

B. The State Treasurer is appointed custodian of all such funds, and shall disburse them on warrants issued by the Comptroller for the department, agency, bureau or institution for whose use they are granted.

Code 1950, §§ 2-3, 2-4; 1966, c. 677, §§ 2.1-3, 2.1-4; 2001, c. 844.

A. No agency, board, commission or other entity of the Commonwealth shall take any action to reduce or discontinue a service that it performs for a local government or reduce or discontinue any form of financial assistance to a local government without first notifying all affected local governments at least 90 days in advance of the proposed action. However, in emergencies, certified by the Governor for executive branch agencies or by the chief administrative officer for any other entity of the Commonwealth, such action may be taken immediately following the notice.

B. The provisions of subsection A shall not apply to any action taken by an executive branch agency or other entity of the Commonwealth pursuant to a specific legislative requirement, agreement or contract negotiated with a local government, the application of a statute prescribing periodic adjustments in state financial assistance, workforce reduction resulting from diminished appropriation or legislated early retirement provisions, or judicial decree.

C. Nothing in subsection A shall apply to any officer who receives funding under § 15.2-1636.7 or who may appeal Compensation Board budget decisions under § 15.2-1636.9 or § 15.2-1636.10, or to those payments made to localities in accordance with §§ 53.1-20.1, 53.1-83.1, 53.1-84, or § 53.1-85.

1997, c. 859, § 2.1-7.3; 2001, c. 844; 2004, cc. 34, 155.

Repealed by Acts 2019, c. 615, cl. 2.

The person in charge of any state institution or agency that raises purebred livestock may, when any of the livestock are to be slaughtered, sell the same to any person desiring to acquire the livestock for breeding purposes, provided the interests of the institution or agency will not be adversely affected by the sale.

1958, c. 586, § 2-4.3; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-7; 2001, c. 844.

A. Subject to § 19.2-353.3, any public body that is responsible for revenue collection, including, but not limited to, taxes, interest, penalties, fees, fines or other charges, may accept payment of any amount due by any commercially acceptable means, including, but not limited to, checks, credit cards, debit cards, and electronic funds transfers.

B. The public body may add to any amount due a sum, not to exceed the amount charged to that public body for acceptance of any payment by a means that incurs a charge to that public body or the amount negotiated and agreed to in a contract with that public body, whichever is less. Any state agency imposing such additional charges shall waive them when the use of these means of payment reduces processing costs and losses due to bad checks or other receivable costs by an amount equal to or greater than the amount of such additional charges.

C. If any check or other means of payment tendered to a public body in the course of its duties is not paid by the financial institution on which it is drawn, because of insufficient funds in the account of the drawer, no account is in the name of the drawer, or the account of the drawer is closed, and the check or other means of payment is returned to the public body unpaid, the amount thereof shall be charged to the person on whose account it was received, and his liability and that of his sureties, shall be as if he had never offered any such payment. A penalty of $35 or the amount of any costs, whichever is greater, shall be added to such amount. This penalty shall be in addition to any other penalty provided by law, except the penalty imposed by § 58.1-12 shall not apply.

2002, c. 719; 2004, c. 565.

A. For purposes of this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section except in those instances where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

"Biometric data" means information relating to a biological characteristic of an individual that makes that individual unique from any other individual, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Fingerprints, palm prints, and other means for measuring or recording ridge pattern or fingertip characteristics;

2. Facial feature pattern characteristics;

3. Behavior characteristics of a handwritten signature, such as shape, speed, pressure, pen angle, or sequence;

4. Voice data used for comparing live speech with a previously created speech model of an individual's voice;

5. Iris recognition data containing color or texture patterns or codes;

6. Keystroke dynamics, measuring pressure applied to key pads;

7. Hand geometry, measuring hand characteristics, including the shape and length of fingers, in three dimensions;

8. Retinal scans, reading through the pupil to measure blood vessels lining the retina; and

9. Deoxyribonucleic acid or ribonucleic acid.

"Biometric samples" means anything used as a source to develop, create, or extract biometric data.

"Economic privacy" means the privacy of an individual that relates to a right, privilege, or reasonable expectation that certain information is required by law to be held confidential or is otherwise considered to be confidential to that individual, including, but not limited to:

1. Information included in a tax return required by law to be filed with the federal, state, or local government;

2. Information on financial transactions conducted by or on behalf of the individual; and

3. Information on investment transactions conducted by or on behalf of the individual.

"REAL ID Act of 2005" means Division B of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005 (P.L. 109-13, 119 Stat. 302).

B. With the exception of identification cards issued to employees of the Department of State Police and any other law-enforcement officer employed by any agency of the Commonwealth, neither the Governor nor the Department of Motor Vehicles nor any other agency of the Commonwealth shall comply with any provision of the REAL ID Act of 2005 that they determine would compromise the economic privacy, biometric data, or biometric samples of any resident of the Commonwealth.

2009, cc. 733, 769.

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, no agency of the Commonwealth as defined in § 8.01-385, political subdivision of the Commonwealth as defined in § 8.01-385, employee of either acting in his official capacity, or member of the Virginia National Guard or Virginia Defense Force, when such a member is serving in the Virginia National Guard or the Virginia Defense Force on official state duty, shall knowingly aid an agency of the armed forces of the United States in the detention of any citizen pursuant to 50 U.S.C. § 1541 as provided by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (P.L. 112-81, § 1021) if such aid would knowingly place any state agency, political subdivision, employee of such state agency or political subdivision, or aforementioned member of the Virginia National Guard or the Virginia Defense Force in violation of the United States Constitution, the Constitution of Virginia, any provision of the Code of Virginia, any act of the General Assembly, or any regulation of the Virginia Administrative Code.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to participation by state or local law enforcement or Virginia National Guard or Virginia Defense Force in joint task forces, partnerships, or other similar cooperative agreements with federal law enforcement as long as they are not for the purpose of participating in such detentions under § 1021 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.

2012, c. 792.

A government agency shall not require any charitable organization to:

1. Disclose individual demographic information concerning employees, officers, directors, trustees, members, or owners, without the prior written consent of such individuals;

2. Disclose individual demographic information concerning any person, or the employees, officers, directors, trustees, members or owners of any entity that has received monetary or in-kind contributions from or contracted with a charitable organization without the prior written consent of such individuals;

3. Include in the membership of the governing board or officers of the charitable organization an individual based on his demographic characteristics;

4. Prohibit an individual from serving as a board member or officer based upon the individual's familial relationship to other board members or officers or to a donor;

5. Include in the membership of the governing board one or more individuals who do not share a familial relationship with other board members or officers or with the donor; or

6. Distribute its funds to or contract with any individual or entity based upon the demographic characteristics of the employees, officers, directors, trustees, members, or owners of the individual or entity, or based on populations, locations, or communities served by the individual or entity, except as a lawful condition on the expenditure of the funds imposed by the donor.

As used in this section:

"Charitable organization" means any nonstock corporate or other entity that has been granted tax-exempt status under § 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

"Government agency" means any authority, board, department, instrumentality, institution, agency, or other unit of state government and any county, city, or town.

Nothing in this section shall prohibit a government agency from obtaining information from a charitable organization pursuant to a subpoena, civil investigative demand, or other compulsory process. Nothing in this section shall alter or limit the filing requirements applicable to charitable organizations under Chapter 8 (§ 18.2-325 et seq.) of Title 18.2 or Chapter 5 (§ 57-48 et seq.) of Title 57.

2011, c. 873.

A. As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Commercial activities list" means the list developed by the Department of Planning and Budget in accordance with § 2.2-1501.1.

"Governmental agency" means any authority, board, department, instrumentality, institution, agency, or other unit of state government and any county, city, or town or local or regional governmental authority.

B. Any state governmental agency that intends to purchase services for an amount over $25,000 from another governmental agency, which service is found on the commercial activities list, shall post notice on the Department of General Services' central electronic procurement system under the "Future Procurement" listing.

C. Any local governmental agency that intends to purchase services for an amount over $25,000 from another governmental agency, which service is found on the commercial activities list, shall post notice on its public government website where all public notices for procurement opportunities are located or on the Department of General Services' central electronic procurement system under the "Future Procurement" listing.

D. In addition to the notice requirement in subsection C, any such governmental agency shall provide the opportunity for comment by or the submission of information from the private sector on each such intended purchase.

E. Any state governmental agency that purchases goods or services from another governmental agency, including those found on the commercial activities list, shall place the purchase orders for such goods and services on the Department of General Services' central electronic procurement system. Institutions of higher education authorized in accordance with the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act (§ 23.1-1000 et seq.) shall provide government-to-government purchase order data through interface or integration with the Department of General Services' central electronic procurement system. The Department of General Services shall publish on its central electronic procurement system website a government-to-government transaction transparency report.

F. The provisions of this section shall not apply to mandatory purchases pursuant to § 53.1-47 or contracts specifically exempted pursuant to Article 3 (§ 2.2-4343 et seq.) of the Virginia Public Procurement Act.

G. The provisions of subsections B and C shall not apply to services provided by central service state agencies, activities operated as an internal service fund of the Commonwealth, or purchases from public institutions of higher education.

2015, c. 736; 2016, c. 680.

Each agency, as defined in § 2.2-128, may locate and operate a retail fee-based electric vehicle charging station on any property or facility that such agency controls if the electric vehicle charging services are offered at prevailing market rates. For the purposes of this section, "prevailing market rates" means rates that include applicable taxes and are similar to those generally available to consumers in competitive areas for the same services.

2019, c. 248; 2020, c. 490.

Article 2. Implementation of Federal Mandates Act.

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Implementation of Federal Mandates Act".

1995, c. 604, § 2.1-795; 2001, c. 844.

A. In enacting this chapter, the General Assembly employs its legislative authority to establish that the people of Virginia, acting through their elected officials in Virginia government, have the responsibility and authority to establish policy in and for Virginia pertaining to federal programs mandated in federal statutes.

B. The intent of the General Assembly is to assure the primacy of the Commonwealth's legal and political authority to implement in and for Virginia the policy mandated by federal statutes and to vigorously challenge and scrutinize the extent and scope of authority asserted by federal executive branch agencies when federal agency actions and interpretations are inconsistent with Virginia policy and exceed the lawful authority of the federal government or are not required by federal law.

C. In this connection the General Assembly finds and declares that:

1. The power to implement federal policies in and for Virginia is central to the ability of the people of Virginia to govern themselves under a federal system of government; and

2. Any implementation of federal policies in and for Virginia by federal executive branch agencies that is contrary to fundamental notions of federalism and self-determination must be identified and countered.

D. The General Assembly further finds and declares that:

1. There is an urgent need to modify federal mandates because the implementation of these mandates by the Commonwealth wastes the financial resources of local governments, the citizens of Virginia and the Commonwealth and does not properly respect the rights of the Commonwealth, local governments, and citizens.

2. The state government has an obligation to the public to do what is necessary to protect the rights of Virginia citizens under federal law while minimizing or eliminating any additional cost or regulatory burden on any citizen of the Commonwealth.

3. The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution directs that powers that are not delegated to the United States are reserved to the states or to the people. Virginia, as one of the sovereign states within the Union, has constitutional authority to enact laws protecting the environment of the Commonwealth and safeguarding the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Virginia. However, this authority has too often been ignored by the federal government, as the federal government has intruded more and more into areas that must be left to the states. It is essential that the dilution of the authority of state and local governments be halted and that the provisions of the Tenth Amendment be accorded proper respect.

4. Current federal regulatory mandates, as reflected in federal administrative regulations, guidelines, and policies, often do not reflect the realities of Virginia and federal regulators frequently do not understand the needs and priorities of the citizens of Virginia.

5. The citizens of the Commonwealth can create and wish to create innovative solutions to Virginia's problems, but the current manner in which legal challenges to state policies and federal programmatic substitutions of state programs are handled does not allow the Commonwealth the flexibility it needs. It is not possible for the Commonwealth of Virginia to effectively and efficiently implement the provisions of federal statutes unless the burden to prove the insufficiency of the Commonwealth's efforts to implement federal requirements is shifted to the person or agency who asserts such insufficiency.

6. The provisions of this chapter will better balance the exercise of the powers of the federal government and the powers reserved to the states. In addition, the application of this chapter ultimately will bring about greater protection for the Commonwealth and the nation because it will direct the Commonwealth to implement federal statutes at the least possible cost, thereby freeing more moneys for other needs.

7. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure that federal mandates implemented in Virginia comply with state policy as established by the General Assembly.

1995, c. 604, § 2.1-796; 2001, c. 844.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:

"Federal statute" means a federal statute that is in accord with the United States Constitution imposing mandates on state or local governments, which may include, but is not limited to, the following:

1. The Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300f, et seq., as amended;

2. The Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401, et seq., as amended;

3. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251, et seq., as amended;

4. The Solid Waste Disposal Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3251, et seq., as amended;

5. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, 42 U.S.C. § 6901, et seq., as amended;

6. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. § 9601, et seq., as amended;

7. The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, P.L. 99-499, as amended;

8. The Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. § 1531, et seq., as amended;

9. The Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Statute, 20 U.S.C. § 4011, et seq., as amended;

10. The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993, P.L. 101-336, as amended;

11. The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, 49 U.S.C. § 2501, et seq., as amended;

12. The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, P.L. 103-3, as amended;

13. The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, P.L. 99-145 and 99-499, as amended;

14. The Federal, State, and Local Partnership for Education Improvement Program, 20 U.S.C. § 1751, et seq., as amended;

15. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended;

16. The Federal School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 and 1773, P.L. 101-336, as amended;

17. The Federal Social Services and Medicaid Requirements, 42 U.S.C. § 1396, et seq., as amended;

18. The Federal Highway Safety Programs; and

19. The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, P.L. 102-240, as amended.

1995, c. 604, § 2.1-797; 2001, c. 844.

Any agency of the executive branch of state government that is authorized to develop a state program to implement any mandates contained in a federal statute shall develop the state program and adopt any necessary regulations using the following criteria:

1. State programs shall be developed by the agency to meet the requirements of federal statutes in good faith with a critical view toward any federal regulations, guidelines, or policies.

2. State programs shall be developed with due consideration of the financial restraints of the Commonwealth, local governments, and the citizens of Virginia.

3. Any state program that implements the goals of the federal statute shall use the most efficient method possible with careful consideration given to cost of the program and the impact of the program on Virginia citizens and local governments, and the long-range public health, safety, and welfare of citizens of the Commonwealth.

1995, c. 604, § 2.1-798; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Governor shall report to the General Assembly regarding the proposed implementation of this section.

B. If any state program is authorized or mandated by a federal statute, no state funds for the program shall be appropriated unless:

1. The state program is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare;

2. The state program is necessary to implement the federal statute;

3. The operation of the state program benefits the state by providing a cost-effective implementation of the federal statute by the Commonwealth, local government, and business; or

4. The state program benefits the Commonwealth, local government, and business by providing a cost-effective means to meet a higher public health, safety, and welfare standard established under state law.

C. Each agency making a budget request for state appropriations for a state program authorized or mandated by federal statute shall include in its budget request citations to the federal constitutional provisions and the state constitutional or statutory provisions that authorize the state program. The Governor shall review the budget request and determine whether additional state statutory authority is required in order to implement the state program and shall make recommendations to the General Assembly.

D. The General Assembly, after receiving a recommendation from the Governor, shall determine whether a state program is necessary and whether federal constitutional authority and state constitutional or statutory authority exist. The General Assembly shall review toward the interpretation of the federal statute found in federal regulations, guidelines, or policies. Appropriation of state funds for a state program shall constitute the General Assembly's determination that the state program is necessary and that federal constitutional authority and state constitutional or statutory authority exist. State appropriations may not be based solely on requirements found in regulations, guidelines, or policies of a federal agency.

E. Prior to recommending to the General Assembly any budget for an agency that is charged with implementing federal mandates, the Governor shall request that the agency provide information to the Department of Planning and Budget regarding any monetary savings for the state and any reduction in regulatory burdens on the public and on local governments that could be or have been achieved through the development of state policies that meet the intent of the federal statute but do not necessarily follow all applicable federal regulations, guidelines, or policies. The agency shall also provide advice to the Department of Planning and Budget regarding any changes in law that are necessary to provide the agency with the authority to implement state policies in such a way as to create additional savings or greater reductions in regulatory burdens. The Department of Planning and Budget shall review and compile the information received from agencies pursuant to this section and shall include recommendations in the executive budget.

F. For purposes of this section, "state program" shall not include any portion of a program that is funded with nontax or nonfee revenue, or both, which state authorities are required to administer in a trusteeship or custodial capacity and that are not subject to appropriation by the General Assembly.

1995, c. 604, § 2.1-799; 2001, c. 844.

A. For administrative purposes, the area that encompasses the seat of government of the Commonwealth shall be referred to as the "Capitol District."

B. The term "Capitol District" shall be geographically defined as the area in Richmond, Virginia, contained within the centerline of East Broad Street between its intersections with the centerline of Eighth Street and the Interstate 95 overpass, the centerline of Eighth Street between its intersections with the centerlines of East Broad Street and Main Street, the centerline of Main Street between its intersections with the centerline of Eighth Street and the Interstate 95 overpass, and the overpass of Interstate 95 between its intersections with the centerlines of East Broad Street and Main Street, and all buildings and property owned or leased by the Commonwealth within such area.

C. Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict (i) the authority of the legislative, executive, or judicial branch of state government in the administration of its employees or facilities within the Capitol District or to grant any additional authority or responsibility to any government agency or entity (ii) the law-enforcement authority of the police department of the City of Richmond within the Department's jurisdiction.

2008, c. 548.

A. A state agency may require that as a condition of receiving any grant or other incentive that is based on employment goals, a recipient company must provide copies of employer quarterly payroll reports that have been provided to the Virginia Employment Commission to verify the employment status of any position included in the employment goal.

B. In assessing the compliance of a recipient company in creating new jobs as a condition of receiving or maintaining a grant or incentive, a state agency may include new jobs related to the activities of the recipient company or its affiliates in satisfying the terms of the grant or incentive (i) at sites in the Commonwealth owned or used by the recipient company or its affiliates or (ii) created by or on behalf of the recipient company or its affiliates, including teleworking positions held by Virginia residents who are employees of the recipient company or its affiliates.

C. As used in this section, "state agency" means the same as that term is defined in § 2.2-4347.

2013, c. 547; 2019, c. 512.

Chapter 7. Department for the Aging [Repealed].

Repealed by Acts 2012, cc. 803 and 835, cl. 60.

Chapter 8. Department of Accounts.

Article 1. General Provisions.

A. There is created a Department of Accounts (the "Department"). The Director of the Department shall be known as the Comptroller. He shall be appointed by the Governor to serve at his pleasure.

B. The Comptroller shall, under the direction and control of the Governor, exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred or imposed upon him by law and perform such other duties as may be required by the Governor.

C. The Comptroller, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take an oath that he will faithfully and honestly execute the duties of his office.

Code 1950, §§ 2-160, 2-161; 1958, c. 124; 1966, c. 677, §§ 2.1-192, 2.1-194; 1976, c. 728; 1984, c. 720; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Comptroller shall appoint the administrative assistants, deputies and clerks allowed by law.

B. The Comptroller shall appoint administrative assistants, who shall have authority to act for and perform the duties of the Comptroller under his direction, supervision and control, and in the absence of the Comptroller to perform all the duties of the office. Of such absence, the others shall be informed. When the absence of the Comptroller is to be for more than five days at a time, notice thereof shall be given to the Governor.

C. In the event the administrative assistant is incapacitated from performing his duties during the absence of the Comptroller, the Governor shall designate some other person in the office to act during the absence of the Comptroller, and in the event of the removal, resignation or death of the Comptroller, the administrative assistant shall perform all the duties of the office until the vacancy is filled in the manner prescribed by law.

D. Such officers and their sureties shall be liable for any default or breach of duty of their administrative assistants respectively during their absence.

1950, §§ 2-145, 2-146, 2-147, 2-148; 1966, c. 677, §§ 2.1-173, 2.1-174, 2.1-175, 2.1-176; 2001, c. 844.

In the Department the Comptroller shall maintain a complete system of general accounting to comprehend the financial transactions of every state department, division, officer, board, commission, institution or other agency owned or controlled by the Commonwealth, whether at the seat of government or not. All transactions in public funds shall clear through the Comptroller's office.

Code 1950, § 2-162; 1958, c. 124; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-195; 2001, c. 844.

A. Unified financial accounting and control shall be established through the departments and agencies of the Commonwealth, in the manner prescribed in this chapter.

The Comptroller shall prescribe what accounts shall be kept by each state agency in addition to the system of general accounting maintained in the Comptroller's office. In prescribing what accounts shall be kept by each state agency, the Comptroller shall take care that there shall be no unnecessary duplication.

B. The Comptroller shall direct the development of a modern, effective and uniform system of bookkeeping and accounting, to include (i) an efficient system of checks and balances between the officers at the seat of the government entrusted with the collection and receipt, custody and disbursement of the revenues of the Commonwealth; and (ii) a system of accounting, applicable to all state officers, departments, boards, commissions, agencies, and penal, educational and eleemosynary institutions maintained in whole or in part by the Commonwealth, which shall be suitable to their respective needs, considering their relation to each other and their relation to subordinate officers and officials. All systems so developed shall require the approval and certification of the Auditor of Public Accounts that they are adequate for purposes of audit and financial control.

As to the collection of debts owed, the system of bookkeeping and accounting shall permit any state agency to refrain from collecting any amount owed to it if the administrative cost of collection likely would exceed the amount owed. The Comptroller shall develop other policies and procedures to reduce the costs of collecting debts owed to state agencies.

As to the operation of merchandising activities, or other centralized support services provided by one state agency to other state agencies for which charges are made, the system of accounting shall be designed to reflect all charges properly allocable so that the net profit or loss therefrom shall be reflected. In the furtherance of this objective the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission may direct the Comptroller to establish under such terms and conditions as they may determine internal service fund accounts on his books and record therein the receipts and expenditures of these several functions. The Comptroller shall provide the agencies responsible for the operations of these functions with working capital advances with which to finance the operations pursuant to appropriations made by law. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission may direct the Comptroller to transfer excess fund balances to the general fund or to remove from his books internal service fund accounts that are no longer considered appropriate and record the necessary transfer of funds.

Unit prices of services rendered by internal service funds shall be fixed so that all costs properly allocable to providing the service shall be fully recoverable.

C. The Comptroller shall maintain a full explanation of all systems of accounting devised and adopted in furtherance of this section, but no copyright system shall be adopted that shall entail additional cost upon the Commonwealth by reason of such copyright. The systems of accounting shall be communicated by the Comptroller to the officials affected thereby, and he shall as soon as possible instruct the officials as to the systems of accounting.

D. Should any of the state offices, departments, boards, commissions, agencies, or institutions refuse or neglect to adopt the systems of accounting developed by the Comptroller, then upon suit of the Attorney General a writ of mandamus will lie to the Supreme Court to compel the adoption. It shall be the duty of the Attorney General to promptly institute such suit in any such case.

1975, c. 323, § 2.1-196.1; 1976, c. 533; 1984, c. 612; 2001, c. 844; 2006, c. 340.

A. The College of William and Mary in Virginia; George Mason University; James Madison University; Old Dominion University; the University of Virginia, including the College at Wise; Virginia Commonwealth University; Virginia Military Institute; and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University shall each process the payroll of its respective employees as provided in the memoranda of understanding between the Department of Accounts and each such institution implementing a pilot program granting relief from rules, regulations, and reporting requirements pursuant to subdivision E 1 of Item 330 of Chapter 966 of the Acts of Assembly of 1994 as continued in effect by subsection B of Item 271 of Chapter 899 of the Acts of Assembly of 2002.

B. The College of William and Mary in Virginia; George Mason University; James Madison University; Old Dominion University; Radford University; the University of Virginia, including the College at Wise; Virginia Commonwealth University; Virginia Military Institute; and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University shall each process its respective nonpayroll disbursements, receipts, and expenditures as provided in the memoranda of understanding between the Department of Accounts and each such institution implementing a pilot program granting relief from rules, regulations, and reporting requirements pursuant to subdivision E 1 of Item 330 of Chapter 966 of the Acts of Assembly of 1994 as continued in effect by subsection B of Item 271 of Chapter 899 of the Acts of Assembly of 2002. "Nonpayroll disbursements, receipts, and expenditures" shall include all disbursements, receipts, and expenditures, other than payroll as described in subsection A. Such disbursements, receipts, and expenditures shall include, but are not limited to, travel reimbursements, revenue refunds, cash receipts, disbursements for vendor payments, petty cash, and interagency payments.

2003, c. 457.

A. Any officer or employee of the Commonwealth who obtains any compensation or payment to which the officer or employee is not entitled shall be liable for repayment to the employer. Such recipient officer or employee shall not be liable for repayment if the recipient officer or employee proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the improper payment occurred through no fault of the recipient officer or employee and such officer or employee had no actual knowledge of the error and could not have reasonably detected the error.

B. Any officer or employee of the Commonwealth who authorizes any other officer or employee to obtain any compensation or payment to which the recipient officer or employee is not entitled, where such authorization is made with actual or constructive knowledge that the recipient officer or employee was not entitled to such compensation or payment, shall be liable for repayment to the employer.

C. When a change or error in records results in any officer or employee receiving any compensation or payment to which he is not entitled, upon discovery of the improper payment the employer shall take appropriate action to correct the error as soon as practicable and adjust future payments to the correct compensation or payment amount.

D. If the officer or employee leaves state service, liability is disputed, or recovery cannot otherwise be accomplished, the employer shall request the Attorney General to bring an action for restitution pursuant to this section in accordance with the Virginia Debt Collection Act (§ 2.2-4800 et seq.). Claims under this section may be compromised pursuant to and consistent with § 2.2-514.

E. If the officer or employee (i) does not dispute liability under subsection A or B, (ii) receives overpayments stemming from erroneous good faith under-withholdings for retirement, health insurance, or other benefit program enrollments, (iii) receives overpayments of less than $500 from erroneous good faith wage, salary, or expense reimbursements, or (iv) is determined to be liable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the employer shall be authorized to use payroll deductions to recover the erroneous payments made to the officer or employee. Payroll deductions made pursuant to this section shall be limited to 25 percent of disposable earnings as defined in subsection (d) of § 34-29.

F. The provisions of this section shall apply to all officers and employees of the Commonwealth whether or not exempt from the provisions of Chapter 29 (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.).

G. The provisions of this section shall not apply to good faith disbursements made to beneficiaries of the Virginia Retirement System.

1998, c. 876, § 2.1-196.2; 2001, c. 844; 2012, c. 307.

The fiscal year shall commence on the first day of July and end on the thirtieth day of June.

Code 1950, § 2-165; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-197; 2001, c. 844.

A. All county and city treasurers receiving state income tax payments, whether from taxpayers or from the commissioner of the revenue, shall deposit the payments, within one banking day of receipt, into an account of the state treasury. The treasurers shall maintain a record of the date on which the payments are received and the date on which the payments are deposited into the state treasury. The Auditor of Public Accounts shall either prescribe or approve the treasurer's record-keeping system and shall audit such records as provided for in Chapter 14 (§ 30-130 et seq.) of Title 30. Reporting of the deposits shall be in accordance with subsection B.

B. All county and city treasurers and clerks of courts receiving state moneys shall deposit promptly all state moneys and, in the manner directed by the State Treasurer, shall transfer state moneys into an account of the state treasury twice each week and submit a report of state moneys being transferred. However, except for state income tax payments that shall be controlled by subsection A, state moneys received amounting to less than $5,000 may be transferred into an account of the state treasury once each week.

Code 1950, § 2-166; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-198; 1982, c. 292; 1987, c. 511; 1991, c. 485; 2001, c. 844.

Every state department, division, officer, board, commission, institution or other agency owned or controlled by the Commonwealth, whether at the seat of government or not, including county and city treasurers and clerks of courts, collecting or receiving public funds, or moneys from any source whatever, belonging to or for the use of the Commonwealth, or for the use of any state agency, and paying the same to the State Treasurer, or depositing the same to his credit in pursuance of law, shall, on or before the tenth day of each month, or oftener if so directed by the Comptroller, report to the Comptroller in such manner as he may direct, the amount collected or received and paid into the state treasury for the preceding calendar month or other period designated by the Comptroller. The report shall show also the dates of payments to or deposits to the credit of the State Treasurer.

Code 1950, § 2-167; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-199; 2001, c. 844.

Whenever, by any section of this Code, the Comptroller is required or is authorized to collect any delinquent taxes, he shall refer the matter to the Tax Commissioner, who shall at once proceed to collect the same and may employ such legal process as may be necessary for that purpose. When so collected the Tax Commissioner shall pay the same into the state treasury.

Code 1950, § 2-167.1; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-200; 2001, c. 844.

All unsettled accounts on the books of the Comptroller shall be balanced on the last day of each fiscal year, and the balances brought forward on the first day of the new fiscal year. For this purpose there shall be a general ledger of accounts, which shall be kept to show the balances due to or from the Commonwealth.

Code 1950, § 2-169; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-202; 2001, c. 844.

The judge of every court of the Commonwealth making an allowance for the payment of any sum out of the state treasury shall certify to the Supreme Court a list of all allowances at least monthly, the date of the making and the amount of such allowance, and to whom made. A certificate of all allowances made by such court shall be made up by the clerk of the court and forwarded to the Supreme Court. The form of the certificate shall be prescribed by the Supreme Court, and it shall be made on blanks prepared by them and furnished the judges and clerks of the several courts of the Commonwealth. The Comptroller shall not draw any warrant on the State Treasurer in satisfaction of any allowance made by any court of the Commonwealth until the Supreme Court has received notification of the allowance by the court of the claim and approved the allowance for payment.

Code 1950, § 2-172; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-204; 1978, c. 195; 1979, c. 509; 2001, c. 844.

All bonds of the Commonwealth that are received by the Comptroller in the settlement of claims of the Commonwealth against the sureties of treasurers, sheriffs, or other officers, or in settlement of any other claim, shall be turned over by him to the Treasury Board, who shall cancel the bonds according to law.

Code 1950, § 2-173; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-205; 2001, c. 844.

The Comptroller may dispense with all noncurrent books, papers, invoices, financial documents, and similar papers belonging to his office in a manner prescribed by the Virginia Public Records Act (§ 42.1-76 et seq.) in coordination with the needs of the Auditor of Public Accounts.

Code 1950, § 2-174; 1960, c. 240; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-206; 1981, c. 514; 2001, c. 844.

The Comptroller shall make a preliminary annual report to the Governor on or before August 15. The Governor shall submit the preliminary report to the General Assembly within thirty days of its receipt. The Comptroller shall provide a final annual report on or before December 15. The report shall include (i) financial statements that are prepared, insofar as practical as determined by the Comptroller and the Auditor of Public Accounts, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (ii) supplementary statements prepared on the budgetary basis of accounting; (iii) information provided by the State Treasurer on the status of bonded debt in the Commonwealth and the future general fund requirements for such debt; and (iv) other information deemed necessary by the State Treasurer. The Comptroller and the State Treasurer shall also make other reports at such times as the Governor may require.

Code 1950, § 2-175; 1960, c. 84; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-207; 1984, c. 378; 1992, c. 327; 2001, c. 844.

The Comptroller shall post on the Internet website for the Department of Accounts the following information according to the following schedule: (i) no later than October 1 of each year, the total amount of each revenue source collected by the Commonwealth for the most recent six-month period ending June 30, and (ii) no later than April 1 of each year, the total amount of each revenue source collected by the Commonwealth for the most recent six-month period ending December 30. The Comptroller shall include in the information posted any Auditor of Public Accounts control findings that any revenue source was used for any purpose other than the purpose originally established in law for such revenue source.

This section may be referred to as the Virginia Truth in Revenue Source Reporting Act.

2003, c. 174.

To assist in the managing, planning, and budgeting of the state's financial resources, the Comptroller, in conjunction with the Secretary of Finance, shall report biannually to the Governor and the members of the General Assembly each off-balance sheet financial obligation of the Commonwealth, itemized by agency, board, institution, or authority of the Commonwealth, and such other obligations of the Commonwealth that are estimated by the Comptroller to be incurred.

2007, c. 62.

Article 2. Claims Against Commonwealth.

A. Any person having any pecuniary claim against the Commonwealth upon any legal ground shall present the same to the head of the department, division, institution or agency of the Commonwealth responsible for the alleged act or omission which, if proved, gives rise to the claim. If, however, the claimant cannot identify the alleged act or omission with any single department, division, institution or agency of the Commonwealth, then the claim shall be presented to the Comptroller.

B. The Comptroller shall supply the several clerks of record and, upon request, each head of a department, division, institution or agency mentioned in subsection A with the necessary forms to be used by them for accounts payable out of the state treasury.

Code 1950, §§ 2-193, 2-194; 1960, c. 240; 1966, c. 677, §§ 2.1-223.1, 2.1-223.2; 2001, c. 844.

A. Every claim authorized to be presented to the Comptroller or to the head of a department, division, institution or agency shall be examined by the person to whom it is presented and forwarded with appropriate supporting papers and recommendations without unreasonable delay to the Comptroller, who shall promptly allow the amount that appears to be due.

B. No allowance made by order of any court of record shall be paid out of the state treasury, unless presented to the Comptroller for payment within two years from the date of the allowance.

Code 1950, §§ 2-196, 2-197; 1966, c. 677, §§ 2.1-223.3, 2.1-223.4; 2001, c. 844.

Whenever a claim cannot be allowed solely because it was not presented within the time prescribed by § 8.01-255, the Comptroller may, within three years after the claim might have been presented, refer the same to the Governor, who may direct payment of all or any part of the claim.

Code 1950, § 2-199; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-223.6; 1977, c. 624; 2001, c. 844.

Chapter 9. Department of Business Assistance [Repealed].

Repealed by Acts 2013, c. 482, cl. 2, effective January 1, 2014.

Repealed by Acts 2012, cc. 774, 775, cl. 2.

Chapter 9.1. Department of Charitable Gaming.

Repealed by Acts 2008, cc. 387 and 689, cl. 2.

Chapter 10. Department of Employment Dispute Resolution.

Repealed by Acts 2012, cc. 803 and 835, cl. 9.

Chapter 11. Department of General Services.

Article 1. General Provisions.

A. There is created a Department of General Services (the Department), which shall be headed by a Director appointed by the Governor to serve at his pleasure.

B. The Director of the Department shall, under the direction and control of the Governor, exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred or imposed upon him by law and perform such other duties as may be required by the Governor. The Director shall be responsible for the overall supervision of the Department's divisions, programs and personnel. Under his direction the Department shall serve as an agency whose services are primarily for the support of other state agencies in carrying out their programs. The head of each division shall, under the direction and control of the Director, exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred by this chapter as they pertain to his division and perform such other duties as required by the Director.

C. Whenever in this title and in the Code of Virginia, reference is made to a division, department or agency transferred to this Department, it shall mean the Department of General Services, through the division to which the powers and duties of that division, department or agency are assigned. Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, the Director shall have the authority to create new divisions within the Department and to assign or reassign the duties of the Department's divisions to whatever divisions as may best perform them.

1977, c. 672, §§ 2.1-422, 2.1-423, 2.1-425; 1978, c. 255; 1984, c. 720; 2001, c. 844; 2005, c. 385.

Upon written request of the Director of the Department, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission may direct the Comptroller to establish internal service fund accounts on his books and record the receipts and expenditures for appropriate functions of the Department. The Comptroller shall provide the Department with working capital advances with which to finance these operations pursuant to appropriations made by law. Charges for services rendered sufficient to offset costs involved in these operations shall be established.

1977, c. 672, § 2.1-425; 1978, c. 255; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Department shall have the following additional powers, all of which, with the approval of the Director of the Department, may be exercised by a division of the Department with respect to matters assigned to that division:

1. Prescribe regulations necessary or incidental to the performance of duties or execution of powers conferred under this chapter; and

2. Establish fee schedules that may be collectible from users when general fund appropriations are not applicable to the services rendered.

B. All statewide contracts and agreements made and entered into by the Department for the purchase of computers, software, supplies, and related peripheral equipment and services shall provide for the inclusion of counties, cities, and towns in such contracts and agreements. For good cause shown, the Secretary of Administration may disapprove the inclusion from a specific contract or agreement.

C. The Department may operate or provide for the operation of hazardous waste management facilities.

1977, c. 672, § 2.1-424; 1986, c. 492, § 2.1-425.2; 1995, c. 357; 2001, c. 844.

Article 2. Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services.

Within the Department shall be created the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (the "Division"), which shall provide certain laboratory services, including research and scientific investigations, for various agencies of the Commonwealth in an efficient, effective and professional manner. The provisions of this article shall in no manner limit the authority and responsibilities of institutions of higher education from conducting laboratory services, research and scientific investigations independently of the Division.

Code 1950, § 32-31.1; 1972, c. 741; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-426; 1990, c. 825; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Division shall provide, but is not limited to, the following specific laboratory, testing and analytical functions:

1. Maintain laboratories for the examination of clinical material and pathological specimens submitted by members of the medical profession of the Commonwealth and for which the Division may charge fees to recover full costs.

2. Provide laboratory services for the testing and analysis of various products, foods, drinks, economic poisons and other materials regulated or controlled by the Commonwealth.

3. Provide laboratory services for the analysis and examination of samples and materials related to environmental control.

4. Establish and conduct programs of inspection and certification of other laboratories in the Commonwealth as mandated by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (P.L. 93-523) and state requirements pursuant to that Act.

B. No fee shall be charged for the analyses of water samples that are required by regulations of the Department of Health or for feed and fertilizer samples that are required by regulations of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

C. The Division may provide, upon request of any law-enforcement agency, chemical and microbiological testing and analytical functions related to any criminal investigation. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or preclude the Department of Forensic Science from conducting all necessary testing and analytical functions associated with any criminal investigation.

D. Upon request of a bidder on any state contract that requires the Division to test or analyze the product being offered by the bidder, the Director of the Division of Purchases and Supply may allow such bidder or his representative to witness the test or analysis.

E. The Division shall provide for security and protection of evidence, official samples and all other samples submitted to the Division for analysis or examination.

1977, c. 672, §§ 2.1-429, 2.1-430; 1984, c. 275; 1986, c. 610; 1989, cc. 53, 409; 1990, c. 825; 1992, cc. 747, 873; 1996, c. 355; 2001, c. 844; 2005, cc. 868, 881.

A. The Division shall by regulation establish a program for the certification of laboratories conducting any tests, analyses, measurements, or monitoring required pursuant to Chapter 13 (§ 10.1-1300 et seq.) of Title 10.1, the Virginia Waste Management Act (§ 10.1-1400 et seq.), or the State Water Control Law (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq.). The program shall include, but need not be limited to, minimum criteria for (i) laboratory procedures, (ii) performance evaluations, (iii) supervisory and personnel requirements, (iv) facilities and equipment, (v) analytical quality control and quality assurance, (vi) certificate issuance and maintenance, (vii) recertification and decertification, and (viii) granting partial and full exemptions from the program based on compliance and performance. The regulations shall be promulgated only after adoption of national accreditation standards by the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference sponsored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The purpose of the program shall be to ensure that laboratories provide accurate and consistent tests, analyses, measurements and monitoring so that the goals and requirements of Chapter 13 of Title 10.1, the Virginia Waste Management Act, and the State Water Control Law may be met.

B. Once the certification program has been established, laboratory certification shall be required before any tests, analyses, measurements or monitoring performed by a laboratory after the effective date of such program may be used for the purposes of Chapter 13 (§ 10.1-1300 et seq.) of Title 10.1, the Virginia Waste Management Act, and the State Water Control Law.

C. The Division shall by regulation establish a fee system to offset the costs of the certification program. The regulations shall establish fee categories based upon the types of substances for which tests, analyses, measurements or monitoring are performed. The fees shall be used solely for offsetting the costs of the laboratory certification program.

D. The Division shall develop procedures for determining the qualifications of laboratories located in jurisdictions outside of Virginia to conduct tests, analyses, measurements or monitoring for use in Virginia. Laboratories located outside of Virginia that are certified or accredited under a program determined by the Division to be equivalent to the program established under this section shall be deemed to meet the certification requirements.

E. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, laboratories found to be falsifying any data or providing false information to support certification shall be decertified or denied certification.

F. Any laboratory subject to this section may petition the Director of the Division for a reasonable variance from the requirements of the regulations promulgated under this section. The Division may grant a reasonable variance if the petitioner demonstrates to the Director's satisfaction that (i) the proposed variance will meet the goals and purposes of the provisions of this section or regulation promulgated under this section, and (ii) the variance does not conflict with federal or state law or regulations. Any petition submitted to the Director is subject to the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.).

G. The provisions of this section shall not apply to laboratories when performing tests, analyses, measurements, or monitoring, using protocols pursuant to § 10.1-104.2 to determine soil fertility, animal manure nutrient content, or plant tissue nutrient uptake for the purposes of nutrient management.

1997, c. 652, § 2.1-429.01; 2001, c. 844; 2003, c. 580; 2012, cc. 99, 753.

The Director of the Department may take in and absorb within the Division any laboratory activity that is owned and operated by a political subdivision of the Commonwealth that will conform to the duties and responsibilities of the Division. Any costs that may accrue to the Commonwealth as a result of the consolidation shall be paid out of funds specifically appropriated for this purpose by the appropriation act.

1987, c. 369, § 2.1-429.4; 1996, cc. 366, 447; 2001, c. 844.

Any material seized in a criminal investigation and deemed to be hazardous to health and safety, may be disposed of upon written application of the Division to the attorney for the Commonwealth in the city or county where the material is seized or where any criminal prosecution in which such material is proposed to be evidence is pending. Upon receipt, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall file the application in the circuit court of such county or city. A sworn analysis report signed by a person designated by the Director of the Division shall accompany the application for disposal and shall clearly identify and designate the material for disposal. The application shall state the nature and quantity of the hazardous materials, the location where seized, the person from whom the materials were seized, and the manner in which the material shall be destroyed. Where the ownership of the hazardous material is known, notice shall be given to the owner at least three days prior to any hearing relating to the destruction, and, if any criminal charge is pending in any court as a result of the seizure, notice shall be given to the accused if other than the owner. Upon receipt of the analysis report and the application, the court may order the destruction of all, or a part of, the material; however, a sufficient and representative quantity of the material shall be retained to permit an independent analysis when a criminal prosecution may result from the seizure. A return under oath, reporting the time, place and manner of destruction shall be made to the courts. Copies of the analysis report, application, order and return shall be made a part of the record of any criminal prosecution. The sworn analysis report shall be admissible as evidence to the same extent as the disposed-of material would have been admissible.

Code 1950, § 32-31.6:1; 1976, c. 576; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-432; 1990, c. 825; 2001, c. 844.

Personal property, including drugs, not subject to be disposed of under § 2.2-1107, which has been submitted to the Division for analysis or examination and that has not been reclaimed by the agency submitting the property for analysis or examination, may be disposed of by the Division in accordance with this section if, after the expiration of 120 days after the receipt by the Division of the property, (i) the Director notifies the circuit court of the county or city from which the property was taken, in writing, that the analysis or examination has been completed and (ii) a report is given to the submitting agency that the property has not been reclaimed by the agency and the Division proposes to dispose of the property. The notice shall state the nature and quantity of the property, the location where seized, the name of the accused, if known, and the proposed method of disposing of the property. When the ownership of the property is known, a copy of the notice shall be sent simultaneously with the notice to the court to the owner, or, if any criminal charge is pending in any court relating to the property, the copy shall be sent to the accused at his last known address. Notice shall be by certified mail. The court, within thirty days after receipt of the notice, may direct that the property be disposed of by the Division by an alternative method designed to preserve the property, at the expense of the agency submitting the property to the Division. If the court does not so direct within such thirty-day period, then the Division may dispose of the property by the method set out in the notice. Copies of the analysis report and notice shall be made a part of the record of any criminal prosecution. The report, if sworn to, shall be admissible as evidence to the same extent as the disposed of property would have been admissible.

1978, c. 317, § 2.1-432.1; 1990, c. 825; 2001, c. 844.

Article 3. Division of Purchases and Supply.

Within the Department shall be created a Division of Purchases and Supply (the "Division"), which shall exercise the powers and duties described in this article.

1977, c. 672, § 2.1-435; 2001, c. 844.

A. Except as provided by § 2.2-2012 or otherwise directed and authorized by the Division or in the Code of Virginia, every authority, department, division, institution, officer, agency, and other unit of state government, hereinafter called the using agency, shall purchase through the Division all materials, equipment, supplies, printing and nonprofessional services of every description, whenever the whole or a part of the costs is to be paid out of the state treasury. The Division shall make such purchases in conformity with this article.

B. The Division shall maintain the Department of General Services' central electronic procurement system. At a minimum this procurement system shall provide for the purchase of goods and services and the public posting of all Invitations to Bid, Requests for Proposal, sole source award notices, emergency award notices, awarded contracts and modifications thereto, and reports on purchases. All using agencies shall utilize the Department of General Services' central electronic procurement system as their purchasing system beginning at the point of requisitioning for all procurement actions, including but not limited to technology, transportation, and construction, unless otherwise authorized in writing by the Division. Where necessary to capture data in agency enterprise resource planning systems and to eliminate or avoid duplicate or manual data entry in such agency systems, using agencies shall integrate their enterprise resource planning systems with the Department of General Services' central electronic procurement system, unless otherwise authorized in writing by the Division or in accordance with the provisions of the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act (§ 23.1-1000 et seq.).

Using agencies shall post on the Department of General Services' central electronic procurement website all Invitations to Bid, Requests for Proposal, sole source award notices, emergency award notices, and awarded contracts and modifications thereto to ensure visibility and access to the Commonwealth's procurement opportunities on one website.

To increase transparency of governmental procurement activities, the Division shall direct all using agencies to conspicuously post on their respective homepages links to the Department of General Services' central electronic procurement system reports, thereby making them accessible to the public.

C. The provisions of subsection A shall not apply to the purchase of materials, equipment, supplies, printing and nonprofessional services of every description by the Virginia Retirement System; however, the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System shall adopt regulations made in accordance with the Virginia Public Procurement Act (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.) that specify policies and procedures that are based on competitive principles and that are generally applicable to procurement of such goods and services by comparably situated state agencies. The exemption provided by this subsection shall apply for only as long as such regulations, or other regulations meeting the requirements of this subsection, remain in effect at the Virginia Retirement System.

Code 1950, § 2-249; 1958, c. 124; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-273; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-440; 1980, c. 357; 1988, c. 140; 1995, c. 788; 2001, c. 844; 2003, cc. 981, 1021; 2011, c. 332; 2013, c. 493; 2020, cc. 47, 179.

A. All purchases made by any department, division, officer or agency of the Commonwealth shall be made in accordance with the Virginia Public Procurement Act (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.) and such regulations as the Division may prescribe.

B. The regulations adopted by the Division shall:

1. Include a purchasing plan that shall be on file at the Division and shall be available to the public upon request;

2. Require that before any public body procures any computer system, equipment or software, it shall consider whether the proposed system, equipment or software is capable of producing products that facilitate the rights of the public to access official records under the Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.) or other applicable law;

3. Require state public bodies to procure only shielded outdoor light fixtures and provide for waivers of this requirement when the Division determines that a bona fide operational, temporary, safety or specific aesthetic need is indicated or that such fixtures are not cost effective over the life cycle of the fixtures. For the purposes of this subdivision, "shielded outdoor light fixture" means an outdoor light fixture that is (i) fully shielded so that no light rays are emitted by the installed fixture above the horizontal plane or (ii) constructed so that no more than two percent of the total luminaire lumens in the zone of 90 to 180 degrees vertical angle is permitted, if the related output of the luminaire is greater than 3200 lumens. In adopting regulations under this subdivision, the Division shall consider national standards for outdoor lighting as adopted by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA).

The Virginia Department of Transportation shall design all lighting systems in accordance with current IESNA standards and recommended practices. The lighting system shall utilize fixtures that minimize glare, light trespass, and skyglow, all as defined by the IESNA, while still providing a comfortable, visually effective, safe, and secure outdoor environment in a cost-effective manner over the life cycle of the lighting system;

4. Establish the conditions under which a public body may use, as a basis for the procurement of goods and nonprofessional services, a particular vendor's contract-pricing that has been negotiated and accepted by the U.S. General Services Administration;

5. Establish procurement preferences for products containing recycled oil (including reprocessed and rerefined oil products) and recycled antifreeze;

6. Establish conditions under which a public body shall demonstrate a good faith effort to ensure that state contracts or subcontracts for goods or services that involve the manual packaging of bulk supplies or the manual assemblage of goods where individual items weigh less than 50 pounds be offered to employment services organizations as defined in § 2.2-4301 that offer transitional or supported employment services serving individuals with disabilities;

7. Establish the conditions under which state public bodies may procure diesel fuel containing, at a minimum, two percent, by volume, biodiesel fuel or green diesel fuel, as defined in § 59.1-284.25 as such section was in effect on June 30, 2015, for use in on-road internal combustion engines. The conditions shall take into consideration the availability of such fuel and the variability in cost of biodiesel fuel with respect to unblended diesel fuel; and

8. Shall include a link to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Virginia Grown website on the Department of General Services' central electronic procurement system to facilitate purchases of Virginia-grown food products.

C. The Division may make, alter, amend or repeal regulations relating to the purchase of materials, supplies, equipment, nonprofessional services, and printing, and may specifically exempt purchases below a stated amount or particular agencies or specified materials, equipment, nonprofessional services, supplies and printing.

Code 1950, § 2-251; 1958, c. 124; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-275; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-442; 1979, c. 508; 1980, c. 357; 1982, c. 647; 1996, c. 435; 1997, c. 907; 2001, cc. 569, 844; 2002, c. 504; 2003, c. 294; 2005, c. 817; 2007, c. 630; 2010, c. 458; 2011, cc. 815, 864; 2012, cc. 632, 803, 835; 2015, c. 761; 2016, c. 465.

A. So far as practicable, all materials, equipment and supplies, purchased by or for the officers, departments, agencies or institutions of the Commonwealth, shall be standardized by the Division, and no variation shall be allowed from any established standard without the written approval of the Division. The standard shall be determined upon the needs of all using agencies, so far as their needs are in common, and for groups of using agencies or single using agencies so far as their needs differ. When changes or alterations in equipment are necessary in order to permit the application of any standard, the changes and alterations shall be made as rapidly as possible.

B. The Division shall determine the proper equipment or electrical devices used to monitor the speed of any motor vehicle pursuant to § 46.2-882 and shall so advise the respective law-enforcement officials. Police chiefs and sheriffs shall ensure that all such equipment and devices meet or exceed the standards established by the Division. This subsection shall apply only to equipment and devices purchased on or after July 1, 1986.

C. The Division shall determine the proper equipment to be used to determine the decibel level of sound and shall so advise the respective law-enforcement officials. Police chiefs and sheriffs shall ensure that all such equipment and devices meet or exceed the standards established by the Division and shall maintain, inspect, calibrate, and test for accuracy all such equipment and devices on a schedule and in accordance with standards established by the Division.

Code 1950, §§ 2-255, 2-256; 1958 c. 124; 1966, c. 677, §§ 2.1-279, 2.1-280; 1972, c. 494; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-446; 1986, c. 530; 1991, c. 345; 2001, c. 844; 2010, c. 558.

A. The Division may establish criteria and procedures to obtain more economical operation of state printing facilities, provide guidelines to agencies regarding the most beneficial utilization of duplicating and reproduction equipment, and to centralize printing, duplicating and reproduction equipment and services.

B. The Division may set uniform standards for the design, utilization, procurement and inventory of state forms.

1972, c. 503, § 2.1-243.1; 1976, c. 759; 1977, c. 672, §§ 2.1-464, 2.1-465; 2001, c. 844.

The Division shall prescribe and enforce regulations under which estimates of the needs of the using agencies shall be submitted and requisitions made, and under which contracts for purchases may be made. Estimates of the amount and quality of materials, equipment, supplies, and printing needed by the using agencies shall be submitted at such periods as may be prescribed by the Division.

Code 1950, § 2-250; 1958, c. 124; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-274; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-441; 1980, c. 357; 2001, c. 844.

A. All contracts entered into by the Division shall be executed in the name of the Commonwealth.

B. All purchases made by or through the Division shall be paid for in the same manner and out of the same funds as if the purchase had not been made by or through it.

C. The Division shall maintain a system of accounting prescribed by the State Comptroller. All moneys collected by the Division shall be paid promptly into the state treasury and reported to the State Comptroller for appropriate credit.

D. The Comptroller shall not issue any warrant upon any voucher issued by any using agency covering the purchase of any material, equipment or supplies, when such purchases are made in violation of any provision of this article.

E. Intentional violations of the centralized purchasing provisions of this article by any using agency, continued after notice from the Governor to desist, shall constitute malfeasance in office, and shall subject the officer responsible for violation to suspension or removal from office, as may be provided by law in other cases of malfeasance.

Code 1950, §§ 2-215, 2-216, 2-253, 2-263, 2-264; 1958, c. 124; 1966, c. 677, §§ 2.1-240, 2.1-241, 2.1-277, 2.1-289, 2.1-290; 1977, c. 672, §§ 2.1-438, 2.1-444, 2.1-455, 2.1-456; 1984, c. 612; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Division, the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, and the State Comptroller shall develop and maintain data standards for use by all agencies and institutions for payments and purchases of goods and services pursuant to §§ 2.2-1115 and 2.2-2012. Such standards shall include at a minimum the vendor number, name, address, and tax identification number; commodity code, order number, invoice number, and receipt information; and other information necessary to appropriately and consistently identify all suppliers of goods, commodities, and other services to the Commonwealth. The Division, the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, and the State Comptroller shall annually review and update these standards to provide the Commonwealth information to monitor all procurement of goods and services and to implement adequate controls to pay only authorized providers of goods and services to the Commonwealth.

B. The Division and the Virginia Information Technologies Agency shall submit these standards to the Information Technology Advisory Council in accordance with § 2.2-2699.6 for review.

C. The Division and the State Comptroller shall adhere to the adopted data standards and match all purchases of goods, commodities, and other services to the related payment activity and make the matched information available on the Auditor of Public Accounts' Commonwealth Data Point website pursuant to subdivision H 3 a of § 30-133. This information shall be available at a transactional level and be in sufficient detail to make clear what an agency has purchased; when the purchase was made; the vendor from whom the purchase was made; the amount purchased, if applicable; and how much was paid. To the extent the purchase is made for professional services as defined in § 2.2-4301, other than for accounting or legal services, from an entity of the Commonwealth, the name of the buyer in the selling Department or agency shall be specified. Purchases made using credit card or other financing arrangements shall specify the vendor.

2009, cc. 758, 812; 2010, cc. 136, 145; 2013, c. 493; 2022, cc. 260, 261.

The provisions of this article shall be subject to the provisions of Title 53.1 relating to the products and services of state correctional facilities required by state departments, institutions, and agencies, and the purchase of the same through the Division.

Code 1950, § 2-268; 1958, c. 124; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-294; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-453; 2001, c. 844.

Unless exempted by the Division, all such services, articles and commodities as (i) are required for purchase by the Division or by any person authorized to make purchases on behalf of the Commonwealth and its departments, agencies and institutions; (ii) are performed or produced by persons, or in schools or workshops, under the supervision of the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired; (iii) are available for sale by such Department; and (iv) conform to the standards established by the Division shall be purchased from such Department at the fair market price without competitive procurement. When convenience or emergency requires it the Commissioner of the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired may, upon request of the purchasing officer, release the purchasing officer from the obligations of this section. Any purchasing officer convicted of a violation of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Code 1950, § 2-259.2; 1954, c. 71; 1958, c. 124; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-285; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-450; 1982, c. 647; 1984, c. 498; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Division shall publish annually a list of materials, supplies, services and equipment which, in the opinion of the Division, would be beneficial to the Commonwealth to procure from an employment services organization as defined in § 2.2-4301. The list shall exclude items currently produced by schools or workshops under the supervision of the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired or by inmates confined in state correctional institutions.

B. Any item or service included on the list required by subsection A may be purchased by the Division from employment services organizations serving individuals with disabilities without competitive procurement, if the Division is satisfied that the items and services (i) can be purchased within ten percent of their fair market value, (ii) will be of acceptable quality, and (iii) can be produced in sufficient quantities within the time required.

C. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Division from amending the list required under subsection A by adding categories to the list after it has been published.

1978, c. 24, § 2.1-450.1; 1982, c. 647; 1987, c. 72; 2001, c. 844; 2012, c. 632.

A. Unless otherwise ordered by the Governor, the purchasing of materials, equipment, supplies, and nonprofessional services through the Division shall not be mandatory in the following cases:

1. Materials, equipment and supplies incident to the performance of a contract for labor or for labor and materials;

2. Manuscripts, maps, audiovisual materials, books, pamphlets and periodicals purchased for the use of The Library of Virginia or any other library in the Commonwealth supported in whole or in part by state funds;

3. Perishable articles, provided that no article except fresh vegetables, fish, eggs or milk shall be considered perishable within the meaning of this subdivision, unless so classified by the Division;

4. Materials, equipment and supplies needed by the Commonwealth Transportation Board; however, this exception may include, office stationery and supplies, office equipment, janitorial equipment and supplies, and coal and fuel oil for heating purposes shall not be included except when authorized in writing by the Division;

5. Materials, equipment, and supplies needed by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, including office stationery and supplies, office equipment, and janitorial equipment and supplies; however, coal and fuel oil for heating purposes shall not be included except when authorized in writing by the Division;

6. Binding and rebinding of the books and other literary materials of libraries operated by the Commonwealth or under its authority;

7. Printing of the records of the Supreme Court; and

8. Financial services, including without limitation, underwriters, financial advisors, investment advisors and banking services.

B. Telecommunications and information technology goods and services of every description shall be procured as provided by § 2.2-2012.

Code 1950, § 2-260; 1958, c. 124; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-286; 1970, c. 225; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-451; 1982, c. 647; 1988, c. 140; 1994, c. 64; 2001, c. 844; 2003, cc. 895, 981, 1021; 2015, cc. 38, 730.

A. The Division shall have the power, by general rule or special order, to permit purchases of any material, equipment, supplies, printing or nonprofessional services of every description to be made by any using agency directly, and not through the Division, whenever it appears to the satisfaction of the Division that by reason of the excess transportation costs, a lower price with equal quality can be obtained by the using agency, or for any other reason, which in the judgment of the Division warrants an exemption.

B. The Division shall allow corporations operating in Virginia and granted tax exempt status under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and operating as clinics for the indigent and uninsured that are organized for the delivery of primary health care services (i) as federally qualified health centers designated by the Health Care Financing Administration or (ii) at a reduced or sliding fee scale or without charge, to purchase directly from contracts established for state agencies and public bodies by the Division or, provided it is not prohibited by the terms of the procurement, through participation by the Division in other cooperative procurements.

C. The Division shall allow organizations that provide transportation services in Virginia and receive funding from the Federal Transit Administration or the Commonwealth Transportation Fund to purchase directly from contracts established for state agencies and public bodies by the Division. The Department of Rail and Public Transportation shall assist the Division in establishing and maintaining a list of organizations that shall be authorized to make purchases pursuant to this subsection.

D. The Division shall allow private institutions of higher education that are (i)(a) chartered in Virginia or (b) chartered by an Act of Congress in 1821 and that have owned and operated since 1991 a campus with a significant presence in the Commonwealth and (ii) granted tax-exempt status under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to purchase directly from contracts established for state agencies and public bodies by the Division.

Code 1950, § 2-257; 1958, c. 124; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-281; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-447; 1980, c, 357; 1988, c. 140; 2001, c. 844; 2002, c. 491; 2003, c. 225; 2004, c. 484; 2006, c. 582; 2015, c. 462.

Repealed by Acts 2002, c. 579.

A. Virginia public broadcasting stations as defined in § 22.1-20.1, and public bodies as defined in § 2.2-4300 who are empowered to purchase material, equipment, and supplies of any kind, may purchase through the Division. When any such public body, public broadcasting station, or duly authorized officer requests the Division to obtain bids for any materials, equipment and supplies, and the bids have been obtained by the Division, the Division may award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, and the public body or public broadcasting station shall be bound by the contract. The Division shall set forth in the purchase order that the materials, equipment, and supplies be delivered to, and that the bill be rendered and forwarded to, the public body or public broadcasting station. Any such bill shall be a valid and enforceable claim against the public body or public broadcasting station requesting the bids.

B. The Division may make available to any public body or public broadcasting station the facilities of the Virginia Distribution Center maintained by the Division; however, the furnishing of any such services or supplies shall not limit or impair any services or supplies normally rendered any department, division, institution, or agency of the Commonwealth.

C. The Board of Education shall furnish to the Division a list of public broadcasting stations in Virginia for the purposes of this section.

D. The services or supplies authorized by this section shall extend to any fire company as defined in § 27-6.01 or volunteer emergency medical services agency as defined in § 32.1-111.1 that is recognized by an ordinance to be a part of the safety program of a county, city, or town. Purchases of motor fuel shall be limited for use in vehicles and equipment as defined in subsection A 12 of § 58.1-2259.

E. For purposes of this section, "public broadcasting station" means the same as that term is defined in § 22.1-20.1.

1982, c. 647, § 2.1-454.1; 1984, c. 746; 1997, c. 858; 2001, c. 844; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2015, cc. 502, 503; 2018, c. 275.

The Division is designated as the agency of state government responsible for acquiring surplus personal property, including but not limited to materials, supplies, and equipment, by purchase, gift, or otherwise, from the United States government or any of its agencies for distribution to departments, agencies, institutions and political subdivisions of the Commonwealth and to eligible, nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations for use in the organizations' activities within the Commonwealth. The acquisitions shall be made, when in the judgment of the Division, it is advantageous to the Commonwealth to do so. The property may be acquired for storage and subsequent distribution or for immediate distribution. The Division may collect the purchase price of any such property, if applicable, and service charges sufficient to defray the costs of carrying out this program from entities to which it distributes the property. The Division shall publish a plan that meets the requirements of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as it may be amended from time to time, and any similar federal statutes requiring such plan.

The Division may, by general rule or special order, delegate to any using department, agency, institution, political subdivision, or eligible, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization the authority to acquire such property directly from the federal government rather than through the Division, whenever the Division determines that it is advantageous to do so. The Division may prescribe regulations for the acquisition of such property by entities to which it delegates its authority.

1984, c. 746, § 2.1-445.1; 2001, c. 844.

A. For purposes of this section, "surplus materials" means personal property, including materials, supplies, equipment, and recyclable items, but does not include property as defined in § 2.2-1147 that is determined to be surplus. "Surplus materials" does not include finished products that a state hospital or training center operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services sells for the benefit of individuals receiving services in the state hospital or training center, provided that (i) most of the supplies, equipment, or products have been donated to the state hospital or training center; (ii) the individuals in the state hospital or training center have substantially altered the supplies, equipment, or products in the course of occupational or other therapy; and (iii) the substantial alterations have resulted in a finished product.

B. The Department shall establish procedures for the disposition of surplus materials from departments, divisions, institutions, and agencies of the Commonwealth. Such procedures shall:

1. Permit surplus materials to be transferred between or sold to departments, divisions, institutions, or agencies of the Commonwealth;

2. Permit surplus materials to be sold to Virginia charitable corporations granted tax-exempt status under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and operating as clinics for the indigent and uninsured that are organized for the delivery of primary health care services (i) as federally qualified health centers designated by the Health Care Financing Administration or (ii) at a reduced or sliding fee scale or without charge;

3. Permit public sales or auctions, including online public auctions;

4. Permit surplus motor vehicles to be sold prior to public sale or auction to local social service departments for the purpose of resale at cost to TANF recipients;

5. Permit surplus materials to be sold to Virginia charitable corporations granted tax-exempt status under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and operating as children's homes;

6. Permit donations to political subdivisions of the Commonwealth under the circumstances specified in this section;

7. Permit other methods of disposal when (a) the cost of the sale will exceed the potential revenue to be derived therefrom or (b) the surplus material is not suitable for sale;

8. Permit any animal especially trained for police work to be sold at a price of $1 to the handler who last was in control of the animal. The agency or institution may allow the immediate survivor of any full-time sworn law-enforcement officer who (i) is killed in the line of duty or (ii) dies in service and has at least 10 years of service to purchase the service animal at a price of $1. Any such sale shall not be deemed a violation of the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act (§ 2.2-3100 et seq.);

9. Permit the transfer of surplus clothing to an appropriate department, division, institution, or agency of the Commonwealth for distribution to needy individuals by and through local social services boards;

10. Encourage the recycling of paper products, beverage containers, electronics, and used motor oil;

11. Require the proceeds from any sale or recycling of surplus materials be promptly deposited into the state treasury in accordance with § 2.2-1802 and report the deposit to the State Comptroller;

12. Permit donations of surplus computers and related equipment to:

a. Public schools in the Commonwealth;

b. Virginia charitable corporations granted tax-exempt status under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and providing services to persons with disabilities, at-risk youths, or low-income families. For the purposes of this subdivision, "at-risk youths" means school-age children approved eligible to receive free or reduced price meals in the federally funded lunch program; and

c. Organizations in the Commonwealth granted tax-exempt status under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that refurbish computers and related equipment for donation to veterans and active military, naval, or air service members, as defined in § 2.2-2000.1. Any donation to an organization under this subdivision shall be conditioned upon, and in consideration of, the organization's promise to refurbish the donated equipment and distribute it free of charge to such veterans or active military, naval, or air service members.

13. Permit surplus materials to be transferred or sold, prior to public sale or auction, to public television stations located in the state and other nonprofit organizations approved for the distribution of federal surplus materials;

14. Permit a public institution of higher education to dispose of its surplus materials at the location where the surplus materials are held and to retain any proceeds from such disposal, provided that the institution meets the conditions prescribed in subsection A of § 23.1-1002 and § 23.1-1019 (regardless of whether or not the institution has been granted any authority under Article 4 (§ 23.1-1004 et seq.) of Chapter 10 of Title 23.1);

15. Permit surplus materials from (i) the Department of Defense Excess Property Program or (ii) other surplus property programs administered by the Commonwealth to be transferred or sold to Virginia charitable corporations granted tax-exempt status under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and operating as an educational institution devoted to emergency management training, preparedness, and response;

16. Require, to the extent practicable, the recycling and disposal of computers and other information technology assets. Additionally, for computers or information technology assets that may contain confidential state data or personal identifying information of citizens of the Commonwealth, the Department shall ensure all policies for the transfer or other disposition of computers or information technology assets are consistent with data and information security policies developed by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency; and

17. Permit surplus materials to be sold, prior to public sale or auction, to (i) service disabled veteran-owned businesses, (ii) veterans service organizations, (iii) active military-owned businesses, and (iv) military spouse-owned businesses.

For purposes of this subdivision:

"Active military" means military service members who perform full-time duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, or a reserve component thereof, including the National Guard.

"Military spouse" means a person whose spouse is an active military, naval, or air service member or veteran as those terms are defined in § 2.2-2000.1.

"Military spouse-owned business" means a business concern that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more military spouses or, in the case of a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity, at least 51 percent of the equity ownership interest in the corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity is owned by one or more individuals who are military spouses and both the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more individuals who are military spouses.

"Service disabled veteran" means the same as that term is defined in § 2.2-2000.1.

"Service disabled veteran-owned business" means the same as that term is defined in § 2.2-2000.1.

"Veterans service organization" means an association or other entity organized for the benefit of veterans that has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or chartered by Congress.

C. The Department shall dispose of surplus materials pursuant to the procedures established in subsection B or permit any department, division, institution, or agency of the Commonwealth to dispose of its surplus materials consistent with the procedures so established. No surplus materials shall be disposed of without prior consent of the head of the department, division, institution, or agency of the Commonwealth in possession of such surplus materials or the Governor.

D. Departments, divisions, institutions, or agencies of the Commonwealth or the Governor may donate surplus materials only under the following circumstances:

1. Emergencies declared in accordance with § 44-146.18:2 or 44-146.28;

2. As set forth in the budget bill as defined by § 2.2-1509, provided that (a) the budget bill contains a description of the surplus materials, the method by which the surplus materials shall be distributed, and the anticipated recipients, and (b) such information shall be provided by the Department to the Department of Planning and Budget in sufficient time for inclusion in the budget bill;

3. When the market value of the surplus materials, which shall be donated for a public purpose, is less than $500; however, the total market value of all surplus materials so donated by any department, division, institution, or agency shall not exceed 25 percent of the revenue generated by such department's, division's, institution's, or agency's sale of surplus materials in the fiscal year, except these limits shall not apply in the case of surplus computer equipment and related items donated to Virginia public schools; or

4. During a local emergency, upon written request of the head of a local government or a political subdivision in the Commonwealth to the head of a department, division, institution, or agency.

E. On or before October 1 of each year, the Department shall prepare, and file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, a plan that describes the expected disposition of surplus materials in the upcoming fiscal year pursuant to subdivision B 6.

F. The Department may make available to any local public body of the Commonwealth the services or facilities authorized by this section; however, the furnishing of any such services shall not limit or impair any services normally rendered any department, division, institution, or agency of the Commonwealth. All public bodies shall be authorized to use the services of the Department's Surplus Property Program under the guidelines established pursuant to this section and the surplus property policies and procedures of the Department. Proceeds from the sale of the surplus property shall be returned to the local body minus a service fee. The service fee charged by the Department shall be consistent with the fee charged by the Department to state public bodies.

1996, cc. 935, 978, § 2.1-457.2; 1999, cc. 159, 578, 629, 911; 2000, cc. 615, 636, 661; 2001, c. 844; 2004, c. 670; 2005, cc. 933, 945; 2006, cc. 468, 493; 2007, c. 701; 2009, c. 75; 2012, cc. 476, 507, 805, 836; 2014, c. 226; 2016, cc. 298, 400; 2019, c. 425; 2020, cc. 43, 358.

A. The proceeds from the sale or recycling of surplus materials pursuant to § 2.2-1124 shall promptly be deposited into the state treasury and the deposit reported to the State Comptroller, along with a statement of total proceeds and the amount of the proceeds derived from the sale or recycling of surplus materials purchased in whole or in part from general fund appropriations.

B. At the end of each fiscal quarter, the State Comptroller shall (i) determine the total proceeds derived from the sale of surplus materials purchased in whole or in part from general fund appropriations and direct the State Treasurer to transfer fifty percent of the total of such proceeds to the Conservation Resources Fund and (ii) provide copies of the reports furnished to him pursuant to subsection A, or summaries thereof, to the Department of Planning and Budget.

C. Based on such reports, or summaries, the Department of Planning and Budget, pursuant to its authority in the appropriation act, may increase general fund appropriations to any department, division, institution, or agency of the Commonwealth by the amount of available proceeds derived from the sale or recycling of surplus materials pursuant to § 2.2-1124. The department, division, institution, or agency of the Commonwealth may use the additional appropriations to purchase materials, supplies, or equipment, or to defray the cost of disposing of surplus materials to the extent permitted pursuant to § 2.2-1124.

D. Departments, divisions, institutions, or agencies may retain the full net profits from the sale of recycled materials provided that a report is filed with the State Comptroller on or before October 1 of each year.

E. Departments, divisions, institutions, or agencies meeting management standards prescribed by the Governor may retain the net proceeds from the surplus materials sold pursuant to § 2.2-1124. Such retention shall be effective on July 1 following the determination that the department, division, institution, or agency meets the management standards.

1996, cc. 935, 978, § 2.1-457.3; 2001, c. 844.

Repealed by Acts 2004, c. 650.

The Division shall have available at all times flags of the Commonwealth, to be offered for sale to the public in such manner and cost as the Division may determine. The purchase of all flags of the Commonwealth by the Division shall comply with the provisions of § 2.2-4323.1.

1977, c. 672, § 2.1-468; 2001, c. 844; 2016, cc. 289, 297.

Article 4. Division of Engineering and Buildings.

A. Within the Department shall be established the Division of Engineering and Buildings (the "Division"), which shall exercise the powers and duties described in this article.

B. The Division shall have charge of all public buildings, grounds and all other property at the seat of government not placed in the charge of others, and shall protect such properties from depredations and injury.

C. The Division shall have custody, control, and supervision of the Virginia War Memorial Carillon.

D. To execute the duties imposed by this article, the Division may obtain information and assistance from other state agencies and institutions.

Code 1950, § 2-77.6; 1966, cc. 55, 677, §§ 2-65.1, 2.1-82.1, 2.1-103; 1970, c. 202; 1974, c. 27; 1976, c. 125; 1977, c. 672, §§ 2.1-480, 2.1-481, 2.1-492; 2000, cc. 599, 612; 2001, c. 844; 2020, c. 734.

Repealed by Acts 2020, c. 734, cl. 2.

The Division may develop, in cooperation with state institutions and agencies concerned, maintenance and utilization standards for state buildings, and provide functional direction and service to institutions and agencies of the state government with respect to their policies, practices and administration of buildings and grounds. The standards shall include, but are not limited to, advice and appropriate provisions for the installation and utilization of approved water-conservation devices throughout the facilities owned by the Commonwealth. The Division shall review all maintenance and utilization standards and plans of state institutions and agencies.

1966, c. 55, §§ 2-65.1, 2.1-82.1; 1970, c. 202; 1974, c. 27; 1976, c. 125; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-482; 1978, cc. 139, 770; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Department shall establish performance standards for the acquisition, lease and disposition of property and for the management and utilization of such property at the individual agency and statewide levels to maximize the use of property for which it is held. For the purposes of this section, "property" means the same as that term is defined in § 2.2-1147.

B. The head of each state agency or institution shall ensure that property assets held by the agency on behalf of the Commonwealth are managed in accordance with the standards set by the Department. Public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth that have delegated authority to manage aspects of their real property usage and have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Administration related to such delegated authority shall be deemed in compliance with the standards set by the Department as long as they abide by the terms of the memorandum of understanding. Standards established in accordance with the memorandum of understanding shall be reported to the Department by October 1 of each year.

C. The Department may take appropriate actions, including assuring compliance with the standards set by the Department and entering into leasing arrangements or other contracts, to ensure that asset usage by each state agency is proper and cost effective.

D. No later than November 30 of each year, the Department shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the implementation and effectiveness of this program.

2004, cc. 684, 750; 2009, c. 612.

A. The Division shall provide assistance in the administration of capital outlay construction projects set forth in the appropriation act, other than highway construction undertaken by the Department of Transportation and the acquisition or improvement of specialized cargo-handling equipment and related port infrastructure including, but not limited to, port construction, renovation, and demolition that is required in a timely manner to meet market demands to enhance commerce through the Virginia Port Authority, the review and approval of plans and specifications, and acceptance of completed projects.

B. The Division may establish standards, as needed, for construction by the Commonwealth and may, with the advice of the Attorney General, establish standard contract provisions and procedures for the procurement and administration of construction and for the procurement and administration of architectural and engineering services relating to construction, which shall be used by all departments, agencies and institutions of the Commonwealth. All departments, agencies and institutions of the Commonwealth shall ensure that the design and construction of state-owned buildings comply with the standards governing energy use and efficiency established by the Division. The standards may provide for incentive contracting that offers a contractor whose bid is accepted the opportunity to share in any cost savings realized by the Commonwealth when project costs are reduced by the contractor, without affecting project quality, during construction of the project. The fee, if any, charged by the project engineer or architect for determining the cost savings shall be paid as a separate cost and shall not be calculated as part of any cost savings.

C. Notwithstanding any standards established by the Division or law to the contrary except as provided in this subsection, any public institution of higher education that has in effect a signed memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Administration regarding participation in the nongeneral fund decentralization program as set forth in the appropriation act may enter into contracts for specific construction projects without the preliminary review and approval of the Division, provided such institutions are in compliance with the requirements of the Virginia Public Procurement Act (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.) and utilize the general terms and conditions for those forms of procurement approved by the Division and the Office of the Attorney General. The authority granted in this subsection shall only become effective if the institution meets the conditions prescribed in subsection A of § 23.1-1002. The Secretary of Administration shall establish guidelines to assist institutions in evaluating alternative project delivery methods prior to entering into a contract. For projects constructed pursuant to this subsection, the responsibility of the Division of Engineering and Buildings shall be as set forth in subsection C of § 36-98.1.

For purposes of this section, "construction" shall include new construction, reconstruction, renovation, restoration, major repair, demolition and all similar work upon buildings and ancillary facilities owned or to be acquired by the Commonwealth. It shall not include buildings or other facilities ancillary to the use of state highways that are located within the right-of-way of any state highway, or assets for use by the Virginia Port Authority within the boundaries of property owned or leased by the Virginia Port Authority.

1982, c. 647, § 2.1-483.1; 1984, c. 641; 1994, c. 924; 1997, c. 488; 2001, c. 844; 2005, cc. 933, 945; 2006, c. 939.

A. The Division shall ensure that value engineering is employed for any capital project costing more than $5 million. Value engineering may also be used for any project costing $5 million or less. For purposes of this section, "value engineering" means a systematic process of review and analysis of a capital project by a team of persons not originally involved in the project. Such team, which shall include appropriate professionals licensed in accordance with Chapter 4 (§ 54.1-400 et seq.) of Title 54.1, may offer suggestions that would improve project quality and reduce total project cost by combining or eliminating inefficient or expensive parts or steps in the original proposal or by totally redesigning the project using different technologies, materials, or methods.

B. The review developed pursuant to subsection A shall be compiled in a value engineering report and submitted to the Division. Each item included in the value engineering report shall have a status designation of accepted, declined, or accepted as modified. The Division, within 45 days, must approve the value engineering report before the project may move to the next phase of design.

C. A value engineering report shall not be required for projects that (i) are designed utilizing either the design-build or construction management at risk basis and (ii) have the value engineering process as an integral component. In such cases, a written summary of the cost savings that have been incorporated into the design shall be provided to the Division prior to moving forward to the construction phase of the contract.

D. The Director of the Department may waive the requirements of this section for any proposed capital project for compelling reasons. Any waiver shall be in writing, state the reasons for the waiver, and apply only to a single capital project. On or before September 15 of each year, the Director of the Department shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the (i) number and value of the capital projects where value engineering was employed and (ii) identity of the capital projects for which a waiver of the requirements of this section was granted, including a statement of the compelling reasons for granting the waiver. The report shall cover projects completed or for which a waiver was granted within the previous fiscal year.

E. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the provisions of this section shall apply to public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth.

1994, cc. 442, 829, § 2.1-483.1:1; 1996, c. 553; 1997, c. 230; 1998, c. 207; 2001, c. 844; 2008, c. 370; 2015, c. 572.

Repealed by Acts 2011, cc. 594 and 681, cl. 2.

The Division shall assemble and maintain information relevant to a determination by any department, agency, or institution regarding the suitability of using a central boiler or other heating equipment that is fueled by wood wastes, including but not limited to the (i) identity of manufacturers and suppliers of wood waste handling and burning equipment, (ii) capital and operating costs of such equipment, (iii) associated air emissions and solid waste disposal requirements, and (iv) fuel storage requirements. The information shall be distributed to any department, agency, or institution with a construction project specifying a central boiler or heating plant, and to personnel involved in the procurement and administration of architectural and engineering services relating to such construction project. For purposes of this section, "wood wastes" means raw wood by-products from wood processing and wood product manufacturing industries, including sawdust, chips, bark, and planer shavings.

1993, c. 691, § 2.1-483.2; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Department shall review all deeds, leases, and contractual agreements with utilities to serve state institutions or agencies that require the approval of the Governor, as well as all easements and rights-of-way granted by institutions and agencies to public and private utilities.

B. The Department shall be responsible for the maintenance of records relating to property as defined in § 2.2-1147 and any other real property used or occupied by lease, license, permit, or other agreement by any state department, agency, or institution, except records relating to (i) real estate or rights-of-way acquired by the Department of Transportation for the construction of highways; (ii) ungranted shores of the sea, marsh, and meadowlands as defined in § 28.2-1500; or (iii) real estate or rights-of-way acquired by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation for the construction of railway lines or rail or public transportation facilities or the retention of rail corridors for public purposes. The Department may have such boundary, topographic, and other maps prepared as may be necessary.

C. The Department shall develop the criteria for and conduct an annual inventory of all real property referred to in subsection B for which it is responsible. Such inventory with respect to owned property shall be reviewed by the Department in developing recommendations pursuant to subsection A of § 2.2-1153. All state departments, agencies, and institutions shall cooperate with the Department and provide such data and documents as may be required to develop and maintain the records and inventory required by this section.

D. The Department shall make the inventory referred to in subsection C available on the Department's website. The description of the inventory shall include parcel identification consistent with national spatial data standards in addition to a street address as available and reported to the Department by departments, agencies, and institutions and shall include the date upon which the use or occupancy, if used or occupied by lease, license, permit, or other agreement, of the inventoried property is to terminate pursuant to the lease, license, permit, or other agreement therefor.

E. The Department shall provide a quarterly report, in electronic form, to the General Assembly that includes renewal and termination dates for inventoried property pursuant to the lease, license, permit, or other agreement administered by the Department. Such information shall include property that serves as a branch office of a state agency. The report shall include all such renewals and terminations scheduled to occur within 90 days of the report date. The report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website. As used in this subsection, "branch office" means an office of a state agency other than its main office that assists the state agency in carrying out its statutory mission, including providing access to government services and programs.

1966, c. 55, §§ 2-65.1, 2.1-82.1; 1970, c. 202; 1974, c. 27; 1976, c. 125; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-484; 1978, c. 770; 2001, c. 844; 2009, c. 612; 2011, cc. 659, 675; 2014, c. 211; 2017, c. 706.

The Department shall be responsible for the location and construction or lease of state consolidated office buildings at the seat of government and throughout the Commonwealth for joint use by state agencies, departments and institutions.

1966, c. 55, §§ 2-65.1, 2.1-82.1; 1970, c. 202; 1974, c. 27; 1976, c. 125; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-485; 2001, c. 844; 2009, c. 612; 2012, cc. 803, 835.

A. The Division of Engineering and Buildings shall, subject to written approval of the Governor:

1. Prepare and, when necessary to meet changing conditions, amend a long-range site plan for the location of all state buildings, and related improvements, in Capitol Square and its immediate environs, and for such other areas providing comparable facilities for the seat of government in or adjacent to the City of Richmond as the Governor shall direct;

2. Acquire with funds appropriated for that purpose the necessary land for effectuation of the plan; and

3. Direct and control the execution of all authorized projects for the construction of state buildings and related improvements in or adjacent to the City of Richmond.

B. The Governor may exempt from the provisions of subsection A those buildings and improvements that, in his opinion, should be planned and constructed under the direction of other state agencies or institutions or included in site plans prepared by such other agencies or institutions.

C. No building for state use shall be erected or acquired nor other property acquired for state use, in Capitol Square and its immediate environs, or in such other areas as may be included in the site plan required by subsection A unless it has been approved by the Governor as conforming to the site plan.

Code 1950, §§ 2-77.2, 2-77.3, 2-77.4; 1966, cc. 55, 677, §§ 2.1-99, 2.1-100, 2.1-102; 1977, c. 672, §§ 2.1-489, 2.1-490, 2.1-491; 1979, c. 234; 2001, c. 844.

The Governor may transfer to the Department for use by the Division funds appropriated to any state department, agency or institution for the construction, alteration, reconstruction and repair of any building to be erected or acquired for the use of such department, institutional agency, or for the acquisition of land for such building, or for planning, architectural, engineering or other studies in connection therewith, and may accept funds donated for such purposes.

Code 1950, § 2-77.7; 1966, cc. 55, 677, § 2.1-104; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-493; 2001, c. 844.

The Division shall be responsible for the assignment of office space to agencies at the seat of government and buildings under control of the Division, and for the establishment of standards for the utilization and furnishing of such space.

1966, c. 55, § 2-65.1, 2.1-82.1; 1970, c. 202; 1974, c. 27; 1976, c. 125; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-495; 2001, c. 844.

The Division shall cause to be purchased through the Division of Purchases and Supply with the approval of the Governor, all furniture required for the buildings within the master site plan of Capitol Square, except those assigned for use by agencies and departments. The Division shall have all repairs made to either buildings or furniture thereof, as may be approved by the Governor. The cost of the repairs and furniture shall be paid with funds approved by the Governor. The Division shall declare surplus that furniture that may no longer be satisfactorily used.

Code 1950, § 2-67; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-85; 1972, c. 763; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-496; 2001, c. 844.

The Division shall requisition for the Executive Mansion the furniture required by the Governor, and cause to be sold such old furniture as the Governor may direct, taking care not to exceed appropriated sums therefor, in addition to the proceeds of old furniture sold. An account both of the sales and purchases shall be returned to the Comptroller before any warrant shall issue for any part of the sum appropriated. The warrant shall be only so much as by the account appears to be proper.

Code 1950, § 2-69; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-87; 1970, c. 260; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-497; 2001, c. 844.

The Division shall contract for water, electricity, gas, sewer service, fuel for heating, and such other services required to serve the facilities within the master site plan of Capitol Square and for such other facilities as the Governor may designate. The cost of the services shall be paid out of funds appropriated for that purpose.

Code 1950, § 2-70; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-88; 1972, c. 763; 1974, c. 27; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-498; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Division, under the direction and control of the Governor, shall have control of the Capitol Square with the expense of the maintenance and control to be paid out of the fund appropriated for that purpose. The Division shall keep the keys of the Capitol Building and shall take charge of all the rooms in the Capitol Building, except in those areas under the control of the legislature, the public grounds and all other property at the seat of government not placed in specific charge of others. The Division shall have no control or responsibility with respect to the old and new Senate chambers, the old and new halls of the House of Delegates, the Rotunda, the offices of the Clerks of the Senate and House of Delegates, the legislative committee rooms, the enrolling office, or any other area specifically designated as legislative space. The Division shall do such work and make such repairs for the respective bodies of the General Assembly requested by the clerks thereof with appropriate reimbursement of expenses to the Division.

B. The Division shall have all the furniture and the rooms in the Capitol, other than the rooms excepted in subsection A, the open parts of the Capitol, the public grounds, and all other property at the seat of government not placed in the charge of others, kept in proper order at all times.

Code 1950, §§ 2-71, 2-73; 1966, c. 677, §§ 2.1-89, 2.1-91; 1974 c. 27; 1977, c. 672, §§ 2.1-499, 2.1-500; 2001, c. 844.

When the term of office of any Governor expires, or he shall die or resign, the Division shall take an inventory of all the public property and furniture in the Governor's house and outbuildings and deliver the inventory to the Comptroller, to be preserved in his office. The Division shall, unless the house is occupied by the Lieutenant Governor, have charge of the house, furniture, and other public property, until a Governor is elected and takes possession.

Code 1950, § 2-68; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-86; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-501; 2001, c. 844.

The Department, with the written approval of the Governor, may lease land, buildings and any portions thereof owned by the Commonwealth and under the control of the Department, when such land, buildings, or portions thereof are in excess of current and foreseeable needs of the Department. All such leases shall be executed in the name of the Commonwealth and shall be in a form approved by the Attorney General. The leases may run for such time as may be approved by the Governor and shall be for appropriate rental. All rentals received shall be retained by the Department and used for paying the costs of entering and administering such leases and for off-setting the costs of maintaining and operating the facilities under control of the Department. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary or how title to the property was acquired, the deed or lease shall be executed on behalf of the Commonwealth by the Director of the Department or his designee, and such action shall not create a cloud on the title to the property. The terms of the lease shall be subject to the written approval of the Governor or his designee.

1962, c. 262, § 2-66.2; 1966, cc. 55, 677, § 2.1-84; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-503; 2001, c. 844; 2009, c. 612.

As used in §§ 2.2-1136 through 2.2-1156, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Institutions" includes, but is not limited to, any corporation owned by the Commonwealth and subject to the control of the General Assembly.

"Property" means an interest in land and any improvements thereon, including the privileges and appurtenances of every kind belonging to the land, held by the Commonwealth and under the control of or occupied by any of its departments, agencies, or institutions but does not include (i) real estate or rights-of-way acquired by the Department of Transportation for the construction of highways; (ii) ungranted shores of the sea, marsh, and meadowlands as defined in § 28.2-1500; or (iii) real estate or rights-of-way acquired by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation for the construction of railway lines or rail or public transportation facilities or the retention of rail corridors for public purposes.

"Recommend," "recommended," or "recommendation," when used with reference to a recommendation by the Department of General Services to the Governor, means to advise either for or against a proposed action.

1968, c. 717, § 2.1-106.1; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-504; 1978, c. 770; 1984, c. 641; 1995, c. 850; 2001, c. 844; 2002, c. 561; 2016, c. 425; 2017, c. 706.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a woman may breast-feed her child at any location where that woman would otherwise be allowed on property that is owned, leased or controlled by the Commonwealth as defined in § 2.2-1147.

2002, c. 561.

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, general or special, no state department, agency, or institution providing access and opportunity to use real property that is owned, leased, or controlled by the Commonwealth as defined in § 2.2-1147, may deny equal access or a fair opportunity to use such real property to, or otherwise discriminate against, the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of the USA. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require any state department, agency, or institution to sponsor the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of the USA, or to exempt any such groups from policies governing access to and use of the real property.

2006, c. 57.

The Department shall include in the standards established pursuant to subsection B of § 2.2-1132 policies for the construction and installation of physically safe, sanitary, and appropriate baby changing facilities in restrooms. For purposes of this section, "baby changing facility" means a table or other device suitable for changing the diaper of a child age three or younger.

2020, c. 49.

A. All actions to be taken or approvals to be given by the Governor or the Attorney General pursuant to §§ 2.2-1149 through 2.2-1156 may be taken or given by the Governor or his designee, or by the Attorney General or one of his deputies or assistant attorneys general.

B. All conveyances of any interest in property to or from the Commonwealth or any state department or agency or any state institution that is not a corporation, shall be in the name of the Commonwealth and shall designate the department, agency or institution in control or possession of the property in the following manner: "Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of (name of department, agency or institution, or other appropriate name)." All interests in property conveyed to any department, agency or institution of the Commonwealth, whether past or future, is and shall be the property of the Commonwealth. Conveyance of an interest in property on behalf of the Commonwealth by a department, agency or institution other than that which acquired title on behalf of the Commonwealth shall not create a cloud upon the title.

1984, c. 641, § 2.1-504.1; 2001, c. 844.

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no state department, agency or institution shall acquire real property by gift, lease, purchase or any other means or use or occupy real property without following the guidelines adopted by the Department and obtaining the prior approval of the Governor. The Department shall review every proposed acquisition of real property by gift, lease, purchase or any other means and every proposed use or occupancy of real property by any department, agency or institution of the Commonwealth and recommend either approval or disapproval of the transactions to the Governor based on cost, demonstrated need, and compliance with the Department's guidelines.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to the:

1. Acquisition of real property for open space preservations pursuant to the purposes of § 10.1-1800 and subdivision A 4 of § 10.1-2204, if it does not require as a condition of acceptance, an appropriation of any state funds for the continued maintenance of such property;

2. Acquisition of easements pursuant to the purposes of §§ 10.1-1020 and 10.1-1021 or §§ 10.1-1700, 10.1-1702, and 10.1-1702;

3. Acquisition through the temporary lease or donation of real property for a period of six months or less duration;

4. Acquisition of easements by public institutions of higher education provided that the particular institution meets the conditions prescribed in subsection A of § 23.1-1002;

5. Entering into an operating/income lease or a capital lease by a public institution of higher education, for real property to be used for academic purposes, or for real property owned by the institution or a foundation related to the institution to be used for non-academic purposes, in accordance with the institution's land use plan pursuant to § 2.2-1153 provided that (i) the capital lease does not constitute tax-supported debt of the Commonwealth, (ii) the institution meets the conditions prescribed in subsection A of § 23.1-1002, and (iii) for purposes of entering into a capital lease, the institution shall have in effect a signed memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Administration regarding participation in the nongeneral fund decentralization program as set forth in the appropriation act. For the purposes of this subdivision, an operating/income lease or a capital lease shall be determined using generally accepted accounting principles;

6. Acquisition of real property for the construction, improvement or maintenance of highways and transportation facilities and purposes incidental thereto by the Department of Transportation; however, acquisitions of real property by the Department of Transportation for office space, district offices, residencies, area headquarters, or correctional facilities shall be subject to the Department's review and the Governor's approval;

7. Acquisition of real estate or rights-of-way for the construction, improvement, or maintenance of railway lines or rail or public transportation facilities or the retention of rail corridors for public purposes associated with the efforts of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation; however, acquisitions of real estate or rights-of-way by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation for office space or district offices shall be subject to review by the Department and the approval of the Governor; or

8. Acquisition of real property to be held in trust for the benefit of a state-recognized Indian tribe, provided that such property is (i) annexed into the existing reservation of such tribe and (ii) located within a one-mile radius of the boundary of such reservation. However, these acquisitions of real estate shall be subject to the review of the Office of the Attorney General and the approval by the Governor.

1984, c. 641, § 2.1-504.2; 1994, c. 474; 2000, c. 748; 2001, c. 844; 2005, cc. 933, 945; 2011, c. 525; 2016, c. 425; 2017, c. 348.

A. When it is deemed to be in the public interest.

1. Property owned by the Commonwealth may be sold, leased, or other interests therein conveyed to political subdivisions, public authorities, or the federal government, for such consideration as is deemed proper; and

2. Property owned by the Commonwealth and held in the possession of a department, agency or institution of the Commonwealth may be transferred to the possession of another department, agency or institution of the Commonwealth by the execution of an agreement between the heads of such departments, agencies or institutions.

B. No transaction authorized by this section shall be made without the prior written recommendation of the Department to the Governor, the written approval of the Governor of the transaction itself, and the approval of the Attorney General as to the form of the instruments prior to execution.

Prior to entering into any negotiations for the conveyance or transfer of any portion of Camp Pendleton or any military property that has been or may be conveyed to the Commonwealth pursuant to a recommendation by the Defense Base Closure Realignment Commission, the Department shall give written notice to all members of the General Assembly within the planning district in which such property is located. If, within 30 days of receipt of the Department's notice, 25 percent of such members of the General Assembly give notice to the Department that they object to such conveyance or that they require additional information, the Department shall conduct a meeting, with written notice thereof to all members of the General Assembly within that planning district, at which the Department and such members shall discuss the proposed transaction. Members of the General Assembly objecting to the proposed transaction after the meeting shall convey their objections in detail to the Governor, who shall consider the objections. Certification of compliance with the foregoing requirements by the Governor in a deed or other instrument conveying or transferring any portion of Camp Pendleton or any such military property, absent knowledge by the purchaser or transferee to the contrary, shall serve as prima facie evidence of compliance with this subsection.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection B, a public institution of higher education may convey an easement pertaining to any property such institution owns or controls provided that the institution meets the conditions prescribed in subsection A of § 23.1-1002 and § 23.1-1019 (regardless of whether or not the institution has been granted any authority under Article 4 (§ 23.1-1004 et seq.) of Chapter 10 of Title 23.1).

1984, c. 641, §§ 2.1-504.3, 2.1-504.4; 1986, c. 536; 1989, c. 710; 1996, c. 442; 2001, c. 844; 2005, cc. 933, 945; 2007, c. 624.

Proceeds and any in-kind goods or services received from all sales or leases or conveyances of any interest in Department of State Police communication towers received pursuant to §§ 2.2-1150.2, 2.2-1151, and 2.2-1156, above the costs of the transaction, shall be deposited into a special account of the Department of State Police to be used to operate, acquire, construct, maintain, repair, or replace communication towers or sites.

2002, c. 477; 2008, cc. 676, 690; 2010, c. 286.

A. As used in this section:

"Qualified provider" means a provider of wireless broadband service that has obtained all governmental approvals required for the provision of wireless broadband service in the unserved area in which it seeks to provide such service.

"Unserved area" means any area within the Commonwealth that is demonstrated not to have access to terrestrial broadband or radio frequency Internet service.

"Wireless broadband service" means an Internet connection service capable of transmitting information at a rate that is not less than 256 kilobits per second in at least one direction using a wireless link between a fixed location and the Internet service provider's facility. It does not include wireless fidelity technology used in conjunction with dedicated subscriber line service or cable service to connect devices within a facility to the Internet via a broadband connection.

B. Notwithstanding any provision of § 2.2-1156 to the contrary, any state department, agency, or institution having responsibility for a state-owned communication tower in an unserved area, subject to guidelines adopted by the Department, shall lease or convey a license or other interest in the communication tower to a qualified provider in order to permit the use of the communication tower by the qualified provider in its deployment of wireless broadband service within the unserved area or portion thereof. This requirement is subject to the qualified provider presenting to the Department:

1. A spectrum and certified structural analysis of the tower that demonstrates that:

a. The new service will not interfere with current equipment;

b. No structural element is beyond 85 percent capacity based on current and previously documented future loads; and

c. The tower meets the industry standards set forth by ANSI/TIA/EIA 222-F; and

2. Proof that the tower satisfies all applicable local government requirements.

C. The Department shall adopt guidelines for (i) determining whether a provider of wireless broadband service is qualified to provide such service and (ii) requesting a state department, agency, or institution to enter into a lease or other conveyance of an interest in a communication tower or site pursuant to this section.

D. The lease or other conveyance shall be for such consideration as the Director of the Department deems appropriate, which consideration shall not be required to be commensurate with the consideration paid for use of comparable space on similar towers. The lease or other conveyance may include shared use of the facilities by other political subdivisions or persons providing the same or similar services, and by departments, agencies, or institutions of the Commonwealth.

E. The provisions of § 2.2-1156 as they apply to lease agreements or conveyances of any interest shall not apply to any transaction undertaken pursuant to this section.

F. No transaction authorized by this section shall be made without the prior approval of the Director of the Department and the approval of the Attorney General as to the form of any conveyancing instrument prior to execution.

2008, cc. 676, 690; 2015, c. 351.

A. Subject to the provisions of subsection B of § 2.2-1150, the Department of Military Affairs may convey a leasehold interest in any portion of State Military Reservation property to governmental or private entities when it is deemed by the Adjutant General to be in the Department of Military Affairs' best interest to (i) provide necessary services such as lodging, training capabilities, or logistical utility services that support the Department's mission or (ii) maintain a peripheral buffer with compatible uses, including ground parking leases.

B. Subject to the provisions of subsection B of § 2.2-1150, the term of any leasehold interest in any portion of State Military Reservation property shall not exceed 50 years; however, any agreement may be extended upon the written recommendation of the Governor and the approval of the General Assembly. In the event that the Department of Military Affairs enters into any written agreement with a private individual, firm, corporation, or other entity to lease property in the possession or control of the Department pursuant to this subsection, neither the real property that is the subject of the lease nor any improvements or personal property located on the real property that is the subject of the lease shall be subject to taxation by any local government authority pursuant to § 58.1-3203, provided that the real property, improvements, or personal property is used for a purpose consistent with or supporting the Department's mission.

2020, c. 834.

A. When it is deemed to be in the public interest and subject to guidelines adopted by the Department:

1. Any state department, agency or institution, through its executive head or governing board may convey to public utility companies, public service corporations or companies, political subdivisions, cable television companies, or telecommunications companies right-of-way easements over property owned by the Commonwealth and held in its possession and any wires, pipes, conduits, fittings, supports and appurtenances thereto for the transmission of electricity, telephone, cable television, telecommunications, water, gas, steam, or sewage placed on, over or under the property.

2. Any state department, agency or institution having responsibility for a state-owned office building, through its executive head or governing board, may lease space to a credit union in the building for the purpose of providing credit union services that are readily accessible to state employees. The lease shall be for a term of not more than five years, with annual renewals or new leases permitted thereafter. Such lease may be granted for no consideration or for less than the fair market value.

3. Property owned by the Commonwealth may be sold or leased or other interests or rights therein granted or conveyed to political subdivisions or persons providing communication or information services for the purpose of erecting, operating, using or maintaining communication towers, antennas, or other radio distribution devices. If any tower proposed to be erected on property owned by the Commonwealth is to be used solely by private persons providing communication or information services, and there is no immediate use planned or anticipated by any department, agency or institution of the Commonwealth or political subdivision, the guidelines shall provide a means to obtain comments from the local governing body where the property is located. The conveyances shall be for such consideration as the Director of the Department deems appropriate, and may include shared use of the facilities by other political subdivisions or persons providing the same or similar services, and by departments, agencies, or institutions of the Commonwealth.

B. No transaction authorized by this section shall be made without the prior written recommendation by the Department to the Governor, the written approval by the Governor of the transaction itself, and the approval by the Attorney General as to the form of the instruments prior to execution.

C. This section shall not (i) apply to any lease or conveyance of a license or other interest in a communication tower for use in the deployment of wireless broadband service within an unserved area of the Commonwealth made pursuant to § 2.2-1150.2 or (ii) be construed to alter the control or ownership of towers currently maintained by other agencies of the Commonwealth.

1984, c. 641, § 2.1-504.4; 1986, c. 536; 1989, c. 710; 1996, c. 442; 2001, c. 844; 2008, cc. 356, 676, 690; 2022, cc. 67, 68.

A. As used in this section:

"Department" means the Virginia Department of Transportation.

"Developer" means a person who undertakes to develop real estate.

"Social welfare organization" means an organization as defined in § 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.

B. No land use permit shall be issued by the Department to any company other than a public service company as defined in § 56-76, a company owning or operating an interstate natural gas pipeline, a social welfare organization operating a wholesale open-access fiber network, or a franchised cable television systems operator owning or operating a utility line as defined in § 56-265.15, unless such company, organization, or operator has (i) registered as an operator with the appropriate notification center as defined by § 56-265.15 and (ii) notified the commercial and residential developer, owner of commercial, multifamily, or residential real estate, or local government entities with a property interest in any parcel of land located adjacent to the property over which the land use is being requested that application for the permit has been made. Any permit application approved by the Department shall include an affidavit indicating compliance with the registration and notification requirements provided by this subsection.

C. The provisions of subsection B shall not apply to a land use permit issued by the Department to (i) a person providing utility service solely for his own agricultural or residential use, provided that the utilities are located on property owned by the person, or (ii) the owner of a private residence or business for water or sewer service to cross the Department's right-of-way when no viable alternative exists to provide potable water or to transfer sewer effluent to a qualified drain field. In the case of any application for a land use permit under this subsection, the utilities shall be marked in accord with requirements established by the Department.

D. No performance surety held by the Department in association with a land use permit issued to a company pursuant to subsection B to perform work within the Department's right-of-way shall be released until such time as all claims against the company associated with the work have been resolved, provided a claimant has notified the Department of a claim against such company within 30 days after completion of the work. A claimant shall have no more than one year after the notification is received by the Department to complete any action against the company associated with the work for which the claim has been made. After the expiration of the one-year period, the Department may release the performance surety.

E. Nothing in this section shall be construed or interpreted to create a cause of action or administrative claim against the Department.

2003, c. 330; 2004, c. 636; 2014, c. 277; 2018, c. 270; 2020, cc. 1026, 1027.

Any state institution or public corporation whose funds and property are owned solely by the Commonwealth may through its governing board convey to the Virginia Department of Transportation the lands necessary for highway purposes or other incidental uses, either for such consideration deemed proper or in exchange for other lands, and to execute the instruments necessary to effectuate the conveyance.

No transaction authorized by this section shall be made without the prior written recommendation of the Department to the Governor, the written approval of the Governor of the transaction itself, and the approval of the Attorney General as to the form of the instruments prior to execution.

The proceeds from the sale, with the written approval of the Governor, may be used by the state institution or public corporation for the purchase of other property or for capital improvements.

1984, c. 641, § 2.1-504.5; 2001, c. 844.

A. Whenever any department, agency or institution of state government possesses or has under its control state-owned or leased property that is not being used to full capacity or is not required for the programs of the department, agency or institution, it shall so notify the Department. Such notification shall be in a form and manner prescribed by the Department. Each department, agency and institution shall submit to the Department a land use plan for state-owned property it possesses or has under its control showing present and planned uses of such property. Such plan shall be approved by the cognizant board or governing body of the department, agency or institution holding title to or otherwise controlling the state-owned property or the agency head in the absence of a board or governing body, with a recommendation on whether any property should be declared surplus by the department, agency or institution. Development of such land use plans shall be based on guidelines promulgated by the Department. The guidelines shall provide that each land use plan shall be updated and copies provided to the Department by September 1 of each year. The Department may exempt properties that are held and used for conservation purposes from the requirements of this section. The Department shall review the land use plans, the records and inventory required pursuant to subsections B and C of § 2.2-1136 and such other information as may be necessary and determine whether the property or any portion thereof should be declared surplus to the needs of the Commonwealth. By October 1 of each year, the Department shall provide a report to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations setting forth the Department's findings, the sale or marketing of properties identified pursuant to this section, and recommending any actions that may be required by the Governor and the General Assembly to identify and dispose of property not being efficiently and effectively utilized. The Department shall provide a listing of surplus properties on the Department's website. The description of surplus property shall include parcel identification consistent with national spatial data standards in addition to a street address.

Until permanent disposition of the property determined to be surplus is effected, the property shall continue to be maintained by the department, agency or institution possessing or controlling it, unless upon the recommendation of the Department, the Governor authorizes the transfer of the property to the possession or control of the Department. In this event, the department, agency or institution formerly possessing or controlling the property shall have no further interest in it.

B. The Department shall establish criteria for ascertaining whether property under the control of a department, agency or institution should be classified as "surplus" to its current or proposed needs. Such criteria shall provide that the cognizant board or governing body, if any, of the department, agency or institution holding the title to or otherwise controlling the state-owned property, or the agency head in the absence of a board or governing body, shall approve the designation of the property as surplus.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A:

1. The property known as College Woods, which includes Lake Matoaka and is possessed and controlled by a college founded in 1693, regardless of whether such property has been declared surplus pursuant to this section, shall not be transferred or disposed of without the approval of the board of visitors of such college by a two-thirds vote of all board members at a regularly scheduled board meeting. The General Assembly shall also approve the disposal or transfer.

2. Surplus real property valued at less than $5 million that is possessed and controlled by a public institution of higher education may be sold by such institution, provided that (i) at least 45 days prior to executing a contract for the sale of such property, the institution gives written notification to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations; and (ii) the Governor may postpone the sale at any time up to 10 days prior to the proposed date of sale. Such sale may be effected by public auction, sealed bids, or by marketing through one or more Virginia licensed real estate brokers after satisfying the public notice provisions of subsection D of § 2.2-1156. The terms of all negotiations resulting in such sale shall be public information. The public institution of higher education may retain the proceeds from the sale of such property if the property was acquired by nongeneral funds. If the institution originally acquired the property through a mix of general and nongeneral funds, 50 percent of the proceeds shall be distributed to the institution and 50 percent shall be distributed to the State Park Conservation Resources Fund established under subsection A of § 10.1-202. The authority of a public institution of higher education to sell surplus real property described under this subdivision or to retain any proceeds from the sale of such property shall be subject to the institution meeting the conditions prescribed in subsection A of § 23.1-1002 and § 23.1-1019 (regardless of whether or not the institution has been granted any authority under Article 4 (§ 23.1-1004 et seq.) of Chapter 10 of Title 23.1).

1968, c. 717, § 2.1-106.2; 1972, c. 763; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-505; 1978, c. 545; 1984, c. 641; 1995, c. 774; 2001, c. 844; 2004, c. 997; 2005, cc. 933, 945; 2009, c. 612; 2011, cc. 659, 675; 2017, c. 706; 2019, cc. 659, 660.

A. Any state department, agency or institution shall, before purchasing or otherwise acquiring land for any capital improvement, inquire of the Department whether there is available any suitable land under the control of the Department or any other state department, agency or institution that may be authorized for the purpose for which the additional land is needed.

B. The Department shall require every state department, agency or institution responsible for the construction, operation or maintenance of public facilities within the Commonwealth, when siting state facilities and programs, to evaluate the feasibility of siting such facilities and programs in the Commonwealth's urban centers. In making such evaluation, the agency shall consider (i) the fiscal advantages of utilizing the existing infrastructure available in urban centers as compared to the construction of new infrastructure in less developed areas, (ii) the potential savings associated with leasing facilities from the private sector in urban centers as compared to purchasing or constructing new facilities in other areas, (iii) the convenience to employees and citizen users of state facilities and programs of placing such facilities and programs in close proximity to the road and transportation systems and other amenities found in the Commonwealth's urban centers, and (iv) whether the local governing body is supportive of the location as a desirable use of available land resources.

This subsection shall not be construed to limit the ability of a state department, agency or institution to locate facilities based on other factors such as a rural locality's desire to stimulate economic development or the need to have regionally dispersed services.

C. The provisions of subsection B shall not apply to any facility or program to be located on the campus of any public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth.

1968, c. 717, § 2.1-106.4; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-508; 2000, c. 704; 2001, c. 844; 2009, c. 612.

A. Whenever any department, agency, or institution of state government possesses or has under its control property for which there is an anticipated future use, but for which there is no immediate use, the department, agency, or institution of the Commonwealth may effect, subject to the written recommendation of the Department to the Governor and the written approval by the Governor, an agreement in writing with any other department, agency, or institution of state government for the use of the property by the other department, agency, or institution during a period not to exceed 15 years. The agreement may be extended beyond the 15-year period on an annual basis in accordance with the procedures prescribed in this subsection. In the event no other department, agency, or institution of state government has use for the property, the department, agency, or institution may lease the property to private individuals, firms, corporations or other entities in accordance with the procedures and subject to the term limitations prescribed in this subsection.

B. The provisions of subsection A notwithstanding, public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth, subject to the approval of the General Assembly, may enter into written agreements with university-related foundations, private individuals, firms, corporations, or other entities to lease property in the possession or control of the institution. Any such agreement and proposed development or use of property shall (i) be for a purpose consistent with the educational and general mission, auxiliary enterprises, and sponsored program activities of the institution, or such other purpose as the General Assembly may authorize, and (ii) comply with guidelines adopted by the Department. The term of any agreement shall be based upon, among other things, the useful life of the improvements to the property and shall not exceed 50 years; however, any agreement may be extended upon the written recommendation of the Governor and the approval of the General Assembly. Agreements with private individuals, firms, corporations, or other entities shall also be subject to guidelines adopted by the Secretary of Finance. In the event that any public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth enters into any written agreement with a university-related foundation, private individual, firm, corporation, or other entity to lease property in the possession or control of the institution pursuant to this subsection, neither the real property that is the subject of the lease nor any improvements or personal property located on the real property that is the subject of the lease shall be subject to taxation by any local government authority pursuant to § 58.1-3203 or § 58.1-3502 or any other applicable law during the term of the lease, regardless of the ownership of the property, improvements or personal property, provided the real property, improvements or personal property shall be used for a purpose consistent with the educational and general mission, auxiliary enterprises, and sponsored program activities of the institution.

For the purposes of this section, "university-related foundation" means any foundation affiliated with an institution of higher education.

1971, Ex. Sess., c. 239, § 2.1-106.6:1; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-511; 1981, c. 112; 1984, c. 641; 1988, c. 57; 1990, cc. 53, 688; 1992, c. 331; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Department shall identify real property assets that are surplus to the current and reasonably anticipated future needs of the Commonwealth and may dispose of surplus assets as provided in this section, except when a department, agency or institution notifies the Department of a need for property that has been declared surplus, and the Department finds that stated need to be valid and best satisfied by the use of the property.

B. After it determines the property to be surplus to the needs of the Commonwealth and that such property should be sold, the Department shall request the written opinion of the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources as to whether the property is a significant component of the Commonwealth's natural or historic resources, and if so how those resources should be protected in the sale of the property. The Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources shall provide this review within 15 business days of receipt of full information from the Department.

C. Upon receipt of the Secretary's review under subsection B and prior to offering the surplus property for sale to the public, the Department shall notify the chief administrative officer of the locality within which the property is located as well as any economic development entity for such locality of the pending disposition of such property. The chief administrative officer or local economic development entity shall have up to 180 days from the date of such notification to submit a proposal to the Department for the use by the locality or the local economic development entity of such property in conjunction with a bona fide economic development activity. The Department shall review such proposal, and if the Department determines that such proposal is viable and could benefit the Commonwealth, the Department may negotiate with the chief administrative officer or the local economic development entity for the sale of such property to the locality or economic development entity. If no agreement is reached between the Department and the chief administrative officer or the local economic development entity for the sale of the property, or if no proposal for the use of the property is submitted to the Department by the chief administrative officer or the local economic development entity within 180 days of notification of the pending disposition of the property, the Department, with the prior, written approval of the Governor, may proceed to dispose of the property as provided in this section.

D. If the surplus property is not disposed of pursuant to subsection C, the sale shall be by public auction, or sealed bids, or by marketing through one or more real estate brokers licensed by the Commonwealth. Notice of the date, time and place of sale, if by public auction or sealed bids shall be given by advertisement in at least one newspaper published and having general circulation in the county or city in which the property to be sold is located and be posted on the Department's website. At least 30 days shall elapse between publication of the notice and the auction or the date on which sealed bids will be opened.

E. The Department may reject any and all bids or offers when, in the opinion of the Department, the price is inadequate in relation to the value of the property, the proposed terms are unacceptable, or if a need has been found for the property.

F. In lieu of the sale of any such property, or in the event the Department determines there is space within a building owned by the Commonwealth or any space leased by the Commonwealth in excess of current and reasonably anticipated needs, the Department may, with the approval of the Governor, lease or sublease such property or space to any responsible person, firm or corporation on such terms as shall be approved by the Governor, provided, however, that the authority herein to sublease space leased by the Commonwealth shall be subject to the terms of the original lease. The Department may with the approval of the Governor permit charitable organizations exempt from taxation under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that provide addiction recovery services to lease or sublease such property or space at cost and on such terms as shall be approved by the Governor, provided such use is deemed appropriate.

The Department shall post reports from the Commonwealth's statewide electronic procurement system, known as eVA, on the Department's website. The report shall include, at a minimum, current leasing opportunities and sales of surplus real property posted on the eVA's Virginia Business Opportunities website. Such reports shall also be made available by electronic subscription. The provisions of this section requiring disposition of property through the medium of sealed bids, public auction, or marketing through licensed real estate brokers shall not apply to any lease thereof, although such procedures may be followed in the discretion of the Department.

G. The deed, lease, or sublease conveying the property or excess space shall be executed in the name of the Commonwealth and shall be in a form approved by the Attorney General. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary and notwithstanding how title to the property was acquired, the deed or lease may be executed on behalf of the Commonwealth by the Director of the Department or his designee, and such action shall not create a cloud on the title to the property.

In the event that the Department determines that a boundary line of a surplus property requires adjustment, the Department may work with the adjacent landowner to adjust the boundary line and to transfer property to, or acquire property from, such adjacent landowner. In the event the Department determines that granting or accepting an easement over surplus property or the property of the adjacent landowner would facilitate the transfer of the surplus property, the Department may enter into any such easement on behalf of the department, agency, or institution in possession or control of the property, provided, however, that any such easement shall be in a form approved by the Attorney General and subject to the written approval of the Governor. The terms of the sale, lease, or sublease shall be subject to the written approval of the Governor.

H. An exception to sale by sealed bids, public auction, or listing the property with a licensed real estate broker may be granted by the Governor if the property is landlocked and inaccessible from a public road or highway. In such cases, the Department shall notify all adjacent landowners of the Commonwealth's desire to dispose of the property. After the notice has been given, the Department may begin negotiations for the sale of the property with each interested adjacent landowner. The Department, with the approval of the Governor, may accept any offer that it deems to be fair and adequate consideration for the property. In all cases, the offer shall be the best offer made by any adjacent landowner. The terms of all negotiations shall be public information.

I. Subject to any law to the contrary, 50 percent of the proceeds from all sales or leases, or from the conveyance of any interest in property under the provisions of this article, above the costs of the transaction, which costs shall include fees or commissions, if any, negotiated with and paid to auctioneers or real estate brokers, shall be paid into the State Park Acquisition and Development Fund, so long as the sales or leases pertain to general fund agencies or the property involved was originally acquired through the general fund, except as provided in Chapter 180 of the Acts of Assembly of 1966. The remaining 50 percent of proceeds involving general fund sales or leases, less a pro rata share of any costs of the transactions, shall be deposited in the general fund of the state treasury. The Department of Planning and Budget shall develop guidelines that allow, with the approval of the Governor, any portion of the deposit in the general fund to be credited to the agency, department or institution having control of the property at the time it was determined surplus to the Commonwealth's needs. Any amounts so credited to an agency, department or institution may be used, upon appropriation, to supplement maintenance reserve funds or capital project appropriations, or for the acquisition, construction or improvement of real property or facilities. Net proceeds from sales or leases of special fund agency properties or property acquired through a gift for a specific purpose shall be retained by the agency or used in accordance with the original terms of the gift. Notwithstanding the foregoing, income from leases or subleases above the cost of the transaction shall first be applied to rent under the original lease and to the cost of maintenance and operation of the property. The remaining funds shall be distributed as provided herein.

J. When the Department deems it to be in the best interests of the Commonwealth, it may, with the approval of the Governor, authorize the department, institution or agency in possession or control of the property to dispose of surplus property in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section.

1968, c. 717, § 2.1-106.7; 1970, c. 202; 1972, c. 763; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-512; 1978, c. 545; 1981, c. 104; 1984, c. 641; 1989, c. 687; 1991, c. 679; 1995, c. 399; 1998, c. 466; 2001, c. 844; 2002, c. 281; 2004, c. 997; 2009, c. 612; 2011, cc. 659, 675; 2016, c. 291; 2018, c. 825; 2019, cc. 659, 660; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 401; 2022, c. 761.

A. The Department of Energy, in cooperation with the Division, shall develop, with the assistance of affected state agencies, departments, and institutions, a State Minerals Management Plan (the Plan). The Plan shall include provisions for the holding of public hearings and the public advertising for competitive bids or proposals for mineral exploration, leasing, and extraction activities on state-owned uplands. Sales of mineral exploration permits and leases for these lands shall be administered by the Division, with the advice of the Department of Energy.

B. Upon receiving the recommendation of both the Director of the Department of General Services and the Director of the Department of Energy, the Governor shall determine whether the proposed mineral exploration, leasing, or extraction of minerals on state-owned uplands is in the public interest. No state-owned uplands shall be approved for mineral exploration, leasing, or extraction without a public hearing in the locality where the affected land or the greater portion thereof is located and a competitive bid or proposal process as described in the Plan. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the extraction of minerals on state-owned uplands pursuant to an oil or gas pooling order unless the well through which the extraction will occur is situated on such land.

For purposes of this section, "state-owned uplands" means lands owned by the Commonwealth that (i) lie landward of the mean low water mark in tidal areas or (ii) have an elevation above the average surface water level in nontidal areas.

C. The agencies, departments, or institutions proposing or receiving applications for mineral exploration, leasing or extraction on state-owned uplands shall, through their boards or commissions, recommend all such activities to the Division following guidelines set forth in the Plan. The Division and the Department of Energy shall review and recommend to the Governor such proposed activities. Such agencies, departments or institutions, through their boards or commissions, may execute the leases or contracts that have been approved by the Governor.

D. The proceeds from all such sales or leases above the costs of the sale to the Department of Energy or to the agency, department or institution sponsoring the sale shall be paid into the general fund of the state treasury, so long as the sales or leases pertain to general fund agencies or the property involved was originally acquired through the general fund. Net proceeds from sales or leases of special-fund agency properties or property acquired through a gift shall be retained by such agency or institution or used in accordance with the original terms of the gift if so stated.

E. Mining, leasing, and extraction activities in state-owned submerged lands shall be authorized and administered by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission pursuant to Title 28.2 ( § 28.2-100 et seq.).

1982, c. 238, § 2.1-512.1; 1984, c. 750; 1986, c. 488; 2001, c. 844; 2009, c. 612; 2019, cc. 659, 660; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 532.

The Division may manage and harvest timber on lands placed under its control in accordance with the best timber management practices, after receiving the advice of the State Forester. The Division may also sell the timber, but before the sale is made, the State Forester or his deputy shall furnish the Division with an estimate of the value of the timber. In the event of sale, the proceeds shall first be used to defray the cost of the sale and the cost of maintenance of the property from which the timber is removed and the remainder, if any, of the funds shall be deposited in the Forest Management of State-owned Lands Fund created in § 10.1-1120.

1968, c. 717, § 2.1-106.8; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-513; 1980, c. 525; 2001, c. 844.

A. For the purposes of this section and § 2.2-1160:

"Building" means any building or facility, used by the public, which is constructed in whole or in part or altered by the use of state, county or municipal funds, or the funds of any political subdivision of the Commonwealth. "Building" shall not include public school buildings and facilities, which shall be governed by standards established by the Board of Education pursuant to § 22.1-138.

"Persons with physical disabilities" means persons with:

1. Impairments that, regardless of cause or manifestation, for all practical purposes, confine individuals to wheelchairs;

2. Impairments that cause individuals to walk with difficulty or insecurity;

3. Total blindness or impairments affecting sight to the extent that the individual functioning in public areas is insecure or exposed to dangers;

4. Deafness or hearing loss that might make an individual insecure in public areas because he is unable to communicate or hear warning signals;

5. Faulty coordination or palsy from brain, spinal, or peripheral nerve injury; or

6. Those manifestations of the aging processes that significantly reduce mobility, flexibility, coordination and perceptiveness but are not accounted for in the aforementioned categories.

B. The Division shall prescribe standards for the design, construction, and alteration of buildings constructed in whole or in part or altered by the use of state funds, other than school funds, necessary to ensure that persons with physical disabilities will have ready access to, and use of, such buildings.

C. The governing body of a county, city or town or other political subdivision shall prescribe standards for the design, construction and alteration of buildings, not including public school facilities, constructed in whole or in part or altered by the use of the funds of such locality or political subdivision necessary to ensure that persons with physical disabilities will have ready access to, and use of, such buildings. The Division shall consult with the governing bodies upon request.

D. The Division, with respect to standards issued by it, and the governing body of any county, city or town or other political subdivision with respect to standards issued by it may:

1. Modify or waive any such standard, on a case-by-case basis, upon application made by the head of the department, agency or other instrumentality concerned, upon determining that a modification or waiver is clearly necessary; and

2. Conduct necessary surveys and investigations to ensure compliance with such standards.

E. The provisions of this section and § 2.2-1160 shall apply to temporary and emergency construction as well as permanent buildings.

1970, c. 539, §§ 2.1-109.01, 2.1-109.02, 2.1-109.03, 2.1-109.04, 2.1-109.06, 2.1-109.07; 1972, c. 223; 1977, c. 672, §§ 2.1-514, 2.1-515, 2.1-516, 2.1-517, 2.1-519, 2.1-520, 2.1-521; 1993, c. 226; 2001, c. 844; 2023, cc. 148, 149.

Every building or facility designed, constructed or substantially altered after the effective date of a standard issued under subsection B of § 2.2-1159, which is applicable to such building shall be designed, constructed or altered in accordance with such standard.

1970, c. 539, § 2.1-109.05; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-519; 2001, c. 844.

The Division, upon a determination that a building or facility is not in conformance with the applicable standards for persons with physical disabilities, shall immediately take all necessary steps to ensure such building or facility is in conformance within three months of the date of its determination. The three-month period may be extended for an additional minimum period of time required to obtain funding and complete construction, where the Division determines an extension is necessary. This section shall apply only to those state buildings or facilities designed, constructed or substantially modified after July 1, 1977.

1977, c. 588, § 2.1-521.1; 1979, c. 243; 2001, c. 844.

Each state building that is open to the public shall have in place a Code Adam or similar program for the prevention of child abduction. Code Adam is a protocol used as a preventive tool against child abductions and for locating lost children in public buildings. The Department of General Services shall develop model plans and ensure that each building covered by this section is prepared to activate Code Adam or a similar program under appropriate circumstances. All state agencies shall render assistance to the Department, upon request, in implementing this statute and the Department's plan within their buildings.

2003, cc. 83, 86.

Article 5. Abatement of Risk of Asbestos in State-Owned and Public School Buildings.

As used in this article.

"Asbestos" means any material containing more than one percent of the asbestiform varieties of:

1. chrysotile (serpentine),

2. crocidolite (riebeckite),

3. amosite (cummingtonite-grunerite),

4. anthophyllite,

5. tremolite, or

6. actinolite.

"Director" means the Director of the Department of General Services.

"Friable" means material that is capable of being crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure or which under normal use or maintenance emits or can be expected to emit asbestos fibers into the air.

"Local education agency" or "LEA" means the same as that term is defined in the United States Environmental Protection Agency Asbestos Hazard and Emergency Response Act regulations set forth in 40 CFR 763.

"Operations and maintenance program" means work practices to maintain asbestos-containing material in good condition and to minimize and control disturbance or damage to such materials.

"Response actions" means any action, including removal, encapsulation, enclosure, repair, method of operation, maintenance, record keeping or notification that protects human health from building materials containing asbestos.

"Secretary" means the Secretary of Administration.

1986, cc. 288, 560, § 2.1-526.12; 1988, c. 723; 1989, c. 398; 1990, c. 50; 2001, c. 844.

The Director at the direction of the Secretary and in cooperation with any other appropriate agencies including but not limited to the Department of Education shall ensure that every building owned by the Commonwealth or any agency of the Commonwealth which has not previously been inspected by competent personnel as provided below is inspected as soon as practical by competent personnel who have the training and equipment necessary to identify (i) the presence of asbestos, and (ii) to the extent practicable the relative hazard or hazards to health and safety posed at each location at which asbestos is identified. Every location at which asbestos is identified shall be clearly marked with suitably designed signs or labels. The Director shall prepare an accurate estimate of the cost of abating the risk of all asbestos so identified. The Director shall also establish a list of abatement priorities, which shall include the estimated cost of abating the risk at each location on the list. To the extent that funds are available, and in accordance with the priorities established by the Director, the agency or institution of the Commonwealth responsible for the maintenance of buildings at any such location shall proceed to abate the risk at such locations.

1985, c. 534, § 2.1-526.13; 1986, cc. 288, 560; 2001, c. 844.

The Director, at the direction of the Secretary and in cooperation with any other appropriate agencies including, but not limited to, the Department of Education shall adopt standards for the inspection of state-owned and local education agency buildings of all types and the ancillary facilities used in connection therewith for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos and to the extent practicable the relative hazard to health or safety posed by any asbestos identified. The Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) shall not apply to the adoption of standards under this section.

A. The standards shall include:

1. Inspection for the presence, location and condition of asbestos-containing materials;

2. Development of a building asbestos profile for each building inspected and found to contain asbestos-containing material, which profile shall:

(a) Include information regarding product type (surfacing material, thermal system insulation, or miscellaneous material), specific location, estimated quantity (in square or linear feet), type and percentage of asbestos content, and physical condition;

(b) Be kept in possession of the person designated pursuant to subsection E, at a location in the building where it is readily accessible to building employees or their designated representatives;

(c) Be updated as surveillance, test results and/or response actions are undertaken in the building.

B. The following standards are established for state-owned buildings:

1. When air monitoring is used for building assessment, it shall be used in conjunction with comprehensive visual assessment techniques for determining the priority and nature of response action.

2. The airborne asbestos reoccupancy level, to be measured upon completion of response actions, shall be equal to the reoccupancy standards established for buildings pursuant to subsection C.

C. The Director, in conjunction with the state Departments of Professional and Occupational Regulation, Health, Labor and Industry, Education, and Environmental Quality, shall adopt standards governing aggressive air sampling after completion of an asbestos project for airborne asbestos for local education agencies and public institutions of higher education.

D. Asbestos management plans for state-owned buildings shall include:

1. Operation and maintenance programs, including procedures for the notification of maintenance and housekeeping personnel of the location of asbestos-containing materials likely to be disturbed during routine building operations; the labeling of asbestos-containing materials in routine maintenance areas; and work practices, engineering controls or personal protective measures to minimize asbestos exposure to such personnel and other building occupants;

2. Training requirements for maintenance workers and maintenance supervisory personnel;

3. Assurance of compliance by contractors with licensing under applicable state laws and regulations; and

4. Provisions for setting priorities of buildings for response actions.

E. Each person responsible for such management plans shall designate one member of the maintenance personnel in or responsible for each building containing asbestos-containing materials to serve as the liaison to coordinate the specific efforts of such program within the particular building to which the liaison is assigned.

1985, c. 534, § 2.1-526.14; 1986, cc. 288, 560; 1988, c. 723; 1993, c. 660; 2001, c. 844.

A. Every public school division in the Commonwealth shall ensure that every school building owned or operated by it, which has not previously been inspected in compliance with this article, is inspected. Inspection shall conform to the standards developed pursuant to § 2.2-1164.

B. The superintendent of schools for each public school division shall certify to the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Secretary that the public schools in the division have been inspected in compliance with this article.

C. Inspections completed prior to July 1, 1986, shall be deemed in compliance with this article if the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Secretary determine that they conform substantially to the standards referenced in § 2.2-1164, or to the inspection procedures contained in 40 CFR 763.

1985, c. 534, § 2.1-526.15; 1986, cc. 288, 560; 2001, c. 844.

Each public school division shall ensure that every location at which asbestos is identified following inspections conducted pursuant to subsection A or C of § 2.2-1165 is clearly marked with suitably designed signs or labels. Each division shall prepare an accurate estimate of the cost of abating the risk of asbestos at each location so identified. Each division shall also establish a list of priorities, based upon its determination of the risk to public health and safety posed by asbestos at each such location, which shall include the estimated cost of abating the risk at each location on the list.

1986, cc. 288, 560, § 2.1-526.16; 2001, c. 844.

The Commonwealth and its officers, agents and employees shall be immune from civil liability for actions (i) arising from the establishment and implementation of asbestos inspection standards developed pursuant to § 2.2-1164 and (ii) undertaken pursuant to the provisions of this article, Chapter 5 (§ 54.1-500 et seq.) of Title 54.1, and §§ 22.1-289.052 and 32.1-126.1.

1988, c. 723, § 2.1-526.17:1; 2001, c. 844; 2020, cc. 860, 861.

Article 6. Division of Support Services.

The Director of the Department may establish a Division of Support Services (the "Division") and assign to this Division or to any other division any or all of the duties described in this article or otherwise imposed upon the Department.

1977, c. 672, § 2.1-527; 2001, c. 844.

The Division shall operate a central service unit to provide all state departments, divisions, institutions and agencies in the Richmond area with mail handling, messenger and parcel service. These services may, if deemed appropriate, be extended to state departments, divisions, institutions and agencies in other areas of the Commonwealth.

1972, c. 503, § 2.1-243.1; 1976, c. 759; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-528; 2001, c. 844.

The Division may establish a general office equipment pool and central repair shop for such equipment, and may provide guidelines for the utilization of such equipment. For the purposes of this section, computers, software, supplies, and related peripheral equipment shall not be considered general office equipment.

1977, c. 672, § 2.1-529; 2001, c. 844.

The Division may operate a printing and duplicating facility in the Richmond area, and may establish criteria for its use, subject to the provisions of § 2.2-1113.

1977, c. 672, § 2.1-530; 2001, c. 844.

A. Except as provided in this section, all parking in the Capitol Square of motor vehicles and animal-drawn vehicles is prohibited. However, during the recess of the General Assembly, the Division may cause to be marked off certain portions of the driveways in the Capitol Square and permit vehicles to be parked there under such regulations as may be prescribed. Parking areas on the west of the Capitol shall be reserved at all times for parking by members of the General Assembly.

B. During sessions of the General Assembly, parking in the Capitol Square shall be subject to rules and regulations adopted jointly by the Speaker of the House of Delegates and the chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules.

C. The Division may, with the approval of the Governor, utilize any property owned by the Commonwealth and located in the Richmond area for the purpose of providing parking facilities for officers and employees of the Commonwealth, and to allocate spaces therein. The Division may fix and collect fees for the use of the parking facilities. The Division may adopt regulations for the parking facilities, which regulations shall include the enforcement provisions required by §§ 46.2-1225 through 46.2-1229.

D. Any person parking any vehicle contrary to the rules and regulations referred to in subsection B or contrary to the other provisions of this section, or contrary to any parking sign or "No Parking" sign erected by the Division pursuant to regulations adopted by it, shall be subject to a fine of not less than one dollar nor more than twenty-five dollars for each offense.

Code 1950, § 2-75.1; 1958, c. 2; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-94; 1970, c. 202; 1977, c. 672, § 2.1-531; 2001, c. 844.

Article 7. Centralized Fleet Management.

As used in this article:

"Centralized fleet" means those passenger-type vehicles assigned to the Department of General Services and available for use by state agencies.

"Contract rental" means a contract for the use of motor vehicles by employees for official state business within the confines of their normal work locations. This does not include rental vehicles used by travelers after reaching their destination.

"Director" means the Director of the Department of General Services.

"Lease" means a contract for the use of a passenger-type vehicle for a term of more than thirty days.

"Passenger-type vehicle" means any automobile, including sedans and station wagons, or van used primarily for the transportation of the operator and no more than fifteen passengers.

1989, c. 479, § 33.1-400; 1998, c. 329; 2001, cc. 815, 842, § 2.1-548.01.

Passenger-type vehicles purchased with public funds by any department, agency, institution, or commission of the Commonwealth, or any officer or employee on behalf of the Commonwealth, shall be assigned to the centralized fleet with the following exceptions:

1. Vehicles that have special equipment or performance requirements related to use by law-enforcement officers;

2. Vehicles for use by any elected official of the people of the Commonwealth; and

3. Such other special category of vehicles as may be excepted by the Director.

1989, c. 479, § 33.1-401; 2001, cc. 815, 842, § 2.1-548.02.

The Director shall establish an appropriate administrative unit within the Department to manage the centralized fleet. The Director's responsibilities for the centralized fleet shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. Administering the assignment of vehicles to officers and employees of the Commonwealth;

2. Managing a pool of vehicles for short-term use;

3. Purchasing vehicles necessary to the operation of the centralized fleet;

4. Repairing and maintaining vehicles;

5. Monitoring the use of vehicles and enforcing guidance documents regarding their proper use; and

6. Maintaining records related to the operation and maintenance of vehicles, and the administration of the centralized fleet.

1989, c. 479, § 33.1-402; 2001, cc. 815, 842, § 2.1-548.03; 2013, c. 485.

A. No motor vehicle shall be purchased, leased, or subject to a contract rental with public funds by the Commonwealth or by any officer or employee on behalf of the Commonwealth without the prior written approval of the Director. No lease or contract rental shall be approved by the Director except upon demonstration that the cost of such lease or contract rental plus operating costs of the vehicle shall be less than comparable costs for a vehicle owned by the Commonwealth.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the Virginia Department of Transportation shall be exempted from the approval of purchase, lease, or contract rental of motor vehicles used directly in carrying out its maintenance, operations, and construction programs.

B. Notwithstanding other provisions of law, on or before January 1, 2012, the Director, in conjunction with the Secretary of Administration and the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, shall establish a plan providing for the replacement of state-owned or operated vehicles with vehicles that operate using natural gas, electricity, or other alternative fuels, to the greatest extent practicable, considering available infrastructure, the location and use of vehicles, capital and operating costs, and potential for fuel savings. The plan shall be submitted to the Governor for his review and approval. Once the plan is approved by the Governor, the Director shall implement the plan for the centralized fleet. All state agencies and institutions shall cooperate with the Director in developing and implementing the plan.

1989, c. 479, § 33.1-403; 1997, c. 48; 1998, c. 329; 2001, cc. 815, 842, § 2.1-548.04; 2011, c. 813; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 401.

There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Conversion Fund, hereinafter referred to as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. The Fund shall consist of such moneys appropriated by the General Assembly and any other funds available from donations, grants, in-kind contributions, and other funds as may be received for the purposes stated herein. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for the purposes of assisting agencies of the Commonwealth with the incremental cost of state-owned alternative fuel vehicles and local government and agencies thereof and local school divisions with the incremental cost of such local government-owned alternative fuel vehicles. Moneys in the Fund may be used in conjunction with or as matching funds for any eligible federal grants for the same purpose. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Director.

As used in this section, "incremental cost" means the entire cost of a certified conversion of an existing vehicle to use at least one alternative fuel or the additional cost of purchasing a new vehicle equipped to operate on at least one alternative fuel over the normal cost of a similar vehicle equipped to operate on a conventional fuel such as gasoline or diesel fuel.

The Director, in consultation with the Director of the Department of Energy, shall establish guidelines for contributions and reimbursements from the Fund for the purchase or conversion of state-owned or local government-owned vehicles.

2012, cc. 199, 531; 2014, c. 199; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 532.

A. It is the policy of the Commonwealth to encourage and promote the use of cost-effective vehicles by considering the total cost of ownership by agencies of the Commonwealth.

B. By October 1, 2022, the Department shall identify a publicly available total cost of ownership calculator that will be used to assess and compare the total cost to purchase, own, lease, and operate light-duty internal combustion-engine vehicles (ICEVs) versus comparable electric vehicles (EVs). Beginning on January 1, 2023, the Department and all agencies of the Commonwealth shall utilize the calculator prior to purchasing or leasing any light-duty vehicles and shall purchase or lease an EV unless the calculator clearly indicates that purchasing or leasing an ICEV has a lower cost of ownership.

1. The calculator shall, at a minimum, account for the vehicle's make, model, and age; the average miles traveled per year for similarly used vehicles; the expected life expectancy of the vehicle and average annual depreciation; the upfront and annual costs of purchasing such vehicle and all other costs of vehicle ownership or lease; and all costs the agency must incur to add chargers or other fueling facilities to support such vehicles. The calculator shall be updated at least annually to account for updates in information, including information on the latest light-duty vehicle models available.

2. The Department shall make the calculator available to all state and local public bodies and transit agencies. The Department shall also provide technical assistance to such public bodies utilizing the calculator upon request.

For purposes of this subsection, "light-duty vehicle" means a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 14,000 pounds or less.

C. Beginning January 1, 2026, and every three years thereafter, the Department shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a report summarizing the Department's vehicle procurements and the vehicle procurements of other agencies of the Commonwealth. The report shall, at a minimum, include a compilation of types of vehicles by size, fuel sources, and the total estimated cost savings and avoided emissions attributable to purchasing or leasing of EVs instead of ICEVs.

D. Emergency vehicles, as defined in § 46.2-920, and any vehicles used by an agency of the Commonwealth in law-enforcement, incident response, or other emergency response activities shall be exempt from the requirements of this section. The Department may authorize other exemptions from the requirements of this section upon finding that an EV is not a practicable alternative to an ICEV for a particular use, or for some other compelling reason.

E. The Department shall develop guidance documents regarding the procedure for requesting exemptions from the requirements of this section and the criteria for evaluating such exemption requests. Before adopting or revising such guidance documents, the Department shall publish the document on its website and provide a 30-day period for public review and comment.

F. The Department may issue any directives or guidance documents or promulgate any regulations as may be necessary to implement the requirements of this section.

2022, c. 789.

The Director may transfer surplus motor vehicles among state agencies, and determine the value of such surplus equipment for the purpose of maintaining the financial accounts of the state agencies affected by such transfers.

1989, c. 479, § 33.1-404; 2001, cc. 815, 842, § 2.1-548.05.

A. Passenger-type vehicles assigned to the centralized fleet may be assigned to persons performing state duties only if deemed necessary by the head of the agency or institution requesting such vehicle and approved in writing by the Director. Request for such vehicle shall be made in writing on forms prepared by the Department of General Services by the head of the agency or institution explaining in detail the purpose of or reason for such assignment.

B. Assignments shall be approved by the Director only on the basis of one of the following criteria:

1. The vehicle shall be driven not less than the annual usage standard. The Director shall promulgate a minimum mileage standard taking into account best value, industry standard practices, and the use of alternative transportation methods;

2. The vehicle shall be used by an employee whose duties are routinely related to public safety or response to life-threatening situations:

a. A law-enforcement officer as defined in § 9.1-101, with general or limited police powers;

b. An employee whose job duties require the constant use or continuous availability of specialized equipment directly related to their routine functions; or

c. An employee on 24-hour call who must respond to emergencies on a regular or continuing basis, and emergency response is normally to a location other than the employee's official work station; or

3. The vehicle shall be used for essential travel related to the transportation of clients or wards of the Commonwealth on a routine basis, or for essential administrative functions of the agency for which it is demonstrated that use of a temporary assignment or personal mileage reimbursement is neither feasible nor economical.

C. No assignment shall be for a period exceeding two years except upon review by the Director as to the continued need for the assignment.

D. The use of such vehicle shall be limited to official state business.

1989, c. 479, § 33.1-405; 2001, cc. 815, 842, § 2.1-548.06; 2011, c. 611.

No passenger-type vehicle purchased or leased with public funds shall be used to commute between an employee's home and official work station without the prior written approval of the agency head and, in the case of vehicles assigned to the centralized fleet, the Director. The Director shall establish guidance documents governing such use of vehicles and shall ensure that costs associated with such use shall be recovered from employees. Employees who do not report to an official work station shall not be required to pay for travel between their homes and field sites. Guidance documents established by the Director and recovery of costs shall not apply to use of vehicles by law-enforcement officers. By executive order of the Governor, such guidance documents may extend to all motor vehicles of any type owned by the Commonwealth, or such of them as the Governor may designate.

1989, c. 479, § 33.1-406; 2001, cc. 815, 842, § 2.1-548.07; 2013, c. 485.

The Director may establish guidance documents for the purchase, use, storage, maintenance, repair, and disposal of all passenger-type vehicles owned by the Commonwealth and assigned to the centralized fleet. By executive order of the Governor, such guidance documents may extend to all motor vehicles of any type owned by the Commonwealth, or such of them as the Governor may designate.

If any state officer, agent, or employee fails to comply with any guidance documents of the Director made pursuant to the provisions of this section, the Secretary of Administration shall be so notified, and the Comptroller shall, upon request of the Secretary, refuse to issue any warrant or warrants on account of expenses incurred, or to be incurred in the purchase, operation, maintenance, or repair of any motor vehicle now or to be in the possession or under the control of such officer, agent, or employee, or the Secretary of Administration may order the Director to take possession of any such vehicle and to return or transfer it to the centralized fleet for assignment or use as prescribed by this chapter. Regulations previously promulgated by the Commonwealth Transportation Board under the authority granted by former § 33.1-407 concerning the purchase, use, storage, maintenance, repair, and disposal of all passenger-type vehicles owned by the Commonwealth and assigned to the centralized fleet shall remain in effect until the Director establishes replacement guidance documents under the authority granted by this article.

1989, c. 479, § 33.1-407; 1990, cc. 1, 317; 2001, cc. 815, 842, § 2.1-548.08; 2013, c. 485.

There is hereby established a Fleet Management Internal Service Fund to be used exclusively to finance the operations of the centralized fleet.

1989, c. 479, § 33.1-408; 2001, cc. 815, 842, § 2.1-548.09.

Article 8. High Performance Buildings Act.

A. This article shall be known and may be cited as the High Performance Buildings Act.

B. As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Centralized fleet" means the same as that term is defined in § 2.2-1173.

"High performance building certification program" means a public building design, construction, and renovation program that meets the requirements of VEES.

"Sufficient electric vehicle charging infrastructure" means provision or reservation of sufficient space to provide electric vehicle charging stations and related infrastructure, including transformers, service equipment, and large conduit, to support every centralized fleet vehicle that will be located at such building.

"VEES" means the Virginia Energy Conservation and Environmental Standards developed by the Department considering the U.S. Green Building Council (LEED) green building rating standard, the Green Building Initiative "Green Globes" building standard, and other appropriate requirements as determined by the Department.

2012, cc. 680, 793; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 473.

A. Any executive branch agency or institution entering the design phase for the construction of a new building greater than 5,000 gross square feet in size, or the renovation of a building where the cost of the renovation exceeds 50 percent of the value of the building, shall ensure that such building:

1. Is designed, constructed, verified, and operated to comply with the high performance building certification program and VEES;

2. Has sufficient electric vehicle charging infrastructure. However, the provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to buildings located in the right-of-way of the Interstate System as that term is defined in § 33.2-100; and

3. Has features that permit the agency or institution to track the building's energy efficiency and associated carbon emissions, including metering of all electricity, gas, water, and other utilities.

B. Any executive branch agency or institution may exceed the design and construction standards required by subsection A, provided that such agency or institution obtains prior written approval from the Director of the Department.

C. The Director of the Department may grant an exemption from the design and construction standards required by subsection A upon a finding that special circumstances make the construction or renovation to the standards impracticable. Such exemption shall be made in writing and shall explain the basis for granting such exemption. If the Director cites cost as a factor in granting an exemption, the Director shall include a comparison of the cost the agency or institution will incur over the next 20 years if the agency does not comply with the standards required by subsection A versus the costs to the agency or institution if the agency or institution were to comply with such standards.

D. Each agency or institution shall submit an annual report to the Governor by January 1 of each year detailing the energy-efficiency and associated carbon emissions metrics for each building built or renovated in accordance with the design and construction standards required by subsection A and completed during the prior fiscal year.

2012, cc. 680, 793; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 473.

Chapter 12. Department of Human Resource Management.

A. There is created a Department of Human Resource Management (the "Department"), which shall be headed by a Director appointed by the Governor to serve at his pleasure.

B. The Director of the Department shall, under the direction and control of the Governor, exercise such powers and perform such duties as are delegated to him by the Governor or conferred or imposed upon him by law and perform such other duties as may be required by the Governor.

Code 1950, § 2-81; 1966, cc. 55, 677, § 2.1-113; 1975, c. 390; 1976, c. 761, § 2.1-114.3; 1978, c. 846; 1984, c. 720; 2000, cc. 66, 657; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Department shall have the following duties:

1. Make recommendations to the Governor regarding the establishment and maintenance of a classification plan for the service of the Commonwealth, and recommend necessary amendments thereto.

2. Make recommendations to the Governor regarding the establishment and administration of a compensation plan for all employees, and recommend necessary amendments thereto.

3. Design and maintain a personnel information system that shall support the operational needs of the Department and of state agencies, and that shall provide for the management information needs of the Governor, his secretaries, and the General Assembly. The system shall provide at a minimum a roster of all employees in the service of the Commonwealth, in which there shall be set forth as to each employee, the employing agency, the class title, pay, status and such other data as may be deemed desirable to produce significant facts pertaining to personnel administration.

4. Establish and direct a program of employee-management relations designed to improve communications between employees and agencies of the Commonwealth.

5. Establish and administer a system of performance evaluation for all employees in the service of the Commonwealth, based on the quality of service rendered, related where practicable to specific standards of performance. In no event shall workers' compensation leave affect the total number of hours credited during a performance cycle for purposes of calculating incentive increases in salary based on such performance evaluations.

6. Establish and administer a system of recruitment designed to attract high quality employees to the service of the Commonwealth. In administering this system, applicants shall be rated on the basis of relative merit and classified in accordance with their suitability for the various classes of positions in the service of the Commonwealth, and a record thereof shall be maintained in the open register.

7. Design and utilize an application form which shall include, but not be limited to, information on prior volunteer work performed by the applicant.

8. Establish and administer a comprehensive and integrated program of employee training and management development.

9. In coordination with the Governor or his designee, develop an online training module addressing diversity and cultural competency that shall be available for use by all employees and agencies of the Commonwealth. Such training module shall include (i) information related to race, ethnicity, disabilities, gender, religion, and other protected classes under state law; (ii) strategies to create an inclusive and equitable culture; (iii) strategies to ensure equity and inclusion in state employee recruitment and hiring; and (iv) strategies to ensure that state employees provide equitable, competent, and welcoming services to all persons.

10. Establish and administer a program of evaluation of the effectiveness of performance of the personnel activities of the agencies of the Commonwealth.

11. Establish and administer a program to ensure equal employment opportunity to applicants for state employment and to state employees in all incidents of employment.

12. Establish and administer regulations relating to disciplinary actions; however, no disciplinary action shall include the suspension without pay for more than 10 days of any state employee who is under investigation without a hearing conducted either by a level of supervision above the employee's immediate supervisor or by his agency head.

13. Adopt and implement a centralized program to provide awards to employees who propose procedures or ideas that are adopted and that will result in eliminating or reducing state expenditures or improving operations, provided such proposals are placed in effect. The centralized program shall be designed to (i) protect the identity of the individual making the proposal while it is being evaluated for implementation by a state agency, (ii) publicize the acceptance of proposals and financial awards to state employees, and (iii) include a reevaluation process that individuals making proposals may access if their proposals are rejected by the evaluating agency. The reevaluation process must include individuals from the private sector. State employees who make a suggestion or proposal under this section shall receive initial confirmation of receipt within 30 days. A determination of the feasibility of the suggestion or proposal shall occur within 60 days of initial receipt.

14. Develop state personnel policies and, after approval by the Governor, disseminate and interpret state personnel policies and procedures to all agencies. Such personnel policies shall permit an employee, with the written approval of his agency head, to substitute (i) up to 33 percent of his accrued paid sick leave, (ii) up to 100 percent of any other paid leave, or (iii) any combination of accrued paid sick leave and any other paid leave for leave taken pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.). On and after December 1, 1999, such personnel policy shall include an acceptable use policy for the Internet. At a minimum, the Department's acceptable use policy shall contain provisions that (i) prohibit use by state employees of the Commonwealth's computer equipment and communications services for sending, receiving, viewing, or downloading illegal material via the Internet and (ii) establish strict disciplinary measures for violation of the acceptable use policy. An agency head may supplement the Department's acceptable use policy with such other terms, conditions, and requirements as he deems appropriate. The Director of the Department shall have the final authority to establish and interpret personnel policies and procedures and shall have the authority to ensure full compliance with such policies. However, unless specifically authorized by law, the Director of the Department shall have no authority with respect to the state grievance procedures.

14a. Develop state personnel policies, with the approval of the Governor, that permit any full-time state employee who is also a member of the organized reserve forces of any of the armed services of the United States or of the Virginia National Guard to carry forward from year to year the total of his accrued annual leave time without regard to the regulation or policy of his agency regarding the maximum number of hours allowed to be carried forward at the end of a calendar year. Any amount over the usual amount allowed to be carried forward shall be reserved for use only as leave taken pursuant to active military service as provided by § 2.2-2903.1. Such leave and its use shall be in addition to leave provided under § 44-93. Any leave carried forward for the purposes described remaining upon termination of employment with the Commonwealth or any department, institution or agency thereof that has not been used in accordance with § 2.2-2903.1 shall not be paid or credited in any way to the employee.

14b. Develop state personnel policies that provide break time for nursing mothers to express breast milk. Such policies shall require an agency to provide (i) a reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child after the child's birth each time such employee has need to express the breast milk and (ii) a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public and that may be used by an employee to express breast milk. Such break time shall, if possible, run concurrently with any break time already provided to the employee. An agency shall not be required to compensate an employee receiving reasonable break time for any work time spent for such purpose. For purposes of this subdivision, "reasonable," with regard to break time provided for nursing mothers to express breast milk, means a break time that complies with the guidance for employers in assessing the frequency and timing of breaks to express breast milk set forth in the U.S. Department of Labor's Request for Information RIN 1235-ZA00, 75 Federal Register 80073 (December 21, 2010).

15. Ascertain and publish on an annual basis, by agency, the number of employees in the service of the Commonwealth, including permanent full-time and part-time employees, those employed on a temporary or contractual basis, and constitutional officers and their employees whose salaries are funded by the Commonwealth. The publication shall contain the net gain or loss to the agency in personnel from the previous fiscal year and the net gains and losses in personnel for each agency for a three-year period.

16. Submit a report to the members of the General Assembly on or before September 30 of each year showing (i) the total number of full-time and part-time employees, (ii) contract temporary employees, (iii) hourly temporary employees, and (iv) the number of employees who voluntarily and involuntarily terminated their employment with each department, agency or institution in the previous fiscal year.

17. Administer the workers' compensation insurance plan for state employees in accordance with § 2.2-2821.

18. Work jointly with the Department of General Services and the Virginia Information Technologies Agency to develop expedited processes for the procurement of staff augmentation to supplement salaried and wage employees of state agencies. Such processes shall be consistent with the Virginia Public Procurement Act (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.). The Department may perform contract administration duties and responsibilities for any resulting statewide augmentation contracts.

19. In coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Resources or his designee, develop an online training module addressing safety and disaster awareness, which shall be incorporated into existing mandatory training.

B. The Director may convene such ad hoc working groups as the Director deems appropriate to address issues regarding the state workforce.

1976, c. 761, § 2.1-114.5; 1978, cc. 844, 845; 1979, c. 482; 1980, c. 198; 1988, c. 208; 1989, c. 254; 1992, c. 424; 1993, c. 561; 1994, cc. 17, 954; 1997, c. 856; 1999, c. 384; 2000, cc. 66, 633, 657, 697; 2001, c. 844; 2002, c. 780; 2003, cc. 685, 789; 2005, c. 386; 2006, c. 474; 2008, c. 576; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2019, c. 280; 2020, c. 548; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 4.

The Department shall develop a statewide personnel policy for designating positions within each state agency as sensitive. Such policy shall provide that a state agency require any employee, contractor, or final candidate for employment in a position that has been designated as sensitive to submit to fingerprinting and to provide personal descriptive information to be forwarded along with the applicant's fingerprints through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of obtaining criminal history information regarding such individual.

Each state agency shall continue to record positions designated as sensitive in the Personnel Management Information System (PMIS) to ensure that the Department has a list of all such positions. For purposes of this section, "sensitive positions" shall include those positions:

1. Responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of citizens or the protection of critical infrastructures;

2. That have access to sensitive information, including access to federal tax information in approved exchange agreements with the Internal Revenue Service or Social Security Administration; and

3. That are otherwise required by state or federal law to be designated as sensitive.

2003, c. 731; 2017, cc. 421, 431.

A. It is a goal of the Commonwealth to compensate its employees at a rate comparable to the rate of compensation for employees in the private sector of the Commonwealth in similar occupations, and consistently recruit and retain the most suitably qualified employees. To achieve this goal, the Director of the Department shall annually review (i) recruitment and retention trends, (ii) the functions performed by each classified job role, (iii) the number of employees and distribution of classified job roles across state agencies, and (iv) how the salaries for each classified job role compare to salaries paid by other employers in the Commonwealth and, as appropriate, to comparable salaries at a regional or national level.

B. The Director of the Department shall, on or before September 1 of each odd-numbered year, submit a report on (i) the classified job roles that should receive higher salary increases based on identified recruitment and retention challenges, (ii) the appropriate amount by which the salary of such classified job roles should be increased, and (iii) cost estimates for funding any salary increases to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations.

1976, c. 761, § 2.1-114.6; 2001, c. 844; 2019, c. 424.

The Director shall:

1. Establish a comprehensive program of employee relations management that includes alternative processes for resolving employment disputes;

2. Establish the grievance procedure and a statewide mediation program;

3. Adopt rules and set hearing officer fees for grievance hearings;

4. For employees who are covered by the grievance procedure, (i) provide forms necessary for the proper use of the grievance procedure; (ii) direct full compliance with the grievance procedure process; and (iii) investigate allegations of retaliation as the result of use of or participation in the grievance procedure or of reporting, in good faith, an allegation of fraud, waste, or abuse to the Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline and advise the agency head of the findings;

5. Render final decisions, containing the reasons for such decision, on all matters related to access to the grievance procedure, procedural compliance with the grievance procedure, and qualification for hearing;

6. Establish a process to select, on a rotating basis, hearing officers for grievance hearings from (i) the list maintained by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court or (ii) attorneys hired as classified employees by the Department through a competitive selection process; train and assign such hearing officers to conduct grievance hearings; evaluate the quality of their services to determine eligibility for continued selection; and, if deemed ineligible for continued selection, establish policies for removing such hearing officers from consideration for future selection;

7. Publish hearing officer decisions and Department rulings;

8. Establish a training program for human resources personnel on employee relations management and employment rights and responsibilities;

9. Implement a comprehensive training and instructional program for all supervisory personnel that includes the role of the grievance procedure in harmonious employee relations management. The training program shall also include methods for supervisors to instruct nonsupervisory personnel in the use of the grievance procedure. Use of the grievance procedure to resolve disputes shall be encouraged. In-house resources shall be developed to allow the Department and its personnel to conduct onsite training of this nature for units and agencies of state government throughout Virginia. The Department shall assist agencies in establishing performance criteria for such supervisory personnel;

10. Provide information upon the request of any employee concerning personnel policies, regulations, and law applicable to the grievance procedure and counsel employees in the resolution of conflict in the workplace;

11. Establish and maintain a toll-free telephone number to facilitate access by employees to the services of the Department;

12. Collect information and statistical data regarding the use of the grievance procedure and the effectiveness of employee relations management in the various state agencies;

13. Make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly to improve the grievance procedure and employee relations management;

14. Conduct such training seminars and educational programs for the members and staff of agencies and public bodies and other interested persons on the use of dispute resolution proceedings as the Director determines appropriate;

15. Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be requested by the Governor; and

16. Perform all acts and employ such personnel as may be required, necessary, or convenient to carry out the provisions of this section.

1995, cc. 16, 646, 770, 818, § 2.1-116.03; 1996, cc. 164, 869; 1998, c. 263; 2000, cc. 66, 657, 947, 1006; 2001, c. 844, § 2.2-1001; 2012, cc. 56, 349, 803, 835; 2013, cc. 572, 690, 717, 723.

Notwithstanding the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.), the Department shall not disclose lists of home addresses of state employees except in accordance with regulations adopted by the Department pursuant to the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.).

1994, c. 892, § 2.1-114.5:01; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Department shall establish a plan or plans, hereinafter "plan" or "plans," subject to the approval of the Governor, for providing health insurance coverage for employees of local governments, local officers, teachers, and retirees, and the dependents of such employees, officers, teachers, and retirees. The plan or plans shall be rated separately from the plan established pursuant to § 2.2-2818 to provide health and related insurance coverage for state employees. Participation in such insurance plan or plans shall be (i) voluntary, (ii) approved by the participant's respective governing body, or by the local school board in the case of teachers, and (iii) subject to regulations adopted by the Department. In addition, at the option of a governing body or school board that has elected to participate in the health insurance plan or plans offered by the Department, the governing body or school board may elect to participate in the voluntary employee-pay-all long-term care program offered by the Commonwealth.

B. The plan or plans established by the Department, one of which may be similar to the state employee plan, shall satisfy the requirements of the Virginia Public Procurement Act (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.), shall consist of a flexible benefits structure that permits the creation of multiple plans of benefits, and may provide for single or separate rating groups based upon criteria established by the Department. The Department shall adopt regulations regarding the establishment of such a plan or plans, including, but not limited to, requirements for eligibility, participation, access and egress, mandatory employer contributions and financial reserves, adverse experience adjustments, and the administration of the plan or plans. The Department may engage the services of other professional advisors and vendors as necessary for the prudent administration of the plan or plans. The assets of the plan or plans, together with all appropriations, premiums, and other payments, shall be deposited in the employee health insurance fund, from which payments for claims, premiums, cost containment programs, and administrative expenses shall be withdrawn from time to time. The assets of the fund shall be held for the sole benefit of the employee health insurance fund. The fund shall be held in the state treasury. Any interest on unused balances in the fund shall revert back to the credit of the fund. The State Treasurer shall charge reasonable fees to recover the actual costs of investing the assets of the plan or plans.

In establishing the participation requirements, the Department may provide that those employees, officers, and teachers without access to employer-sponsored health care coverage may participate in the plan. It shall collect all premiums directly from the employers of such employees, officers, and teachers.

C. In the event that the financial reserves of the plan fall to an unacceptably low level as determined by the Department, it shall have the authority to secure from the State Treasurer a loan sufficient to raise the reserve level to one that is considered adequate. The State Treasurer may make such a loan, to be repaid on such terms and conditions as established by him.

D. For the purposes of this section:

"Employees of local governments" includes all officers and employees of the governing body of any county, city, or town, and the directing or governing body of any political entity, subdivision, branch, or unit of the Commonwealth or of any commission or public authority or body corporate created by or under an act of the General Assembly specifying the power or powers, privileges, or authority capable of exercise by the commission or public authority or body corporate, as distinguished from § 15.2-1300, 15.2-1303, or similar statutes, provided that the officers and employees of a transit company, social services department, welfare board, community services board or behavioral health authority, or library board of a county, city, or town shall be deemed to be employees of local government. For purposes of this section, private nonprofit organizations are not governmental agencies or instrumentalities.

"Local officer" means the treasurer, registrar, commissioner of the revenue, attorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of a circuit court, sheriff, or constable of any county or city or deputies or employees of any of the preceding local officers.

"Teacher" means any employee of a county, city, or other local public school board.

"Transit company" means a public service corporation, as defined in § 56-1, that is wholly owned by any county, city, or town, or any combination thereof, that provides public transportation services.

1989, c. 475, § 2.1-20.1:02; 1997, cc. 803, 888, 891; 2000, cc. 66, 620, 649, 657; 2001, cc. 520, 806, 844; 2008, c. 403; 2011, c. 489; 2012, cc. 476, 507, 803, 835; 2013, c. 687; 2016, c. 512; 2020, c. 555.

A. The surviving spouse and any dependents of an active or retired law-enforcement officer of any county, city, or town of the Commonwealth; a jail officer; a regional jail or jail farm superintendent; a sheriff, deputy sheriff, or city sergeant or deputy city sergeant of the City of Richmond; or a member of any fire company or department or emergency medical services agency that has been recognized by an ordinance or a resolution of the governing body of any county, city, or town of the Commonwealth as an integral part of the official safety program of such county, city, or town; whose death occurs as the direct or proximate result of the performance of his duty, including the presumptions under §§ 27-40.1, 27-40.2, 51.1-813, and 65.2-402, shall be entitled, upon proper application to the Department, to purchase continued health insurance coverage on the following conditions: (i) on the date of death, the deceased participated in a health insurance plan administered by the Department pursuant to § 2.2-1204 and (ii) on the date of the deceased's death, the applicants were included in the health insurance plan in clause (i). The health insurance plan administered by the Department pursuant to § 2.2-1204 shall provide means whereby coverage for the spouse and any dependents of the deceased as provided in this section may be purchased. The spouse and any dependents of the deceased who purchase continued health insurance coverage pursuant to this section shall pay the same portion of the applicable premium as active employees pay for the same class of coverage, and the local government employer that employed the deceased shall pay the remaining portion of the premium.

B. Any application to purchase continued health insurance coverage hereunder shall be made in writing to the Department within 60 days of the date of the deceased's death. The time for making application may be extended by the Department for good cause shown.

C. In addition to any necessary information requested by the Department, the application shall state whether conditions set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection A have been met. If the Department states that such conditions have not been met, the Department shall conduct an informal fact-finding conference or consultation with the applicant pursuant to § 2.2-4019 of the Administrative Process Act. Upon scheduling the conference or consultation, the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) shall apply thereafter.

D. Upon payment of any required premiums, coverage shall automatically be extended during the period for making application and shall be effective retroactive to the date of the deceased's death.

E. The terms, conditions, and costs of continued health insurance coverage purchased hereunder shall be subject to administration by the Department. The Department may increase the cost of coverage consistent with its administration of health insurance plans under § 2.2-1204. However, at no time shall a surviving spouse or dependents pay more for continued health insurance coverage than active employees pay under the same plan for the same class of coverage.

F. For the surviving spouse, continued health insurance coverage purchased hereunder shall automatically terminate upon occurrence of any of the following: (i) death, (ii) remarriage, (iii) alternate health insurance coverage being obtained, or (iv) any applicable condition outlined in the policies and procedures of the Department governing health insurance plans administered pursuant to § 2.2-1204.

G. For any surviving dependents, continued health insurance coverage purchased hereunder shall automatically terminate upon occurrence of any of the following: (i) death; (ii) marriage; (iii) alternate health insurance coverage being obtained; (iv) attaining the age of 21, unless the dependent is (a) a full-time college student, in which event coverage shall not terminate until such dependent has either attained the age of 25 or until such time as the dependent ceases to be a full-time college student, whichever occurs first, or (b) under a mental or physical disability, in which event coverage shall not terminate until three months following cessation of the disability; or (v) any applicable condition outlined in the policies and procedures of the Department governing health insurance plans administered pursuant to § 2.2-1204.

1997, c. 886, § 2.1-20.1:04; 1998, c. 699; 2000, cc. 66, 657; 2001, c. 844; 2015, cc. 502, 503.

A. For the purposes of this section, "plan sponsor" means a local government employer that has established a plan of health insurance coverage for its employees, retirees and dependents of employees as are described in subsection B.

B. The surviving spouse and any dependents of an active law-enforcement officer of any county, city, or town of the Commonwealth; a jail officer; a regional jail or jail farm superintendent; a sheriff, deputy sheriff, or city sergeant or deputy city sergeant of the City of Richmond; or a member of any fire company or department or emergency medical services agency that has been recognized by an ordinance or a resolution of the governing body of any county, city, or town of the Commonwealth as an integral part of the official safety program of such county, city, or town whose death occurs as the direct or proximate result of the performance of his duty shall be entitled, upon proper application to the appropriate plan sponsor, to purchase continued health insurance coverage on the following conditions: (i) on the date of death, the deceased participated in a health insurance plan administered by the plan sponsor and (ii) on the date of the deceased's death, the applicants were included in the health insurance plan in clause (i). The health insurance plan administered by the plan sponsor shall provide means whereby coverage for the spouse and any dependents of the deceased as provided in this section may be purchased.

C. Any application to purchase continued health insurance coverage hereunder shall be made in writing to the plan sponsor within 60 days of the date of the deceased's death. The time for making application may be extended by the plan sponsor for good cause shown.

D. In addition to any necessary information requested by the plan sponsor, the application shall state whether conditions set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection B have been met. If the plan sponsor states that such conditions have not been met, the plan sponsor, notwithstanding the provisions of § 2.2-4002, 2.2-4006, or 2.2-4011, shall conduct an informal fact-finding conference or consultation with the applicant pursuant to § 2.2-4019 of the Administrative Process Act. Upon scheduling the conference or consultation, the provisions of the local government's grievance procedure for nonprobationary, permanent employees shall apply thereafter.

E. Upon payment of any required premiums, coverage shall automatically be extended during the period for making application and shall be effective retroactive to the date of the deceased's death.

F. The terms, conditions, and costs of continued health insurance coverage purchased hereunder shall be subject to administration by the plan sponsor. The plan sponsor may increase the cost of coverage consistent with its administration of health insurance plans under § 2.2-1204. However, at no time shall the surviving spouse or dependents pay more for continued health insurance coverage than the active employee rate under the same plan for the same class of coverage.

G. For the surviving spouse, continued health insurance coverage purchased hereunder shall automatically terminate upon occurrence of any of the following: (i) death, (ii) remarriage, (iii) alternate health insurance coverage being obtained, or (iv) any applicable condition outlined in the policies and procedures of the plan sponsor governing health insurance plans administered for its active employees.

H. For any surviving dependents, continued health insurance coverage purchased hereunder shall automatically terminate upon occurrence of any of the following: (i) death; (ii) marriage; (iii) alternate health insurance coverage being obtained; (iv) attaining the age of 21, unless the dependent is (a) a full-time student at an institution of higher education, in which event coverage shall not terminate until such dependent has either attained the age of 25 or until such time as the dependent ceases to be a full-time student at an institution of higher education, whichever occurs first, or (b) under a mental or physical disability, in which event coverage shall not terminate until three months following cessation of the disability; or (v) any applicable condition outlined in the policies and procedures of the plan sponsor governing health insurance plans administered for its active employees.

1998, c. 698, § 2.1-20.1:05; 2001, c. 844; 2015, cc. 502, 503.

A. The Department shall establish a plan or plans, hereinafter "plan" or "plans," subject to the approval of the Governor, for providing long-term care insurance coverage for employees of local governments, local officers, and teachers. The plan or plans shall be rated separately from the plan developed pursuant to § 51.1-513.1 to provide long-term care insurance coverage for state employees. Participation in such insurance plan or plans shall be (i) voluntary, (ii) approved by the participant's respective governing body, or by the local school board in the case of teachers, and (iii) subject to regulations adopted by the Department.

B. The Department shall adopt regulations regarding the establishment of such a plan or plans, and the administration of the plan or plans.

C. For the purposes of this section:

"Employees of local governments" shall include all officers and employees of the governing body of any county, city or town, and the directing or governing body of any political entity, subdivision, branch or unit of the Commonwealth or of any commission or public authority or body corporate created by or under an act of the General Assembly specifying the power or powers, privileges or authority capable of exercise by the commission or public authority or body corporate, as distinguished from §§ 15.2-1300, 15.2-1303, or similar statutes, provided that the officers and employees of a social services department, welfare board, community services board or behavioral health authority, or library board of a county, city, or town shall be deemed to be employees of local government.

"Local officer" means the treasurer, registrar, commissioner of the revenue, attorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of a circuit court, sheriff, or constable of any county or city or deputies or employees of any of the preceding local officers.

"Teacher" means any employee of a county, city, or other local public school board.

D. The Department shall not carry out the provisions of this section if and when the Virginia Retirement System assumes responsibility for the plan or plans pursuant to § 51.1-513.3.

2002, c. 280; 2008, c. 568; 2012, cc. 476, 507.

A. The Department of Human Resource Management shall develop, implement, and administer a long-term care insurance program for state employees and for any person who has five or more years of creditable service with any retirement plan administered by the Virginia Retirement System. The Department of Human Resource Management is authorized to contract for and purchase such coverage or use other actuarially sound funding necessary to effectuate this provision.

B. Any person eligible to participate in the long-term care insurance program established pursuant to § 2.2-1207 will not be eligible for this plan.

C. The Department shall adopt regulations regarding the establishment and the administration of the plan or plans.

D. The Department shall not carry out the provisions of this section if and when the Virginia Retirement System assumes responsibility for the long-term care coverage program pursuant to § 51.1-513.2.

2004, c. 312; 2008, c. 568.

A. The Department shall develop and administer training programs to familiarize the director of each agency in the executive branch of state government with state human resources policies, including general policies, compensation management, benefits administration, employee training, succession planning, and resources available at the Department. The Department shall offer such training programs at least twice per year.

B. The director of each agency in the executive branch of state government and the agency's chief human resource officer shall attend a training program offered pursuant to subsection A within six months after the appointment of the director. The agency's chief human resource officer shall provide subsequent training to the director on any distinct companion human resource policies of the agency that are germane to agency programs and operations. Thereafter, the director shall attend a training program offered pursuant to subsection A at least once every four years. The president of a public institution of higher education may send a designee.

C. The director of each agency in the executive branch of state government, other than an institution of higher education, shall include in the agency's annual strategic plan its key workforce planning issues. In addition, the director shall submit a succession plan for key personnel, executive positions, and employees nearing retirement to the Cabinet Secretary associated with the director's agency and the Department. The Department shall establish guidelines for the content of such workforce and succession plans. Each public institution of higher education shall prepare a succession plan for presentation to the board of visitors with a copy to the Department.

2017, c. 527.

A. As used in this section:

"Eligible employee" means a classified or at-will state employee who has been employed by the Commonwealth for a minimum of 12 consecutive months.

"Parental leave" means paid leave provided at 100 percent of an eligible employee's regular salary.

B. The Department shall implement and administer parental leave for eligible employees. Following the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child younger than age 18, an eligible employee shall receive eight weeks (320 hours) of parental leave. If both parents of such child are eligible employees, each shall receive parental leave, which may be taken concurrently, consecutively, or at different times.

C. Parental leave shall be taken within six months following the birth, adoption, or foster placement of the child. Parental leave shall be taken only once in a 12-month period and only once per child.

D. Parental leave shall be in addition to other leave benefits available to state employees, including the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program under Chapter 11 (§ 51.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 51.1, sick leave under Article 2 (§ 51.1-1104) of Chapter 11 of Title 51.1, annual leave, and leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.), and shall not be counted against leave under such programs. Parental leave shall run concurrently with any leave provided to an eligible employee under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Parental leave may run concurrently or sequentially with leave provided under the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program if an eligible employee is eligible for such leave. All legal holidays designated pursuant to § 2.2-3300 shall not be counted against parental leave.

E. On July 1, 2020, and every July 1 thereafter, each state agency's human resource manager shall submit to the Department, in a form and containing such data as prescribed by the Department, a report on the use of parental leave by agency employees for the preceding fiscal year.

F. The Department shall develop and publish guidelines on parental leave that shall be exempt from the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.).

2019, cc. 829, 844.

All state employees commencing or recommencing employment with the Commonwealth on or after January 1, 2021, shall complete an online diversity and cultural competency training module provided by the Department pursuant to subdivision A 9 of § 2.2-1201 within 90 days of commencing or recommencing such employment. Each state agency shall maintain records showing that each employee has completed the training required by this section and the date on which such training was completed.

2020, c. 548.

All state employees shall annually complete an online safety and disaster awareness training module that includes information on public health safety provided by the Department pursuant to subdivision A 19 of § 2.2-1201. Each state agency shall maintain records showing that each employee has completed the training required by this section and the date on which such training was completed.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 4.

A. The Department shall develop an alternative application process for the employment of persons with a disability as defined in § 51.5-40.1. Such alternative application process shall be noncompetitive in nature and may be used for the employment of a person with a disability on a permanent or temporary basis. The Department shall include an option for state agencies to convert a position filled through the noncompetitive process created by this subsection into a position that is filled through a competitive process.

B. The Department shall include in the annual report required under subsection H of § 2.2-203.2:3 information on the status of the alternative application process for persons with a disability, including the total number of persons with a disability who (i) sought state employment through the alternative state application process, (ii) are currently employed through the alternative state application process, and (iii) had their employment in a position filled through the noncompetitive process created by subsection A converted into a position that is filled through a competitive process.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 218.

Chapter 13. Department of Information Technology [Repealed].

Repealed by Acts 2003, cc. 981 and 1021.

Chapter 14. Department of Minority Business Enterprise [Repealed].

Repealed by Acts 2013, c. 482, cl. 2, effective January 1, 2014.

Chapter 15. Department of Planning and Budget.

A. There is created a Department of Planning and Budget (the "Department"), which shall be headed by a Director appointed by the Governor to serve at his pleasure.

B. The Director of the Department shall, under the direction and control of the Governor, exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred or imposed upon him by law and perform such other duties as may be required by the Governor.

Code 1950, § 2-47; 1964, c. 302; 1966, cc. 55, 677, § 2.1-53; 1968, c. 223, § 2.1-63.1; 1972, c. 574; 1974, c. 23; 1975, c. 390; 1976, c. 760, §§ 2.1-388, 2.1-389; 1984, c. 720; 2001, c. 844.

The Department shall have the following duties:

1. Development and direction of an integrated policy analysis, planning, and budgeting process within state government.

2. Review and approval of all sub-state district systems boundaries established or proposed for establishment by state agencies.

3. Formulation of an executive budget as required in this chapter. In implementing this provision, the Department shall utilize the resources and determine the manner of participation of any executive agency as the Governor may determine necessary to support an efficient and effective budget process notwithstanding any contrary provision of law. The budget shall include reports, or summaries thereof, provided by agencies of the Commonwealth pursuant to subsection E of § 2.2-603.

4. Conduct of policy analysis and program evaluation for the Governor.

5. Continuous review of the activities of state government focusing on budget requirements in the context of the goals and objectives determined by the Governor and the General Assembly and monitoring the progress of agencies in achieving goals and objectives.

6. Operation of a system of budgetary execution to ensure that agency activities are conducted within fund limitations provided in the appropriation act and in accordance with gubernatorial and legislative intent. The Department shall make an appropriate reduction in the appropriation and maximum employment level of any state agency or institution in the executive branch of government that reports involuntary separations from employment with the Commonwealth due to budget reductions, agency reorganizations, or workforce down-sizings, or voluntary separations from employment with the Commonwealth as provided in the second and third enactments of the act of the General Assembly creating the Workforce Transition Act of 1995 (§ 2.2-3200). In the event an agency reduces its workforce through privatization of certain functions, the funds associated with such functions shall remain with the agency to the extent of the savings resulting from the privatization of such functions.

7. Development and operation of a system of standardized reports of program and financial performance for management.

8. Coordination of statistical data by reviewing, analyzing, monitoring, and evaluating statistical data developed and used by state agencies and by receiving statistical data from outside sources, such as research institutes and the federal government.

9. Assessment of the impact of federal funds on state government by reviewing, analyzing, monitoring, and evaluating the federal budget, as well as solicitations, applications, and awards for federal financial aid programs on behalf of state agencies.

10. Review and verify the accuracy of agency estimates of receipts from donations, gifts or other nongeneral fund revenue.

11. Development, coordination and implementation of a performance management system involving strategic planning, performance measurement, evaluation, and performance budgeting within state government. The Department shall ensure that information generated from these processes is useful for managing and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of state government operations, and is available to citizens and public officials. The Department shall submit annually on or before the second Tuesday in January to the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations a report that sets forth state agencies' strategic planning information and performance measurement results pursuant to this subdivision for the immediately preceding fiscal year.

12. Development, implementation and management of an Internet-based information technology system to ensure that citizens have access to performance information.

13. Development, implementation and management of an Internet-based information technology system to ensure that citizens have access to meeting minutes and information pertaining to the development of regulatory policies.

14. Development, coordination and management of a school efficiency review program.

1976, c. 760, § 2.1-391; 1979, cc. 672, 678; 1981, c. 315; 1984, c. 720; 1985, c. 114; 1989, c. 108; 1992, cc. 270, 381; 1995, cc. 152, 219, 811; 2000, c. 424; 2001, cc. 43, 844; 2002, cc. 580, 618; 2003, c. 900; 2005, c. 620.

A. As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Commercial activity" means performing services or providing goods that can normally be obtained from private enterprise.

"Commercial activities list" means the list of all commercial activities performed by employees of the Commonwealth.

"Privatization" means a variety of techniques and activities that promote more involvement of the private sector in providing services that have traditionally been provided by government. It also includes methods of providing a portion or all of select government-provided or government-produced programs and services through the private sector.

B. From such funds as are appropriated for this purpose, the Department shall:

1. Examine and promote methods of providing a portion or all of select government-provided or government-produced programs and services through the private sector by a competitive contracting program, and advise the Governor, the General Assembly, and executive branch agencies of the Department's findings and recommendations.

2. Determine the privatization potential of a program or activity, perform cost/benefit analyses, and conduct public and private performance analyses. The Secretary of Finance shall independently certify the results of the comparison.

3. Devise, in consultation with the Secretary of Finance, evaluation criteria to be used in conducting performance reviews of any program or activity that is subject to a privatization recommendation.

C. The commercial activities list developed by the Department in accordance with this section shall be updated every two years and posted on the Internet. In addition, the Department shall solicit at least annually in the Virginia Register public comments on the commercial activities list and invite recommendations from the public regarding activities being performed by state agencies that might better be performed by the private sector. All comments received shall be considered, and reasonable accommodation shall be made to permit representatives of any private entity, upon their request, to meet with the Department and the appropriate state agency to discuss their comments.

2012, cc. 803, 835.

A. The Director of the Department or his designee shall adopt regulations requiring a preplanning justification or a preplanning study, or both, for all capital outlay projects undertaken by any department, agency or institution of the Commonwealth. A preplanning study shall be required for any project of construction, renovation, or other capital outlay involving a structure of 20,000 or more square feet or that is estimated to cost one million dollars or more. For projects of lesser size or cost, the regulations may require only a preplanning justification of the project. The Director or his designee may waive the requirement for a preplanning justification or preplanning study for such projects of lesser size and cost when, a preplanning justification or preplanning study is not needed or would not be warranted by the cost of making one. Preplanning studies for projects estimated to cost less than $2 million shall be done at a cost not exceeding $25,000. Preplanning studies for projects estimated to cost $2 million or more shall be done at a cost not exceeding $50,000. Exceptions to these limitations upon the cost of preplanning studies may be authorized by the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations.

B. The regulations shall (i) provide for the content and scope of preplanning justifications and preplanning studies, including the definition of the terms "capital outlay project"; (ii) require consideration of locally available fuels, including wood wastes, for use in new and replacement central heating plants in any proposed or existing public buildings or other facilities; and (iii) shall be exempt from the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.).

1983, c. 497, § 2.1-51.31; 1984, c. 720; 1993, c. 29; 2001, c. 844.

A. From such funds as may be appropriated or otherwise received for such purpose, and upon written request by a local school board or the division superintendent, the Director shall initiate a review of the relevant school division's central operations. Such review shall identify best practices followed by the division that may be shared with other divisions statewide, examine noninstructional expenditures, and identify opportunities to improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs for the division. The review shall include examinations of (i) divisional administration, (ii) human resources, (iii) educational service delivery costs, (iv) facilities use and management, (v) financial management, (vi) transportation, (vii) technology management, and (viii) food services. Such review shall not address the effectiveness of the educational services being delivered by the division and shall not constitute a division-level academic review as required by § 22.1-253.13:3.

B. All agencies, authorities, and institutions of the Commonwealth shall cooperate and provide assistance as the Director may request.

2005, c. 620; 2006, c. 596; 2016, cc. 53, 70.

A. In every year, the Governor shall by December 15 prepare and submit to the members of the General Assembly an estimate of anticipated general fund revenue, an estimate of anticipated transportation fund revenues, and estimates of anticipated revenues for each of the remaining major nongeneral funds, for a prospective period of six years.

The Governor's estimates of anticipated general, transportation, and other nongeneral fund revenues shall be based on the following:

1. Forecasts of economic activity in the Commonwealth.

2. Review by an advisory board of economists with respect to economic assumptions and technical econometric methodology. The Joint Advisory Board of Economists (the Board) is established as an advisory board, within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government for such purpose. The Board shall be chaired by the Secretary of Finance, and consist of the Staff Director of the House Committee on Appropriations, the Staff Director of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, and 15 nonlegislative citizen members, 12 to be appointed by the Governor, at least eight being citizens of the Commonwealth, and three by the Joint Rules Committee, at least two being citizens of the Commonwealth. The 15 nonlegislative citizen members of the Board shall (i) be economists from either the public or private sector; (ii) serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority; (iii) be citizens of the United States with at least 10 being citizens of the Commonwealth; (iv) have their vacancies filled in the same manner as the original appointments; and (v) not receive compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses for the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Funding for the costs of expenses of the members shall be provided by the Department of Taxation. The Department of Taxation shall provide staff support. A majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. Meetings of the Board shall be held upon the call of the chairman or whenever a majority of the members so request.

3. Review by an advisory council of revenue estimates with respect to economic assumptions and the general economic climate of the Commonwealth. The Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates (the Council) is established as an advisory council, within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government for such purpose. The Council, of which the Governor shall be chairman, shall include the Speaker and Majority Leader of the House of Delegates; the President pro tempore and Majority Leader of the Senate; the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee on Finance, and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations or their designees; two members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, two members of the Senate to be appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations; and 15 to 20 nonlegislative citizen members representing the private sector appointed by the Governor. Legislative members appointed shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office and nonlegislative citizen members shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. All members shall be citizens of the Commonwealth. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. Members shall not receive compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses for the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Funding for the costs of expenses of the members shall be provided by the Department of Taxation. The Department of Taxation shall provide staff support. A majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum. Meetings of the Council shall be held upon the call of the chairman or whenever a majority of the members so request.

4. Any such other advisory bodies as the Governor may desire.

B. At the time the Governor submits the estimate of general fund revenues in accordance with subsection A, he shall also submit any alternative general fund revenue forecasts considered by the Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates.

1975, c. 501, § 2.1-63.02; 1976, c. 760, § 2.1-393; 1978, c. 802; 1981, c. 83; 1984, c. 473; 1985, c. 448; 2001, c. 844; 2003, c. 612; 2004, c. 1000; 2009, c. 537; 2010, c. 422; 2011, cc. 691, 714.

On or before the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly held in an even-numbered year, the Governor shall prepare and submit to the members of the General Assembly a financial plan for a prospective period of six years. The plan shall consist of (i) the Governor's biennial budget submitted pursuant to subsection A of § 2.2-1508, (ii) estimates of anticipated general fund and nongeneral fund revenue prepared for an additional period of four years pursuant to § 2.2-1503, and (iii) estimates of the general and nongeneral fund appropriations required for each major program for an additional period of four years. In preparing such financial plan, the Governor may utilize the estimate prepared by each agency pursuant to § 2.2-1504, or such other information as he may deem necessary.

2002, cc. 480, 486.

Repealed by Acts 2008, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 1, 2, cl. 20, effective May 21, 2008.

Within five business days after the preliminary close of the Commonwealth's accounts at the end of each fiscal year, the State Comptroller shall submit to the Governor a comparison of the total of individual income, corporate income, and sales taxes collected for the fiscal year, with the totals of such taxes included in the official budget estimate for the fiscal year. If the comparison indicates that the total collection of such taxes as shown in the preliminary close is 1.0 percent or more below the total amount of such taxes as included in the official budget estimate for the fiscal year, the Governor shall prepare a reestimate of general fund revenues for the current biennium and the next biennium in accordance with the provisions of § 2.2-1503. The Governor's reestimate shall be reported to the chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations and the chairmen of the Finance and Appropriation Committees of the House of Delegates not later than September 1 following the close of the fiscal year.

2003, c. 14.

A. Biennially in the odd-numbered years, on a date established by the Governor, each of the several state agencies and other agencies and undertakings receiving or asking financial aid from the Commonwealth shall report to the Governor, through the responsible secretary designated by statute or executive order, in a format prescribed for such purpose, an estimate in itemized form in accordance with the expenditure classification adopted by the Governor, showing the amount needed for each year of the ensuing biennial period beginning with the first day of July. The Governor may prescribe targets that shall not be exceeded in the official estimate of each agency; however, an agency may submit to the Governor a request for an amount exceeding the target as an addendum to its official budget estimate.

B. Each agency or undertaking required to submit a biennial estimate pursuant to subsection A shall simultaneously submit an estimate of the amount that will be needed for the two succeeding biennial periods beginning July 1 of the third year following the year in which the estimate is submitted. The Department shall provide, within thirty days following receipt, copies of all agency estimates provided under this subsection to the chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations.

C. The format used in making these estimates shall (i) be prescribed by the Governor, shall (ii) be uniform for all agencies, and (iii) clearly designate the kind of information to be given. The Governor may prescribe a different format for estimates from institutions of higher education, which format shall be uniform for all such institutions and shall clearly designate the kind of information to be provided.

Code 1950, § 2-48; 1964, c. 125; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-54; 1968, c. 683; 1975, c. 325; 1976, c. 760, § 2.1-394; 1979, c. 283; 1992, c. 582; 1993, c. 724; 1998, c. 467; 2001, c. 844.

A. Except as provided in §§ 10.1-2211, 10.1-2211.1, 10.1-2211.2, 10.1-2212, and 10.1-2213, no state funds shall be appropriated or expended for, or to, nonstate agencies unless:

1. A request for state aid is filed by the organization with the Department of Planning and Budget, as required by § 2.2-1504.

2. The nonstate agency certifies to the satisfaction of the Department that matching funds are available in cash from local or private sources in an amount at least equal to the amount of the request. These matching funds shall be concurrent with the purpose for which state funds are requested. Contributions received and spent prior to the state grant shall not be considered in satisfying the requirements of this subdivision.

3. The nonstate agency provides documentation of its tax exempt status under § 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.

B. Except as provided in §§ 23.1-628 through 23.1-635, no state funds shall be appropriated to, or expended for, a private institution of higher education or religious organization.

C. For the purposes of this section, a "nonstate agency" means any public or private foundation, authority, institute, museum, corporation or similar organization that is not a unit of state government or a political subdivision of the Commonwealth as established by general law or special act. It shall not include any such entity that receives state funds as a subgrantee of a state agency or through a state grant-in-aid program authorized by law.

1989, c. 711, § 2.1-394.1; 1998, c. 467; 2001, c. 844; 2017, c. 270.

On or before the first day of September biennially in the odd-numbered years the Committees on Rules of the House of Delegates and the Senate shall furnish the Governor an estimate of the financial needs of the General Assembly for each year of the ensuing biennial period beginning with the first day of July thereafter; and the Supreme Court of Virginia shall furnish to the Governor an estimate of the financial needs of the judiciary for each year of the ensuing biennial period beginning with the first day of July thereafter. The Committees on Rules of the House of Delegates and the Senate and the Supreme Court shall transmit to the Governor the estimates of all increases or decreases.

Code 1950, § 2-49; 1958, c. 370; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-55; 1968, c. 683; 1974, c. 91; 1976, c. 760, § 2.1-395; 2001, c. 844.

Agencies having responsibilities granted under §§ 2.2-2007.1, 2.2-2696, and 51.5-135 shall participate in the budget development process of relevant agencies and receive from these agencies, prior to submission to the Department their proposed programs and budgets. Recommendations to the appropriate agencies and the secretaries of the Governor on related matters shall be made prior to budget submissions.

1979, c. 678, § 2.1-397.1; 1991, c. 563; 1998, c. 467; 2001, c. 844; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2016, c. 296.

A. On or before December 20 in the year immediately prior to the beginning of each regular session of the General Assembly held in an even-numbered year, the Governor shall submit to the presiding officer of each house of the General Assembly printed copies of a budget document, which shall be known as "The Executive Budget," based on his own conclusions and judgment, containing the following:

1. For each agency, the amount and number of positions appropriated for the current appropriation year and the amount and number of positions recommended for each year of the ensuing biennial period beginning with the first day of July thereafter, accompanied by an explanation of the recommended amount and number of positions. Such information shall also include the total estimated amount appropriated for personnel costs for each agency.

2. A statement of historical and projected trends that influence the general economic conditions in the Commonwealth and a statement of the economic assumptions upon which revenue projections are based.

3. A statement of the Governor's proposed goals, objectives, and policies in the areas of:

a. Administration of justice;

b. Education, including intellectual and cultural development;

c. Individual and family services;

d. Resources and economic development, including specific references to economic development and management of natural resources;

e. Transportation; and

f. General government, including therein or as separate categories areas of multiple impact, such as telecommunications, energy, and urban development.

4. A statement organized by function, primary agency, and proposed appropriation item that sets forth:

a. Identification of common programs and services;

b. Service attainments or lack of attainments and service terminations or reductions for the biennium;

c. Major goals, objectives, and specific outcomes related to expenditures for programs;

d. Program measures and performance standards to be used in monitoring and evaluating services; and the development of appropriate evaluation cycles, within available resources;

e. The amount of each primary agency's budget that is direct aid to localities.

5. A statement of proposed capital appropriations organized by the primary agency that sets forth the program need for the project and the proposed source of funding.

6. A listing of all activity, program-related, agency or departmental evaluations performed in the previous two years with guidance indicating the manner in which the public can gain access to the full text of such studies.

7. A schedule and description of all data processing or other projects in which the Commonwealth has entered into or plans to enter into a contract, agreement or other financing agreement or such other arrangement that requires that the Commonwealth either pay for the contract by foregoing revenue collections, or allows or assigns to another party the collection on behalf of or for the Commonwealth any fees, charges, or other assessment or revenues to pay for the project. Such schedule shall include by agency and project (i) a summary of the terms, (ii) the anticipated duration, and (iii) cost or charges to any user, whether a state agency or institutions or other party not directly a party to the project arrangements. The description shall also include any terms or conditions that bind the Commonwealth or restrict the Commonwealth operations and the methods of procurement employed to reach such terms.

B. On or before December 20 of the year immediately prior to the beginning of the regular session of the General Assembly held in odd-numbered years, the Governor shall submit to the presiding officer of each house of the General Assembly printed copies of a budget document, which shall be known as "Executive Amendments to the Appropriation Act," describing all gubernatorial amendments proposed to the general appropriation act enacted in the immediately preceding even-numbered session.

C. The Department of Planning and Budget shall prepare "The Executive Budget" and the "Executive Amendments to the Appropriation Act" in a manner and with language that can be easily understood by the citizens of the Commonwealth and that provides, to the extent practical, a cross-reference to the Governor's recommended budget bill or amendments to the Appropriation Act. Such documents shall also be placed on the Internet to provide easy access by the public.

Code 1950, § 2-54; 1954, c. 673; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-60; 1968, c. 683; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 57; 1975, c. 325; 1976, c. 760, § 2.1-398; 1977, c. 656; 1978, c. 570; 1979, cc. 319, 320; 1981, c. 114; 1992, c. 582; 2001, c. 844; 2003, cc. 190, 888; 2009, c. 536.

A. On or before December 20 of the year immediately prior to the beginning of each regular session of the General Assembly held in an even-numbered year, the Governor also shall submit to the presiding officer of each house of the General Assembly, at the same time he submits "The Executive Budget," copies of a tentative bill for all proposed appropriations of the budget, for each year in the ensuing biennial appropriation period, which shall be known as "The Budget Bill." "The Budget Bill" shall be organized by function, primary agency, and proposed appropriation item and shall include an identification of, and authorization for, common programs and the appropriation of funds according to programs. Except as expressly provided in an appropriation act, whenever the amounts in a schedule for a single appropriation item are shown in two or more lines, the portions of the total amount shown on separate lines are for information purposes only and are not limiting. No such bill shall contain any appropriation the expenditure of which is contingent upon the receipt of revenues in excess of funds unconditionally appropriated.

B. The salary proposed for payment for the position of each cabinet secretary and administrative head of each agency and institution of the executive branch of state government shall be specified in "The Budget Bill," showing the salary ranges and levels proposed for such positions.

C. "The Budget Bill" shall include all proposed capital appropriations, including each capital project to be financed through revenue bonds or other debt issuance, the amount of each project, and the identity of the entity that will issue the debt.

D. The Governor shall also ensure a prefiled bill is submitted to the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations in accordance with the deadlines for prefiling under subdivision A 3 of § 30-19.3 for any request for authorization of additional bonded indebtedness if its issuance is authorized by, or its repayment is proposed to be made in whole or in part, from revenues or appropriations contained in "The Budget Bill."

E. On or before December 20 of the year immediately prior to the beginning of each regular session held in an odd-numbered year of the General Assembly, the Governor shall submit to the presiding officer of each house printed copies of all gubernatorial amendments proposed to the general appropriation act adopted in the immediately preceding even-numbered year session. In preparing the amendments, the Governor may obtain estimates in the manner prescribed in §§ 2.2-1504, 2.2-1505, and 2.2-1506. The Governor shall also ensure a prefiled bill is submitted to the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations in accordance with the deadlines for prefiling under subdivision A 3 of § 30-19.3 for any request for authorization of additional bonded indebtedness if its issuance is authorized by, or its repayment is proposed to be made in whole or in part, from revenues or appropriations contained in the proposed gubernatorial amendments.

F. The proposed capital appropriations or capital projects described in, or for which proposed appropriations are made pursuant to, this section shall include the capital outlay projects required to be included in "The Budget Bill" pursuant to § 2.2-1509.1. The Governor shall propose appropriations for such capital outlay projects in "The Budget Bill" in accordance with the minimum amount of funding and the designated sources of funding for such projects as required under § 2.2-1509.1.

Code 1950, § 2-55; 1952, c. 150; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-61; 1975, c. 325; 1976, c. 760, § 2.1-399; 1979, c. 319; 1992, c. 582, § 2.1-399.1; 1994, c. 621; 1998, cc. 118, 467, 591; 2001, c. 844; 2002, cc. 839, 888; 2003, c. 900; 2019, cc. 55, 188.

A. For purposes of this section:

"Projected general fund revenues" for a fiscal year means the estimated general fund revenues for such year as contained in the six-year revenue plan submitted in the prior calendar year pursuant to § 2.2-1503.

"Capital outlay project" means the same as that term is defined in § 2.2-1515.

B. In "The Budget Bill" submitted pursuant to § 2.2-1509, the Governor shall provide for the funding of capital outlay projects, as specified herein. Such funding recommendations shall be in addition to any appropriation for capital outlay projects from the Central Maintenance Reserve of the general appropriation act.

1. The Governor shall include in "The Budget Bill" submitted pursuant to § 2.2-1509 a biennial appropriation for the capital outlay plan described in § 2.2-1518. The biennial appropriation shall not be less than two percent of the projected general fund revenues for the biennium.

a. When the projected general fund revenues for a fiscal year or years are eight percent or greater than the projected general fund revenues for the immediately preceding fiscal year the amount of the biennial appropriation for the capital outlay plan that the Governor shall provide from general fund revenues shall not be less than two percent of the projected general fund revenues for each fiscal year.

b. When the projected general fund revenues for a fiscal year or years are at least five percent but less than eight percent greater than the projected general fund revenues for the immediately preceding fiscal year, the Governor may recommend funding of up to one-half of the required biennial appropriation from alternative financing mechanisms, including, but not limited to, bonded indebtedness. The Governor shall submit such bill or bills for consideration by the General Assembly as are necessary to implement such alternative financings, and shall include in "The Budget Bill" submitted pursuant to § 2.2-1509 proposed appropriations from general fund revenues for the remaining one-half of the required biennial appropriation.

c. When the projected general fund revenues for a fiscal year or years are less than five percent greater than the projected general fund revenues for the immediately preceding fiscal year, the Governor may recommend funding of up to the entire required biennial appropriation from alternative financing mechanisms, including, but not limited to, bonded indebtedness. The Governor shall submit such bill or bills for consideration by the General Assembly as are necessary to implement such alternative financings.

2. In implementing the provisions of this section, the amount of general funds to be included in the biennial appropriation for the capital outlay plan shall be calculated on a year-to-year basis, but may be apportioned on a biennial basis; provided, however, that the combined total of general fund appropriations and alternative financing mechanisms for the capital outlay plan included in "The Budget Bill" submitted pursuant to § 2.2-1509 shall equal at least two percent of the projected general fund revenues for the biennium.

C. The capital outlay projects proposed under this section and to be included in "The Budget Bill" submitted pursuant to § 2.2-1509 shall be consistent, as far as practicable, with those capital outlay projects included in the corresponding fiscal year of the current six-year capital outlay plan described in § 2.2-1518.

2002, cc. 839, 888; 2008, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 1, 2.

If any money in the Commonwealth Transportation Fund established pursuant to § 33.2-1524 is proposed to be used for any purpose other than administering, planning, constructing, improving, and maintaining the roads embraced in the systems of highways for the Commonwealth and its localities and/or furthering the interests of the Commonwealth in the areas of public transportation, railways, seaports, spaceports, and/or airports, then the Governor, if such diversion is proposed by the Governor, shall include with any such proposal a plan for repayment of funds diverted within three years of such use in "The Budget Bill" submitted pursuant to § 2.2-1509.

If such diversion of funds from the Commonwealth Transportation Fund is proposed by the General Assembly as an amendment to the Budget Bill, such amendment shall include language setting out the plan for repayment of such funds within three years.

2003, c. 970; 2020, cc. 1230, 1275.

A. For purposes of this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Commonwealth Project Management Standard" means the same as that term is defined in § 2.2-2006.

"Major information technology project" means the same as that term is defined in § 2.2-2006.

"Major information technology project funding" means an estimate of each funding source for a major information technology project for the duration of the project.

B. In "The Budget Bill" submitted pursuant to § 2.2-1509, the Governor shall provide for the funding of major information technology projects, as specified herein. Such funding recommendations shall be for major information technology projects that have or are pending project initiation approval as defined in the Commonwealth Project Management Standard.

The Governor shall include in "The Budget Bill" submitted pursuant to § 2.2-1509 a biennial appropriation for major information technology projects and the following information for each such project:

1. For major information technology projects that have been recommended for funding, a brief statement explaining the business case for the project, the priority of the project in the Recommended Technology Investment Projects Report as required by § 2.2-2007, and an explanation, if necessary, if the Governor informed the Chief Information Officer (CIO) that an emergency existed as set forth in subdivision A 5 of § 2.2-2016.1;

2. Total estimated project costs, as defined by the Commonwealth Project Management Standard, including the amount of the agency's or institution's operating appropriation that will support the project;

3. All project costs incurred to date as defined by the Commonwealth Project Management Standard;

4. Recommendations or comments of the Public-Private Partnership Advisory Commission, if the project is part of a proposal under the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002 (§ 56-575.1 et seq.);

5. The CIO's assessment of the project and the status as of the date of the budget bill submission to the General Assembly;

6. The planned project start and end dates as defined by the Commonwealth Project Management Standard; and

7. Projected annual operations and maintenance expenditures, including but not limited to fees, licenses, infrastructure, and agency and nonagency staff support costs, for information technology delivered by major information technology projects for the first budget biennium after project completion.

C. The CIO shall immediately notify each member of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations and the House Committee on Appropriations of any decision to terminate in accordance with subsection B of § 2.2-2016.1 any major information technology project in the budget bill. Such communication shall include the CIO's reason for such termination.

2009, c. 757; 2010, cc. 136, 145; 2011, c. 739; 2015, c. 768; 2016, c. 296.

Each year the Governor shall include in "The Budget Bill" submitted pursuant to subsection A of § 2.2-1509 or in his amendments to the general appropriation act in effect submitted pursuant to subsection E of § 2.2-1509 a recommended appropriation from the general fund pursuant to subdivision D 4 c of § 58.1-512 to be allocated as follows: 80 percent of such amount to the Virginia Land Conservation Fund to be used in accordance with § 10.1-1020, with no less than 50 percent of such appropriation to be used for fee simple acquisitions with public access or acquisitions of easements with public access; 10 percent of such amount to the Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund to be used in accordance with § 10.1-2202.4; and 10 percent of such amount to the Virginia Farmland Preservation Fund to be used in accordance with § 3.2-201.

2013, c. 798; 2015, c. 467.

A. The Governor shall ensure that a summary of the highlights of each budget submitted pursuant to § 2.2-1508 and set of amendments submitted pursuant to subsection E of § 2.2-1509 are sent to a newspaper of general circulation in the following geographical areas of the Commonwealth: Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond/Petersburg, Central Virginia, Shenandoah Valley, Roanoke Valley, Southside, and Southwest Virginia prior to the convening of each session of the General Assembly.

B. The House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations shall hold at least four regional public hearings on the budget bill submitted by the Governor. The four public hearings shall be held prior to the convening of such session of the General Assembly, at hearing sites and times as selected by the chairmen of the two committees.

1998, c. 467, § 2.1-399.2; 2001, c. 844.

The standing committees of the House of Delegates and of the Senate in charge of appropriation measures shall begin consideration of the budget within five calendar days after the convening of the regular session of the General Assembly to which the budget is submitted. The committees or subcommittees thereof, may meet jointly on matters concerning the budget at such times as the chairmen of the two committees deem appropriate. The committees or subcommittees may cause the attendance of heads or responsible representatives of the departments, institutions and all other agencies of the Commonwealth to furnish such information and answer such questions as they require. All persons interested in the matters under consideration shall be admitted to the meetings and shall have the right to be heard.

Code 1950, § 2-56; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-62; 1976, c. 760, § 2.1-400; 1987, c. 138; 2001, c. 844.

On or before August 15 annually, the Comptroller shall furnish to the Department the following statements, classified and itemized in strict accordance with the budget classifications adopted by the Governor:

1. A statement showing the balance standing to the credit of the several appropriations for each department, bureau, division, office, board, commission, institution, or other agency or undertaking of the Commonwealth at the end of the last preceding appropriation year.

2. A statement showing the monthly expenditures from each appropriation account, and the total monthly expenditures from all the appropriation accounts, including special and all other appropriations, in the twelve months of the last preceding appropriation year.

3. A statement showing the annual revenues and expenditures in each fund.

4. An itemized and complete financial balance sheet for the Commonwealth at the close of the last preceding fiscal year ending June 30.

5. Such other statements as requested by the Governor.

Code 1950, § 2-50; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-56; 1968, cc. 121, 683; 1976, c. 760, § 2.1-402; 1984, c. 612; 2001, c. 844.

A. To enable the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee on Finance, and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations to perform their prescribed duties, the Governor shall provide:

1. Written monthly reports on the status of revenue collections relative to the current fiscal year's estimate; and

2. Written quarterly assessments of the current economic outlook for the Commonwealth relative to the current fiscal year.

B. In addition, all departments, agencies and institutions of the Commonwealth, their staff and employees shall, upon request, provide such committees with any additional information, as may be deemed necessary, and allow such committees ample opportunity to observe the department's, agency's, or institution's daily operations.

1975, c. 501, § 2.1-63.03; 1976, c. 760, § 2.1-404; 1997, c. 182; 2000, cc. 66, 657; 2001, c. 844; 2010, c. 422.

A. As used in this section:

"The Budget Bill" means "The Budget Bill" submitted pursuant to § 2.2-1509, including any amendments to a general appropriation act pursuant to such section.

"Nonrecurring expenditures" means the acquisition or construction of capital outlay projects as defined in § 2.2-1518, the acquisition or construction of capital improvements, the acquisition of land, the acquisition of equipment, or other expenditures of a one-time nature as specified in the general appropriation act.

B. At the end of each fiscal year, the Comptroller shall commit within his annual report pursuant to § 2.2-813 as follows: 67 percent of the remaining amount of the general fund balance that is not otherwise restricted, committed, or assigned for other usage within the general fund shall be committed by the Comptroller for deposit into the Commonwealth Transportation Fund established pursuant to § 33.2-1524 or a subfund thereof, and the remaining amount shall be committed for nonrecurring expenditures. No such commitment shall be made unless the full amounts required for other restrictions, commitments, or assignments including but not limited to (i) the Revenue Stabilization Fund deposit pursuant to § 2.2-1829, (ii) the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund deposit pursuant to § 10.1-2128, but excluding any deposits provided under the Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund established under § 10.1-2128.1, (iii) capital outlay reappropriations pursuant to the general appropriation act, (iv) (a) operating expense reappropriations pursuant to the general appropriation act, and (b) reappropriations of unexpended appropriations to certain public institutions of higher education pursuant to § 23.1-1002, (v) pro rata rebate payments to certain public institutions of higher education pursuant to § 23.1-1002, (vi) the unappropriated balance anticipated in the general appropriation act for the end of such fiscal year, (vii) interest payments on deposits of certain public institutions of higher education pursuant to § 23.1-1002, and (viii) the Revenue Reserve Fund deposit pursuant to § 2.2-1831.2 are set aside. The Comptroller shall set aside amounts required for clauses (iv) (b), (v), and (vii) beginning with the initial fiscal year as determined under § 23.1-1002 and for all fiscal years thereafter.

C. The Governor shall include in "The Budget Bill" pursuant to § 2.2-1509 recommended appropriations from the general fund or recommended amendments to general fund appropriations in the general appropriation act in effect at that time an amount for deposit into the Commonwealth Transportation Fund or a subfund thereof, and an amount for nonrecurring expenditures equal to the amounts committed by the Comptroller for such purposes pursuant to the provisions of subsection B. Such deposit to the Commonwealth Transportation Fund or a subfund thereof shall not preclude the appropriation of additional amounts from the general fund for transportation purposes.

2002, cc. 839, 888; 2005, cc. 933, 945; 2007, c. 896; 2008, cc. 643, 701; 2008, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 1, 2; 2010, c. 684; 2012, cc. 729, 733; 2018, c. 827; 2020, cc. 1230, 1275.

A. As used in this section:

"The Budget Bill" means "The Budget Bill" submitted pursuant to § 2.2-1509, including any amendments to a general appropriation act pursuant to such section.

"Nonrecurring expenditures" means the acquisition or construction of capital outlay projects as defined in § 2.2-1518, the acquisition or construction of capital improvements, the acquisition of land, the acquisition of equipment, or other expenditures of a one-time nature as specified in the general appropriation act.

B. At the end of each fiscal year, the Comptroller shall commit within his annual report pursuant to § 2.2-813 as follows: 67 percent of the remaining amount of the general fund balance that is not otherwise restricted, committed, or assigned for other usage within the general fund shall be committed by the Comptroller for deposit into the Commonwealth Transportation Fund established pursuant to § 33.2-1524 or a subfund thereof, and the remaining amount shall be committed for nonrecurring expenditures. No such commitment shall be made unless the full amounts required for other restrictions, commitments, or assignments including but not limited to (i) the Revenue Stabilization Fund deposit pursuant to § 2.2-1829, (ii) the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund deposit pursuant to § 10.1-2128, but excluding any deposits provided under the Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund established under § 10.1-2128.1, (iii) capital outlay reappropriations pursuant to the general appropriation act, (iv) (a) operating expense reappropriations pursuant to the general appropriation act, and (b) reappropriations of unexpended appropriations to certain public institutions of higher education pursuant to § 23.1-1002, (v) pro rata rebate payments to certain public institutions of higher education pursuant to § 23.1-1002, (vi) the unappropriated balance anticipated in the general appropriation act for the end of such fiscal year, (vii) interest payments on deposits of certain public institutions of higher education pursuant to § 23.1-1002, and (viii) the Revenue Reserve Fund deposit pursuant to § 2.2-1831.2 are set aside. The Comptroller shall set aside amounts required for clauses (iv) (b), (v), and (vii) beginning with the initial fiscal year as determined under § 23.1-1002 and for all fiscal years thereafter.

C. The Governor shall include in "The Budget Bill" pursuant to § 2.2-1509 recommended appropriations from the general fund or recommended amendments to general fund appropriations in the general appropriation act in effect at that time an amount for deposit into the Commonwealth Transportation Fund or a subfund thereof, and an amount for nonrecurring expenditures equal to the amount committed by the Comptroller for such purpose pursuant to the provisions of subsection B. Such deposit to the Commonwealth Transportation Fund or a subfund thereof shall not preclude the appropriation of additional amounts from the general fund for transportation purposes.

2002, cc. 839, 888; 2005, cc. 933, 945; 2008, cc. 643, 701; 2008, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 1, 2; 2010, c. 684; 2012, cc. 729, 733; 2018, c. 827; 2020, cc. 1230, 1275.

Chapter 15.1. Six-Year Capital Outlay Plan.

As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly shows otherwise, the term or phrase:

"Advisory Committee" means the Six-Year Capital Outlay Plan Advisory Committee established pursuant to § 2.2-1516.

"Capital outlay project" means acquisition of real property, including buildings or plant or machinery or equipment, or new construction or improvements related to state-owned real property, buildings, plant, or machinery or equipment including plans therefor. It shall include any improvements to real property leased for use by a state agency or public educational institution and not owned by the Commonwealth, when such improvements are financed by public funds and become state property upon the expiration of the lease. Capital outlay projects do not include projects that have been included in the Commonwealth Transportation Board's Six-Year Improvement Program.

"Construction phase" means the following steps, as set out in the Construction and Professional Services Manual of the Department of General Services: preparation of final working drawings and specifications, advertising for a sealed bid or proposal, awarding a contract pursuant to law, and actual construction of a project.

"Detailed planning" means the preparation of architectural and engineering documents up to the preliminary design stage, as defined in the Construction and Professional Services Manual of the Department of General Services.

"Pre-planning" means a process meant to obtain a more detailed definition and cost estimate of a project. It may include the following elements, as appropriate:

1. Statement of program definition including functional space requirements, estimates of gross and net square footage, and functional adjacency requirements;

2. Analysis of program execution options, including review of new construction versus renovation alternatives, necessary phasing or sequencing of the project, and coordination with other ongoing or proposed capital projects;

3. Site analysis, including options considered and, for the site chosen, any specific issues related to topography, utilities, or environment;

4. Presentation, including site plan, conceptual floor plans and elevations, and conceptual exterior;

5. Identification of any Uniform Statewide Building Code compliance or permit requirements unique to the project; or

6. Cost estimate for the project to include total cost of the project, construction cost for the project, total cost per square foot, construction cost per square foot, costing methodology, and identification of any factors unique to the project that may impact overall project cost.

"Project" means a capital outlay project included in the six-year capital outlay plan described in § 2.2-1518.

"Value engineering" means a systematic process of review and analysis of a project by a team of appropriate professionals licensed in accordance with Chapter 4 (§ 54.1-400 et seq.) of Title 54.1. As a result of such review and analysis, the team may recommend changes to improve the project's quality or to reduce the total project cost without reducing the overall quality or function of the project.

2008, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 1, 2.

A. There is hereby established the Six-Year Capital Outlay Plan Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee shall consist of the following, or their designees: the Secretary of Finance, the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget, the Director of the Department of General Services, the Executive Director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, and the staff directors of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations.

B. 1. On or before November 1, 2008, the Advisory Committee shall submit to the Governor and the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations a proposed list of new capital outlay projects (and previously planned or authorized capital outlay projects) to be funded entirely or partially from general fund-supported resources for the six fiscal years beginning July 1, 2009.

2. The list shall include projects by agency, in priority order for each agency. In determining priorities, the Advisory Committee shall consider, but not be limited to, the following:

a. Projects that address safety, health, regulatory, security, environmental requirements, or accreditation;

b. Projects to upgrade or replace major mechanical systems and utility infrastructure;

c. Projects to renovate or maintain existing facilities;

d. Projects to construct, expand, or acquire facilities in order to meet programmatic needs;

e. For public institutions of higher education, projects that meet State Council of Higher Education for Virginia recommendations or guideline parameters;

f. Projects that improve energy efficiency;

g. Projects that are listed on, or eligible to be listed on, the Virginia Landmarks Register;

h. Renovation projects for which a facility condition assessment has been completed; and

i. Projects previously planned.

3. The list shall:

a. Identify each capital outlay project;

b. Describe the scope and nature of the project; and

c. Include any other information that the Advisory Committee deems useful.

C. Beginning in 2011, on or before November 1 of each year, the Advisory Committee shall make recommendations to the Governor and the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations of any changes to the current six-year capital outlay plan (described in § 2.2-1518) and of project funding, including adjusting the fiscal years covered by the plan so that the plan will cover the six fiscal years beginning July 1 of the following year.

2008, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 1, 2; 2011, cc. 697, 718.

A. In addition to all other reporting requirements imposed upon state agencies and public educational institutions provided under law, state agencies and public educational institutions shall submit information as determined by the Advisory Committee for the initial development of the capital outlay project list as described in § 2.2-1516, as well as for the annual modifications to the six-year capital outlay plan described in § 2.2-1518. The information for the annual modifications shall include, but not be limited to, changes in cost estimates.

B. On or before January 30 each year, the Director of the Department of General Services, on behalf of the Advisory Committee, shall advise state agencies and public educational institutions of the content, format, and method established by the Advisory Committee for submitting the information described in subsection A.

C. State agencies and public educational institutions shall submit the information, in the manner prescribed by the Director of the Department of General Services on behalf of the Advisory Committee pursuant to subsection B, to the Department of General Services and the Department of Planning and Budget on or before March 30 each year. In addition, public educational institutions shall submit the information to the State Council of Higher Education.

D. The Department of Planning and Budget, the Department of General Services, and the staff of the State Council of Higher Education shall review the information submitted and shall submit the information and the results of their review, in the manner prescribed by the Advisory Committee, to the Advisory Committee on or before June 30 each year.

E. On the same day that the Governor presents his preliminary report pursuant to § 2.2-813, the Advisory Committee shall meet at a time and place specified by the Secretary of Finance to consider the information provided pursuant to subsection D, as well as a capital outlay project status report, to be prepared by the Director of the Department of General Services, on all active projects that have received any funding, including completed planning estimates, project bids, and project timelines. The Advisory Committee shall submit its evaluations and recommendations regarding capital outlay projects to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before November 1 each year.

2008, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 1, 2; 2011, cc. 697, 718.

A. 1. No later than January 13, 2009, the Governor shall submit to the General Assembly a tentative bill establishing a capital outlay plan that includes new capital outlay projects (and previously planned or authorized capital outlay projects) that the Governor proposes to be funded entirely or partially from general fund-supported resources for the six fiscal years beginning July 1, 2009. Projects included in the capital outlay plan shall be in addition to any projects for which funds are appropriated from the Central Maintenance Reserve of the general appropriation act.

2. The capital outlay plan submitted by the Governor shall list capital outlay projects in different tiers. Each tier shall be a grouping of capital outlay projects with the total estimated cost of each project in the tier falling within a minimum and a maximum project cost assigned to the tier, provided that no estimated project costs shall be set out in the plan. The minimum and maximum range assigned to a tier shall be mutually exclusive of all other minimum and maximum ranges assigned to other tiers in order that no capital outlay project shall be reported in more than one tier.

For each capital outlay project listed in the plan the Governor shall provide the following information: (i) the agency or public educational institution to which the project is related, (ii) a description of the project, and (iii) a ranking number assigned to the project, which number shall signify the priority of the project when compared to all other projects of the agency or institution listed in the plan.

B. For the 2021 Regular Session of the General Assembly and thereafter, the Governor shall ensure that a prefiled bill is submitted to the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations in accordance with the deadlines for prefiling under subdivision A 3 of § 30-19.3 for any proposed amendments to the current capital outlay plan enacted into law, including adjusting the fiscal years covered by the plan so that the plan will cover the six fiscal years beginning on the immediately following July 1. Any such prefiled bill shall be submitted using the format described in subsection A.

In submitting to the General Assembly prefiled bills for plan amendments, the Governor shall consider the capital outlay project list submitted by the Advisory Committee pursuant to § 2.2-1516 and any amendments to the six-year capital outlay plan recommended by the Advisory Committee pursuant to such section.

2008, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 1, 2; 2011, cc. 697, 718; 2020, cc. 254, 864.

A. 1. The Central Capital Planning Fund, the State Agency Capital Account, and the Public Educational Institution Capital Account established pursuant to § 2.2-1520 shall be used to fund capital outlay projects included in the six-year capital outlay plan enacted into law.

2. In addition, public educational institutions and state agencies may request authority and appropriation to conduct pre-planning for any such project using nongeneral fund sources. Such costs may be reimbursed up to the lesser of $250,000 or one percent of the project construction costs.

B. A Virginia-based contractor who does not have the same number of years of comparable experience under construction management or design-build shall not be penalized for having less comparable experience in construction management or design-build projects, provided such contractor does have significant experience in constructing comparable projects under design-bid-build. The procuring entity shall consider the experience and quality of work that a contractor has done on projects comparable to the project being procured, whether under construction management, design-build, or design-bid-build. These factors shall be considered by the procuring entity in making its decisions in a pre-qualification or a contractor selection process.

C. If at any time during the detailed planning phase the total cost of a capital outlay project is estimated to exceed a threshold amount set forth in the general appropriation act for the required use of value engineering, then value engineering shall be utilized for such project. Each agency and public educational institution shall retain documentation of the value engineering process conducted for any project, including documentation relating to (i) recommendations offered to the agency or institution, (ii) recommendations accepted and rejected by the agency or institution, and (iii) any savings to the agency or institution resulting from the adoption of each recommendation.

D. For capital outlay projects for which an appropriation is made to the State Agency Capital Account or the Public Educational Institution Capital Account, after an agency or public educational institution has received authorization to move to the construction phase of a project, the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget shall transfer sufficient appropriation from the State Agency Capital Account or the Public Educational Institution Capital Account, as appropriate.

E. 1. Prior to an agency or public educational institution awarding a construction contract for a project, the Director of the Department of General Services shall review the lowest bid or best proposal for the project. If the total amount of such bid or proposal, plus previously expended funds and a reasonable allowance for contingencies, does not exceed 105 percent of the general fund-supported resources for the project as determined during the detailed planning phase, the Director of the Department of General Services and the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget may approve the contract. If the total amount of such bid or proposal, plus previously expended funds and a reasonable allowance for contingencies, exceeds 105 percent of the general fund-supported resources for the project, the Directors shall not approve the contract unless funding of that portion of such total project cost in excess of 105 percent of the general fund-supported resources allocated to the project is from nongeneral fund sources such as private funds, gifts, grants, auxiliary funds, or federal funds as appropriate.

2. If an agency or public educational institution is unable to procure funding from nongeneral fund sources for that portion of such total project cost in excess of 105 percent of the general fund-supported resources allocated to the project, then the agency or institution may reduce the size or scope of the project as necessary to remain within 105 percent of the general fund-supported resources allocated to the project, provided that (i) it has completed a value engineering review by or in collaboration with the Department of General Services, (ii) it has provided a written, detailed analysis of the proposed reduction to the Governor and to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees, and (iii) the project after such reduction in size or scope is substantially similar in quality and functionality to the original project.

3. An agency or public educational institution may request a supplemental allocation of general fund-supported resources through the budget process only if it submits a written certification to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees, the Director of the Department of General Services, the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget, and, for public institutions of higher education only, the Executive Director of the State Council of Higher Education, which certification (i) states that additional funding from nongeneral fund sources as described in subdivision 1 will be insufficient to pay for the full amount of the project cost that is in excess of 105 percent of the general fund-supported resources allocated to the project and (ii) provides a detailed analysis and description of the project as modified for a reduction in size or scope as described in subdivision 2 as well as a justification for why such modifications in size or scope cannot be achieved.

4. Nothing in this section shall preclude an agency or public educational institution from providing for re-design or additional value engineering of projects or re-bidding or re-submitting of proposals.

5. No construction contract for a capital outlay project included in the six-year capital outlay plan enacted into law shall be awarded unless first approved by the Director of the Department of General Services and the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget.

F. After a project has been approved by the Director of the Department of General Services and the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget, the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget shall transfer to the project the remaining funds needed for construction from the State Agency Capital Account or the Public Educational Institution Capital Account, as appropriate.

2008, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 1, 2.

A. There is hereby established a special, nonreverting fund in the state treasury to be known as the Central Capital Planning Fund, hereafter referred to as the Fund. The Fund shall include such moneys as may be appropriated by the General Assembly from time to time and designated for the Fund. The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller and shall be administered by the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget. Any moneys remaining in the Fund at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely to pay the pre-planning or detailed planning costs of capital outlay projects that have been approved for pre-planning or detailed planning by the General Assembly.

B. The State Agency Capital Account shall be established in the general appropriation act as a separate item for appropriation purposes. The State Agency Capital Account shall consist of appropriations of the proceeds from the sale of certain bonds by the Virginia Public Building Authority that are designated for the Account and any other moneys as may be appropriated by the General Assembly. The Account shall be administered by the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget consistent with the provisions of this chapter. The Account shall be used to finance the construction of projects, as defined in § 2.2-2260, that have been approved for construction by the General Assembly. In addition, it is required that the Account reimburse the Central Capital Planning Fund for payments made for pre-planning or detailed planning of all such projects that have been approved for construction by the General Assembly.

C. The Public Educational Institution Capital Account shall be established in the general appropriation act as a separate item for appropriation purposes. The Public Educational Institution Capital Account shall consist of appropriations of the proceeds from the sale of certain bonds by the Virginia College Building Authority that are designated for the Account and any other moneys as may be appropriated by the General Assembly. The Account shall be administered by the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget consistent with the provisions of this chapter. The Account shall be used to finance the construction of projects, as defined in § 23.1-1100, that have been approved for construction by the General Assembly. In addition, it is required that the Account reimburse the Central Capital Planning Fund for payments made for pre-planning or detailed planning of all such projects that have been approved for construction by the General Assembly.

2008, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 1, 2.

Chapter 16. Department of the State Internal Auditor.

Repealed by Acts 2011, cc. 798 and 871, cl. 2, effective July 1, 2012.

Chapter 16.1. Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity.

Article 1. General Provisions.

A. There is hereby created a Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (the Department), which shall be headed by a Director appointed by the Governor to serve at his pleasure. The Director shall also serve as a special assistant to the Governor for small, women-owned, and minority-owned business development.

B. The Director of the Department shall, under the direction and control of the Governor, exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred or imposed upon him by law and perform such other duties as may be required by the Governor.

C. The Department shall have its main office in Richmond and may have branch offices as may be necessary, as determined by the Director subject to the approval of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade.

2013, c. 482.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Certification" means the process by which (i) a business is determined to be a small, women-owned, or minority-owned business or (ii) an employment services organization, for the purpose of reporting small, women-owned, and minority-owned business and employment services organization participation in state contracts and purchases pursuant to §§ 2.2-1608 and 2.2-1610.

"Department" means the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity or any division of the Department to which the Director has delegated or assigned duties and responsibilities.

"Employment services organization" means an organization that provides community-based employment services to individuals with disabilities that is an approved Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accredited vendor of the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services.

"Historically black colleges and university" includes any college or university that was established prior to 1964; whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans; and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary of Education.

"Minority individual" means an individual who is a citizen of the United States or a legal resident alien and who satisfies one or more of the following definitions:

1. "African American" means a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Africa and who is regarded as such by the community of which this person claims to be a part.

2. "Asian American" means a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands, including but not limited to Japan, China, Vietnam, Samoa, Laos, Cambodia, Taiwan, Northern Mariana Islands, the Philippines, a U.S. territory of the Pacific, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Sri Lanka, and who is regarded as such by the community of which this person claims to be a part.

3. "Hispanic American" means a person having origins in any of the Spanish-speaking peoples of Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean Islands or other Spanish or Portuguese cultures and who is regarded as such by the community of which this person claims to be a part.

4. "Native American" means a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America and who is regarded as such by the community of which this person claims to be a part or who is recognized by a tribal organization.

"Minority-owned business" means a business that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more minority individuals who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, or in the case of a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity, at least 51 percent of the equity ownership interest in the corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity is owned by one or more minority individuals who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, and both the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more minority individuals, or any historically black college or university, regardless of the percentage ownership by minority individuals or, in the case of a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity, the equity ownership interest in the corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity.

"Small business" means a business that is at least 51 percent independently owned and controlled by one or more individuals, or in the case of a cooperative association organized pursuant to Chapter 3 (§ 13.1-301 et seq.) of Title 13.1 as a nonstock corporation, is at least 51 percent independently controlled by one or more members, who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens and, together with affiliates, has 250 or fewer employees or average annual gross receipts of $10 million or less averaged over the previous three years. One or more of the individual owners or members shall control both the management and daily business operations of the small business.

"State agency" means any authority, board, department, instrumentality, institution, agency, or other unit of state government. "State agency" does not include any county, city, or town.

"SWaM" means small, women-owned, or minority-owned or related to a small, women-owned, or minority-owned business.

"SWaM plan" means a written program, plan, or progress report submitted by a state agency to the Department pursuant to § 2.2-4310.

"Women-owned business" means a business that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more women who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, or in the case of a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity, at least 51 percent of the equity ownership interest is owned by one or more women who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, and both the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women.

2013, c. 482; 2015, cc. 765, 775; 2016, c. 525; 2022, cc. 150, 301.

A. The Department shall have the following powers and duties:

1. Coordinate as consistent with prevailing law the plans, programs, and operations of the state government that affect or may contribute to the establishment, preservation, and strengthening of small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses;

2. Promote the mobilization of activities and resources of state and local governments, businesses and trade associations, baccalaureate institutions of higher education, foundations, professional organizations, and volunteer and other groups towards the growth of small businesses and businesses owned by women and minorities, and facilitate the coordination of the efforts of these groups with those of state departments and agencies;

3. Establish a center for the development, collection, summarization, and dissemination of information that will be helpful to persons and organizations throughout the nation in undertaking or promoting procurement from small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses;

4. Consistent with prevailing law and availability of funds, and according to the Director's discretion, provide technical and management assistance to small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses and defray all or part of the costs of pilot or demonstration projects that are designed to overcome the special problems of small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses;

5. Advise the Small Business Financing Authority on the management and administration of the Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned Business Loan Fund created pursuant to § 2.2-2311.1;

6. Implement any remediation or enhancement measure for small, women-owned, or minority-owned businesses as may be authorized by the Governor pursuant to subsection C of § 2.2-4310 and develop regulations, consistent with prevailing law, for program implementation. Such regulations shall be developed in consultation with the state agencies with procurement responsibility and promulgated by those agencies in accordance with applicable law;

7. Receive and coordinate, with the appropriate state agency, the investigation of complaints that a business certified pursuant to this chapter has failed to comply with its subcontracting plan under subsection D of § 2.2-4310. If the Department determines that a business certified pursuant to this chapter has failed to comply with the subcontracting plan, the business shall provide a written explanation; and

8. Facilitate relationships between established businesses and start-up women-owned and minority-owned businesses by creating and administering a mentorship program under the provisions of § 2.2-1605.1.

B. In addition, the Department shall serve as the liaison between the Commonwealth's existing businesses and state government in order to promote the development of Virginia's economy. To that end, the Department shall:

1. Encourage the training or retraining of individuals for specific employment opportunities at new or expanding business facilities in the Commonwealth;

2. Develop and implement programs to assist small businesses in the Commonwealth in order to promote their growth and the creation and retention of jobs for Virginians;

3. Establish an industry program that is the principal point of communication between basic employers in the Commonwealth and the state government that will address issues of significance to business;

4. Make available to existing businesses, in conjunction and cooperation with localities, chambers of commerce, and other public and private groups, basic information and pertinent factors of interest and concern to such businesses;

5. Develop statistical reports on job creation and the general economic conditions in the Commonwealth; and

6. Annually review and provide feedback on SWaM plans. The review shall focus on strategies state agencies can use to improve SWaM spending, increase procurement of goods and services from SWaM businesses, and meet procurement goals outlined in SWaM plans. The Department shall encourage state agencies to integrate such strategies with all current and future procurements. The Department shall suggest strategies that may be more effective or changes to strategies that have not been effective. Upon request of a state agency, the Department shall meet with the state agency one-on-one to discuss its SWaM goals and strategies and advise it on effective strategies. The Department shall research and compile information that state agencies can use to increase SWaM spending and shall develop and publish guidance on how state agencies can implement these strategies.

C. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall assist the Department upon request and furnish such information and assistance as the Department may require in the discharge of its duties.

2013, c. 482; 2014, cc. 41, 464; 2015, cc. 696, 697, 733; 2016, c. 520; 2020, c. 1234; 2022, cc. 301, 302.

A. The Department shall establish and administer a pilot program whereby established businesses, or subject matter experts in relevant industry sectors, act as mentors for start-up women-owned and minority-owned businesses. In establishing the program, the Department may include any of the following elements: (i) requiring a participant who has completed the Department's Scaling4Growth program or any successor program to act as a mentor for a start-up women-owned or minority-owned business; (ii) awarding grants in each region, as defined in § 2.2-2484, to recruit mentors and match them with start-up women-owned and minority-owned businesses in such region; or (iii) any other measures the Department deems appropriate for facilitating mentorship relationships between established businesses and start-up women-owned and minority-owned businesses. The Department shall also evaluate the feasibility of awarding procurement preferences for businesses who agree to act as mentors in the mentorship program.

B. In establishing the pilot program under subsection A, the Department shall by July 1, 2023, select an initial group of established businesses, subject matter experts in relevant industry sectors, and start-up women-owned and minority-owned businesses. The Department shall by July 1, 2024, report on the progress of the initial group pursuant to § 2.2-1610, but shall not select a second group unless directed to do so in legislation enacted by the General Assembly.

2022, c. 302.

As deemed necessary or appropriate to better fulfill the duties of the Department, the Director may:

1. With the participation of other state departments and agencies, develop comprehensive plans and specific program goals for small, women-owned, and minority-owned business programs; establish regular performance monitoring and reporting systems to assure that goals of state agencies and institutions are being achieved; and evaluate the impact of federal and state support in achieving objectives.

2. Employ the necessary personnel or subcontract, according to his discretion, with localities to supplement the functions of business development organizations.

3. Assure the coordinated review of all proposed state training and technical assistance activities in direct support of small, women-owned, and minority-owned business programs to ensure consistency with program goals and to avoid duplication.

4. Convene, for purposes of coordination, meetings of the heads of departments and agencies, or their designees, whose programs and activities may affect or contribute to the purposes of this chapter.

5. Convene business leaders, educators, and other representatives of the private sector who are engaged in assisting the development of small, women-owned, and minority-owned business programs or who could contribute to their development for the purpose of proposing, evaluating, or coordinating governmental and private activities in furtherance of the objectives of this chapter.

6. Provide the managerial and organizational framework through which joint undertakings with state departments or agencies or private organizations can be planned and implemented.

7. Recommend appropriate legislative or executive actions.

8. Adopt regulations to implement certification programs for small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses and employment services organizations, which regulations shall be exempt from the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) pursuant to subdivision B 2 of § 2.2-4002. Such certification programs shall allow applications for certification to be submitted by electronic means as authorized by § 59.1-496 and the applicant to affix thereto his electronic signature, as defined in § 59.1-480. Such certification programs shall deny certification to vendors from states that deny like certifications to Virginia-based small, women-owned, or minority-owned businesses and employment services organizations or that provide a preference for small, women-owned, or minority-owned businesses and employment services organizations based in that state that is not available to Virginia-based businesses. The regulations shall (i) establish minimum requirements for certification of small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses and employment services organizations; (ii) provide a process for evaluating existing local, state, and private sector certification programs that meet the minimum requirements; and (iii) mandate certification without any additional paperwork of any small, women-owned, or minority-owned business that has obtained (a) certification under any federal certification program or (b) certification under any other certification program that is determined to meet the minimum requirements established in the regulations, and of any employment services organization that has been approved by the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services. All employment services organization certifications shall remain in effect until the Department is notified by the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services that such organization is no longer approved. The regulations shall also require as a prerequisite for approval that any out-of-state business applying for certification in Virginia as a small, women-owned, or minority-owned business have the equivalent certification in the business's state of origin. An out-of-state business located in a state that does not have a small, women-owned, or minority-owned business certification program shall be exempt from the requirements of this provision. The regulations shall establish a process for businesses that are denied initial certification as a small, women-owned, or minority-owned business to appeal such denial on the basis that the Department made a mistake in denying the business's application for certification.

9. Establish an interdepartmental board in accordance with § 2.2-1608 to supply the Director with information useful in promoting minority business activity.

2013, c. 482; 2017, cc. 380, 573; 2018, c. 681; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 149.

The Department may establish a nonstock corporation under Chapter 10 (§ 13.1-801 et seq.) of Title 13.1 as an instrumentality to assist the Department in providing support to the small business segment of the economy of the Commonwealth. The Department may do all things necessary to qualify such corporation as a certified development company under Subchapter V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. § 695 et seq.), or any amendment or successor statute thereto, as well as regulations adopted thereunder by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Any action by the Department to establish such a corporation prior to July 1, 1986, is ratified and approved.

2013, c. 482.

A. The Interdepartmental Board established by the Director shall be composed of heads of the several departments and agencies of state government, or their respective designees, whose functions affect small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses. The participating departments and agencies shall be determined by the Director of the Department. The Interdepartmental Board shall meet at the call of the Director and shall supply the Director with information useful in promoting small, women-owned, and minority-owned business development.

B. The head of each participating state department and agency or his designee shall furnish information, assistance, and reports to, and shall otherwise cooperate with, the Director in the performance of his duties as needed.

C. The head of each participating state department or agency shall, when so requested by the Director, designate an assistant or such other similar official to have primary and continuing responsibility for the participation and cooperation of that department or agency in matters concerning small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses.

D. Each participating state department or agency shall, within constraints of law and availability of funding, continue all current efforts to foster and promote small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses and to support small, women-owned, and minority-owned business programs, and shall cooperate with the Director in increasing the total state effort.

2013, c. 482.

For purposes of compliance with § 2.2-4310, a public institution of higher education that meets the conditions prescribed in subsection A of § 23.1-1002 may procure goods, services, and construction from vendors identified by such public institutions of higher education as small, women-owned, or minority-owned businesses that the institution has certified as such based on criteria approved by the Department. An institution exercising the authority granted by this section shall establish and follow internal procedures and processes designed to verify whether or not a vendor qualifies to be certified as a small, women-owned, or minority-owned business under the Department-approved criteria and the certification requirements. The institution shall notify the Department promptly of the certification and shall provide the Department with a copy of its written certification identifying the vendor as a small, women-owned, or minority-owned business and all application materials submitted by the vendor to the institution. Such certification shall remain in effect unless and until the Department notifies the institution that the vendor does not meet the certification requirements.

2013, c. 482.

The Director shall, from time to time, submit directly or through an assistant to the Governor his recommendations for legislation or other action as he deems desirable to promote the purposes of this chapter.

The Director shall report, on or before November 1 of each year, to the Governor and the General Assembly the identity of the state departments and agencies failing to submit annual progress reports on small, women-owned, and minority-owned business procurement required by § 2.2-4310 and the nature and extent of such lack of compliance. The annual report shall include recommendations on the ways to improve compliance with the provisions of § 2.2-4310 and such other related matters as the Director deems appropriate. The Department shall include in its annual report information on the progress of the mentorship program established under § 2.2-1605.1.

The Director, with the assistance of the Comptroller, shall develop and implement a systematic data collection process that will provide information for a report to the Governor and General Assembly on state expenditures to small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses during the previous fiscal year.

An institution exercising authority granted under this section shall promptly make available to the Department, upon request, copies of its procurement records, receipts, and transactions in regard to procurement from small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses in order for the Department to ensure institution compliance with its approved reporting and certification criteria.

2013, c. 482; 2022, c. 302.

Article 2. Small Business Investment Grant Fund.

Repealed by Acts 2020, cc. 1234, cl. 2, effective April 22, 2020.

Repealed by Acts 2014, cc. 41 and 464, cl. 2.

Repealed by Acts 2020, cc. 1234, cl. 2, effective April 22, 2020.

A. As used in this section:

"Authority" means the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority.

"Eligible investor" means an individual subject to the tax imposed by § 58.1-320 or a special purpose entity established for the purpose of making investments for an individual. "Eligible investor" does not include an individual who engages in the business of making debt or equity investments in private businesses, or any person that would be allocated a portion of the grant under this section as a partner, shareholder, member, or owner of an entity that engages in such business.

"Fund" means the Small Business Investment Grant Fund.

"Pass-through entity" means the same as that term is defined in § 58.1-390.1.

"Qualified investment" means a cash investment in a qualified business in the form of equity or subordinated debt.

"Small business" means a corporation, pass-through entity, or other entity that (i) has annual gross revenues of no more than $5 million in its most recent fiscal year; (ii) has its principal office or facility in the Commonwealth; (iii) is engaged in business primarily in or does substantially all of its production in the Commonwealth; (iv) has not obtained during its existence more than $5 million in aggregate gross cash proceeds from the issuance of its equity or debt investments, not including commercial loans from national or state-chartered banking or savings and loan institutions; (v) has no more than 50 employees who are employed within the Commonwealth; and (vi) has been designated as such by the Authority pursuant to the provisions of this section.

"Subordinated debt" means indebtedness of a corporation, general or limited partnership, or limited liability company that (i) by its terms required no repayment of principal for the first three years after issuance, (ii) is not guaranteed by any other person or secured by any assets of the issuer or any other person, and (iii) is subordinated to all indebtedness and obligations of the issuer to national or state-chartered banking or savings and loan institutions.

B. From such funds as may be appropriated by the General Assembly and any gifts, grants, or donations from public or private sources, there is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting, permanent fund to be known as the Small Business Investment Grant Fund, to be administered by the Department. The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund at the end of each fiscal year, including interest thereon, shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund, which shall be in the form of grants pursuant to this section, shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request bearing the signature of the Director. Grants from the Fund shall only be made to applications pursuant to this section.

C. An eligible investor that makes a qualified investment in a small business on or after July 1, 2019, but prior to January 1, 2022, that has been certified by the Authority pursuant to subsection D shall be eligible for a grant in an amount equal to the lesser of 25 percent of the qualified investment or $50,000. An eligible investor may apply for a grant for each qualified investment that is made to one or more small businesses not to exceed a total grant allocation from the Fund of $250,000 per eligible investor.

D. A small business shall apply with the Authority to receive qualified investments eligible for the grant pursuant to this section and shall provide to the Authority such information as the Authority deems necessary to demonstrate that it meets the qualifications set forth in subsection A.

E. Any eligible investor applying for a grant pursuant to this section shall submit an application to the Authority. The Authority shall determine the amount of the grant allowable to the eligible investor for the year.

F. If an eligible investor is awarded a grant pursuant to this section and the small business in which the investment was made (i) relocates outside of the Commonwealth within two years of the award of the grant or (ii) closes within two years of the award of the grant as a result of a criminal conviction on the part of any officer, director, manager, or general partner of such business relating to his involvement with the business, such investor shall forfeit the grant and refund such moneys to the Authority.

Additionally, unless the eligible investor transfers the equity received in connection with a qualified investment as a result of (a) the liquidation of the small business issuing such equity; (b) the merger, consolidation, or other acquisition of such business with or by a party not affiliated with such business; or (c) the death of the eligible investor, any eligible investor that fails to hold such equity for at least two years shall forfeit the grant and shall pay the Authority interest on the total allowed grant at the rate of one percent per month, compounded monthly, from the date the grant was awarded to the taxpayer.

The Authority shall deposit any amounts received under this subsection into the general fund of the Commonwealth.

G. Grants shall be issued in the order that each completed eligible application is received by the Authority. In the event that the amount of eligible grants requested in a fiscal year exceeds the funds available in the Fund, such grants shall be paid in the next fiscal year in which funds are available.

H. An eligible investor shall not be awarded a grant pursuant to this section for any investment in a small business for which the eligible investor has been allowed a tax credit pursuant to § 58.1-339.4.

I. The Authority shall establish policies and procedures relating to (i) the certification of small businesses, (ii) the application for grants, and (iii) the recapture of grant awards claimed with interest in the event that the qualified investment is not held for the requisite period set forth in subsection F. Such policies and procedures shall be exempt from the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.).

2013, c. 482; 2016, c. 520; 2017, c. 383; 2019, c. 35; 2020, c. 1234.

Article 3. Small Business Permitting.

A. As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Business Permitting Center" or "Center" means the business registration and permitting center established by this section and located in and under the administrative control of the Department.

"Comprehensive application" means a document incorporating pertinent data from existing applications for permits covered under this section.

"Comprehensive permit" means the single document designed for public display issued by the Business Permitting Center that certifies state agency permit approval and that incorporates the endorsements for individual permits included in the comprehensive permitting program.

"Comprehensive permitting program" or "Program" means the mechanism by which comprehensive permits are issued and renewed, permit and regulatory information is disseminated, and account data is exchanged by state agencies.

"Permit" means the whole or part of any state agency permit, license, certificate, approval, registration, charter, or any form or permission required by law, to engage in activity associated with or involving the establishment of a small business in the Commonwealth.

"Permit information packet" means a collection of information about permitting requirements and application procedures custom assembled for each request.

"Regulatory" means all permitting and other governmental or statutory requirements establishing a small business or professional activities associated with establishing a small business.

"Regulatory agency" means any state agency, board, commission, or division that regulates one or more professions, occupations, industries, businesses, or activities.

"Renewal application" means a document used to collect pertinent data for renewal of permits covered under this section.

"Small business" means an independently owned and operated business that, together with affiliates, has 250 or fewer employees or average annual gross receipts of $10 million or less averaged over the previous three years.

"Veteran" means an individual who has served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.

B. There is created within the Department the comprehensive permitting program (the Program). The Program is established to serve as a single access point to aid entrepreneurs in filling out the various permit applications associated with establishing a small business in Virginia. The Program in no way supersedes or supplants any regulatory authority granted to any state agency with permits covered by this section. As part of the Program, the Department shall coordinate with the regulatory agency, and the regulatory agency shall determine, consistent with applicable law, what types of permits are appropriate for inclusion in the Program as well as the rules governing the submission of and payment for those permits. The website of the Department shall provide access to information regarding the Program. The Department shall have the power and duty to:

1. Create a comprehensive application that will allow an entrepreneur, or an agent thereof, seeking to establish a small business, to create accounts that will allow them to acquire the appropriate permits required in the Commonwealth. The comprehensive application shall:

a. Allow the business owner to choose a business type and to provide common information, such as name, address, and telephone number, on the front page, eliminating the need to repeatedly provide common information on each permit application;

b. Allow the business owner to preview and answer questions related to the operation of the business;

c. Provide business owners with a customized to-do agency checklist, which checklist shall provide the permit applications pertinent to each business type and provide the rules, regulations, and general laws applicable to each business type as well as local licensing information;

d. Allow the business owner to submit permit applications by electronic means as authorized by § 59.1-496 and to affix thereto his electronic signature as defined in § 59.1-480;

e. Allow the business owner to check on the status of applications online and to receive information from the permitting agencies electronically; and

f. Allow a business owner to submit electronic payment of application or permitting fees for applications that have been accepted by the permitting agency.

2. Develop and administer a computerized system program capable of storing, retrieving, and exchanging permit information while protecting the confidentiality of information submitted to the Department to the extent allowable by law. Information submitted to the Department shall be subject to the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.) as the same would apply were the information submitted directly to the Department or to any permitting agency.

3. Issue and renew comprehensive permits in an efficient manner.

4. Identify the types of permits appropriate for inclusion in the Program. The Department shall coordinate with the regulatory agency, and the regulatory agency shall determine, consistent with applicable law, what types of permits are appropriate for inclusion in the Program.

5. Incorporate permits into the Program.

6. Do all acts necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

C. Regulatory agencies shall, by November 30 of each year, provide the Department with information outlining any changes to the agency's policies and regulations. The Business Permitting Center shall compile information regarding the regulatory programs associated with each of the permits obtainable under the Program. This information shall include, at a minimum, a listing of the statutes and administrative rules requiring the permits and pertaining to the regulatory programs that are directly related to the permit. The Center shall provide information governed by this section to any person requesting it. Materials used by the Center to describe the services provided by the Center shall indicate that this information is available upon request.

D. Each state agency shall cooperate and provide reasonable assistance to the Department in the implementation of this section.

E. The State Corporation Commission and the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity shall by January 1, 2020, establish one or more processes by which data or information relevant to the Program can be collected and exchanged electronically.

F. Any person requiring permits that have been incorporated into the Program may submit a comprehensive application to the Department requesting the issuance of the permits. The comprehensive application form shall contain in consolidated form information necessary for the issuance of the permits.

G. The applicant, if not a veteran, shall include with the application the handling fee established by the Department. An applicant who is a veteran shall be exempt from payment of the handling fee prescribed by this subsection. The amount of the handling fee assessed against the applicant shall be set by the Department at a level necessary to cover the costs of administering the comprehensive permitting program.

H. The authority for approving the issuance and renewal of any requested permit that requires investigation, inspection, testing, or other judgmental review by the regulatory agency otherwise legally authorized to issue the permit shall remain with that agency. The Center may issue those permits for which proper fee payment and a completed application form have been received and for which no approval action is required by the regulatory agency.

I. Upon receipt of the application, and proper fee payment for any permit for which issuance is subject to regulatory agency action under subsection H, the Department shall immediately notify the State Corporation Commission or the regulatory agency with authority to approve the permit issuance or renewal requested by the applicant. The State Corporation Commission or the regulatory agency shall advise the Department within a reasonable time after receiving the notice of one of the following:

1. That the State Corporation Commission or the regulatory agency approves the issuance of the requested permit and will advise the applicant of any specific conditions required for issuing the permit;

2. That the State Corporation Commission or the regulatory agency denies the issuance of the permit and gives the applicant reasons for the denial;

3. That the application is pending; or

4. That the application is incomplete and further information from or action by the applicant is necessary.

J. The Department shall issue a comprehensive permit endorsed for all the approved permits to the applicant and advise the applicant of the status of other requested permits. The applicant shall be responsible for contesting any decision regarding conditions imposed or permits denied through the normal process established by statute or by the State Corporation Commission or the regulatory agency with the authority for approving the issuance of the permit.

K. Regulatory agencies shall be provided information from the comprehensive application for their permitting and regulatory functions.

L. The Department shall be responsible for directing the applicant to make all payments for applicable fees established by the regulatory agency directly to the proper agency.

M. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Comprehensive Permitting Fund, hereafter referred to as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. The Fund shall consist of all moneys collected from the handling fee established by the Department pursuant to subsection G and such other funds as may be appropriated by the General Assembly. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely to administer the Program. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Director of the Department.

N. Unless otherwise directed by the regulatory agency, the Department shall not issue or renew a comprehensive permit to any person under any of the following circumstances:

1. The person does not have a valid tax registration, if required;

2. The person is a corporation, limited liability company, business trust, limited partnership, or registered limited liability partnership that (i) is delinquent in the payment of fees or penalties collected by the State Corporation Commission pursuant to the business entity statutes it administers, (ii) does not exist, or (iii) is not authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth pursuant to one of the business entity statutes administered by the State Corporation Commission; or

3. The person has not submitted the sum of all fees and deposits required for the requested individual permit endorsements, any outstanding comprehensive permit delinquency fee, or other fees and penalties to be collected through the comprehensive permitting program.

O. The Department shall develop and provide guidance to businesses with newly approved permits regarding responsibilities and requirements for maintaining such business. Such guidance shall include information regarding sales tax and unemployment tax requirements, workers' compensation insurance requirements, and postings required by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry and the U.S. Department of Labor. Any guidance provided for in this subsection may be provided electronically.

P. The Department may adopt regulations in accordance with § 2.2-1606 as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

2013, cc. 155, 206, 482; 2014, c. 758; 2018, c. 218; 2020, c. 750.

Chapter 17. Department of Technology Planning [Repealed].

Repealed by Acts 2003, cc. 981 and 1021.

Chapter 18. Department of the Treasury.

Article 1. General Provisions.

A. There is created a Department of the Treasury ("the Department"), which shall be under the direct control and supervision of the State Treasurer. The State Treasurer shall be appointed by the Governor to serve at his pleasure or until a successor is appointed and qualified.

B. The State Treasurer shall, under the direction and control of the Governor, exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred or imposed by law upon him and shall perform such other duties as may be required by the Governor.

Code 1950, § 2-149; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-177; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 125; 1976, c. 728; 1984, c. 720; 2000, cc. 25, 275; 2001, c. 844.

A. The State Treasurer shall appoint the administrative assistants, deputies and clerks allowed by law.

B. The State Treasurer shall appoint administrative assistants, who shall have authority to act for and perform the duties of the State Treasurer under his direction, supervision and control, and in the absence of the State Treasurer to perform all the duties of the office. Of such absence, the others shall be informed. When the absence of the State Treasurer is to be for more than five days at a time, notice thereof shall be given to the Governor.

C. In the event the administrative assistant is incapacitated from performing his duties during the absence of the State Treasurer, the Governor shall designate some other administrative assistant n the office to act during the absence of the State Treasurer, and in the event of the removal, resignation or death of the State Treasurer, the administrative assistant shall perform all the duties of the office until the vacancy is filled in the manner prescribed by law.

D. Such officers and their sureties shall be liable for any default or breach of duty of their administrative assistants respectively during their absence.

1950, §§ 2-145, 2-146, 2-147, 2-148; 1966, c. 677, §§ 2.1-173, 2.1-174, 2.1-175, 2.1-176; 2001, c. 844.

Every state department, division, officer, board, commission, institution or other agency owned or controlled by the Commonwealth, whether at the seat of government or not, collecting or receiving public funds, or moneys from any source, belonging to or for the use of the Commonwealth, or for the use of any state agency, shall hereafter pay the same promptly into the state treasury. All fees of office and commissions accruing to the State Treasurer shall be paid into the state treasury.

Any state department, division, officer, board, commission, institution or other agency at the seat of government shall deposit such moneys to the credit of the State Treasurer upon communicating with him and receiving instructions from him as to what state depository may be used for the purpose. In every such case the depositor shall retain a deposit receipt or a deposit certificate form certified by the bank receiving the deposit for every such deposit to the State Treasurer and send to the Comptroller a copy of the deposit receipt, certificate, or other documentation supporting the deposit, as prescribed by the Comptroller.

Any state department, division, officer, board, commission, institution or other agency not at the seat of government, other than county and city treasurers and clerks of courts, depositing such moneys to its or his credit in local banks shall deposit such moneys to the credit of the State Treasurer in a state depository duly designated in accordance with this chapter, and in every such case the depositor shall retain a deposit receipt or a deposit certificate form certified by the bank receiving the deposit for every deposit to the State Treasurer and send to the Comptroller a copy of the deposit receipt, certificate, or other documentation supporting the deposit, as prescribed by the Comptroller. Moneys deposited into such state depositories shall be transferred to a concentration bank as prescribed by the State Treasurer.

Moneys paid into the state treasury that are not now payable into the general fund of the state treasury shall be placed to the credit of the respective accounts that are required by law to be kept on the books of the Comptroller or to the credit of new accounts to be opened on the books of the Comptroller with such agencies so paying such moneys into the state treasury, respectively.

This chapter shall not apply to the endowment funds or gifts to institutions owned or controlled by the Commonwealth, or to the income from such endowment funds or gifts, or to private funds belonging to the students or inmates of state institutions. The cash as well as the notes of student loan funds shall be held by the respective institutions.

Appropriations made by the government of the United States to or for the benefit of any state institution or agency, however, shall be paid into the state treasury and used for the purposes for which such appropriations were made.

Code 1950, §§ 2-150, 14-16; 1964, c. 386, § 14.1-15; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-180; 1988, c. 260; 1992, c. 326; 1998, c. 872; 2001, c. 844.

The State Treasurer may adopt regulations or other directives establishing procedures for depositing moneys in depository banks and for reporting the deposits. The regulations may address, by way of explanation and not limitation: (i) the form of the required reports; (ii) the frequency of reports and deposits; (iii) the disposition of checks; and (iv) the establishment of banking relationships. All agencies and entities depositing moneys to the credit of the Treasurer of Virginia, including judicial and legislative service agencies, clerks of court, local treasurers or other officials performing similar duties, and political subdivisions, shall comply with the State Treasurer's regulations or other directives.

1982, c. 109, § 2.1-180.1; 2001, c. 844.

Any public officer, or any firm or corporation, or any other person having to pay money into the treasury may make payment by delivering to the State Treasurer a check, draft or electronic transfer of funds, drawn or endorsed, payable to the State Treasurer, or his order, or may make payment by delivering to the State Treasurer the proper amount of lawful money. Should any check or draft not be paid on presentation, the amount thereof, with all costs, shall be charged to the person on whose account it was received, and his liability and that of his sureties, except the additional liability for costs, shall be as if he had never offered any such check, draft, or certificate of deposit.

Code 1950, § 2-152; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-182; 2001, c. 844.

A. The State Treasurer shall keep a record of every such check, draft, or electronic transfer of funds, and of all such moneys received by him, and upon receipt shall cause the same to be placed to the credit of the Commonwealth with some state depository. If any check or draft is not paid on presentation, the State Treasurer shall immediately notify the Comptroller, who shall proceed to collect the amount from the person from whom the same was received by the Treasurer. The State Treasurer shall daily transmit to the Comptroller a detailed record of all receipts.

B. The State Treasurer shall not collect any money on a check or draft; but the same shall, in every case, be properly endorsed as required and deposited with some state depository for the credit of the Commonwealth.

Code 1950, §§ 2-153, 2-154; 1966, c. 677, §§ 2.1-183, 2.1-184; 2001, c. 844.

The Governor and State Treasurer, acting jointly may whenever in their opinion there are funds in the state treasury in excess of the amount required to meet the current needs and demands of the Commonwealth, invest the excess funds in securities that are legal investments under the laws of the Commonwealth for public funds. The funds shall be invested in such of said securities as, in their judgment, will be readily convertible into money. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 2.2-1821 or any other provision relating to the withdrawal of state moneys in a state depository, withdrawals and transfers of state moneys to be so invested may be made by state depositories pursuant to oral including telephonic or electronic instructions of the State Treasurer or his duly authorized deputies. Written confirmations of the withdrawals and transfers shall be provided by the state depository no later than the close of business on the day following the withdrawal and transfer. Payment of state moneys pursuant to this procedure shall be valid against the Commonwealth.

Code 1950, § 2-154.1; 1956, c. 184; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-185; 1981, c. 36; 2001, c. 844.

The State Treasurer shall be charged with the custody of all investments and invested funds of the Commonwealth or in possession of the Commonwealth in a fiduciary capacity, and shall keep the accounts of such investments. The State Treasurer shall also be charged with the custody of all bonds and certificates of the state debts, whether unissued or canceled, and with the receipt and delivery of state bonds and certificates for transfer, registration or exchange.

Code 1950, § 2-155; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-186; 2001, c. 844.

The Treasurer may sell, transfer, and convey any notes, bonds, obligations or certificates of stock held in the general fund of the state treasury. The proceeds from any such sale or disposition shall immediately be paid into the general fund. This section shall apply to any present or future holdings.

Code 1950, p. 632, § 2-155.1; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-187; 1970, c. 687; 1989, c. 28; 1991, cc. 349, 366; 2001, c. 844.

The State Treasurer shall keep a list of all warrants drawn upon the state treasury, numbered consecutively.

No information contained in the list of warrants shall be released for any purpose except as a means of establishing the status of a claim previously reported as having been paid when a person legally entitled to the funds presents evidence that a previously submitted claim has not been paid.

Code 1950, § 2-156; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-188; 1993, c. 155; 2001, c. 844.

The State Treasurer shall keep accounts on the books of his office with the different depositories, on which accounts balances shall be struck monthly, showing the amount in bank to the credit of the State Treasurer at the end of each month.

Code 1950, § 2-157; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-189; 2001, c. 844.

The State Treasurer shall report and remit, pursuant to the provisions of §§ 55.1-2517 and 55.1-2524, all checks drawn by him on state depositories that have not been presented for payment within one year from the date of issuance.

Code 1950, § 2-158; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-190; 1983, c. 190; 2001, c. 844.

A. A reproduction of any check or draft or an enlargement of such reproduction drawn by the State Treasurer, when satisfactorily identified, shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding whether the original is in existence. The introduction of a reproduced check or draft or of an enlargement thereof shall not preclude admission of the original. Any such check or draft, reproduction or enlargement purporting to be sealed, sealed and signed, or signed alone by the State Treasurer or on his behalf by his designee, may be considered satisfactorily identified and admitted as evidence, without any proof of the seal or signature, or of the official character of the person whose name is signed to it.

B. The State Treasurer or his designee, when served with any summons, subpoena, subpoena duces tecum or order, directing him to produce any check or draft kept by or in the possession of any agency or institution of the Commonwealth, may comply by certifying a reproduction or enlargement in accordance with subsection A and mailing the reproduction or enlargement in a sealed envelope to the clerk of court. Upon good cause shown, any court may direct the Treasurer or his designee to appear personally, notwithstanding any other provision of this section.

1979, c. 173, § 2.1-190.1; 1994, c. 16; 2001, c. 844.

Article 2. State Depositories.

Moneys to be paid into the state treasury shall be deposited in the banks and savings institutions designated as state depositories by the State Treasurer.

Code 1950, § 2-177; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-209; 1974, c. 517; 1979, c. 215; 1996, c. 77; 2001, c. 844.

The State Treasurer may arrange for and make state deposits in such amounts and for such time as in his judgment the condition of the state treasury permits; however, no state deposit shall be made for a period in excess of five years. The money deposited in a bank or savings institution in excess of the amount insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or other federal insurance agency shall be fully collateralized by eligible collateral as defined in § 2.2-4401.

Code 1950, § 2-178; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-210; 1971, Ex. Sess., cc. 139, 245; 1974, c. 517; 1978, c. 52; 1979, c. 215; 1984, c. 374; 1990, c. 3; 1996, c. 77; 2001, c. 844.

No state funds shall be deposited in any depository unless it is a "qualified public depository" as defined in § 2.2-4401. For purposes of this article, "state funds" means public funds or moneys from any source, belonging to or for the use of the Commonwealth, or for the use of any state department, division, officer, board, commission, institution, or other agency or authority owned or controlled by the Commonwealth. All state funds shall be secured pursuant to the Virginia Security for Public Deposits Act (§ 2.2-4400 et seq.).

Code 1950, § 2-179; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-211; 1996, cc. 364, 390; 2001, c. 844.

All transfers of public moneys from one depository to another for any purpose shall be made by electronic funds transfer at the direction of the State Treasurer or his duly authorized deputies who shall order the transferor bank to make payment to the transferee bank for deposit to the credit of the State Treasurer.

Code 1950, § 2-188; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-219; 1974, c. 232; 2001, c. 844.

The Commonwealth shall not be liable for any loss resulting from lack of diligence on the part of any depository in forwarding, or in failing to collect, any check, draft, or electronic transfer of funds as is referred to in § 2.2-1804, or for the loss of any check, draft, or electronic transfer of funds in transmission through the mails or otherwise.

Code 1950, § 2-189; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-220; 2001, c. 844.

The Commonwealth shall be responsible for the safekeeping of all bonds or other securities deposited with the Commissioner of Highways or the Commonwealth Transportation Board as surety on account of funds deposited in banks by division engineers of the Department of Transportation. If such bonds or securities or any of them are lost, destroyed or misappropriated, the Commonwealth shall make good such loss to the bank making the deposit of its bonds or other securities.

Upon the closing of accounts of district engineers with banks, its bonds and other securities then on deposit shall be returned to the bank.

Code 1950, § 2-192; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-223; 2001, c. 844.

Article 3. Disbursement From State Treasury.

No money shall be paid out of the state treasury except in accordance with appropriations made by law.

No appropriation to any department, institution or other agency of the state government, except the General Assembly and the judiciary, shall become available for expenditure until the agency submits an annual estimate of the amounts required for each activity to the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget and Governor for approval by the Governor.

Code 1950, § 2-200; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-224; 1992, c. 582; 2001, c. 844.

Reserved.

All state moneys in a state depository shall stand on the books of such depository to the credit of the State Treasurer. The State Treasurer shall have authority to draw any of the money by his check, by electronic funds transfer, or by any means deemed appropriate and sound by the State Treasurer and approved by the Governor, drawn upon a warrant issued by the Comptroller. If any money to his credit shall be knowingly paid otherwise than upon his check, electronic funds transfer or by alternative means specifically approved by the State Treasurer and the Governor, drawn upon such warrant, the payment shall not be valid against the Commonwealth.

Code 1950, § 2-201; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-226; 1974, c. 231; 1984, c. 374; 2001, c. 844.

The Comptroller shall not issue a disbursement warrant unless and until he has audited, through the use of statistical sampling or other acceptable auditing techniques the bill, invoice, account, payroll or other evidence of the claim, demand or charge and satisfied himself as to the regularity, legality and correctness of the expenditure or disbursement, and that the claim, demand or charge has not been previously paid. If he is so satisfied, he shall approve the same; otherwise, he shall withhold his approval. In order that such regularity and legality may appear, the Comptroller may, by general rule or special order, require the certification or other evidence as the circumstances may demand.

Code 1950, § 2-202; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-227; 1972, c. 205; 2001, c. 844.

The Department of Accounts shall procure the services of one or more private contractors, in accordance with the Virginia Public Procurement Act (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.), to conduct systematic recovery audits of state agency contracts. Such recovery audit contracts shall be performance-based and shall contain a provision that authorizes the contractor to be paid a percentage of any payment error that is recovered by such contractor. Individual recovery audits shall consist of the review of contracts to identify payment errors made by state agencies to vendors and other entities resulting from (i) duplicate payments, (ii) invoice errors, (iii) failure to apply applicable discounts, rebates, or other allowances, or (iv) any other errors resulting in inaccurate payments. The Department of Accounts shall report on the status and effectiveness of recovery audits, including any savings realized, to the Chairs of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations by January 1 of each year.

2004, c. 644; 2005, c. 109.

Lump-sum transfers of appropriations to state departments, divisions, offices, boards, commissions, institutions and other agencies owned or controlled by the Commonwealth, whether at the seat of government or not, shall be prohibited except for the payment to or distribution among the political subdivisions of the Commonwealth of any appropriations made to them by law.

Code 1950, § 2-203; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-228; 2001, c. 844.

A reasonable petty cash, payroll or other imprest fund may be allowed each state department, institution, board, commission or other agency. The amount of such fund shall be fixed by the Comptroller in each case, but these funds shall be reimbursed only upon vouchers audited by the Comptroller.

Code 1950, § 2-204; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-229; 1972, c. 240; 2001, c. 844.

After the allowance of any claim that is payable out of the state treasury, under any of the provisions of this title, a warrant shall be issued for the sum to be paid. A register of all warrants so issued shall be kept by the Comptroller, which register and a duplicate register shall, from time to time, be signed by the Comptroller or by such deputy he may designate for that purpose. The Comptroller shall not be required to sign the warrants.

All checks drawn upon warrants shown by the register and duplicate register, signed by the Comptroller or his deputy, shall be signed by the State Treasurer, or by such deputy as he may designate for that purpose. The signature may be made by means of a mechanical or electrical device selected by the State Treasurer. The device shall be safely kept so that no one will have access to it except the State Treasurer and his deputies authorized to sign warrants.

However, when deemed appropriate, the State Treasurer may utilize various electronic payment systems in lieu of issuing checks drawn upon warrants.

Code 1950, § 2-206; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-231; 1984, c. 374; 2001, c. 844.

Upon satisfactory proof presented to the Comptroller or to the State Treasurer that any warrant drawn by either the Comptroller or the State Treasurer, or by a predecessor, upon the state treasury has been lost or destroyed before having been paid, the Comptroller or State Treasurer who issued, or from whose office was issued, the original warrant shall issue a replacement of the original warrant. The Comptroller or the State Treasurer may require a bond to be executed, with such security as is approved by him, payable to the Commonwealth, in the amount of the warrant and conditioned to save harmless the Commonwealth from any loss occasioned by issuing the replacement warrant. Every replacement warrant shall show upon its face that it is a replacement.

In the discretion of the State Treasurer, state warrants in payment and redemption of previously lost or otherwise unpaid warrants may be issued directly to the person entitled to the money as the owner, heir, legatee, or as fiduciary of the estate of the deceased owner, heir, or legatee, and in such cases shall not be issued to a named attorney-in-fact, agent, assignee, or any other person regardless of a written instruction to the contrary. In such circumstances, the State Treasurer may refuse to recognize and is not bound by any terms of a power of attorney or assignment that may be presented as having been executed by a person as the purported owner, heir, legatee or fiduciary of the estate of a deceased owner of such warrants.

Code 1950, § 2-207; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-232; 1982, c. 409; 1993, c. 155; 2001, c. 844.

No bond shall be required where an original warrant was issued to (i) any eleemosynary or educational institution of the Commonwealth for money appropriated to the institution, (ii) the treasurer of any county or city in the Commonwealth for money apportioned to it out of the school fund and to be disbursed by the treasurer in payment of school warrants, or to be issued to any district school board of any county for money to be disbursed by the board in payment and settlement of any claims lawfully contracted in the operation of the public schools in the district, or in the construction of graded school buildings, or (iii) the treasurer of any county or city in the Commonwealth for money apportioned to it from the gas tax, and such warrant has been lost or destroyed without having been paid. The Comptroller or the State Treasurer who issued the original warrant, or from whose office it was issued, or if issued by his predecessor, shall issue a replacement warrant. The replacement warrant shall show on its face that it is a replacement and shall be issued within thirty days from the date of issuing the original warrant, upon satisfactory proof of the loss or destruction of the original warrant.

Code 1950, § 2-208; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-233; 2001, c. 844.

Article 4. Revenue Stabilization Fund.

There is established a fund to be known as the Revenue Stabilization Fund (the "Fund") for the stabilization of the expected revenues of the Commonwealth. The Fund shall be available to offset, in part, anticipated shortfalls in revenues when appropriations based on previous forecasts exceed expected revenues in subsequent forecasts.

1992, c. 316, § 2.1-191.1; 2001, c. 844.

A. On or before December 1 of each year, the Auditor of Public Accounts shall report to the General Assembly the certified tax revenues collected in the most recently ended fiscal year. The Auditor shall, at the same time, provide his report on (i) the limitation on the total amount in the Fund; (ii) the amount that could be paid into the Fund; and (iii) the amount necessary for deposit for the next fiscal year into the Fund in order to satisfy the mandatory deposit requirement of Article X, Section 8 of the Constitution of Virginia. The Governor shall include any such amount in his budget bill submitted to the General Assembly pursuant to § 2.2-1509. A schedule of deposits may be provided for in the Appropriation Act.

B. If the report of the Auditor of Public Accounts, pursuant to subsection A, indicates that the annual percentage increase in the certified tax revenues collected in the most recently ended fiscal year is eight percent or greater than the certified tax revenues collected for the immediately preceding fiscal year and that such annual percentage increase in the certified tax revenues for the most recently ended fiscal year is also equal to or greater than 1.5 times the average annual percentage increase in the certified tax revenues collected in the six fiscal years immediately preceding the most recently ended fiscal year, the Governor shall include in his budget recommendations, submitted to the General Assembly in the subsequent session pursuant to § 2.2-1509, an additional amount for deposit to the Fund in excess of any mandatory deposit to the Fund required by Article X, Section 8 of the Constitution of Virginia. Such additional amount shall be equal to at least 25 percent of the product of the certified tax revenues collected in the most recently ended fiscal year multiplied by the difference between the annual percentage increase in the certified tax revenues collected for the most recently ended fiscal year and the average annual percentage increase in the certified tax revenues collected in the six fiscal years immediately preceding the most recently ended fiscal year. Any such additional deposits to the Fund shall be included in the Governor's budget recommendations submitted to the General Assembly in the subsequent session pursuant to § 2.2-1509 only if the estimate of general fund revenues prepared in accordance with § 2.2-1503 for the fiscal year in which the deposit is to be made is at least five percent greater than the actual general fund revenues for the immediately preceding fiscal year.

C. The State Comptroller shall draw such warrants as appropriated and the State Treasurer shall deposit such warrants into the Fund. No amounts shall be withdrawn from the Fund except pursuant to appropriations made by the General Assembly in accordance with § 2.2-1830. However, if any amounts accrue, such as through interest or dividends, to the credit of the Fund in excess of the limitation calculated by the Auditor of Public Accounts as provided in subsection E, any excess shall be paid into the general fund either from the Fund or from the Revenue Reserve Fund created pursuant to § 2.2-1831.2.

D. For the purposes of the Comptroller's preliminary and final annual reports as required by § 2.2-813, all balances remaining in the Fund on June 30 of each fiscal year shall be considered to be a portion of the fund balance of the general fund of the state treasury.

E. At no time shall the combined amount in the Fund and the Revenue Reserve Fund exceed 15 percent of the Commonwealth's average annual tax revenues derived from taxes on income and retail sales as certified by the Auditor of Public Accounts for the three fiscal years immediately preceding.

1992, c. 316, § 2.1-191.2; 1993, c. 26; 2001, c. 844; 2003, cc. 755, 759; 2011, c. 725; 2019, c. 347.

In the event that a revised general fund forecast presented to the General Assembly reflects a decline when compared to total general fund revenues appropriated, and the decrease is more than two percent of certified tax revenues collected in the most recently ended fiscal year, the General Assembly may appropriate an amount for transfer from the Fund to the general fund to stabilize the revenues of the Commonwealth. However, in no event shall the transfer exceed more than one-half of the forecasted shortfall in revenues.

1992, c. 316, § 2.1-191.3; 2001, c. 844.

Any revised general fund revenue forecast presented to the General Assembly for purposes of this article shall consist of the same revenue sources or components as those on which the total general fund revenues appropriated are based.

1992, c. 316, § 2.1-191.4; 2001, c. 844.

Article 4.1. Revenue Reserve Fund.

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Budget Bill" means the Budget Bill submitted pursuant to § 2.2-1509, including any amendments to a general appropriation act pursuant to such section.

"Fund" means the Revenue Reserve Fund.

2018, c. 827.

There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Revenue Reserve Fund, referred to in this article as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used to offset, in whole or in part, certain anticipated shortfalls in revenues when appropriations based on previous forecasts exceed expected revenues in subsequent forecasts as provided in § 2.2-1831.4.

2018, c. 827.

A. On or before November 1 of each year, the Auditor of Public Accounts shall report to the General Assembly the total general fund revenues collected in the most recently ended fiscal year. The Auditor of Public Accounts shall, at the same time, provide his report on the amount that could be paid into the Fund and the amount by which the amount in the Fund is less than the maximum amount permitted.

B. Whenever there is a fiscal year in which general fund revenues do not result in a mandatory deposit to the Revenue Stabilization Fund required by Article X, Section 8 of the Constitution of Virginia, the Comptroller shall, at the end of the fiscal year, commit within his annual report pursuant to § 2.2-813 the amount of the general fund revenue in excess of the official forecast for that prior fiscal year, less any deposit to the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund pursuant to subsection A of § 10.1-2128, for deposit into the Fund. Such amount committed for deposit into the Fund shall not exceed one percent of the total general fund revenues for the prior fiscal year.

C. The Governor shall include in "The Budget Bill" pursuant to § 2.2-1509 recommended appropriations from the general fund or recommended amendments to general fund appropriations in the general appropriation act in effect at that time an amount for deposit into the Fund at least equal to the amounts committed by the Comptroller and confirmed by the Auditor of Public Accounts for such purposes pursuant to the provisions of subsection B. A schedule of deposits may be provided in the appropriation act.

D. The State Comptroller shall draw such warrants as appropriated, and the State Treasurer shall deposit such warrants into the Fund. No withdrawal shall be made from the Fund except in accordance with § 2.2-1831.4.

E. For the purposes of the Comptroller's preliminary and final annual reports as required by § 2.2-813, all balances remaining in the Fund on June 30 of each fiscal year shall be considered to be a portion of the fund balance of the general fund of the state treasury. However, if any amounts accrue, such as through interest or dividends, to the credit of the Fund in excess of the limitation calculated by the Auditor of Public Accounts as provided in subsection F, any excess shall be paid into the general fund either from the Fund or from the Revenue Stabilization Fund created pursuant to § 2.2-1828.

F. At no time shall the combined amount in the Fund and the Revenue Stabilization Fund created pursuant to § 2.2-1828 exceed 15 percent of the Commonwealth's average annual tax revenues derived from taxes on income and retail sales as certified by the Auditor of Public Accounts for the three fiscal years immediately preceding.

2018, c. 827; 2019, c. 347.

In the event that a revised general fund forecast presented to the General Assembly reflects a decline when compared with total general fund revenues appropriated, and the decrease is two percent or less of general fund resources collected in the most recently ended fiscal year, the General Assembly may appropriate an amount for transfer from the Fund, not to exceed 50 percent of the amount in the Fund, to the general fund to stabilize the revenues of the Commonwealth.

When the General Assembly is not in session, after review of the May general fund revenue collections and certification to the General Assembly that actions to curtail spending will not be sufficient to avoid a cash deficit, the Governor may withdraw amounts appropriated to the Fund to avoid such cash deficit.

2018, c. 827.

Any revised general fund revenue forecast presented to the General Assembly for purposes of this article shall consist of the same revenue sources or components as those on which the total general fund revenues appropriated are based.

2018, c. 827.

Article 5. Division of Risk Management.

The Division of Risk Management (the "Division"), formerly within the Department of General Services, is hereby transferred to the Department (the "Department") of the Treasury and shall exercise the powers and duties described in this article.

1980, c. 488, § 2.1-526.1; 1988, c. 848; 2000, cc. 618, 632, § 2.1-191.5; 2001, c. 844.

The Division shall establish and maintain a file of state-owned buildings and contents, hereinafter inclusively referred to as buildings or properties, and the actual cash value or replacement cost value if insured or replacement cost basis thereof, and the amount of fire and extended coverage, vandalism and malicious mischief, optional perils or all risk insurance coverage thereon. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall keep the Division informed as to the status of all properties under their control.

1980, c. 488, § 2.1-526.2; 1982, c. 318; 1988, c. 848; 2000, cc. 618, 632, § 2.1-191.6; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Division may inspect or administer a program of self-inspection for all state-owned properties and confer with the proper officials or employees of the several agencies of the Commonwealth for the purpose of determining (i) insurance coverages that are necessary with respect to properties under their control and (ii) the manner whereby savings and costs of such insurance may be made. It may seek the assistance of insurance companies and their representatives, and the State Fire Marshal, in devising means by which hazards may be reduced or eliminated. The Division shall have final responsibility with respect to coverage, noncoverage, provisions of policies, quantity and type of fire and extended coverage, vandalism and malicious mischief, and optional perils or all risk insurance coverage. The Governor may exempt any agency, institution of higher education, or part thereof from any part of the risk management and insurance program.

B. The Division may change or discontinue fire and extended coverage, vandalism and malicious mischief, optional perils or all risk insurance coverage carried pursuant to bond indentures and other contractual requirements, provided the change or discontinuance meets with the written approval of the trustee of the bond indenture and those signatory to the contracts.

C. As its programs are implemented, the Division shall assume the sole responsibility, with the approval of the Governor, for purchasing insurance, self-insuring or combining insurance and self-insurance (i) on all properties of the Commonwealth or (ii) for protection of liabilities or other casualties.

1980, c. 488, § 2.1-526.3; 1982, c. 318; 1988, c. 848; 1996, cc. 475, 510; 2000, cc. 618, 632, § 2.1-191.7; 2001, c. 844.

A. The State Insurance Reserve Trust Fund (the "Fund") is established and shall consist of the payments required by subsection B. The Fund shall be under the management and control of the Division, and any claims for losses payable out of the Fund shall be at the direction of the Division. The Fund shall be invested as provided in § 2.2-1806 and interest shall be added to the fund as earned.

B. Each agency, department, division, or institution of state government having control over any state structure and contents thereof, or that participates in any program of insurance operated by the Division, shall pay each year into the Fund or any trust fund established pursuant to the provisions of this article amounts necessary to maintain the trusts at levels of funding deemed adequate by the Division. The Division shall set the premium and administrative costs to be paid to it for providing an insurance plan established pursuant to this section. The premiums and administrative costs set by the Division shall be payable in the amounts, at the time and in the manner that the Division in its sole discretion requires. Premiums and administrative costs need not be uniform among participants, but shall be set to best ensure the financial stability of the plan. Whenever any building or structure is under the control of two or more agencies, departments, divisions or institutions of the Commonwealth, the payment required shall be prorated upon the basis of percentage of the area controlled.

C. In the event of loss or damage exceeding $1000 to property on which there is no insurance recovery or limited insurance recovery as a consequence of any action by the Division resulting in noncoverage, reduced insurance, elimination of insured perils or otherwise, the Division shall determine the amount, if any, payable out of the Fund, and such amount, when approved by the Governor, shall be final. The amount payable shall be used for the purpose of restoring the damaged structure or rebuilding it, as the circumstances may require, but in no event shall the amount payable on account of such loss exceed the actual cash value or the replacement cost value of the property in accordance with the basis of insurance, nor shall the amount payable when added to the insurance recovered exceed the actual cash value or the replacement cost value of the property, as recorded in the property and insurance records of the Division.

D. In addition to the amounts payable under subsection C, the costs of operating the Division that are properly allocated to its functions concerning the Fund and other administrative and contractual costs of the Division not otherwise provided for shall be paid out of the Fund, for which purposes such funds are appropriated.

1980, c. 488, § 2.1-526.5; 1982, c. 318; 1988, c. 848; 1996, cc. 475, 510; 2000, cc. 618, 632, § 2.1-191.8; 2001, c. 844.

A. Subject to the approval of the Governor, the Division shall establish a risk management plan that may be self-insurance or a combination of self-insurance and purchased insurance to provide coverage on (i) state-owned buildings and (ii) state-owned contents of buildings owned by the Commonwealth or of buildings not owned by the Commonwealth that are occupied in whole or in part by an agency of the Commonwealth.

B. Any insurance plan established pursuant to this section may provide, but not be limited to, physical damage coverage against the perils of (i) fire and lightning; (ii) extended coverage for windstorm, hail, smoke, explosion, other than that caused by steam pressure vessels, riot, riot attending a strike, civil commotion, aircraft and vehicles not owned by the Commonwealth; (iii) vandalism and malicious mischief; (iv) optional perils; and (v) all risk insurance.

C. Any insurance plan established pursuant to this section shall provide for the establishment of a trust fund or contribution to the State Insurance Reserve Trust Fund for the payment of claims covered under such a plan, which are not recoverable from purchased insurance. The funds shall be invested as provided in § 2.2-1806 and interest shall be added to the fund as earned. The trust fund shall also provide for payment of administrative costs, contractual costs and other expenses related to the administration of the plan.

D. The insurance plan for state-owned buildings and state-owned contents of buildings shall be submitted to the Governor for approval prior to implementation.

1980, c. 488, § 2.1-526.7; 1982, c. 318; 1988, c. 848; 2000, cc. 618, 632, § 2.1-191.10; 2001, c. 844.

A. Subject to the approval of the Governor, the Division shall establish a risk management plan, which may be purchased insurance, self-insurance or a combination of self-insurance and purchased insurance to provide:

1. Protection against liability imposed by law for damages resulting from any claim:

a. Made against any state department, agency, institution, board, commission, officer, agent, or employee for acts or omissions of any nature while acting in an authorized governmental or proprietary capacity and in the course and scope of employment or authorization;

b. Made against participants, other than professional counsel, in student disciplinary proceedings at public institutions of higher education for nonmalicious acts or omissions of any nature in the course and scope of participation in the proceedings; or

c. Resulting from an authorized indemnification agreement entered into by a public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth in accordance with this subsection.

A public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth may execute an indemnification agreement if the Governor (i) considers in advance of execution (a) the institution's analysis of the relevant public benefit and risk of liability, (b) the Division's charge to be assessed against the institution for providing insurance or self-insurance coverage for the claims resulting from the indemnification agreement, and (c) the Office of the Attorney General's comments and (ii) determines that execution is necessary to further the public's best interests.

The indemnification agreement shall limit the institution's total liability to a stated dollar amount and shall notify the contractor that the full faith and credit of the Commonwealth are not pledged or committed to payment of the institution's obligation under the agreement. However, no such institution shall be authorized to enter into an indemnification agreement in accordance with this subsection to indemnify any person or entity against damages arising from a sponsored project conducted by such institution. For the purposes of this section, a "sponsored project" is a research, instruction, or service project conducted at a public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth pursuant to a grant, cooperative agreement, or other contract;

2. Protection against tort liability and incidental medical payments arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of buildings, grounds or properties owned or leased by the Commonwealth or used by state employees or other authorized persons in the course of their employment;

3. For the payment of attorney fees and expenses incurred in defending such persons and entities concerning any claim that (i) arises from their governmental employment or authorization, that (ii) arises from their participation in such student disciplinary proceedings, or (iii) is described in any such indemnification agreement, where the Division is informed by the Attorney General's office that it will not provide a defense due to a conflict or other appropriate reason; and

4. For the payment of attorney fees and expenses awarded to any individual or entity against the Commonwealth, or any department, agency, institution, board, commission, officer, agent, or employee of the Commonwealth for acts or omissions of any nature while acting in an authorized governmental or proprietary capacity, or in reliance upon any constitutional provision, or law of the Commonwealth. It is the obligation of the Division to provide for such indemnification regardless of whether there is a request for or an award of damages associated with the award of such fees and expenses.

a. As a condition of coverage for the payment of attorney fees and expenses, the department, agency, institution, board, commission, officer, agent, or employee of the Commonwealth shall (i) promptly notify the Division of the commencement of any claim, suit, action or other proceeding prior to its settlement, (ii) provide the Division with full nonprivileged information on the matter as requested, and (iii) permit the Division to participate in the investigation of such claim, suit, action or other proceeding. Failure to promptly notify the Division or to reasonably cooperate may, at the Division's discretion, result in no payment or a reduced payment being made.

b. The Division shall set the premium and administrative costs to be paid to it for providing payment of attorney fees and expenses awarded pursuant to this section. The premiums and administrative costs set by the Division shall be payable in the amounts, at the time and in the manner that the Division in its sole discretion requires. Premiums and administrative costs shall be set to best ensure the financial stability of the plan.

B. Any risk management plan established pursuant to this section shall provide for the establishment of a trust fund or contribution to the State Insurance Reserve Trust Fund for the payment of claims covered under the plan. The funds shall be invested as provided in § 2.2-1806 and interest shall be added to the fund as earned. The trust fund shall also provide for payment of administrative costs, contractual costs, and other expenses related to the administration of such plan.

C. The risk management plan for public liability shall be submitted to the Governor for approval prior to implementation.

D. The risk management plan established pursuant to this section shall provide protection against professional liability imposed by law as provided in § 24.2-121, resulting from any claim made against a local electoral board, any of its members, any general registrar, or any employee of or paid deputy to a registrar for acts or omissions of any nature while acting in an authorized governmental or proprietary capacity and in the course and scope of employment or authorization, regardless of whether or not the civil action requests monetary damages, subject to the limitations of the risk management plan.

E. The risk management plan established pursuant to this section shall provide protection against any claim made against any soil and water conservation district, director, officer, agent or employee thereof, (i) arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of buildings, grounds or properties owned, leased or maintained by any such district or used by district employees or other authorized persons in the course of their employment or (ii) arising out of acts or omissions of any nature while acting in an authorized governmental or proprietary capacity and in the course and scope of employment or authorization.

F. The risk management plan established pursuant to this section shall provide protection against professional liability imposed by law for damages resulting from any claim made against a local school board selection commission or local school board selection commission members for acts or omissions of any nature while acting in an authorized governmental or proprietary capacity and in the course and scope of authorization, subject to the limitations of the risk management plan.

G. The risk management plan established pursuant to this section shall provide coverage for any matter that involves or could involve an action or proceeding against a judge, the nature of which is designed to determine whether discipline or other sanction of the judge for malfeasance or misfeasance is appropriate or to otherwise determine the fitness of the judge to hold office or to continue his employment. No coverage or indemnification shall be made pursuant to this subsection when the Supreme Court of Virginia finds that the judge should be censured or removed from office pursuant to § 10 of Article VI of the Constitution of Virginia or statutes enacted pursuant thereto.

H. The risk management plan established pursuant to this section shall provide protection against claims made against chaplains by persons incarcerated in a state correctional facility, a juvenile correctional center, or a facility operated pursuant to the Corrections Private Management Act (§ 53.1-261 et seq.) arising out of services provided by the chaplains to such incarcerated persons, regardless of whether such services were provided on a volunteer basis or for compensation. For the purposes of this subsection, chaplains shall include only those persons, who, at the time any claim may arise, were acting pursuant to, and in compliance with, an agreement between the chaplain or an organization to which the chaplain belongs, and the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or an operator of a facility operated pursuant to the Corrections Private Management Act.

1980, c. 488, § 2.1-526.8; 1982, c. 318; 1986, cc. 554, 558; 1988, cc. 763, 780, 848; 1990, c. 484; 1995, c. 794; 2000, cc. 618, 632, § 2.1-191.11; 2001, c. 844; 2002, c. 765; 2003, c. 828; 2005, cc. 492, 548; 2011, c. 359; 2012, c. 366; 2022, c. 140.

A. Subject to the approval of the Governor, the Division shall establish a risk management plan, which may be purchased insurance, self-insurance or a combination of self-insurance and purchased insurance to provide (i) protection for the Commonwealth, its officers and employees and other authorized persons against tort liability and incidental medical payments arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of motor vehicles owned or leased by the Commonwealth or used by state employees or other authorized persons in the course of their employment; and (ii) for payment of attorneys' fees and expenses incurred in defending such persons and entities concerning any claim that arises from their governmental employment or authorization where the Division is informed by the Attorney General's office that it will not provide a defense due to a conflict or other appropriate reason.

B. The risk management plan shall provide for the establishment of a trust fund or a contribution to the State Insurance Reserve Trust Fund for the payment of claims covered under the plan arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of motor vehicles owned or leased by the Commonwealth or used by state employees or other authorized persons in the course of their employment. The funds shall be invested as provided in § 2.2-1806 and interest shall be added to the fund as earned. The plan shall also provide for payment of the expenses related to the administration of a motor vehicle insurance program for the Commonwealth. The risk management plan shall be submitted to the Governor for approval prior to implementation.

C. Any risk management plan for state motor vehicles established pursuant to this section shall provide (i) protection against the uninsured motorist at limits not less than those provided in § 46.2-100, (ii) incidental medical payments of not less than $5,000 per person to state employees and other authorized persons, and (iii) recovery of damages for loss of use of a motor vehicle, as provided in § 8.01-66.

1980, c. 488, § 2.1-526.6; 1982, c. 318; 1988, c. 848; 2000, cc. 618, 632, § 2.1-191.9; 2001, c. 844.

A. The Division shall establish one or more risk management plans specifying the terms and conditions for coverage, subject to the approval of the Governor, and which plans may be purchased insurance, self-insurance or a combination of self-insurance and purchased insurance to provide protection against liability imposed by law for damages and against incidental medical payments resulting from any claim made against any county, city or town; authority, board, or commission; sanitation, soil and water, planning or other district; public service corporation owned, operated or controlled by a locality or local government authority; constitutional officer; state court-appointed attorney; any attorney for any claim arising out of the provision of pro bono legal services for custody and visitation to an eligible indigent person under a program approved by the Supreme Court of Virginia or the Virginia State Bar; any receiver for an attorney's practice appointed under § 54.1-3900.01 or 54.1-3936; any attorney authorized by the Virginia State Bar for any claim arising out of the provision of pro bono legal services in a Virginia State Bar approved program; affiliate or foundation of a state department, agency or institution; any clinic that is organized in whole or primarily for the delivery of health care services without charge; volunteer drivers for any nonprofit organization providing transportation for persons who are elderly, disabled, or indigent to medical treatment and services, provided the volunteer driver has successfully completed training approved by the Division; any local chapter or program of the Meals on Wheels Association of America or any area agency on aging, providing meal and nutritional services to persons who are elderly, homebound, or disabled, and volunteer drivers for such entities who have successfully completed training approved by the Division; any individual serving as a guardian or limited guardian as defined in § 64.2-2000 for any individual receiving services from a community services board or behavioral health authority or from a state facility operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; for nontransportation-related state construction contracts less than $500,000, where the bid bond requirements are waived, prospective contractors shall be prequalified for each individual project in accordance with § 2.2-4317; or the officers, agents or employees of any of the foregoing for acts or omissions of any nature while in an authorized governmental or proprietary capacity and in the course and scope of employment or authorization.

For the purposes of this section, "delivery of health care services without charge" shall be deemed to include the delivery of dental, medical or other health services when a reasonable minimum fee is charged to cover administrative costs.

For purposes of this section, a sheriff or deputy sheriff shall be considered to be acting in the scope of employment or authorization when performing any law-enforcement-related services authorized by the sheriff, and coverage for such service by the Division shall not be subject to any prior notification to or authorization by the Division.

B. In any case in which the coverage provided by one or more risk management plans established pursuant to this section applies, no sheriff or deputy shall be liable for any verdict or civil judgment in his individual capacity in excess of the approved maximum coverage amount as established by the Division and set forth in the respective coverage plans, which shall be at least $1.5 million for sheriffs and deputies. If a jury returns an award in excess of $1.5 million, the judge shall reduce the award and enter judgment against the sheriff or deputy for such damages in the amount of $1.5 million, provided that this shall not affect the ability of a court to order a remittitur. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the ability of a plaintiff to pursue the full amount of any judgment against a sheriff or deputy from any available insurance coverage. To the extent that any such award exceeds the coverage available under such risk management plans, the sheriff and any deputy shall be considered immune defendants under subsection F of § 38.2-2206. Automobile insurance carried by a sheriff or deputy in his personal capacity shall not be available to satisfy any verdict or civil judgment under the circumstances in which coverage is provided by one or more risk management plans.

C. Participation in the risk management plan shall be voluntary and shall be approved by the participant's respective governing body or by the State Compensation Board in the case of constitutional officers; by the office of the Executive Secretary of the Virginia Supreme Court in the case of state court-appointed attorneys, including attorneys appointed to serve as receivers under § 54.1-3900.01 or 54.1-3936, or attorneys under Virginia Supreme Court approved programs; by the Virginia State Bar in the case of attorneys providing pro bono services under Virginia State Bar approved programs; by the Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for any individual serving as a guardian or limited guardian for any individual receiving services from a state facility operated by the Department or by the executive director of a community services board or behavioral health authority for any individual serving as a guardian or limited guardian for any individual receiving services from the board or authority; and by the Division. Upon such approval, the Division shall assume sole responsibility for plan management, compliance, or removal. The Virginia Supreme Court shall pay the cost for coverage of eligible persons performing services in approved programs of the Virginia Supreme Court. The Virginia State Bar shall pay the cost for coverage of eligible attorneys providing pro bono services in Virginia State Bar approved programs. The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall be responsible for paying the cost of coverage for eligible persons performing services as a guardian or limited guardian for any individual receiving services from a state facility operated by the Department. The applicable community services board or behavioral health authority shall be responsible for paying the cost of coverage for eligible persons performing services as a guardian or limited guardian for individuals receiving services from the board or authority.

D. The Division shall provide for the legal defense of participating entities and shall reserve the right to settle or defend claims presented under the plan. All prejudgment settlements shall be approved in advance by the Division.

E. The risk management plan established pursuant to this section shall provide for the establishment of a trust fund for the payment of claims covered under such plan. The funds shall be invested in the manner provided in § 2.2-1806 and interest shall be added to the fund as earned.

The trust fund shall also provide for payment of legal defense costs, actuarial costs, administrative costs, contractual costs and all other expenses related to the administration of such plan.

F. The Division shall, in its sole discretion, set the premium and administrative cost to be paid to it for providing a risk management plan established pursuant to this section. The premiums and administrative costs set by the Division shall be payable in the amounts at the time and in the manner that the Division in its sole discretion shall require. The premiums and administrative costs need not be uniform among participants, but shall be set so as to best ensure the financial stability of the plan.

G. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, a sheriff's department of any city or county, or a regional jail shall not be precluded from securing excess liability insurance coverage beyond the coverage provided by the Division pursuant to this section.

1986, c. 82, § 2.1-526.8:1; 1988, c. 848; 1995, c. 30; 2000, cc. 618, 632, § 2.1-191.12; 2001, c. 844; 2003, cc. 23, 49; 2004, cc. 121, 529; 2005, cc. 184, 212; 2006, c. 713; 2007, c. 773; 2009, cc. 265, 568, 813, 840; 2011, c. 789; 2012, cc. 476, 507; 2013, c. 555; 2014, cc. 35, 708.

Not in effect.

A. Subject to the approval of the Governor, the Division shall establish a program of blanket surety bonding to provide surety for the faithful performance of duty for all state employees required by statute to be bonded, and for other agency employees handling funds or having access to funds whose function, in the opinion of the agency head and the Division, should be bonded.

B. Local employees, including superintendents and jail officers of regional jail facilities as described in § 53.1-110, local constitutional officers, and those employees of the Supreme Court for whom the Commonwealth pays all or part of the costs of surety bonds shall be required to participate in the blanket surety bond program adopted by the Division through the Comptroller and the Compensation Board. The Division shall exclude clerks of the circuit court with respect to the moneys they hold pursuant to § 8.01-582 insofar as coverage is provided under § 2.2-1841 for their faithful performance concerning those moneys. Before implementing the program, the Division shall determine that the program will be of less cost to the Commonwealth than the aggregate of individual bonds costs.

C. The blanket surety bonding plan for state employees shall be submitted to the Governor for approval prior to implementation.

D. Employees or officers of a public service authority created under the Virginia Water and Waste Authorities Act (§ 15.2-5100 et seq.) may participate in the blanket surety bond program adopted by the Division through the Comptroller and the Compensation Board whenever any federal or state agency lends or guarantees funds to a public service authority created under the Virginia Water and Waste Authorities Act where the funds are utilized in the construction or capitalization of projects authorized under the Act, and there is a condition of the loan or guarantee that those employees or officers of the authority who have access to the funds be bonded. Participation by such employees or officers shall be approved by the governing body of the county or city that created the authority or is a member of the authority, with approval of the Division.

1982, c. 318, § 2.1-526.9; 1984, c. 324; 1988, cc. 841, 848; 1993, c. 939; 1995, c. 5; 2000, cc. 618, 632, § 2.1-191.13; 2001, c. 844.

The Division shall establish a program of blanket surety bonding to provide surety for the faithful discharge of duty with respect to moneys held pursuant to §§ 8.01-582 and 8.01-600 by all general receivers and clerks. General receivers and clerks shall participate in the program. The Division's cost of obtaining and administering the blanket surety bond shall be paid from those moneys covered by the bond.

1988, c. 841, § 2.1-526.9:1; 2000, cc. 618, 632, § 2.1-191.14; 2001, c. 844.

Although the provisions of this article are subject to those of Article 18.1 (§ 8.01-195.1 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 8.01, nothing in this article shall be deemed an additional expressed or implied waiver of the Commonwealth's sovereign immunity.

1982, c. 318, § 2.1-526.11; 2000, cc. 618, 632, § 2.1-191.15; 2001, c. 844.

The Division may develop and implement risk management and loss prevention programs related to risk management plans established pursuant to the provisions of this article. The Division may confer with the proper officials or employees of all agencies and institutions of the Commonwealth and of participating entities and persons pursuant to § 2.2-1839, for the purpose of determining risk management and loss prevention programs that shall be carried on with respect to properties and governmental operations under their control and may determine the manner in which the programs may be developed, implemented and enforced. The Division may seek the assistance of risk management consulting companies, insurance companies, loss prevention engineering companies, and their representatives, the State Fire Marshal, and the Division of Engineering and Buildings in devising means by which causes of loss may be reduced or eliminated. The Division shall have the final responsibility with respect to implementation or nonimplementation of a plan by an agency or institution of the Commonwealth and by a participating entity or person pursuant to § 2.2-1839. Information contained in investigative reports of any state or local police department, sheriff's office, fire department or fire marshal relevant to risk management plans established pursuant to the provisions of this article shall be made available to the Division upon request. The relevant information requested shall be furnished within a reasonable time, not to exceed thirty days.

1988, c. 848, § 2.1-526.11:1; 1996, cc. 475, 510; 2000, cc. 618, 632, § 2.1-191.16; 2001, c. 844.

Chapter 19. Department of Veterans' Affairs [Repealed].

Repealed by Acts 2003, cc. 657 and 670.

Chapter 20. Department of Veterans Services.

A. There shall be a Department of Veterans Services, which shall be headed by a Commissioner appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. The Commissioner shall be a veteran who has received an honorable discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States. He shall report to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs on behalf of the Governor and shall hold his office at the pleasure of the Governor for a term of five years.

B. The Commissioner shall, under the direction and control of the Governor, exercise powers and perform duties conferred or imposed upon him by law and perform such other duties as may be required by the Governor and the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs.

2003, cc. 657, 670; 2004, c. 697; 2018, c. 648.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Active military, naval, or air service members" means military service members who perform full-time duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, or a reserve component thereof, including the National Guard.

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services appointed pursuant to § 2.2-2000.

"Department" means the Department of Veterans Services established pursuant to § 2.2-2000.

"Service-connected" means, with respect to disability, that such disability was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service.

"Service disabled veteran" means a veteran who (i) served in the active military, naval, or air service, (ii) was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable, and (iii) has a service-connected disability rating fixed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

"Service disabled veteran-owned business" means a business concern that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more service disabled veterans or, in the case of a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity, at least 51 percent of the equity ownership interest in the corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity is owned by one or more individuals who are service disabled veterans and both the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more individuals who are service disabled veterans.

"Veteran" means an individual who has served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.

2018, c. 648.

A. The Department shall be responsible to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs on behalf of the Governor for the establishment, operation, administration, and maintenance of offices and programs related to services for Virginia-domiciled veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States and their eligible spouses, orphans, and dependents. Such services shall include, but not be limited to, benefits claims processing and all medical care centers and cemeteries for veterans owned and operated by the Commonwealth.

Subject to the availability of sufficient nongeneral fund revenues, including, but not limited to, private donations and federal funds, the Department shall work in concert with applicable state and federal agencies to develop and deploy an automated system for the electronic preparation of veterans' disability claims that ensures the collection of the necessary information to expedite processing of Virginia veterans' disability claims. The Department's development and deployment work shall be appropriately phased to minimize risk and shall include an initial replacement of the Department's existing case management technology, which replacement is required to support highly sophisticated electronic claims preparation. The Commissioner shall ensure that the system is efficient and statutorily compliant.

B. 1. From such funds as may be appropriated or otherwise received for such purpose, the Department shall provide burial vaults at cost to eligible veterans and their family members interred at state-operated veterans cemeteries.

2. From such funds as may be appropriated or otherwise received for such purpose, the Commonwealth shall pay any burial fee charged for the burial of (i) a member of the National Guard and Reserve or (ii) a deceased spouse of a member or veteran of the United States Armed Forces or of the National Guard and Reserve, regardless of whether such spouse's death precedes or succeeds the death of the member or veteran, at a state-operated veterans cemetery. The Department shall develop guidelines concerning the administration of this subsection.

C. The Department shall establish guidelines for the determination of eligibility for Virginia-domiciled veterans and their spouses, orphans, and dependents for participation in programs and benefits administered by the Department. Such guidelines shall meet the intent of the federal statutes and regulations pertaining to the administration of federal programs supporting U.S. Armed Forces veterans and their spouses, orphans, and dependents.

D. The Department shall adopt reasonable regulations to implement a program to certify, upon request of the small business owner, that he holds a "service disabled veteran" status.

E. The Department shall submit an annual report through the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 1 of each year and other reports to the Secretary as required by the Secretary. The annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly shall be submitted for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

2003, cc. 657, 670; 2007, c. 787; 2008, cc. 467, 521, 767, 768; 2009, c. 62; 2010, cc. 84, 554; 2011, cc. 772, 847; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2013, c. 234; 2018, c. 648; 2023, cc. 366, 367.

A. The Department, in cooperation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, shall establish a program to monitor and coordinate mental health and rehabilitative services support for military service members transitioning from military to civilian life, veterans, members of the Virginia National Guard, Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves, and their family members. The purpose of the program is to, in a cost-effective manner, refer such transitioning service members, veterans, members of the Virginia National Guard, Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves, and their family members to mental health, physical rehabilitation, and other services as needed to help them achieve individually identified goals and to periodically monitor their progress toward achieving those goals.

B. The program shall, subject to the availability of public and private funds appropriated for such purposes, (i) build awareness of veterans' service needs and the availability of the program through marketing, outreach, training for first responders, service providers, and others; (ii) collaborate with relevant agencies of the Commonwealth, localities, and service providers; (iii) develop and implement a consistent method of determining how many veterans in the Commonwealth are in need of mental health, physical rehabilitation, or other services currently or may be in need of such services in the future; (iv) work with veterans to develop a coordinated resources plan that identifies appropriate service providers to meet the veteran's service needs; (v) refer veterans to appropriate and available providers on the basis of needs identified in the coordinated resources plan; and (vi) monitor progress toward individually identified goals in accordance with the coordinated resource plan.

Coordinated resources plans shall be developed and veterans shall be referred to necessary services in a timely manner. The program shall prioritize veterans served on the basis of the immediacy and severity of service needs and the likelihood that those needs are attributable to the veteran's military service or combat experience.

C. The program shall cooperate with localities that may establish special treatment procedures for veterans and active military service members such as authorized by §§ 9.1-173 and 9.1-174. To facilitate local involvement and flexibility in responding to the problem of crime in local communities and to effectively treat, counsel, rehabilitate, and supervise veterans and active military service members who are offenders or defendants in the criminal justice system and who need access to proper treatment for mental illness, including major depression, alcohol or drug abuse, post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury or a combination of these, any city, county, or combination thereof may develop, establish, and maintain policies, procedures, and treatment services for all such offenders who are convicted and sentenced for misdemeanors or felonies that are not felony acts of violence, as defined in § 19.2-297.1. Such policies, procedures, and treatment services shall be designed to provide:

1. Coordination of treatment and counseling services available to the criminal justice system case processing;

2. Enhanced public safety through offender supervision, counseling, and treatment;

3. Prompt identification and placement of eligible participants;

4. Access to a continuum of treatment, rehabilitation, and counseling services in collaboration with such care providers as are willing and able to provide the services needed;

5. Where appropriate, verified participant abstinence through frequent alcohol and other drug testing;

6. Prompt response to participants' noncompliance with program requirements;

7. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of program effectiveness and efficiency;

8. Ongoing education and training in support of program effectiveness and efficiency;

9. Ongoing collaboration among public agencies, community-based organizations and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care networks, the Veterans Benefits Administration, volunteer veteran mentors, and veterans and military family support organizations; and

10. The creation of a veterans and military service members' advisory council to provide input on the operations of such programs. The council shall include individuals responsible for the criminal justice procedures program along with veterans and, if available, active military service members.

D. The Commissioner shall include the results of the program in the annual report submitted to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, the Governor, and the General Assembly pursuant to § 2.2-2004. The report shall include the number of transitioning service members, veterans, members of the Virginia National Guard, Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves, and their family members affected by covered military members' service and deployments for whom coordinated resources plans are developed and who are referred for services; information about services provided to transitioning service members, veterans, members of the Virginia National Guard, Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves, and their family members, including information about the types of services provided and the quality of those services; and the number of transitioning service members, veterans, members of the Virginia National Guard, Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves, and their family members identified by the program as in need of services but not referred for services.

2008, cc. 584, 754; 2009, cc. 813, 840; 2010, c. 58; 2011, cc. 772, 847; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2017, c. 497; 2018, c. 648; 2023, cc. 246, 247.

A. The Department shall develop a comprehensive program to reduce unemployment among veterans by assisting businesses to attract, hire, train, and retain veterans. Such program shall promote strategies for connecting employers to qualified veterans and include (i) a workforce assessment and training program for participating employers and (ii) a certification process for participating employers with the objective of setting measurable goals for hiring and retaining veterans.

B. All agencies in the executive branch of state government and all public institutions of higher education shall, to the maximum extent possible, be certified in accordance with this section. Such agencies and institutions may request a certification waiver from the Governor if they can demonstrate that (i) the certification is in conflict with the organization's operating directives or (ii) they have in place an alternative program that meets the requirements of this section.

C. The Department shall take steps to promote awareness among veterans of the acceptance by the regulatory boards within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, the Department of Health Professions, or any board named in Title 54.1 pursuant to § 54.1-118 of the military training, education, or experience of a service member honorably discharged from active military service in the Armed Forces of the United States, to the extent that such training, education, or experience is substantially equivalent to the requirements established by law and regulations of the respective board for the issuance of any license, permit, certificate, or other document, however styled or denominated, required for the practice of any business, profession, or occupation in the Commonwealth.

D. The Department shall develop a comprehensive program to assist military service members, veterans, and their spouses in making a successful transition from military to civilian life in Virginia. The program shall promote strategies and services for connecting transitioning service members, veterans, and spouses to local, regional, state, and federal employment resources in Virginia, including (i) skills and workforce assessments and (ii) internship and apprenticeship programs. Such program shall prioritize assistance to military service members, veterans, and their spouses who (a) have not sought services under any program authorized under the federal Wagner-Peyser Act, 29 U.S.C. § 49 et seq., and available through the Virginia Employment Commission and (b) are not eligible for job counseling, training, and placement services for veterans and spouses under 38 U.S.C. § 4101 et seq.

2013, cc. 34, 576; 2015, c. 318; 2018, c. 240; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 247.

A. The Virginia War Memorial is established as a division within the Department of Veterans Services. The Virginia War Memorial, its grounds, and all its contents, furnishings, funds, endowments, and other property, now owned or hereafter acquired, are and shall remain property of the Commonwealth. The Commissioner shall maintain administrative and financial control of the Virginia War Memorial and its subsidiaries, including adopting regulations for the use of and visitation to the Memorial. Regulations of the Commissioner shall be exempt from the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.).

B. The mission of the Virginia War Memorial shall be to honor patriotic Virginians who rendered faithful service and sacrifice in the cause of freedom and liberty for the Commonwealth and the nation in time of war, honor all of Virginia's veterans, preserve their history, educate the public, and inspire patriotism in all Virginians.

C. The Department shall, with the advice of the Board of Veterans Services, adopt policies governing (i) the programs and activities that may and should be carried out at the Memorial, (ii) the use of and visitation to the Memorial, and (iii) fees for the use of the Memorial.

D. Beginning July 1, 2019, the names and homes of record designation of all Virginians "Killed in Action" (i) as a result of military operations against terrorism, (ii) as a result of a terrorist act, or (iii) in any armed conflict after December 6, 1941, shall be placed on the Shrine of Memory on the grounds of the Virginia War Memorial. New names shall be added to the Shrine of Memory within one year of the date of confirmed death. No individual who does not meet these criteria shall be honored on the Shrine of Memory.

E. The names and homes of record designation of all Virginians "Missing in Action" as a result of the Vietnam War and all other Virginians who served honorably but do not meet the criteria in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subsection D shall be honored at the Virginia War Memorial.

F. To preserve the dignity of military medals authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense and the memory of those who have rendered faithful service and sacrifice in the cause of freedom and liberty, the Virginia War Memorial division of the Department shall be vested with the full authority to take possession of military medals, ribbons, or certificates that come into the possession of the Commonwealth for which the ownership is unknown until such time as the true owner is able to take possession. The Virginia War Memorial division of the Department shall make reasonable efforts, based on available resources, to determine the rightful owner and return any military medal, ribbon, or certificate that comes into its possession pursuant to this section.

G. The Commissioner shall provide supervision of the Virginia War Memorial Foundation and any other nonprofit corporation established as an instrumentality to provide fundraising for the Memorial and assist in the details of administering the affairs of the Memorial.

2013, c. 234; 2016, c. 690; 2019, cc. 312, 314, 318, 784.

A. For the purposes of this section, "military medical personnel" means an individual who has recently served as a medic in the United States Army, medical technician in the United States Air Force, or corpsman in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard and who was discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable.

B. The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Health Professions, shall establish a program in which military medical personnel may practice and perform certain delegated acts that constitute the practice of medicine or nursing in accordance with subsection B of § 54.1-2901 or subsection B of § 54.1-3001. Such activities shall reflect the level of training and experience of the military medical personnel. The supervising physician or podiatrist shall retain responsibility for the care of the patient.

C. Any licensed physician or podiatrist, professional corporation or partnership of any licensee, hospital, commercial enterprise having medical facilities for its employees that are supervised by one or more physicians or podiatrists, or facility that offers medical services to the public and that is supervised by one or more physicians or podiatrists may participate in such program.

D. The Department shall establish general requirements for military medical personnel, licensees, and employers participating in the military medical personnel program established pursuant to subsection B.

E. The Department shall assist veterans and other service members who are preparing for discharge or release and who have recently served in health care-related specialties but who do not meet the definition of "military medical personnel" in finding employment in the health care sector.

2016, cc. 212, 418; 2018, cc. 69, 338; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 231.

A. As used in this section:

"Assignment of right to receive veterans' benefits" means any financial transaction in which a person provides a cash payment to a veteran in consideration for the veteran's assignment of his right to receive future pension or retirement benefits, without regard to whether the transaction is characterized or structured as a loan, assignment, loan secured by assignment, pledge, or other arrangement.

"Pension or retirement benefits" means any periodic benefit payable to a veteran by an agency of the federal government on account of the veteran's service in the Armed Forces of the United States, including any military retirement, pension, or disability benefit payments.

B. No person shall advertise, arrange, offer, or enter into any assignment of right to receive veterans' benefits if such assignment of right to receive veterans' benefits is prohibited or void under the provisions of 37 U.S.C. § 701 or 38 U.S.C. § 5301(a).

C. A violation of this section constitutes a prohibited practice under the provisions of § 59.1-200 and shall be subject to any and all of the enforcement provisions of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (§ 59.1-196 et seq.).

2020, c. 438.

Any person who was separated from active military, naval, or air service with an other than honorable discharge due solely to such person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression may petition the Department to have his discharge recorded with the Department as honorable. Persons whose discharge status is changed pursuant to such petition shall be afforded the same rights, privileges, and benefits authorized by state law and local ordinances as any other veteran who was honorably discharged.

2020, c. 1172, § 2.2-2001.5.

The Commissioner shall maintain an office in the vicinity of the State Capitol in Richmond. He may maintain service offices in the Commonwealth in whatever locations he determines to be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. The Commissioner shall ensure that benefit claims assistance is provided on a regular basis at locations other than established service offices.

2003, cc. 657, 670; 2005, c. 888; 2009, c. 136.

The Commissioner shall appoint the personnel assigned to each service office and determine the compensation to be paid to such personnel. The number of employees assigned to the processing of benefit claims shall be sufficient to maintain a ratio of one staff person for every 23,000 veterans residing in the Commonwealth.

2005, c. 888; 2009, c. 136; 2011, cc. 330, 358; 2012, cc. 331, 342.

A. There is created in the Department of Veterans Services the position of Military Spouse Liaison to conduct outreach and advocate on behalf of military spouses in the Commonwealth.

B. The Military Spouse Liaison shall:

1. Provide assistance and information to military spouses seeking professional licenses and credentials or other employment in the Commonwealth;

2. Coordinate research on issues facing military spouses and create informational materials to assist military spouses and their families;

3. Examine barriers and provide recommendations to assist military spouses in accessing high-quality child care and developing resources in coordination with military installations and the Department of Education to increase access to high-quality child care for military families;

4. Develop, in coordination with the Virginia Employment Commission and employers, a common form for military spouses to complete, highlighting specific skills, education, and training to help military spouses quickly find meaningful employment in relevant economic sectors; and

5. Perform any other duties or responsibilities assigned by the Commissioner.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 309; 2023, cc. 246, 247.

The Commissioner shall have the following general powers to carry out the purposes of this chapter:

1. Employ required personnel;

2. Enter into all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of the Department's duties and the execution of its powers under this chapter, including, but not limited to, contracts with the United States, other states, and agencies and governmental subdivisions of the Commonwealth;

3. Accept grants from the United States government and its agencies and instrumentalities and any other source. To these ends, the Department shall have the power to comply with conditions and execute agreements necessary, convenient, or desirable; and

4. Do all acts necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

2003, cc. 657, 670.

The Commissioner shall have the following powers and duties related to veterans services:

1. Perform an annual cost-benefit and value analysis of (i) existing programs and services and (ii) new programs and services before establishing and implementing them and report the results of such analysis to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs;

2. Seek alternative funding sources for the Department's veterans service programs;

3. Cooperate with all relevant entities of the federal government, including, but not limited to, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Department of Labor in matters concerning veterans benefits and services;

4. Appoint a full-time coordinator to collaborate with the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations created in § 2.2-2681 on ways to provide both direct and indirect support of ongoing veterans programs, and to determine and address future veterans needs and concerns;

5. Initiate, conduct, and issue special studies on matters pertaining to veterans needs and priorities, as determined necessary by the Commissioner;

6. Evaluate veterans service efforts, practices, and programs of the agencies, political subdivisions or other entities and organizations of the government of the Commonwealth and make recommendations to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, the Governor, and the General Assembly on ways to increase awareness of the services available to veterans or improve veterans services;

7. Assist entities of state government and political subdivisions of the Commonwealth in enhancing their efforts to provide services to veterans, those members of the Virginia National Guard, Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves who qualify for veteran status, and their immediate family members, including the dissemination of relevant materials and the rendering of technical or other advice;

8. Assist counties, cities, and towns of the Commonwealth in the development, implementation, and review of local veterans services programs as part of the state program and establish as necessary, in consultation with the Board of Veterans Services and the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations, volunteer local and regional advisory committees to assist and support veterans service efforts;

9. Review the activities, roles, and contributions of various entities and organizations to the Commonwealth's veterans services programs and report on or before December 1 of each year in writing to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, the Governor, and the General Assembly on the status, progress, and prospects of veterans services in the Commonwealth, including performance measures and outcomes of veterans services programs;

10. Recommend to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, the Governor, and the General Assembly any corrective measures, policies, procedures, plans, and programs to make service to Virginia-domiciled veterans and their eligible spouses, orphans, and dependents as efficient and effective as practicable;

11. Design, implement, administer, and review, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, special programs or projects needed to promote veterans services in the Commonwealth;

12. Integrate veterans services activities into the framework of economic development activities in general;

13. Manage operational funds using accepted accounting principles and practices in order to provide for a sum sufficient to ensure continued, uninterrupted operations;

14. Engage Department personnel in training and educational activities aimed at enhancing veterans services;

15. Develop a strategic plan to ensure efficient and effective utilization of resources, programs, and services;

16. Certify eligibility for the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program and perform other duties related to such Program as outlined in § 23.1-608;

17. Establish and implement a compact with Virginia's veterans, which shall have a goal of making Virginia America's most veteran-