HB 599 Program Additional GF and Study of Formula

Item 393 #1s

Language
Page 343, line 18, strike "$202,879,162" and insert "$206,339,291".
Page 343, after line 40, insert:
"D. Out of this appropriation, $3,460,129 the first year from the general fund is provided to hold harmless those localities that would otherwise lose funding as a result of updated input data in the House Bill 599 formula.  Accordingly, in the first year, the Department shall distribute funds to eligible localities as provided for in Section 9.1-165, et seq, Code of Virginia, except that no locality shall receive an amount from this Item which is less than the amount it received for this program in the immediately preceding fiscal year.
E.  The Secretaries of Public Safety and Finance shall conduct a study of state aid to localities with police departments (HB 599 of 1979) to determine if the enabling language and funding formula warrant modification.  Copies of the report shall be provided to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees by September 15, 2006."
Page 343, line 41, strike "D." and insert "F."

Explanation
(This amendment provides $3,460,129 the first year from the general fund for state aid to localities with police departments to prevent localities from losing funds based on the most recent update of the funding formula. In addition, this amendment directs the Secretaries of Public Safety and Finance to conduct a study of the House Bill 599 program to determine if the funding formula needs to be revised. Based on the most recent update of the formula, a number of localities would experience a reduction in funding despite an increase in total funding for the program.)