§ 4-6.00 POSITIONS AND EMPLOYMENT

It shall be the policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia to ensure equal opportunity in all facets of state government.  Discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or political affiliation, or against otherwise qualified persons with disabilities shall at all times be prohibited.

§ 4-6.01 EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION

a. The compensation of all kinds and from all sources of each appointee of the Governor and of each officer and employee in the Executive Department who enters the service of the Commonwealth or who is promoted to a vacant position shall be fixed at such rate as shall be approved by the Governor in writing or as is in accordance with rules and regulations established by the Governor. No increase shall be made in such compensation except with the Governor's written approval first obtained or in accordance with the rules and regulations established by the Governor. In all cases where any appointee, officer or employee is employed or promoted to fill a vacancy in a position for which a salary is specified by this act, the Governor may fix the salary of such officer or employee at a lower rate or amount within the respective level than is specified. In those instances where a position is created by an act of the General Assembly but not specified by this act, the Governor may fix the salary of such position in accordance with the provisions of this subsection.

b. Annual salaries of persons appointed to positions listed below shall be paid in the amounts shown.

c.1.a) Annual salaries of persons appointed to positions listed in subdivision c 6 hereof shall be paid in the amounts shown for the current biennium, unless changed in accordance with conditions stated in subdivisions c 2 through c 5 hereof.

b) The starting salary of a new appointee shall not exceed the midpoint of the range, except where the midpoint salary is less than a ten percent increase from an appointee's preappointment compensation. In such cases, an appointee's starting salary may be set at a rate which is ten percent higher than the preappointment compensation, provided that the maximum of the range is not exceeded. However, in instances where an appointee's preappointment compensation exceeded the maximum of the respective salary range, then the salary for that appointee may be set at the maximum salary for the respective salary range.

c) Nothing in subdivision c 1 shall be interpreted to supersede the provisions of § 4-6.01 e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, and m of this act.

2.a)1) The Governor may increase or decrease the annual salary for incumbents of positions listed in subdivision c 6 below at a rate of up to 10 percent in any single fiscal year between the minimum and the maximum of the respective salary range in accordance with an assessment of performance and service to the Commonwealth.

2) The governing boards of the independent agencies may increase or decrease the annual salary for incumbents of positions listed in subdivision c.7. below at a rate of up to 10 percent in any fiscal year between the minimum and maximum of the respective salary range, in accordance with an assessment of performance and service to the Commonwealth.

b)1) The appointing or governing authority may grant performance bonuses of 0-5 percent for positions whose salaries are listed in §§ 1-1 through 1-9, and 4-6.01 b, c, and d of this act, based on an annual assessment of performance, in accordance with policies and procedures established by such appointing or governing authority. Such performance bonuses shall be over and above the salaries listed in this act, and shall not become part of the base rate of pay.

2) The appointing or governing authority shall report performance bonuses which are granted to executive branch employees to the Department of Human Resource Management for retention in its records.

c) Notwithstanding § 4-6.01 c.1.a), b) and c) preceding, the salary for any person who is appointed to and assumes a position listed in § 4-6.01 c.6. on and after January 14, 2006, but before July 1, 2006, shall not be reduced or increased from the salary established for such appointee pursuant to the provisions of § 4-6.01 c.1 of Chapter 951 of the 2005 Acts of Assembly, as such chapter may be amended in the 2006 Session of the General Assembly. However, such appointee shall be eligible to receive compensation supplements as prescribed in Item 461 of this act.

3. From the effective date of the Executive Pay Plan set forth in Chapter 601, Acts of Assembly of 1981, all incumbents holding positions listed in this § 4-6.01 shall be eligible for all fringe benefits provided to full-time classified state employees and, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the annual salary paid pursuant to this § 4-6.01 shall be included as creditable compensation for the calculation of such benefits.

4.   Notwithstanding § 4-6.01.c.2.b)1) of this Act, the Board of Commissioners of the Virginia Port Authority may supplement the salary of its Executive Director, with the prior approval of the Governor. The Board should be guided by criteria which provide a reasonable limit on the total additional income of the Executive Director. The criteria should include, without limitation, a consideration of the salaries paid to similar officials at comparable ports of other states.  The Board shall report approved supplements to the Department of Human Resource Management for retention in its records.

5. With the prior annual written approval of the Governor, the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, The Science Museum of Virginia, the Virginia Museum of Natural History, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, and The Library Board may supplement the salary of the Director of each museum and the Librarian of Virginia from nonstate funds. In approving a supplement, the Governor should be guided by criteria which provide a reasonable limit on the total additional income of the Director or Librarian of Virginia. The criteria should include, without limitation, a consideration of the salaries paid to similar officials at comparable museums and libraries of other states. The respective Boards shall report approved supplements to the Department of Human Resource Management for retention in its records.

6.a) The following salaries shall be paid for the current biennium in the amounts shown, however, all salary changes shall be subject to subdivisions c 2 through c 5 above.

b) Existing salary contracts between the Chief Information Officer and the Information Technology Investment Board in effect before the enactment of this act shall remain in effect as originally written until the termination of said contracts. Salary contracts entered into after enactment of this act shall adhere to the conditions specified in § 4-6.01.

7. Annual salaries of the directors of the independent agencies, as listed in this subdivision, shall be paid in the amounts shown. All salary changes shall be subject to subdivisions c 1, c 2, and c 3 above.

d.1. Annual salaries of the presidents of the senior institutions of higher education, the President of Richard Bland College, the Chancellor of the University of Virginia's College at Wise, the Superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute, the Director of the State Council of Higher Education, the Director of the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, the Director of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center and the Chancellor of Community Colleges, as listed in this paragraph, shall be paid in the amounts shown. The annual salaries of the presidents of the community colleges shall be fixed by the State Board for Community Colleges within a salary structure submitted to the Governor prior to June 1 each year for approval.

2.a) The board of visitors of each institution of higher education may annually supplement the salary of its president from private gifts, endowment funds, or income from endowments and gifts. Supplements paid from other than the cited sources prior to June 30, 1997, may continue to be paid. In approving a supplement, the board of visitors should be guided by criteria which provide a reasonable limit on the total additional income of a president. The criteria should include a consideration of additional income from outside sources including, but not being limited to, service on boards of directors or other such services. The board of visitors shall report approved supplements to the Department of Human Resource Management for retention in its records.

b) The State Board for Community Colleges may annually supplement the salary of the Chancellor from any available appropriations of the Virginia Community College System. In approving a supplement, the State Board for Community Colleges should be guided by criteria which provide a reasonable limit on the total additional income of the Chancellor. The criteria should include consideration of additional income from outside sources including, but not being limited to, service on boards of directors or other such services. The Board shall report approved supplements to the Department of Human Resource Management for retention in its records.

e. 1. Salaries for newly employed or promoted employees shall be established consistent with the compensation and classification plans established by the Governor.

2. Payment of wages or salaries to state employees shall be by direct deposit or by credit to a prepaid debit card or card account from which the employee is able to withdraw or transfer funds.

f. The provisions of this section, requiring prior written approval of the Governor relative to compensation, shall apply also to any system of incentive award payments which may be adopted and implemented by the Governor. The cost of implementing any such system shall be paid from any funds appropriated to the affected agencies.

g. No lump sum appropriation for personal service shall be regarded as advisory or suggestive of individual salary rates or of salary schedules to be fixed under law by the Governor payable from the lump sum appropriation.

h. Subject to approval by the Governor of a plan for a statewide employee meritorious service awards program, as provided for in § 2.2-1201.12, Code of Virginia, the costs for such awards shall be paid from any operating funds appropriated to the affected agencies.

i. The General Assembly hereby affirms and ratifies the Governor's existing authority and the established practice of this body to provide for pay differentials or to supplement base rates of pay for employees in specific job classifications in particular geographic and/or functional areas where, in the Governor's discretion, they are needed for the purpose of maintaining salaries which enable the Commonwealth to maintain a competitive position in the relevant labor market.

j.1. If at any time the Administrator of the Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council serves on the faculty of a state-supported institution of higher education, the faculty appointment must be approved by the Council. Such institution shall pay one-half of the salary listed in § 4-6.01 c 6 of this act. Further, such institution may provide compensation in addition to that listed in § 4-6.01 c 6; provided, however, that such additional compensation must be approved by the Council.

2. If the Administrator ceases to be a member of the faculty of a state-supported institution of higher education, the total salary listed in § 4-6.01 c 6 shall be paid from the Council's appropriation.

k.1. a) Except as otherwise provided for in this subdivision, any increases in the salary band assignment of any job role contained in the compensation and classification plans approved by the Governor shall be effective beginning with the first pay period, defined as the pay period from June 25 through July 9, of the fiscal year if: (1) the agency certifies to the Secretary of Finance that funds are available within the agency's appropriation to cover the cost of the increase for the remainder of the current biennium and presents a plan for covering the costs next biennium and the Secretary concurs, or (2) such funds are appropriated by the General Assembly. If at any time the Secretary of Administration shall certify that such change in the salary band assignment for a job role is of an emergency nature and the Secretary of Finance shall certify that funds are available to cover the cost of the increase for the remainder of the biennium within the agency's appropriation, such change in compensation may be effective on a date agreed upon by these two Secretaries. The Secretary of Administration shall provide a monthly report of all such emergency changes in accordance with § 4-8.00, Reporting Requirements.

b) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 4-6.01 k.1.a), state employees will be paid on July 3, 2006, for the work period June 10 to June 24, 2006, and will be paid on July 2, 2007, for the work period June 10 to June 24, 2007.

2. Salary adjustments for any employee through a promotion, role change , exceptional recruitment and retention incentive options, or in-range adjustment shall occur only if: (1) the agency has sufficient funds within its appropriation to cover the cost of the salary adjustment for the remainder of the current biennium or (2) such funds are appropriated by the General Assembly.

3. No changes in salary band assignments affecting classified employees of more than one agency shall become effective unless the Secretary of Finance certifies that sufficient funds are available to provide such increase or plan to all affected employees supported from the general fund.

l. Full-time employees of the Commonwealth, including faculty members of state institutions of higher education, who are appointed to a state-level board, council, commission or similar collegial body shall not receive any such compensation for their services as members or chairmen except for reimbursement of reasonable and necessary expenses. The foregoing provision shall likewise apply to the Compensation Board, pursuant to § 15.2-1636.5, Code of Virginia.

m.1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board of visitors or other governing body of any public institution of higher education is authorized to establish age and service eligibility criteria for faculty participating in voluntary early retirement incentive plans for their respective institutions pursuant to § 23-9.2:3.1 B and the cash payment offered under such compensation plans pursuant to § 23-9.2:3.1 D, Code of Virginia. Notwithstanding the limitations in § 23-9.2:3.1 D, the total cost in any fiscal year for any such compensation plan , shall be set forth by the governing body in the compensation plan for approval by the Governor and review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the Attorney General.

2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, employees holding full-time, academic-year classified positions at public institutions of higher education shall be considered "state employees" as defined in § 51.1-124.3, Code of Virginia, and shall be considered for medical/hospitalization, retirement service credit, and other benefits on the same basis as those individuals appointed to full-time, 12-month classified positions.

n. Notwithstanding the Department of Human Resource Management Policies and Procedures, payment to employees with five or more years of continuous service who either terminate or retire from service shall be paid in one sum for twenty-five percent of their sick leave balance, provided, however, that the total amount paid for sick leave shall not exceed $5,000 and the remaining seventy-five percent of their sick leave shall lapse. This provision shall not apply to employees who are covered by the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program as defined in § 51.1-1100, Code of Virginia. Such employees shall not be paid for their sick leave balances. However, they will be paid, if eligible as described above, for any disability leave credits they have at separation or retirement or may convert disability credits to service credit under the Virginia Retirement System pursuant to § 51.1-1103 (F), Code of Virginia.

o. It is the intent of the General Assembly that calculation of the faculty salary benchmark goal for the Virginia Community College System shall be done in a manner consistent with that used for four-year institutions, taking into consideration the number of faculty at each of the community colleges. In addition, calculation of the salary target shall reflect the eight percent salary differential required by this act in a manner consistent with other public four-year institutions.

p.  Any public institution of higher education that has met the eligibility criteria set out in Chapters 933 and 945 of the 2005 Acts of Assembly may supplement annual salaries for classified employees from private gifts, endowment funds, or income from endowments and gifts, subject to policies approved by the board of visitors.  The Commonwealth shall have no general fund obligations for the continuation of such salary supplements.