Authority: Title 15.2, Chapter 16, Articles 4 and 6.1, Code of Virginia.

A.1. The annual salaries of attorneys for the Commonwealth shall be as hereinafter prescribed according to the population of the city or county served except as otherwise provided in § 15.2-1636.12, Code of Virginia.

2. The attorneys for the Commonwealth and their successors who serve on a full-time basis pursuant to §§ 15.2-1627.1, 15.2-1628, 15.2-1629, 15.2-1630 or § 15.2-1631, Code of Virginia, shall receive salaries as if they served localities with populations between 35,000 and 44,999.

3. Whenever an attorney for the Commonwealth is such for a county and city together, or for two or more cities, the aggregate population of such political subdivisions shall be the population for the purpose of arriving at the salary of such attorney for the Commonwealth under the provisions of this paragraph and such attorney for the Commonwealth shall receive as additional compensation the sum of one thousand dollars.

B. No expenditure shall be made out of this Item for the employment of investigators, clerk-investigators or other investigative personnel in the office of an attorney for the Commonwealth.

C. Consistent with the provisions of § 19.2-349, Code of Virginia, attorneys for the Commonwealth may, in addition to the options otherwise provided by law, employ individuals to assist in collection of outstanding fines, costs, forfeitures, penalties, and restitution. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning on the date upon which the order or judgment is entered, the costs associated with employing such individuals may be paid from the proceeds of the amounts collected provided that the cost is apportioned on a pro rata basis according to the amount collected which is due the state and that which is due the locality. The attorneys for the Commonwealth shall account for the amounts collected and apportion costs associated with the collections consistent with procedures issued by the Auditor of Public Accounts.

D. The provisions of this act notwithstanding, no Commonwealth's attorney, public defender or employee of a public defender, shall be paid or receive reimbursement for the state portion of a salary in excess of the salary paid to judges of the circuit court. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit the ability of localities to supplement the salaries of locally elected constitutional officers or their employees.

E. The Statewide Juvenile Justice project positions, as established under the provisions of Item 74 E, of Chapter 912, 1996 Acts of Assembly, and Chapter 924, 1997 Acts of Assembly, are continued under the provisions of this act. The Commonwealth's attorneys receiving such positions shall annually certify to the Compensation Board that the positions are used primarily, if not exclusively, for the prosecution of delinquency and domestic relations felony cases, as defined by Chapters 912 and 924. In the event the positions are not primarily or exclusively used for the prosecution of delinquency and domestic relations felony cases, the Compensation Board shall reallocate such positions by using the allocation provisions as provided for the board in Item 74 E of Chapters 912 and 924.

F. The Compensation Board shall monitor the Department of Taxation program regarding the collection of unpaid fines and court costs by private debt collection firms contracted by Commonwealth's attorneys and shall include, in its annual report to the General Assembly on the collection of court-ordered fines and fees for clerks of the courts and Commonwealth's attorneys, the amount of unpaid fines and costs collected by this program.

G. Out of this appropriation, $389,165 the first year and $389,165 the second year from the general fund is designated for the Compensation Board to fund five additional positions in Commonwealth's attorney's offices that shall be dedicated to prosecuting gang-related criminal activities. The board shall ensure that these positions work across jurisdictional lines, serving the Northern Virginia area (counties of Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and Arlington and the cities of Falls Church, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park and Fairfax). 

H. Included within this appropriation is $2,120,757 the first year and $2,120,757 the second year from the general fund to increase the salary of each assistant Commonwealth's attorney by $3,308.

I. In accordance with the provisions of § 19.2-349, Code of Virginia, attorneys for the Commonwealth may employ individuals, or contract with  private attorneys, private collection agencies, or other state or local agencies, to assist in collection of delinquent fines, costs, forfeitures, penalties, and restitution.  If the attorney for the Commonwealth employs individuals, the costs associated with employing such individuals may be paid from the proceeds of the amounts collected provided that the cost is apportioned on a pro rata basis according to the amount collected which is due the state and that which is due the locality.  If the attorney for the Commonwealth does not undertake collection, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall, as soon as practicable, take steps to ensure that any agreement or contract with an individual, attorney or agency complies with the terms of the current Master Guidelines Governing Collection of Unpaid Delinquent Court-Ordered Fines and Costs Pursuant to Virginia Code § 19.2-34 9 promulgated by the Office of the Attorney General, the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court, the Department of Taxation, and the Compensation Board ("the Master Guidelines").  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the delinquent amounts owed shall be increased by seventeen (17) percent to help offset the costs associated with employing such individuals or contracting with such agencies or individuals.  If such increase would exceed the contracted collection agent's fee, then the delinquent amount owed shall be increased by the percentage or amount of the collection agent's fee.  Effective January 1, 2016, as provided in § 19.2-349, Code of Virginia, treasurers and other local government entities shall be prohibited from being compensated on a contingency basis but shall be instead compensated administrative cost pursuant to § 58.1-3958, Code of Virginia.  Collections fees shall be paid on a contingency basis out of the proceeds of the amount collected. The attorneys for the Commonwealth shall account for the amounts collected and the fees and costs associated with the collections consistent with procedures issued by the Auditor of Public Accounts.