Authority: Title 9.1, Chapter 1, Article 8, Code of Virginia.

A. The funds appropriated in this Item shall be distributed to localities with qualifying police departments, as defined in §§ 9.1-165 through 9.1-172, Code of Virginia (HB 599), except that, in accordance with the requirements of § 15.2-1302, Code of Virginia, such funds shall also be distributed to a city without a qualifying police force that was created by the consolidation of a city and a county subsequent to July 1, 2011, pursuant to the provisions of § 15.2-3500 et seq. of the Code of Virginia. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 9.1-165 through 9.1-172, Code of Virginia, the total amount to be distributed to localities shall be $210,797,081 the first year and $219,650,081 the second year. The amount to be distributed to such a city created by consolidation shall equal the sum distributed to the city during the year prior to the effective date of the consolidation, net of any additional funds allocated by the Compensation Board to the sheriff of the consolidated city as a result of such consolidation, as adjusted in proportion to the increase or decrease in the total amount distributed to all localities during the applicable year. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 9.1-165, Code of Virginia, the amount to be distributed to each locality in each year shall be proportionate to the amount distributed to that locality in FY 2018.

B. For purposes of receiving funds in accordance with this program, it is the intention of the General Assembly that the Town of Boone's Mill shall be considered to have had a police department in operation since the 1980-82 biennium and is therefore eligible for financial assistance under Title 9.1, Chapter 1, Article 8, Code of Virginia (House Bill 599).

C.1. It is the intent of the General Assembly that state funding provided to localities operating police departments be used to fund local public safety services. Funds provided in this item shall not be used to supplant the funding provided by localities for public safety services.

2. To ensure that state funding provided to localities operating police departments does not supplant local funding for public safety services, all localities shall annually certify to the Department of Criminal Justice Services the amount of funding provided by the locality to support public safety services and that the funding provided in this item was used to supplement that local funding. This certification shall be provided in such manner and on such date as determined by the department. The department shall provide this information to the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees within 30 days following the submission of the local certifications.

D. The Director of the Department of Criminal Justice Services is authorized to withhold reimbursements due a locality under Title 9.1, Chapter 1, Article 8, Code of Virginia, upon notification from the Superintendent of State Police that there is reason to believe that crime data reported by the locality to the Department of State Police in accordance with § 52-28, Code of Virginia, is missing, incomplete or incorrect. Upon subsequent notification by the superintendent that the data is accurate, the director shall make reimbursement of withheld funding due the locality when such corrections are made within the same fiscal year that funds have been withheld.

E. The Director of the Department of Criminal Justice Services is authorized to withhold reimbursements due to a locality under Title 9.1, Chapter 1, Article 8, Code of Virginia, upon notification from the Superintendent of State Police that there is reason to believe the police department within a locality is not registering sex offenders as required in § 9.1-903, Code of Virginia. Upon subsequent notification by the Superintendent that the local law enforcement agency is compliant with the requirements of § 9.1-903, Code of Virginia, the Director shall make reimbursement of withheld funding due to the locality in the same fiscal year in which the local law enforcement agency comes into compliance.

F.1. Out of the amount appropriated in this item, $30,000,000 the second year from the general fund as one-time appropriation to support Operation Bold Blue Line initiative. The Director of the Department of Criminal Justice Services is authorized to distribute the funds to state and local law enforcement agencies to bolster recruiting and training efforts to attract qualified law enforcement from other states and to develop skilled in-state talent in the Commonwealth, including but not limited to sign-on/recruitment bonuses to newly hired law enforcement and reimburse in relocation expenses for any newly hired law enforcement personnel who is being relocated; to support fast-tracked lateral training academies for local and state law enforcement agencies; and to establish and manage statewide centralized recruitment efforts including but not limited to advertising and marketing efforts to assist with comprehensive recruitment efforts to attract qualified law enforcement from other states and across the Commonwealth. The Director, in consultation with the Office of the Governor and the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, shall develop a plan consistent with the goals of the program.

2. A progress report on the implementation of this initiative shall be submitted to the Governor, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, Secretary of Finance, Director of the Department of Planning and Budget, and the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees by September 1, 2023, with an updated report detailing the allocation of funds awarded to state and local law enforcement agencies for sign-on bonuses, relocation expenses, and fast-tracked lateral training academies and their effectiveness in statewide centralized recruitment efforts and any recruitment challenges by September 1, 2024.

3. Out of the amount appropriated in this item, $121,040 in the second year from the general fund and one position to coordinate Operation Bold Blue Line initiatives.

4. Any balances for the purposes specified in this paragraph which are unexpended on June 30, 2024 shall not revert to the general fund but shall be carried forward and reappropriated and allotted for expenditure to support Operation Bold Blue Line initiatives.