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 $219,650,081 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. Out of the amounts appropriated for this item, $18,000,000 in the first year from the general fund as one-time appropriation is provided to support efforts to fill persistent vacancies in law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Director of the Department of Criminal Justice Services shall administer the program and the appropriation may be utilized as matches for state or local law enforcement agency recruitment strategies. Eligible uses include sign-on bonuses up to $10,000 and relocation expenses up to $1,000. The recruitment strategies must target law enforcement officers living outside of the Commonwealth, law enforcement officers employed by the federal government, or new recruits seeking career opportunities in law enforcement in the Commonwealth, including but not limited to graduates from secondary school, post-secondary education, or the military. These funds shall not be used to reimburse law enforcement personnel moving and or transferring from within state or local law enforcement agencies. Of the amount provided, no less than $3,000,000, shall be used to support wellness and mental health initiatives for law enforcement personnel in local and state law enforcement agencies. The Director of the Department of Criminal Justice Services shall issue guidance for administration of the fund. 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. The Department shall report the amounts awarded to state and local law enforcement agencies, including but not limited to the number of law enforcement hired as a result of this initiative, 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 October 1, 2024.