Authority: §§ 27-56, 33.1-292, 52-1, 52-4, 52-4.3, 52-8, 52-8.1, 52-8.2, and 56-334, Code of Virginia.
A. The Department shall provide a report on the utilization and performance of the positions provided in this and previous biennia for violent crime strike forces and for the state/local anticrime partnership to the Governor and Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by October 1 of each year.
B. Included in this appropriation is $589,687 the first year and $589,687 the second year from Commonwealth Transportation Funds for the personal and associated nonpersonal services costs for eight positions. These positions will be dedicated to the I-95/395/495 Interchange Improvement Project. Commonwealth Transportation Funds to support these positions will remain available only until the completion of this project. This appropriation will be funded as part of State Highway Project No. 0095-029-F20 and Federal Project No. NH-95-2(410).
C. Included in this appropriation is $816,538 the first year and $852,040 the second year from the Commonwealth Transportation Fund for the increase of operating hours of 10 weigh stations. This funding is to support 28 positions, all of which shall be Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers, that will be required to extend hours of operation at these weigh stations to 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The Department of Planning and Budget shall allot these funds on the basis of a plan submitted by the Department of State Police regarding operating hours of weigh stations statewide.
D. The Department of State Police shall modify the implementation of the division of drug law enforcement established pursuant to Chapter 600 of the Acts of Assembly of 2000, and shall redirect, as may be necessary, resources heretofore provided for that purpose by the General Assembly for the purposes of homeland security, the gathering of intelligence on terrorist activities, the preparation for response to a terrorist attack and any other activity determined by the Governor to be crucial to strengthening the preparedness of the Commonwealth against the threat of natural disasters and emergencies. Nothing in this item shall be construed to prohibit the Department of State Police from performing drug law enforcement or investigation as otherwise provided for by the Code of Virginia.
E. Included in this appropriation is $6,117,540 the first year and $4,728,740 the second year from Section 402, Federal Highway Funds for the Department of State Police. The following actions shall be contingent upon federal approval. Within this total, an estimated $4,300,000 the first year and $2,911,200 the second year shall be used to hire, equip and provide basic training for 50 state troopers. These troopers shall focus on preventive patrol and enforcement of Virginia's laws concerning impaired driving, including alcohol enforcement and aggressive driving. In addition, an estimated $1,300,000 each year from these funds shall be used to provide needed in-vehicle computer equipment to gather statistics on alcohol enforcement and impaired driving in the Commonwealth. Finally, an estimated $517,540 each year from these funds shall be used to pay overtime for state troopers.