reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 3.1 - Legislative Support Commission › § 30-34.2:1. Powers, duties and functions of Capitol Police

A. The Capitol Police may exercise within the limits of the Capitol Square, when assigned to any other property owned, leased, or controlled by the Commonwealth or any agency, department, institution, or commission thereof, and pursuant to the provisions of §§ 15.2-1724, 15.2-1726, and 15.2-1728 all the powers, duties, and functions that are exercised by the police of the city or the police or sheriff of the county within which such property is located.
B. The jurisdiction of the Capitol Police shall further extend 300 feet beyond the boundary of any property they are required to protect, such jurisdiction to be concurrent with that of other law-enforcement officers of the locality in which such property is located.
C. The Capitol Police shall also have concurrent jurisdiction with law-enforcement officers of the City of Richmond. In addition, a Capitol Police officer who is a detector canine handler shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the law-enforcement officers of any city or county that has requested the assistance of the Capitol Police in the detection of firearms, ammunition, explosives, propellants, or incendiaries.
D. In any case involving the theft or misappropriation of the personal property of any member or employee of the General Assembly, the Capitol Police shall have concurrent jurisdiction with law-enforcement officers of any county contiguous to the City of Richmond. Members of the Capitol Police when assigned to accompany the Governor or Governor-elect, members of the Governor's family, the Lieutenant Governor or Lieutenant Governor-elect, the Attorney General or Attorney General-elect, members of the General Assembly, or members of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals of Virginia, or when directed to serve a summons issued by the Clerk of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Delegates, a joint committee or commission thereof, or any committee of either house, shall be vested with all the powers and authority of a law-enforcement officer of any city or county in which they are required to be. All members of the Capitol Police shall be subject to the provisions of § 2.2-1202.1 and Chapter 5 (§ 9.1-500 et seq.) of Title 9.1.
E. The assignment of jurisdiction to any property pursuant to this section shall be approved by the Legislative Support Commission.
F. The Division of Capitol Police shall have the authority to enter into contracts or agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties.
1982, c. 243; 1984, c. 149; 1988, c. 329; 1995, cc. 770, 818; 2003, cc. 231, 588; 2008, c. 437; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2015, cc. 448, 455; 2018, cc. 579, 580; 2020, cc. 754, 897.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 3.1 - Legislative Support Commission › § 30-34.2:2. Disposal of unclaimed firearms, other weapons, or other unclaimed personal property in possession of the Division of Capitol Police

Subject to the provisions of § 19.2-386.29, the Division of Capitol Police may destroy unclaimed firearms and other weapons, and may lawfully dispose of other unclaimed personal property, that have been in the possession of the Division for a period of more than 120 days. For the purposes of this section, "unclaimed firearms and other weapons" means any firearm or other weapon belonging to another that has been acquired by a law-enforcement officer pursuant to his duties, that is not needed in any criminal prosecution, that has not been claimed by its rightful owner, and that the State Treasurer has indicated will be declined if remitted under the Virginia Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act (§ 55.1-2500 et seq.), and "unclaimed personal property" means any personal property belonging to another that has been acquired by a law-enforcement officer pursuant to his duties, that is not needed in any criminal prosecution, that has not been claimed by its rightful owner, and that the State Treasurer has indicated will be declined if remitted under the Virginia Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act (§ 55.1-2500 et seq.).
At the discretion of the chief of police or his designee, the Division of Capitol Police may destroy unclaimed firearms or other weapons by any means that renders the firearms or other weapons permanently inoperable and may lawfully dispose of other unclaimed personal property. Prior to the destruction of such unclaimed firearms or other weapons or disposal of such other unclaimed personal property, the chief of police or his designee shall (i) make reasonable attempts to notify by mail the rightful owner of the property and (ii) obtain from the attorney for the Commonwealth of the jurisdiction from which the unclaimed item came into the possession of the Division of Capitol Police in writing a statement advising that the item is not needed in any criminal prosecution. The Division may dispose of an unclaimed bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped in accordance with the provisions of § 15.2-1720.
In lieu of destroying any such unclaimed firearm, the chief of police or his designee may donate the firearm to the Department of Forensic Science, upon agreement of the Department.
2012, c. 209; 2015, c. 220; 2018, c. 581.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 3.1 - Legislative Support Commission › § 30-34.3. Printing of bills, joint resolutions, etc.

To satisfy the requirements of this chapter, there shall be requisitioned by the Commission through the Division of Legislative Automated Systems sufficient copies of every bill, resolution, House document, Senate document, or other matter directed to be printed for use of the Senate or the House of Delegates.
1980, c. 687.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 3.1 - Legislative Support Commission › § 30-34.4. Copies of bills, calendars, etc., to be furnished on application

The Commission shall furnish to such persons, firms, or corporations as may apply therefor, copies of each bill, resolution and document printed for the House of Delegates and the Senate, as well as the calendar of each house. The Commission may limit the number of such copies furnished to any person, firm or corporation.
1980, c. 687.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 3.1 - Legislative Support Commission › § 30-34.4:1. Request and distribution of state publications

A. The Commission, through the Division of Legislative Automated Systems, shall distribute to each member of the General Assembly a request form containing a checklist for selection of the Acts of Assembly, the Journals of the Senate and House of Delegates, and reports submitted to the General Assembly or any committee, subcommittee, commission, agency, or other body within the legislative branch. All requested materials shall be delivered electronically as read-only and text-searchable Portable Document Format (.pdf) files or as another widely used and accessible read-only and text-searchable electronic document format unless expressly requested otherwise.
B. The Division of Legislative Automated Systems shall notify each individual entitled to receive state publications listed in subsection A of the availability of the publications and that each will be forwarded to them by the appropriate entity upon written request. The Division shall forward requested reports of legislative entities and shall notify each agency, institution, collegial body, or other governmental entity outside of the legislative branch of the names of the members of the General Assembly requesting such entity's report.
1987, c. 128; 1992, c. 857; 2003, c. 264; 2004, c. 650; 2020, c. 421.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 3.1 - Legislative Support Commission › § 30-34.6. Printing and distribution of Journals of Senate and House

A. The Commission, through the Division of Legislative Automated Systems, shall order all printing done by direction of the Senate or the House of Delegates, or their respective clerks. Within a reasonable time after the close of each session of the General Assembly the Commission shall cause to be printed and bound the Journals of the Senate and the House of Delegates, with an index thereto, in sufficient quantity to make the following distribution, if requested pursuant to § 30-34.4:1:
1. One copy to the Governor;
2. Fifteen copies each to the Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the House;
3. A sufficient number of copies to The Library of Virginia to meet collection requirements pursuant to § 2.2-609;
4. One copy to the library of each educational institution in this Commonwealth;
5. One copy to each public library which makes written application therefor to the Commission;
6. One copy to the President of the Senate and one copy to the Speaker of the House;
7. One copy to the Division of Legislative Services;
8. One copy to each requesting member of the Senate and the House of Delegates;
9. One copy to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission;
10. One copy to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Delegates; and
11. One copy to the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations.
B. The number of copies to be printed and the quality of binding shall be designated by the Commission.
1980, c. 687; 1987, cc. 123, 128; 1994, c. 64; 2003, c. 264.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 3.1 - Legislative Support Commission › § 30-34.8. Donation of surplus copies to law schools of institutions of higher education

The Commission shall furnish institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth in which a law school is established, and which has not previously been furnished, out of any surplus copies on hand, with one copy of the Journal of the Senate, the Journal of the House of Delegates, the Journal of the Constitutional Conventions, the Acts of Assembly, and the Codes.
1980, c. 687.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 3.1 - Legislative Support Commission › § 30-34.9. Furnishing certain law school libraries publications for exchange

The Commission is authorized and directed to furnish to the Law Library of the University of Virginia, the Law Library of the George Mason University School of Law, and the Law Library of the Marshall-Wythe School of Law of the College of William and Mary in Virginia 50 copies each of such publications printed under its authority as may be designated in writing by the Law Librarian of the University of Virginia, the Law Librarian of the George Mason University School of Law, and the Law Librarian of the Marshall-Wythe School of Law of the College of William and Mary in Virginia prior to the time that any such publication so designated goes to press, to be used for exchanges for like publications with law libraries and institutions of other states, the national government, and other governments, societies, and others as they may see fit.
1980, c. 687.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 3.1 - Legislative Support Commission › § 30-34.10. Fees and mailing costs

For the services rendered under §§ 30-34.3 through 30-34.6, the Commission may charge and collect in advance a fee as determined by the Director of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems to be reasonable and sufficient to cover the cost of printing, binding, and handling; in addition to each such fee it shall also charge and collect an amount necessary to cover the cost of mailing, if such bills, calendars and resolutions are to be sent by mail. All fees collected pursuant to this section and § 30-34.10:3 shall be deposited into a special fund to be known as the "Legislative Automated Service Fund" which is hereby created. This fund shall be administered by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems and disbursements made therefrom for services related to §§ 30-34.3 through 30-34.6 and 30-34.10:1.
1980, c. 687; 1987, c. 214.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 3.1 - Legislative Support Commission › § 30-34.10:1. Establishment and maintenance of electronic information system

The Commission, through the Division of Legislative Automated Systems, shall establish and maintain a legislative electronic information system that includes the status of bills and resolutions active within the legislative process and related information. Electronic access to this information shall be made available to all agencies of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions, and conditionally available to the public as resources permit.
1987, c. 214.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 3.1 - Legislative Support Commission › § 30-34.10:2. Access to Code of Virginia, Virginia Administrative Code, and Virginia Register of Regulations

The text of the Code of Virginia, the Virginia Administrative Code, and the Virginia Register of Regulations shall be a part of the legislative electronic information system and the Internet subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be established by the Virginia Code Commission in accordance with its responsibilities for publishing and maintaining the Codes and Register as set forth in § 30-146. Copyright interests of the Code publisher, which include case annotations, cross-reference notes, editor's notes, collateral reference notes and effect of amendment notes, shall not be violated.
1987, c. 214; 1996, c. 338; 2003, c. 212.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 3.1 - Legislative Support Commission › § 30-34.10:3. Fees

For the services rendered in providing access to the legislative electronic information system, the Commission may charge and collect a fee for each inquiry as determined by the Director of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems to be a reasonable and sufficient proportion of the costs for maintaining the system and furnishing access. No fee, however, shall be charged to any agency of the legislative branch of the Commonwealth, including individual legislators using the information exclusively for legislative purposes.
Users located outside the geographical limits of the Commonwealth shall be charged an access fee double that referred to in the preceding paragraph.
No person, firm, corporation or other entity shall receive access from the legislative electronic information system for resale without first applying to the Director of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems. Such application shall be approved only on the condition that a fee equal to twenty-five percent of the resale charge is paid which shall be in addition to the other fees provided for in this section.
1987, c. 214.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 3.2 - Division of Legislative Automated Systems › § 30-34.11. Division created; appointment and tenure of Director

There shall be a legislative agency known and designated as the Division of Legislative Automated Systems. The Division shall be in the charge of a Director, who shall be appointed by, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, and serve at the pleasure of the Committees on Rules of the House of Delegates and the Senate acting jointly.
1980, c. 725.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 3.2 - Division of Legislative Automated Systems › § 30-34.12. Powers and duties of Director

The Director of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems shall, under the direction and control of the Committees on Rules of the House of Delegates and the Senate acting jointly, exercise such powers and perform such duties as are conferred or imposed by law upon him; and he shall perform such other duties as may be required of him by the Committees on Rules of the House of Delegates and the Senate acting jointly.
1980, c. 725.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 3.2 - Division of Legislative Automated Systems › § 30-34.13. General powers of Division

The Division shall have the following general powers:
1. To employ such personnel as may be required to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
2. To make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its powers under this chapter, including, but not limited to, contracts with the United States, other states, and agencies and governmental subdivisions of Virginia.
3. To do all acts necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
1980, c. 725.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 3.2 - Division of Legislative Automated Systems › § 30-34.14. Duties of Division

The Division shall have the following duties:
1. Operate an automated data processing center and perform computing and programming services for the House of Delegates, Senate of Virginia, and the Division of Legislative Services.
2. To provide technical assistance to the General Assembly of Virginia, and to the agencies which directly serve the General Assembly of Virginia.
3. To represent the interests of the General Assembly in activities involving, obtaining and maintaining data processing services, electronic components, and other related items.
4. Prepare and publish annually, as soon as practicable after January 1, a listing of designated spokespersons or information officers for each department, agency, board, or commission of state government, as shall be designated by the head thereof. Such officers or designated alternates shall (i) serve as legislative liaison between any such department, agency, board, or commission and the General Assembly, (ii) act as the official spokesperson representing such department, agency, board, or commission, and (iii) be at all times available to assist members of the General Assembly in seeking solutions to problems of citizens of the Commonwealth.
5. To perform other duties as directed by the Committees on Rules of the House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia acting jointly.
Every document or file maintained or stored on equipment of the Division shall be considered the property of the person for whom the document or file is maintained or stored. Neither the Director nor any employee of the Division shall reveal any of this property to any person outside of the Division, except with the consent of the owner of the property.
1980, c. 725; 2002, c. 2; 2006, c. 662.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 3.2 - Division of Legislative Automated Systems › § 30-34.15. Submission of reports and executive summaries to the legislative branch

A. Any report required or requested by law or resolution to be submitted to the General Assembly shall be submitted to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems in a written or electronic format as provided in the procedures for the processing of legislative documents. Such submission shall satisfy the requirement for communication to the General Assembly.
B. Any report required or requested by law or resolution to be submitted to any committee, subcommittee, commission, agency, or other body within the legislative branch or to the chairman or agency head of such entity shall also be submitted to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems in a written or electronic format as provided in the procedures for the processing of legislative documents and reports.
C. The reports submitted to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems shall include an executive summary. The Division shall post the executive summary and the report on the website of the General Assembly and develop a notification process to inform interested persons of such postings. Any requirement for a separate executive summary may be satisfied by the submission of a report in a written or electronic format with an executive summary.
D. The Director of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems and the publishing authority may enter into agreements to provide equivalent access to the report or the information contained in the report and such access shall satisfy the submission requirement of this section.
E. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the release of information otherwise held confidential by law.
2003, c. 941; 2004, c. 650; 2005, c. 633; 2012, c. 434.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 7 - Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission › § 30-56. Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission; composition; terms; compensation and expenses; office space; quorum; voting on recommendations

There is hereby created the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission in the legislative branch of state government. The Commission shall consist of nine members of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker thereof, of whom at least five shall be members of the House Committee on Appropriations, and five members from the Senate appointed by the Rules Committee of the Senate, of whom at least two shall be members of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, and the Auditor of Public Accounts, who shall serve as a nonvoting ex officio member. Members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Members may be reappointed for successive terms.
Members of the Commission shall receive such compensation as provided in § 30-19.12 and shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties on the Commission. Funding for the costs of compensation and expenses of the members shall be provided from existing appropriations to the Commission. Adequate office space shall be provided by the Commonwealth.
The Commission shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. Meetings of the Commission shall be held upon the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of the members so request.
No recommendation of the Commission shall be adopted if a majority of the Senate members or a majority of the House members appointed to the Commission (i) vote against the recommendation and (ii) vote for the recommendation to fail notwithstanding the majority vote of the Commission.
1973, c. 452; 1979, c. 316; 1988, c. 172; 2004, c. 1000.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 7 - Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission › § 30-57. Director, executive staff and personnel

The Commission shall appoint, subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of the General Assembly, a Director and fix his duties and compensation. The Director may with prior approval of the Commission employ and fix the duties and compensation of an adequate executive staff as may be requisite to make the studies and research and budget analyses required by this chapter. The Director and the executive staff shall be appointed for a term of six years and shall consist of professional persons having experience and training in legislative budgetary procedures, management analyses and cost accounting. The Director and any executive staff member may be removed from office for cause by a majority vote of the Commission. Such other professional personnel, consultants and secretarial and clerical employees may be engaged upon such terms and conditions as set forth by the Commission.
1973, c. 452.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 7 - Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission › § 30-58.1. Powers and duties of Commission

The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
1. Make performance reviews of operations of state agencies to ascertain that sums appropriated have been, or are being expended for the purposes for which such appropriations were made and to evaluate the effectiveness of programs in accomplishing legislative intent;
2. Study on a continuing basis the operations, practices and duties of state agencies, as they relate to efficiency in the utilization of space, personnel, equipment and facilities;
3. Make such special studies and reports of the operations and functions of state agencies as it deems appropriate and as may be requested by the General Assembly;
4. Assess, analyze, and evaluate the social and economic costs and benefits of any proposed mandated health insurance benefit or mandated provider that is not included in the essential health benefits required by federal law to be provided under a health care plan, including the mandate's predicted effect on health care coverage premiums and related costs, net costs or savings to the health care system, and other relevant issues, and report its findings with respect to the proposed mandate to the Health Insurance Reform Commission; and
5. Make such reports on its findings and recommendations at such time and in such manner as the Commission deems proper submitting same to the agencies concerned, to the Governor and to the General Assembly. Such reports as are submitted shall relate to the following matters:
a. Ways in which the agencies may operate more economically and efficiently;
b. Ways in which agencies can provide better services to the Commonwealth and to the people; and
c. Areas in which functions of state agencies are duplicative, overlapping, or failing to accomplish legislative objectives or for any other reason should be redefined or redistributed.
1975, c. 324; 2006, c. 413; 2013, c. 709.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 7 - Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission › § 30-58.2. Supplementary studies and reports

The Commission shall prepare supplementary studies and reports of the program reviews and evaluations called for in §§ 30-58.1 and 30-67 in the following manner:
1. At least once in each biennium and at such other times as the Commission deems necessary, a report shall be made to the General Assembly which includes: (i) annotations of reports previously issued; (ii) a summary of significant actions taken by executive agencies in response to reports and recommendations previously issued; and (iii) matters pertaining to the report topics that may require additional legislative attention and consideration.
2. From time to time, agencies involved in matters which have been studied under the provisions of § 30-58.1 or § 30-67 may be required to communicate to the Commission at a hearing called for such purpose or in writing, the status of actions completed or being taken in response to reports and recommendations previously issued.
3. In the event a report of the Commission cites waste, extravagance, unauthorized activities, or other significant deficiencies which result in the misuse of public funds, a supplementary report shall be made at such time as the Commission deems appropriate, which provides the General Assembly: (i) a review of the problem; (ii) recommendations made by the Commission or other legislative committee to correct the problem; (iii) actions taken or planned by the agency to correct the problem; and (iv) such other matters as may require additional legislative attention to correct the problem.
Supplementary reports published by the Commission shall be issued to the Governor, agencies concerned, and members of the General Assembly.
1980, c. 239.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 7 - Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission › § 30-58.3. Annual report on state spending

A. No later than November 15 of each year, the Commission shall provide to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual report on state spending to be published as a state document that shall include, among other things, (i) an identification and analysis of spending functions and programs that could be consolidated with other programs without diminishing the quality of the services provided to the citizens of the Commonwealth; (ii) an identification and analysis of those spending functions or programs which no longer have a distinct and discernible mission or are not performing their missions efficiently; (iii) an identification and analysis of the state programs that have had the largest impact on the growth of state spending over the prior five biennia, in dollar terms; (iv) an identification and analysis of the programs growing the fastest in percentage terms; (v) for the programs identified as the largest or fastest-growing, comparisons of the growth in spending on those programs to the rate of increase in inflation and the growth in populations served by those programs over a comparable time period; (vi) an analysis of the causes for the growth in spending on the largest and fastest-growing programs and whether the growth in spending appears rationally related to the rates of increase in inflation, tax relief measures, mandated expenditures, populations served, or any other related matter; and (vii) such other related issues as it deems appropriate.
B. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission in the preparation of this report, upon request.
2001, c. 304; 2004, c. 1000.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 7 - Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission › § 30-58.4. Pilot program for analysis of state agency budget submissions

The Commission shall develop a pilot program to analyze and evaluate estimates submitted by state agencies and provided to the chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations pursuant to § 2.2-1504 to ascertain that sums requested are appropriated based on the missions, operations, practices, and duties of such agencies. Such pilot program shall include, but not be limited to, (i) an assessment of the procedures for executive budget submission oversight in other states, (ii) development of procedures that could be adopted in Virginia for state agency budget submission analysis, and (iii) preliminary analysis and evaluation of the budget submission of one state agency, to be selected jointly by the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, in accordance with such procedures. Technical assistance shall be provided to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission by the Department of Planning and Budget. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission in conducting the pilot program, upon request.
The Commission shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary and report of its progress in meeting the directives of this statute no later than the first day of the 2009 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary and report shall be submitted for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.
2007, c. 803.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 7 - Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission › § 30-59.1. State agency defined

For the purposes of §§ 30-58.1 and 30-59, the terms "state agency," "state agencies," "agency," and "agencies" shall mean all executive, judicial, and legislative entities of the Commonwealth as well as all constitutionally or statutorily created state entities.
1979, c. 731.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 7 - Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission › § 30-60. Auditor of Public Accounts to render assistance upon request; his relationship to Commission

The Commission may request and receive the assistance of the staff of the Auditor of Public Accounts in making desired special studies and fiscal reviews within the manpower limitations of his office. The Commission may serve as an advisory and contact agency for the Auditor of Public Accounts to make such special reports as he may be required by law to submit to the General Assembly.
1973, c. 452.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 7 - Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission › § 30-61. Advisory committees

The Commission may associate with itself such advisory committees of businessmen and others as it may deem necessary to advise it with respect to what business practices can be adopted to achieve greater economies and more efficient service. The expenses of the members of such committees shall be paid from the funds of the Commission.
1973, c. 452.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 7 - Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission › § 30-61.1. Operational and programmatic efficiency and effectiveness reviews

A. In addition to the review and evaluation of state entities pursuant to the Legislative Program Review and Evaluation Act (§ 30-65 et seq.), the Commission may establish an operational and programmatic efficiency and effectiveness review and assessment of any state departments, agencies, and programs. The Commission may contract with a United States-based private management consulting firm to conduct the efficiency and effectiveness review and assessment. Such contract shall be pursuant to a fixed price contract and shall not provide for any payment resulting from the implementation of any recommendations of the review.
B. The purpose of the review and assessment shall be to provide an objective and independent cost-savings assessment of the Commonwealth's organizational structure and its programs in order to provide information to the Governor and the General Assembly to effect savings in expenditures, a reduction in duplication of effort, and programmatic efficiencies in the operation of state government. Any review and assessment conducted pursuant to this section shall take into consideration the results of any prior studies, audits, or reviews conducted by the Commission, the General Assembly or the Auditor of Public Accounts, any Governor-appointed commission or like entity, or any other independent entity that addressed the structure and operation of state government and identified monetary savings or efficiencies leading to a reduction in costs or reduced duplication of effort.
C. The Commission shall submit a report to the General Assembly on the results of any review and assessment by December 1 of the year in which such review is conducted.
2017, c. 726.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 8 - Legislative Program Review and Evaluation Act › § 30-65. Definitions

As used in this chapter, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows:
1. The term "agency" means any agency, authority, board, department, division, commission, institution, bureau, or like governmental entity of the Commonwealth and includes any entity, public or private, with which any of the foregoing has entered into a contractual relationship to accomplish an agency program.
2. The term "functional area" means that grouping of state governmental activities, programs, and agencies which constitute a single budget function as identified and classified in the Virginia State Government Program Structure.
3. The term "discretionary selection" refers to the procedure set forth in § 30-67 whereby programs and agencies, contained wholly or in part within functional areas, are selected for legislative review and evaluation under the provisions of this chapter.
1978, c. 388.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 8 - Legislative Program Review and Evaluation Act › § 30-66. Functional areas; scheduling of study areas

A. The functional areas of state government shall be scheduled for legislative review and evaluation by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission as specified in subsection B, on a seven-year cycle, and beginning in the 1979-80 fiscal year.
B. From time to time as may be required, the Senate and House of Delegates shall by joint resolution establish a schedule for the review of the functional areas of state government. In the absence of a resolution, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall select a functional area for review on an annual basis.
1978, c. 388; 1986, c. 302.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 8 - Legislative Program Review and Evaluation Act › § 30-67. Discretionary selection procedure; coordination with standing committees; expenses

A. Prior to the year in which a functional area of government is designated to be scheduled for review, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission may provide for the introduction of a joint resolution which shall identify to the extent feasible the agencies, programs or activities selected for review and evaluation from the functional area.
B. To ensure coordination of the review and evaluation activity with appropriate committees, the resolution specified in subsection A may identify each House and Senate standing committee to be invited to participate with the Commission in designing such studies as will be carried out from the scheduled functional areas.
C. The compensation and expenses of the members of cooperating committees or subcommittees necessary to accomplish the functions specified in subsection B shall be paid from funds appropriated to the Commission.
1978, c. 388; 1986, c. 302.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 8 - Legislative Program Review and Evaluation Act › § 30-68. Evaluation criteria; self-studies

A. Each study carried out pursuant to this chapter shall consider, as required: that there is a valid public need for the program or agency; that legislative intent is being carried out; that program and agency performance has been in the public interest; that program objectives have been defined; that intended program outcomes are measurable and have been accomplished; that program and agency operations are managed efficiently, economically, and effectively; or such other specific criteria as the Commission or standing committees deem necessary and desirable.
B. Agency self-studies may be required in such form and manner as may be directed under the resolution provided for in § 30-67.
1978, c. 388.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 8 - Legislative Program Review and Evaluation Act › § 30-69. Access to information

For the purpose of carrying out its duties under this chapter and notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall have access to the records and facilities of every agency whose operations are financed in whole or in part by state funds to the extent that such records and facilities are related to the expenditure of such funds. All such agencies shall cooperate with the Commission and, when requested, shall provide specific information in the form requested.
1978, c. 388.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 8 - Legislative Program Review and Evaluation Act › § 30-70. Reporting; hearings

A. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall publish and submit its reports with appropriate findings and recommendations to the Governor and members of the General Assembly, and shall transmit them to the House and Senate standing committees identified by resolution in § 30-67.
B. The standing committees may hold a public hearing on reports prepared pursuant to this chapter at their earliest convenience after the date of transmittal. Hearings may be held jointly or singly by the committees.
C. The standing committees shall hear testimony from the Commission, agency and program representatives, the public in general, and such others as may be deemed appropriate.
1978, c. 388; 1986, c. 302.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 8 - Legislative Program Review and Evaluation Act › § 30-71. Hearing criteria

At each hearing which may be held pursuant to § 30-70, the standing committee conducting such hearing and the agencies testifying shall respond to, but not be limited to consideration of, the following questions:
1. What are the problems, needs, or missions that the program is intended to address and what has been accomplished?
2. What is the effect of the program on the economy including but not limited to: competition, unemployment, economic stability, attraction of new business, productivity, and price inflation to consumers?
3. Would the absence of any regulatory activity significantly harm or endanger the public health, safety, or welfare?
4. Has the program or agency carried out its mission in an efficient, economic, and effective manner?
5. What services could be provided and what level of performance could be achieved if the program were funded at a level less than the existing level?
6. What other state programs have similar, duplicate, or conflicting objectives?
7. What federal activities have similar, duplicate, or conflicting objectives?
8. How does the agency ensure that it responds promptly and effectively to complaints concerning persons affected by the agency?
9. To what extent have the agency's operations been impeded by existing statutes, procedures, or practices of the Commonwealth of Virginia, or of other state agencies?
10. What action plans have been or are being proposed to improve agency operations where the need for improvements has been identified in previous executive or legislative oversight studies and reports?
1978, c. 388; 1986, c. 302.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 8 - Legislative Program Review and Evaluation Act › § 30-72. Operation and construction of chapter; subcommittees

A. The operation of this chapter shall not restrict the power of the General Assembly to study or act on any matter at any time.
B. The operation of this chapter shall not imply or require the termination of any state agency or program.
C. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to restrict the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission or the standing committees from holding hearings on any subject as may be required nor shall operation of this chapter limit the Commission or committees from such other activities as may be authorized by law or custom.
D. The standing committees may carry out the functions assigned by this chapter through subcommittees.
1978, c. 388.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 8.1 - Joint Commission on Administrative Rules › § 30-73.1. Joint Commission on Administrative Rules; purpose

The Joint Commission on Administrative Rules (the "Commission") is established in the legislative branch of state government. The purpose of the Commission is to review (i) existing agency rules, regulations and practices and (ii) agency rules or regulations during the promulgation or final adoption process and make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Agency" means any authority, commission, instrumentality, officer, board or other unit of the state government empowered by the basic laws to make regulations or decide cases.
"Rule" or "regulation" means any statement of general application, having the force of law, affecting the rights or conduct of any person, adopted by an agency in accordance with the authority conferred on it by applicable basic laws.
2002, c. 677.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 8.1 - Joint Commission on Administrative Rules › § 30-73.2. Membership; terms; compensation

A. The Commission shall be composed of 12 members as follows: five members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, and seven members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates. Six members shall constitute a quorum.
B. Members shall serve for terms coincident with their terms of office. Members may be reappointed. Vacancies occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
C. The members of the Commission shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its members.
D. Members of the Commission shall receive compensation as provided in § 30-19.12 and shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. However, all such expense payments shall come from existing appropriations to the Commission.
2002, c. 677; 2005, c. 758.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 8.1 - Joint Commission on Administrative Rules › § 30-73.3. Powers and duties of Commission

A. The Commission shall have the powers and duties to:
1. Review proposed rules and regulations of any agency during the promulgation or final adoption process and determine whether or not the rule or regulation (i) is authorized by statute, (ii) complies with legislative intent, (iii) will cause a substantial reduction in private sector employment, and (iv) contains no mandate that improperly burdens businesses or would impose a significant adverse economic impact on a locality, business, or entity particularly affected as defined in § 2.2-4007.04.
2. Review the effect of the rule or regulation on (i) the economy, (ii) protection of the Commonwealth's natural resources pursuant to Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution of Virginia, (iii) government operations of the Commonwealth and localities, and (iv) affected persons and businesses.
3. File with the Registrar and the agency promulgating the regulation an objection to a proposed or final adopted regulation.
4. Suspend the effective date of any portion or all of a final regulation with the concurrence of the Governor as provided in subsection B of § 2.2-4014.
5. Make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly for action based on its review of any proposed rule or regulation.
6. Review any existing agency rule, regulation, or practice or the failure of an agency to adopt a rule and recommend to the Governor and the General Assembly that a rule be modified, repealed, or adopted.
7. Beginning November 1, 2017, the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules shall conduct an ongoing review of the exemptions authorized by the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) in accordance with subsections B and D of § 2.2-4005 on a schedule established by the Commission.
B. If the Commission finds that a rule or regulation improperly burdens businesses or would impose a significant adverse economic impact on a locality, business, or entity particularly affected, it shall report quarterly to the Governor and the General Assembly on any such regulation. The report shall contain a statement of any position taken by the Commission on any such regulation.
C. If the Commission decides to seek suspension of a final rule or regulation, it shall deliver a statement to the Governor, signed by a majority of the members of the Commission, asking the Governor to concur in delaying the effective date of a portion or all of the final regulation until the end of the next regular legislative session as provided in §§ 2.2-4014 and 2.2-4015.
D. Based upon its review of (i) any final rule or regulation during the promulgation or final adoption process or (ii) any existing agency rule, regulation, or practice or failure to adopt a rule or regulation, the Commission may prepare and arrange for the introduction of a bill to clarify the intent of the General Assembly when it enacted a law or to correct any misapplication of a law by an agency.
2002, c. 677; 2013, c. 140; 2015, cc. 337, 608; 2017, c. 678.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 30 - General Assembly › Chapter 8.1 - Joint Commission on Administrative Rules › § 30-73.4. Staff; cooperation and assistance

Staff assistance shall be provided to the Commission by the Division of Legislative Services. All agencies, authorities, and institutions of the Commonwealth shall cooperate and provide such assistance to the Commission as the Commission may request.
2002, c. 677; 2004, c. 777.