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2002 SESSION

026211890
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 138
Offered January 9, 2002
Prefiled January 9, 2002
Requesting the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to conduct an organizational and management review of the Virginia Department of State Police.
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Patrons-- Cox, Byron, Carrico, Drake, Jones, S.C., Lingamfelter, Purkey, Rapp and Suit
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of State Police is assigned the responsibility to enforce criminal laws of this Commonwealth and to conduct a highway patrol, a police training academy, a state police radio communication system, the supervision of inspection stations and of inspectors of motor vehicles and the general promotion of highway safety; and

WHEREAS, at the request of the Governor, the Attorney General, any sheriff, chief of police, attorney for the Commonwealth, or grand jury, the State Police is also required to conduct investigations of potential criminal violations; and

WHEREAS, the ability of the State Police to perform these responsibilities is dependent on the Department receiving and maintaining adequate human resources, training, equipment, and facilities; and

WHEREAS, it is vital to the public safety interests of the citizens of this Commonwealth that its State Police force operate at its highest level of efficiency and effectiveness; and

WHEREAS, recently unmet critical needs have emerged within the Department in many areas of operation, including a shortage of state troopers;

WHEREAS, in order to adequately plan for and fulfill these critical needs in the future, it is imperative that a comprehensive study be undertaken to review all functional areas of operation of the State Police; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission be requested to conduct an organizational and management review of the Virginia Department of State Police. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall examine, but is not limited to, the issues impacting manpower retention, compensation and retirement benefits, career progression and training, and facilities and equipment adequacy. As part of this review, the Commission shall also study the feasibility of identifying dedicated sources of funding to provide stability in supplying the resources needed by the Department of State Police.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission for this study, upon request.

The Commission shall complete its work by November 30, 2002, and shall submit its written findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2003 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.