GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 637, which directs the Department of Criminal Justice programs to create a Substantial Risk Order Training Program.

This initiative duplicates existing training provided by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to various constituent groups across the Commonwealth upon request. Moreover, the Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund already permits the utilization of grant funds to support safe firearm removal practices for individuals prohibited from possessing a firearm.

The substantial risk order law became effective in Virginia on July 1, 2020, prompting the General Assembly to create a full-time position at DCJS to oversee statewide risk order training and implementation. DCJS has since been actively conducting risk order training to offer instruction on the law, procedures, and recommendations for best practices from law enforcement.

In addition, $500,000 was allocated in 2021 for DCJS to establish a grant program funding substantial risk order training for localities. However, due to a lack of interest, the fund carried significant balances at the end of the fiscal year and was recommended to be discontinued in the proposed Budget by the preceding Governor.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.