GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 776, which amends the minimum qualifications for law-enforcement officers.

The bill is unnecessary as under current law allows the Department of Criminal Justice Services to issue a waiver for qualifications under § 15.2-1705, including the requirement that law-enforcement officers be citizens of the United States. Current DCJS practice is to issue waivers upon request of the law enforcement agency if the prospective employee is a legal permanent resident who is both eligible for and applied for citizenship.

Other waivers issued to the minimum qualification for law enforcement officers include those with alternative education backgrounds who have not received a high school diploma.

In its current form, this bill removes DCJS's ability to make waiver determinations on these other qualifications and may hinder law enforcement agency recruitment. With the existing waiver process in place, the legislative changes are unnecessary.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.