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1998 SESSION

989345657
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 110
Offered January 26, 1998
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study staffing standards for sheriffs' departments.
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Patron-- Forbes
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Referred to the Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, Virginia's sheriffs' offices are generally responsible for operating jails, providing law enforcement to counties, securing the courthouses, and serving process; and

WHEREAS, inadequate staffing of these functions has serious implications for local governments and the Commonwealth relative to the safety and security of citizens, sheriffs and their staffs, and inmates in local correctional facilities; and

WHEREAS, the current process for funding sheriffs' departments is a traditional budgeting and reimbursement process that has undergone little revision in the last 50 years; and

WHEREAS, although the Compensation Board uses the staffing standards set forth in the budget, in addition to requests from local departments, significant discrepancies exist between state-recognized staffing levels and actual workload in many departments; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to develop staffing standards for sheriffs' departments which more accurately reflect actual work loads and requirements and to determine the number and funding of additional positions that such standards indicate are necessary; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study staffing standards for sheriffs' departments. The joint subcommittee shall be composed of seven members as follows: three members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and four members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $5,250.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Virginia Sheriffs' Association. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1999 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.