Line of Duty Act; transitional coverage. Requires the Department of Human Resource Management to acquire and provide temporary transitional health insurance coverage to disabled persons, eligible spouses, and eligible dependents during the period of transition into the LODA (Line of Duty Act) Health Benefits Plans. Current law authorizes but does not require the Department to acquire and provide such temporary transitional health insurance coverage to disabled persons, eligible spouses, and eligible dependents during such period.
Virginia Youth Empowerment and Mentoring Grant Fund and Program; established. Establishes the Virginia Youth Empowerment and Mentoring Grant Fund and Program, to be administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, for the purpose of awarding grants to community-based organizations for the purpose of placing mentors with high-risk youth in an effort to transition such youth into careers in certified high-wage trades.
Department of Workforce Development and Advancement; accreditation of nondegree workforce training programs. Directs the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement to establish an accreditation pathway for nondegree workforce training programs in order to align the skills of the Commonwealth's workforce with the needs of industry in the Commonwealth and to provide a workforce entrance pathway for underserved populations in the Commonwealth. The bill includes minimum standards, admissions requirements, and reporting requirements for such programs. Additionally, the bill includes provisions related to the eligibility of accredited programs for state and federal workforce funding, including the federal Workforce Pell Grant.
Employee Child Care Assistance Pilot Program. Establishes the Employee Child Care Assistance Pilot Program (the Pilot Program) to provide matching funds in order to incentivize employers to contribute to the child care costs of their employees. The Pilot Program shall be established by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (the Foundation), which will establish guidelines and procedures deemed necessary for administration of the Pilot Program. The bill provides that the Foundation shall provide an interim report to the General Assembly by September 1, 2027, and a summative report to the General Assembly by September 1, 2028, on the effectiveness and impact of the Pilot Program.
State employee health insurance plan; coverage for prosthetic devices. Provides that the plan established by the Department of Human Resource Management for the provision of health insurance coverage for state employees shall include coverage for medically necessary prosthetic devices and their repair, fitting, replacement, and components.
Salaries of certain full-time deputy sheriffs. Provides that, beginning on and after July 1, 2026, the salary of certain full-time deputy sheriffs shall be increased by an amount equal to $100 for each full year of service.
Virginia Public Procurement Act; additional public works contract requirements. Provides that public bodies shall require the contractor and its subcontractors for any capital outlay project, as defined in the bill, to complete certain safety training programs, maintain records of compliance with applicable laws, and participate in approved apprenticeship training programs. The bill provides exemptions from such requirements for reasons related to lack of availability of apprentices and high costs. The provisions of the bill do not apply to transportation-related construction projects. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.
School boards; employment of school resource officers; Virginia Retirement System. Requires each school board to enter into a collaborative agreement with the local law-enforcement agency to employ at least one school resource officer in each public elementary and secondary school in the local school division. The bill requires localities to provide enhanced retirement benefits to school resource officers. The bill also allows a retired law-enforcement officer to work as a school resource officer after a break in service of at least six months without impacting his retirement benefits.
