2025 SESSION
SENATE SUBSTITUTE
25108225D
SENATE BILL NO. 1219
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Governor
on March 24, 2025)
(Patron Prior to SubstituteSenator Reeves)
A BILL to amend and reenact 30-19.11 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 1.1 of Title 30 an article numbered 2, consisting of sections numbered 30-19.21 and 30-19.22, relating to General Assembly; State Elected Official Compensation Commission established.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That 30-19.11 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 1.1 of Title 30 an article numbered 2, consisting of sections numbered 30-19.21 and 30-19.22, as follows:
Article 1.
Salaries and Expenses Generally.
30-19.11. Salaries of Speaker of House of Delegates and members of General Assembly.
The Speaker of the House of Delegates and all other members of the General Assembly shall each receive an annual salary as shall be set forth in the general appropriations appropriation act. Such salaries shall be payable not more often than biweekly.
Article 2.
State Elected Official Compensation Commission.
30-19.21. State Elected Official Compensation Commission; purpose; establishment; membership; staffing.
A. The State Elected Official Compensation Commission (the Commission) is established in the legislative branch of state government. The Commission shall convene every four years for the purpose of reviewing the salaries, expense allowances, retirement benefits, and other emoluments received by members of the General Assembly, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Attorney General and making recommendations for any adjustments to such salaries or allowance amounts.
B. The Commission shall consist of 14 members who shall be appointed as follows:
1. Two former members of the Senate of Virginia, with equal representation given to each of the political parties having the highest and next highest number of members in the Senate, appointed by the Joint Rules Committee;
2. Four former members of the House of Delegates, with equal representation given to each of the political parties having the highest and next highest number of members in the House of Delegates, appointed by the Joint Rules Committee;
3. Five nonlegislative citizen members, of whom one shall be appointed by the Governor, one shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, one shall be appointed by the House Minority Leader, one shall be appointed by the Senate Majority Leader, and one shall be appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; and
4. Three former statewide officeholders, of whom one shall be a former Governor, one shall be a former Lieutenant Governor, and one shall be a former Attorney General, each appointed by the current Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General, respectively.
C. Appointments of Commission members shall be made no later than July 1 of the year in which a gubernatorial election is scheduled. Members shall serve until the submission of the report required pursuant to 30-19.22 and may be reappointed to any subsequent convening of the Commission. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
The Commission shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. The meetings of the Commission shall be held at the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of the members so request.
D. Commission members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed as provided in 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825 for reasonable and necessary expenses that are incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this article.
E. Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the Senate or the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates as may be appropriate for the house in which the chairman of the Commission serves or as determined by the Clerks. The Division of Legislative Services shall provide legal, research, and policy analysis to the Commission. The staffs of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations shall provide technical assistance to the Commission. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission, upon request.
30-19.22. Powers and duties; report.
A. The Commission shall convene every four years in the year in which a gubernatorial election is scheduled for the purpose of reviewing the salaries, expense allowances, retirement benefits, and other emoluments received by members of the General Assembly, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Attorney General. In conducting its review, the Commission shall (i) review the current salaries, expense allowances, retirement benefits, and any other emoluments; (ii) examine the Commonwealth's history of state elected official compensation; (iii) gather information regarding the compensation, expenses, and benefits for state elected service in other states; (iv) assess various state methodologies for determining reasonable compensation, including tying salaries to certain indexes or economic indicators; and (v) seek assistance and input of state elected officials and other citizens by conducting surveys or holding public hearings as may be appropriate.
B. The Commission shall determine whether any adjustments to the salaries, expense allowances, retirement benefits, or other emoluments are indicated and shall submit its findings and recommendations in a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before October 1 of the year following a gubernatorial election.
C. Any adjustments made to the salaries, expense allowances, or other emoluments or benefits that are recommended by the Commission and included in a budget bill that is subsequently adopted by the General Assembly shall not be effective until January 1 of the year immediately following the general election for all members of the General Assembly.
2. That the initial appointment of members to the State Elected Official Compensation Commission established pursuant to 30-19.21 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, shall take place within 30 days of the effective date of this act.