"Every day, our men and women in uniform perform their duties valiantly, whether in the role of law enforcement or the military," Governor Kaine said. "We have a duty to support those who choose to serve by making programs, processes, and procedures more accessible. It is critical that we demonstrate we are serious about protecting all of Virginia's citizens by providing our public safety and military personnel with the tools they require and the benefits they have earned."
In 2006, Virginia lost more law enforcement officers on the job than in any other year in the past decade, with 11 local, state, and federal public safety professionals losing their lives during the performance of their duties.
Governor Kaine has identified significant dollars --$11.5 million for sheriffs' deputies and $2.3 million for State Police -- to address law enforcement retirement issues. He will submit a proposal that will raise the State Police retirement compensation multiplier from 1.7 to 1.85 percent. This increase will assist State Police with efforts to recruit and retain qualified individuals. The Governor has also proposed budget funding for an incentive for local governments to boost the retirement benefits for their local sheriff's deputies.
Governor Kaine believes it is vital that we support our juvenile and adult corrections officers, and his budget proposal includes $8.2 million for salary increases for officers and supervisors in the Department of Corrections and Department of Juvenile Justice.
"Each man and woman that chooses to serve and protect our communities, patrol our highways, or secure our courthouses, juvenile facilities and prisons, is owed a debt of extreme gratitude for their service. Those who make the ultimate sacrifice in the performance of those duties should always be honored and remembered," Governor Kaine said. "State troopers, sheriff's deputies, and other law enforcement professionals are on the frontlines protecting us, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they have the support and recognition that they deserve for their service."
Formerly known as the Virginia War Orphans Education Program, the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (MSDEP) honors the service and sacrifice of Virginia's service men and women. The program provides free tuition and established a fund to cover the cost of room, board, and textbook assistance for eligible spouses and children of military service members who are killed, missing in action, taken prisoner or who become at least 90 percent disabled as a result of military service in an armed conflict. Governor Kaine will ask the 2007 General Assembly to appropriate $1 million to fund these additional benefits for the first time.
Under current Virginia law, National Guard personnel receive employment protection when called to state active duty status by the Governor to respond to local emergencies. This same protection is not in place when they train under traditional "weekend" or annual training because they are not in state active duty status. They also are not protected by state law when preparing for federal missions.
In the event that a Virginia Guard member in federal status is denied pay, vacation time or other benefits, they must go through federal courts to redress their grievances. The proposed legislation would allow Guard members to use the state court system to protect their rights in a more efficient, less expensive, and more accessible way.
"Virginia law has long protected the employment rights of the men and women that serve in the Virginia Guard during times of active state duty status, but has neglected those same rights when they are called for federal service or during regular training," Governor Kaine said. "This amendment will streamline this process for our citizen-soldiers and create a much more accessible procedure for addressing employment concerns."
