County manager plan of government; independent policing auditor.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify how the independent policing auditor will be funded, leaving this detail open-ended.

Independent Policing Auditor for County Manager Plan

This act allows counties using a county manager plan to appoint an independent policing auditor who supports civilian oversight bodies and has their powers.

What This Bill Does

• Allows the governing body of a county with a county manager plan to appoint an independent policing auditor.
• The independent policing auditor shall support any law-enforcement civilian oversight body created by the governing body.
• The independent policing auditor shall have all the powers of the law-enforcement civilian oversight body, to the extent such powers are delegated to them by the oversight body.
• The independent policing auditor and their staff must be hired based on merit and paid according to existing pay scales.

Who It Names or Affects

• Counties that use a county manager plan of government
• Law-enforcement civilian oversight bodies in these counties

Terms To Know

County Manager Plan

A system where the elected officials hire a professional manager to oversee day-to-day operations.

Independent Policing Auditor

An official who checks on police activities and supports civilian oversight groups.

Limits and Unknowns

• The act does not specify how the independent policing auditor will be funded.
• It is unclear what specific powers the independent policing auditor can have beyond those of the law-enforcement civilian oversight body.

Official Summary Text

County manager plan of government; independent policing auditor.
Allows the governing body of any county with the county manager plan of government (Arlington County) to appoint an independent policing auditor. The independent policing auditor shall support any law-enforcement civilian oversight body created by the governing body and shall have all the powers of the law-enforcement civilian oversight body, to the extent such powers are delegated to the independent policing auditor by the oversight body. The independent policing auditor shall serve at the pleasure of the governing body.

Current Bill Text

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
15.2-709.3
, relating to county manager plan of government; independent policing auditor.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
15.2-709.3
as follows:
§
15.2-709.3
. Independent policing auditor.
A. The board may appoint an independent policing auditor to support any law-enforcement civilian oversight body created by the board pursuant to §
9.1-601
. The independent policing auditor shall have all the powers of the law-enforcement civilian oversight body, to the extent such powers are delegated to the independent policing auditor by the oversight body.
B. The board may provide staff assistance to the independent policing auditor that may be independent of the administrative staff of the county. The independent policing auditor and any such staff shall be hired on the basis of merit and shall be paid in conformity with existing pay scales. The independent policing auditor shall serve at the pleasure of the board.