Military leaves of absence for employees of the Commonwealth or political subdivisions; law-enforcement officers. Provides that any person who is employed by the Commonwealth or a political subdivision of the Commonwealth as a law-enforcement officer shall receive paid leaves of absence for up to 388 hours for which a leave of absence is required, during which such person is engaged in federally funded military duty, to include training duty, or is called forth by the Governor for military duty.
Workers' compensation; presumption of compensability for certain cancers. Expands the workers' compensation presumption of compensability for certain cancers causing the death or disability of certain employees who have completed five years of service in their position to include lung cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for any individual diagnosed with such a condition on or after July 1, 2027.
Unemployment benefits; maximum duration. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026, for claims effective on or after July 1, 2026, an eligible individual's weekly unemployment compensation benefit amount shall be paid for a maximum duration of 26 weeks.
Employment decisions; automated decision systems; civil penalty. Provides that the Director of the Department of Human Resource Management shall require any state agency that uses an automated decision system as a substantial factor in any employment decision, as those terms are defined in the bill, to (i) ensure that such system and the use of such system complies with federal and state law, (ii) make certain disclosures, (iii) provide an opt-out mechanism, (iv) annually test such system, (v) ensure data security, and (vi) train agency staff on such system. The bill requires the Department and local government employers to establish and publicize a process for applicants for employment and employees to file concerns and complaints regarding the use of automated decision systems in such employment decisions and a process for the investigation and resolution of any such concerns and complaints. The bill also provides that no final employment decision shall be made by an employer without the involvement of a human decision maker, and no employer shall solely use any recommendation or prediction from an automated decision system to make a final employment decision. The bill subjects violating employers to civil penalties.
Virginia Workforce Development and Career Connection and Training Foundation and Fund. Establishes as a body politic and corporate the Virginia Workforce Development and Career Connection and Training Foundation to support the interests of the Commonwealth's workforce and its employers and contributors through the Secretary of Labor and the programs and services of the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement. The bill sets out the membership and powers and duties of the Foundation, provides that the Foundation may hire an Executive Director and employees, and creates the Virginia Workforce Development and Career Connection and Training Fund. The bill provides that funds or property to the Fund are gifts to the Commonwealth and the Fund is exempt from all state and local taxes.
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program; eligible institutions. Includes private technical schools offering industry-recognized noncredit workforce credentials in high-demand fields in conjunction with comprehensive community colleges as institutions that are eligible to participate in and receive reimbursement for student program completion and credential attainment pursuant to the New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program.
Economic development incentives; wage requirements. Requires companies to pay an average wage for the jobs eligible for assistance under the component programs of the Virginia Jobs Investment Program that is no less than the prevailing average wage, defined in the bill, or, in the case of an economically distressed locality, defined in the bill, no less than 85 percent of the prevailing average wage. Under current law, to be eligible for the component programs, companies must pay a minimum entry-level wage rate per hour of at least 1.2 times the federal minimum wage or the Virginia minimum wage, whichever is higher, and in areas that have an unemployment rate of 1.5 times the statewide average unemployment rate, the wage rate minimum may be waived. The bill also authorizes the payment of Virginia Investment Performance Grants if the average wage paid by the eligible manufacturer or research and development service, excluding fringe benefits, is no less than 85 percent of the prevailing average wage in localities with either (i) an annual unemployment rate for the most recent calendar year for which such data is available that is greater than the final statewide average unemployment rate for that calendar year or (ii) a poverty rate for the most recent calendar year for which such data is available that exceeds the statewide average poverty rate for that year. Under current law, such authorization is limited to those localities meeting both the unemployment rate and poverty rate thresholds.
Line of Duty Act; sheriffs and deputy sheriffs. Provides that a sheriff or deputy sheriff shall be eligible for Line of Duty Act benefits. Under current law, sheriffs or deputy sheriffs are only eligible for Line of Duty Act benefits in the City of Richmond.
