                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DUTIES OF AGENCIES AND THEIR APPOINTING AUTHORITIES; ESTABLISHMENT OF PERSONNEL
STANDARDS; DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION STRATEGIC PLANS (§ 2.2-602)

A. The heads of state agencies shall be the appointing authorities of the
respective agencies, and shall establish and maintain within their agencies
methods of administration relating to the establishment and maintenance of
personnel standards on a merit basis that are approved by the Governor for the
proper and efficient enforcement of the Virginia Personnel Act (&#xA7; 2.2-2900
et seq.). But the Governor shall exercise no authority with respect to the
selection or tenure of office of any individual employed in accordance with such
methods, except when the Governor is the appointing authority.
			Appointing authorities may assign to the personnel officers or to other
officers and employees of their agencies such personnel duties as they see fit.
			Agencies shall establish and maintain rosters of their employees that shall
set forth, as to each employee, the class title, pay, and status and such other
data as they may deem desirable to produce significant facts pertaining to
personnel administration.
			Agencies shall establish and maintain such promotion and employment lists,
rated according to merit and fitness, as they deem desirable. Agencies may make
use of the employment list kept by the Department of Human Resource Management
in lieu of keeping employment lists for their agencies.
			Agencies shall supply the Governor with any information he deems necessary
for the performance of his duties in connection with the administration of
Virginia Personnel Act (&#xA7; 2.2-2900 et seq.).

B. The heads of state agencies shall establish and maintain a comprehensive
diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic plan in coordination with the
Governor&#8217;s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
			The plan shall integrate the diversity, equity, and inclusion goals into the
agency&#8217;s mission, operations, programs, and infrastructure to enhance
equitable opportunities for the populations served by the agency and to foster
an increasingly diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace environment.
			The plan shall include best practices that (i) proactively address potential
barriers to equal employment opportunities pursuant to federal and state equal
employment opportunity laws; (ii) foster pay equity pursuant to federal and
state equal pay laws; (iii) promote diversity and equity in hiring, promotion,
retention, succession planning, and agency leadership opportunities; and (iv)
promote employee engagement and inclusivity in the workplace.
			Each agency shall establish an infrastructure to effectively support ongoing
progress and achievements by reporting diversity, equity, and inclusion goals in
coordination with the Governor&#8217;s Director of Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion and the General Assembly.
			Each agency shall submit an annual report to the Governor and the General
Assembly by July 1 of each year assessing the impact of the strategic plan on
the populations served by the agency and on the agency&#8217;s workforce and
budget.

HISTORY: 1976, c. 761, § 2.1-114.7; 2000, cc. 66, 657; 2001, c. 844; 2021, Sp.
Sess. I, c. 168; 2024, c. 659.