A. All appointments to, and promotions and tenure in, positions in the service of a covered institution shall be based upon merit and fitness, to be ascertained, as far as possible, by the competitive rating of qualifications by that institution.

B. No establishment of a position or rate of pay, and no change in rate of pay, shall become effective except on order of the appointing covered institution.

C. No participating Covered Employee of, or applicant for employment with, any covered institution shall be required, as a condition of employment, to smoke or use tobacco products on the job, or to abstain from smoking or using tobacco products outside the course of his employment, provided that this section shall not apply to those classes of employees to which § 27-40.1 or 51.1-813 is applicable.

D. The human resources policies adopted by the governing body of a covered institution shall, consistent with applicable federal law, address (i) employment of participating Covered Employees who leave the service of a covered institution for service in any of the armed forces of the United States, and the employment of other veterans of such military service, following the termination of their military service; and (ii) leave and other policies affecting the employment of participating Covered Employees who have been ordered to active military service in the armed forces of the United States, or in the organized reserve forces of any of the armed services of the United States, or of the Virginia National Guard. “Active military duty,” as used in this subsection, means federally funded military duty as (i) a member of the armed forces of the United States on active duty pursuant to Title 10 of the United States Code or (ii) a member of the Virginia National Guard on active duty pursuant to either Title 10 or Title 32 of the United States Code.

History

2005, cc. 933, 945.