HD55 - Report on the Minimum Criteria for Deputy Clerks of Circuit Court Career Development Programs


Executive Summary:
The 2005 General Assembly directed the Compensation Board to develop a career development plan (CDP) for Deputy Clerks. A committee comprised of Compensation Board staff and Clerks was formed to develop the criteria for participation in the plan and to determine costs for the plan. The plan sets the following criteria for participation in the career development program: the Clerk must have an employee evaluation program established, the applicant must have at least three years of experience as a Deputy Clerk in the office, the two most recent performance reviews must have been above average and no performance objective in the last two review periods should be below average, the deputy should have no more than one written reprimand from the Clerk within the two years prior to selection, and the deputy must achieve 80 hours of accredited contact hours of instruction in specific duties and responsibilities of a Virginia Deputy Circuit Court Clerk. After the initial 80 hours are earned, the Deputy must earn a minimum of 16 accredited contact hours of instruction in the 12 months preceding annual recertification.

Upon certification by the Clerk that all criteria have been met in the CDP adopted by the Clerk, the Clerk will annually recommend through the online budget process a 9.3% increase in pay for eligible deputies. The pay increase would take effective December 1 of each year when funding is approved by the General Assembly. The committee also developed a model plan for the Clerks.

The CDP for Deputy Clerks is similar to those programs proposed by the Compensation Board and subsequently approved by the General Assembly for Deputy Sheriffs, Deputy Commissioners of the Revenue, Deputy Treasurers and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys.