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_____ 755 e. 1. Salaries for newly employed or promoted employees shall be established consistent with the compensation and classification plans established by the Governor. 2. The State Comptroller is hereby authorized to require payment of wages or salaries to state employees by direct deposit or by credit to a prepaid debit card or card account from which the employee is able to withdraw or transfer funds. f. The provisions of this section, requiring prior written approval of the Governor relative to compensation, shall apply also to any system of incentive award payments which may be adopted and implemented by the Governor. The cost of implementing any such system shall be paid from any funds appropriated to the affected agencies. g. No lump sum appropriation for personal service shall be regarded as advisory or suggestive of individual salary rates or of salary schedules to be fixed under law by the Governor payable from the lump sum appropriation. h. Subject to approval by the Governor of a plan for a statewide employee meritorious service awards program, as provided for in § 2.2-1201, Code of Virginia, the costs for such awards shall be paid from any operating funds appropriated to the affected agencies. i. The General Assembly hereby affirms and ratifies the Governor's existing authority and the established practice of this body to provide for pay differentials or to supplement base rates of pay for employees in specific job classifications in particular geographic and/or functional areas where, in the Governor's discretion, they are needed for the purpose of maintaining salaries which enable the Commonwealth to maintain a competitive position in the relevant labor market. j.1. If at any time the Administrator of the Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council serves on the faculty of a state- supported institution of higher education, the faculty appointment must be approved by the Council. Such institution shall pay one-half of the salary listed in § 4-6.01 c 6 of this act. Further, such institution may provide compensation in addition to that listed in § 4-6.01 c 6; provided, however, that such additional compensation must be approved by the Council. 2. If the Administrator ceases to be a member of the faculty of a state-supported institution of higher education, the total salary listed in § 4-6.01 c 6 shall be paid from the Council's appropriation. k.1.a. Except as otherwise provided for in this subdivision, any increases in the salary band assignment of any job role contained in the compensation and classification plans approved by the Governor shall be effective beginning with the first pay period, defined as the pay period from June 25 through July 9, of the fiscal year if: (1) the agency certifies to the Secretary of Finance that funds are available within the agency's appropriation to cover the cost of the increase for the remainder of the current biennium and presents a plan for covering the costs next biennium and the Secretary concurs, or (2) such funds are appropriated by the General Assembly. If at any time the Secretary of Administration shall certify that such change in the salary band assignment for a job role is of an emergency nature and the Secretary of Finance shall certify that funds are available to cover the cost of the increase for the remainder of the biennium within the agency's appropriation, such change in compensation may be effective on a date agreed upon by these two Secretaries. The Secretary of Administration shall provide a monthly report of all such emergency changes in accordance with § 4-8.00, Reporting Requirements. b. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, state employees will be paid on the first workday of July for the work period June 10 to June 24 in any calendar year in which July 1 falls on a weekend. 2. Salary adjustments for any employee through a promotion, role change, exceptional recruitment and retention incentive options, or in-range adjustment shall occur only if: a) the agency has sufficient funds within its appropriation to cover the cost of the salary adjustment for the remainder of the current biennium or b) such funds are appropriated by the General Assembly. 3. No changes in salary band assignments affecting classified employees of more than one agency shall become effective unless the Secretary of Finance certifies that sufficient funds are available to provide such increase or plan to all affected employees supported from the general fund. l. Full-time employees of the Commonwealth, including faculty members of state institutions of higher education, who are appointed to a state-level board, council, commission or similar collegial body shall not receive any such compensation for their services as members or chairmen except for reimbursement of reasonable and necessary expenses. The foregoing provision shall likewise apply to the Compensation Board, pursuant to § 15.2-1636.5, Code of Virginia. m.1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board of visitors or other governing body of any public institution of higher education is authorized to establish age and service eligibility criteria for faculty participating in voluntary early retirement incentive plans for their respective institutions pursuant to § 23.1-1302 B and the cash payment offered under such compensation plans pursuant to § 23.1-1302 D, Code of Virginia. Notwithstanding the limitations in § 23.1-1302 D, the total cost in any fiscal year for any such compensation plan , shall be set forth by the governing body in the compensation plan for approval by the Governor and review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the Attorney General. 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, employees holding full-time, academic-year classified positions at public institutions of higher education shall be considered "state employees" as defined in § 51.1-124.3, Code of Virginia, and shall be