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2006 SESSION

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SB 676 School for the Deaf & Blind at Staunton, & School for Deaf, Blind, & Multi-Disabled at Hampton.

Introduced by: Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Consolidation plan for the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind at Staunton and the Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind and Multi-Disabled at Hampton.  Requires the residential programs of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind at Staunton and the Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind and Multi-Disabled at Hampton to be modified.  The Department of General Services (i) is authorized to enter into a comprehensive agreement for the necessary renovations, additions, and new facility construction at the Staunton Campus under traditional procurement or the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002; (ii) must develop a plan for disposing of buildings and property located on both campuses that are no longer needed for special education purposes; and (iii) must work with the Cities of Staunton and Hampton and the Department of Historic Resources when considering proposals that may transfer ownership to or establish long-term leases with private entities. The properties must be conveyed with appropriate historic easements at fair market value with the proceeds reverting to the general fund to offset the cost of construction of the new facility.  Authorizes the Governor to convey all real property, incluing all buildings and facilities located thereon, held in the name of the board of visitors of the Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind, and Multi-Disabled in Hampton to the New Horizons Regional Education Center, contingent on the two entities agreement on a facilities and land use plan.  If the New Horizons Regional Education Center dissolves or ceases to exist, the property reverts to the Commonwealth.  A second enactment clause declares that the funding for the new facility will be funded in accordance with the general appropriation act passed by the 2006 Session of the General Assembly, which becomes law.  This bill is identical to HB 350.

SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE:

Consolidation plan for the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind at Staunton and the Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind and Multi-Disabled at Hampton.  Requires the residential programs of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind at Staunton and the Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind and Multi-Disabled at Hampton to be modified.  The Department of General Services (i) is authorized to enter into a comprehensive agreement for the necessary renovations, additions, and new facility construction at the Staunton Campus under traditional procurement or the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002 of the facility in Staunton; (ii) must develop a plan for disposing of buildings and property located on both campuses that are no longer needed for special education purposes; and (iii) must work with the Cities of Staunton and Hampton and the Department of Historic Resources when considering proposals that may transfer ownership to or establish long-term leases with private entities. The properties must be conveyed with appropriate historic easements at fair market value with the proceeds reverting to the general fund to offset the cost of construction of the new facility. The Department of Education must work with appropriate local entities for the transition of services in Hampton to a regional day program. Further, the Department of General Services, in conjunction with the Board of Education, may convey the current Hampton campus to a nonprofit or public entity in Hampton roads. The plans in both jurisdictions must include reuse of existing facilities and sensitivity to the need to preserve the history of the institutions and continued funding. A second enactment clause declares that the funding for the new facility will be funded in accordance with the general appropriation act passed by the 2006 Session of the General Assembly, which becomes law.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Consolidation plan for the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind at Staunton and the Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind and Multi-Disabled at Hampton.  Directs the Board of Education to develop a plan for the consolidation of the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind at Staunton and the Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind and Multi-Disabled at Hampton. The consolidation plan must provide for, among other things, the continuation of a state-administered residential school in the Staunton area designed to accommodate up to 150 residential students and a regional program in Hampton to provide day services for multi-disabled students with vision impairments designed to accommodate up to 75 students. In developing the plan, the Board must consider whether the consolidation of the schools could result in the reduction of any services to students with visual or hearing impairments and, if so, must include alternatives for providing such services to affected students in the Commonwealth. The Board must report its plan for the consolidation of the schools to the Senate Committee on Finance, the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Education and Health, and the House Committee on Education by November 30, 2006.