Virginia Institute of Marine Science (268)

Authority: Title 23, Chapter 5, and Title 28.2, Chapter 11, Code of Virginia.

A. This Item includes general and nongeneral fund appropriations to support institutional initiatives that help meet statewide goals described in the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act of 2005 (Chapters 933 and 945, 2005 Acts of Assembly).

B. If sufficient appropriations are not made available by the Commonwealth, it shall not be necessary for the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to reallocate funds from existing research projects to provide the funding for research mandated in the Code of Virginia or in the Appropriation Act.

C. Out of this appropriation, $212,772 and four positions the first year and $212,772 and four positions the second year from the general fund is designated to support an Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. The center shall coordinate its efforts with the repletion program of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

D. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the development of a disease resistant native oyster remains a high priority for oyster-related research activities at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

E. Out of this appropriation, $68,391 the first year and $68,391 the second year from the general fund is provided for the continuation of the Clean Marina Program.  This additional funding will allow the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to the Commonwealth's marinas in an effort to improve water quality.

F. Out of this appropriation, $140,582 the first year and $140,582 the second year from the general fund is designated for the monitoring of the Chesapeake Bay's blue crab population.  This additional support will permit the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to generate the data necessary to develop fishery management plans, determine in-danger habitats, and project the annual blue crab catch.

G. Notwithstanding Chapter 719, 1999 Acts of Assembly, out of this appropriation, $159,579 the first year and $159,579 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to support the Fishery Resource Grant Fund and Program. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request of the President of the College of William and Mary.

H. Out of this appropriation, $3,076,343$3,125,094 the first year from nongeneral funds is provided to support educational and general programs and student financial assistance.  The source of the nongeneral funds is the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  This funding is intended to moderate the general fund reductions to the institution, as well as moderate the need for tuition and fee increases and increase student access.  The institution is authorized to spend this funding in either the first year or the first quarter of the second year.  Prior to release of this funding, the institution shall provide a plan to the Governor delineating the respective portion of this funding to be used for educational and general program funding and financial assistance, and the year it will be spent.  In addition, the plan shall include anticipated tuition and fee increases for the first and second year of the biennium.  The amounts appropriated are an estimate, and may be modified by the Director, Department of Planning and Budget, depending on final budget reduction actions taken to higher education and public education in the final budget bill enacted for the 2008-2010 biennium.

I. The appropriation for the fund source Higher Education Operating in this Item shall be considered a sum sufficient appropriation, which is an estimate of the amount of revenues to be collected for the educational and general program under the terms of the management agreement between the College of William and Mary and the Commonwealth, as set forth in Chapters 933 and 943 of the 2006 Acts of Assembly.