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2016 SESSION

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HB 66 New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Fund and Program; established.

Introduced by: Kathy J. Byron | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Fund and Program established. Establishes the New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Fund and Program, to be administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, for the purpose of disbursing funds to certain public institutions of higher education and other educational institutions in the Commonwealth to provide grants to Virginia students who complete certain noncredit workforce training programs at the institution and subsequently attain a relevant noncredit workforce credential. The bill also includes provisions relating to the amount and terms of such grants, academic credit for the attainment of noncredit workforce credentials, and reporting on completion of noncredit workforce training programs and attainment of noncredit workforce credentials. This bill is identical to SB 576.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Fund and Program established. Establishes the New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Fund and Program, to be administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, for the purpose of disbursing funds to certain public institutions of higher education and other educational institutions in the Commonwealth to provide grants to Virginia students who complete certain noncredit workforce training programs at the institution and subsequently attain a relevant noncredit workforce credential. The bill also includes provisions relating to the amount and terms of such grants, academic credit for the attainment of noncredit workforce credentials, and reporting on completion of noncredit workforce training programs and attainment of noncredit workforce credentials.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Grants for earning workforce training credentials; New Economy Industry Credential Assistance Training Grants. Establishes a grant program that would pay grants to certain individuals who complete eight hours of community service and who subsequently complete a noncredit workforce training program and earn the related credential in a high-demand field. The grant, in an aggregate amount of $2,000, would be limited to payment of tuition charged for the training program, the cost of any required textbooks, and the cost of any examination required to earn the credential. The noncredit workforce training program must be provided or sponsored by (i) a Virginia community college, (ii) a private institution certified to operate in Virginia by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia that has elected to participate in the grant program, or (iii) the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, New College Institute, Roanoke Higher Education Center, Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, or Eastern Virginia Medical School. Individuals would apply for grants directly to the school that provided or sponsored the workforce training program. The bill requires the Virginia Board of Workforce Development to maintain on its website a list of high-demand fields and industry certifications that qualify as credentials. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2017.