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2022 SESSION
22102051DPatrons-- O'Quinn, Ballard, Campbell, J.L., Kilgore and Wampler; Senator: Hackworth
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 23.1 a chapter numbered 12.2, consisting of sections numbered 23.1-1244 through 23.1-1248, as follows:
§ 23.1-1244. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Designated reviewers" means the Secretaries of Education, Finance, and Labor, the director of the Department of Planning and Budget, the president of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and the staff directors of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, or their designees.
"Eligible credential" means a noncredit workforce credential awarded by a qualified institution in a high demand advanced manufacturing field as identified by the Board of Workforce Development pursuant to § 23.1-627.5.
"Fund" means the Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Fund.
"Grant" means a grant paid from the Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Fund.
"Memorandum of understanding" means the negotiated instrument entered into by a qualified institution and the Commonwealth, regardless of whether the terms of the memorandum of understanding are encompassed or included within any other institutional partnership or performance agreement required by law. A memorandum of understanding shall contain criteria for eligible credentials, eligible expenses, and credential production goals for a period ending in 2042.
"New eligible credentials" means eligible credentials awarded by a qualified institution to meet the credential production goals set forth in a qualified institution's memorandum of understanding.
"Qualified institution" means a comprehensive community college, a career and technical education program operated by a local school board, a group of public school systems, or a public school, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, New College Institute, Richard Bland College, Roanoke Higher Education Center, Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, or Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center.
§ 23.1-1245. Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Fund created.
A. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Fund. The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for the Fund shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely to fund grants approved pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller.
B. The General Assembly establishes a long-term goal of supporting the efforts of qualified institutions to increase by fiscal year 2042 the number of new eligible credentials by at least 25,000 more credentials than the number of such credentials awarded in 2021. Moneys in the Fund shall be used to support this effort and to improve the readiness of graduates to be employed in advanced manufacturing fields and fields that align with advanced manufacturing growth opportunities identified by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. Funds from the Fund may be used to support admissions and advising programs designed to convey labor market information to students to guide decisions to enroll in eligible credential programs and academic programs and to fund facility construction, renovation, and enhancement and equipment purchases related to the initiative to increase the number of eligible credentials awarded.
§ 23.1-1246. Approval and update of memorandum of understanding.
A. In order to support the goal of the creation of at least 25,000 new eligible credentials by 2042, the amount of grants available under this chapter shall be calculated in accordance with a memorandum of understanding negotiated with each qualified institution. Each memorandum of understanding shall contain criteria for eligible credentials, eligible expenses, and credential production goals for the institution to reach by 2042.
B. Each memorandum of understanding shall be structured in accordance with and be consistent with the objectives and purposes of this chapter and the criteria and requirements developed by, and in the form and manner prescribed by, the Secretary of Finance in consultation with the other designated reviewers. Such criteria and requirements shall include:
1. The submission of an enrollment plan by the qualified institution detailing the number of eligible credentials produced between July 1, 2016, and June 30, 2021;
2. A detailed plan of (i) how the qualified institution proposes to materially increase the enrollment, retention, and completion of students pursuing eligible credentials, (ii) the resources necessary to accomplish such increase in enrollment, retention, and completion, and (iii) how the qualified institution plans to track new enrollment;
3. An accounting of the anticipated number of students enrolling in eligible credential programs;
4. The existing capacity of current eligible credential programs, and an estimate of the amount of funding necessary to grow the qualified institution's enrollment capacity pursuant to the plan submitted pursuant to subdivision 2;
5. Where applicable, proposed plans to partner with other qualified institutions to provide courses or programs that will lead to the completion of an eligible credential;
6. A proposed reallocation of existing funds held by or appropriated to the qualified institution to meet increased enrollment, retention, and completion goals in eligible credential programs; and
7. Any other information deemed relevant.
C. The designated reviewers shall review each qualified institution's proposed memorandum of understanding, or amendments thereto, provide comments or affirmation to the qualified institution by September 1 of the applicable year, and forward the proposed memorandum of understanding and any comments or affirmations to the Governor for approval of specific funding recommendations.
D. The Secretary of Finance, in consultation with the other designated reviewers, shall make a recommendation regarding the amount of annual grant payments for which a qualified institution may be eligible pursuant to its memorandum of understanding. In determining the appropriate amount of such grants, the Secretary and the designated reviewers shall consider (i) the actual cost of eligible credentials at the qualified institution, (ii) the number of students enrolled in qualified credential programs adjusted for actual completion rates at the qualified institution, (iii) tuition revenues generated by students in eligible credential programs at the qualified institution, and (iv) the reallocation of other funds held by or appropriated to the qualified institution for eligible new credential programs. A qualified institution shall be eligible to receive grants pursuant to this chapter, and subject to appropriation, upon signature of the memorandum of understanding by the Governor.
E. A qualified institution with an approved memorandum of understanding may request an update to its memorandum of understanding no more than once annually and no later than July 1 of each year. The designated reviewers shall review the request and determine if an update is warranted. The Secretary of Finance, in consultation with the other designated reviewers, may request that a qualified institution update its agreement at any point during the year. No amendment to a memorandum of understanding shall be final until signed by the Governor.
F. A new or amended memorandum of understanding shall be approved and signed pursuant to subsection D no later than November 1 in order for a qualified institution to apply for a grant in the next fiscal year.
§ 23.1-1247. Eligibility for grant payments.
A. A qualified institution with a memorandum of understanding approved and signed in accordance with the provisions of § 23.1-1246 shall be eligible to apply for a grant each fiscal year beginning with the Commonwealth's fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, through the Commonwealth's fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2041. Grants available under this chapter shall be paid to the qualified institution from the Fund, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, during each such fiscal year, contingent upon the qualified institution's meeting the requirements set forth in its memorandum of understanding. If the total amount of moneys appropriated to the Fund in a fiscal year is less than anticipated, grants to all qualified institutions under this chapter may be prorated to reflect the actual amount appropriated.
B. To apply for a grant each year, a qualified institution shall report to the Secretary of Finance regarding the qualified institution's progress on increasing the number of eligible credentials and meeting the requirements pursuant to its memorandum of understanding. Such report shall include, at a minimum: (i) progress on increasing the number of eligible credentials, as set forth in the memorandum of understanding, including actual enrollment in qualified credential programs; (ii) the aggregate number of new eligible credentials created and maintained as of the last day of the calendar year that immediately precedes the date of the application, including information related to the retention of students who enrolled in the calendar year immediately preceding the application; and (iii) the average annual cost incurred in the production of the new eligible credentials described in clause (ii). For applications filed four years or more after the date of a qualified institution's original memorandum of understanding, the qualified institution shall also include actual completion rates from qualified credential programs. The report shall be filed with the Secretary no later than May 1 of the year following the calendar year upon which the report is based, as an application for a grant in the fiscal year beginning on the immediately following July 1. Failure to meet the reporting deadline shall result in a deferral of a payment in the upcoming fiscal year.
C. A report received pursuant to subsection B shall be reviewed by the designated reviewers. Within 60 days of receipt of the report, the Secretary of Finance, in consultation with the other designated reviewers, shall certify to the Comptroller and the qualified institution the amount of the grant payment to be paid to the qualified institution, subject to appropriation. Payment of such grant shall be made by check issued by the State Treasurer on warrant of the Comptroller in the fiscal year immediately following the submission of such application, as provided in the memorandum of understanding. The Comptroller shall not draw any warrants to issue checks for the grant installments under this section without a specific appropriation for the same.
D. As a condition of receipt of grant payments, a qualified institution shall make available for inspection to the designated reviewers all documents relevant and applicable to determining whether the qualified institution has met the requirements for the receipt of a grant as set forth in this chapter and subject to the memorandum of understanding.
E. Failure of a qualified institution to meet the goals, metrics, and requirements set forth in its memorandum of understanding shall result in the adjustment of any future awards to the qualified institution to reflect such discrepancy.
§ 23.1-1248. Annual report.
The Secretary of Finance, in consultation with the other designated reviewers, shall submit a report by December 1 of each year to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations. Such report shall provide an update as to the progress of each qualified institution in meeting the goals set forth in its memorandum of understanding and the aggregate amount of grants awarded to the qualified institution pursuant to this chapter.