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2023 SESSION

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23101996D
SENATE BILL NO. 890 Offered January 11, 2023 Prefiled January 4, 2023 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-299.9, relating to  Veterans' Teaching Licensure Support Fund and Program; established. ---------- Patrons-- Hashmi, Bell and McClellan; Delegates: Kory and Reid ---------- Referred to Committee on Education and Health ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-299.9 as follows:

§ 22.1-299.9. Veterans' Teaching Licensure Support Fund and Program.

A. As used in this section:

"Fund" means the Veterans' Teaching Licensure Support Fund created pursuant to subsection B.

"Program" means the Veterans' Teaching Licensure Support Program created pursuant to subsection C.

"Service member" means any individual who is currently a member of the uniformed services.

"Uniformed services" means the United States Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the Virginia National Guard.

"Veteran" means any individual who served in the uniformed services and was discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable.

B. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Veterans' Teaching Licensure Support Fund. The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds as may be available from public or private sources 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 for the purposes of supporting veterans of the uniformed services and service members teaching with a provisional teaching license in a public school in the Commonwealth or pursuing a career in education in the Commonwealth but seeking an alternative to a full-time teacher education program by reimbursing such veterans and service members for the professional studies tuition expenses incurred toward receiving a Virginia teacher licensure in the Commonwealth. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Superintendent.

C. The Veterans' Teaching Licensure Support Program is established for the purpose of supporting veterans and service members who are teaching with a provisional license in a public elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth or pursuing a career in teaching in the Commonwealth but seeking an alternative to a full-time teacher education program by awarding to any such eligible veteran or service member a reimbursement grant from the Fund to reimburse him for his professional studies tuition expenses incurred toward receiving teacher licensure in the Commonwealth.

D. A veteran or service member shall be eligible to apply to receive a reimbursement grant under the Program if:

1. He is (i) teaching in a primary or secondary public school in the Commonwealth under a provisional license or (ii) pursuing a career in teaching in the Commonwealth through an alternative to a full-time teacher education program; and

2. The professional studies tuition expenses for which he is seeking reimbursement were for courses (i) provided at an accredited institution of higher education in the Commonwealth, (ii) through an Educator Preparation Program that is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and (iii) that meet the professional studies requirements in the Licensure Regulations for School Personnel (8VAC20-23).

E. Each veteran or service member applicant eligible to receive a reimbursement grant pursuant to subsection D shall be awarded such reimbursement grant under the Program only after such applicant has completed one full year of teaching at any grade level kindergarten through grade 12 at a public school in the Commonwealth. The total value of any grant awarded to any veteran or service member applicant shall not exceed the total value of such applicant's professional studies tuition expenses eligible for reimbursement pursuant to subdivision D 2.

F. The Board shall administer the Program and shall establish such rules, procedures, and guidelines as it deems necessary for the administration of the Program, including procedures and guidelines for grant applications.