HB 1401 Higher educational institutions; speech on campus.

Chief patron: Landes

Summary as introduced:
Public institutions of higher education; speech on campus. Prohibits public institutions of higher education from abridging the freedom of any individual, including enrolled students, faculty and other employees, and invited guests, to speak on campus, except as otherwise permitted by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

02/20/17 Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended
02/20/17 Senate: Passed Senate with amendment (36-Y 4-N)
02/21/17 House: Placed on Calendar
02/21/17 House: Senate amendment agreed to by House (79-Y 16-N)
02/21/17 House: VOTE: ADOPTION (79-Y 16-N)

HB 1402 Higher educational institutions, public; certain positions require residency of the Commonwealth.

Chief patron: Landes

Summary as passed House:

Governing boards of public institutions of higher education; leadership; residency. Requires the president of the board of visitors of Virginia Military Institute and each chairman and vice-chairman or rector and vice-rector of the governing board of each other public institution of higher education to be a resident of the Commonwealth.

02/21/17 House: Placed on Calendar
02/21/17 House: Senate substitute rejected by House 17105458D-S1 (0-Y 95-N)
02/21/17 House: VOTE:REJECTED (0-Y 95-N)
02/22/17 Senate: Senate insisted on substitute (39-Y 0-N)
02/22/17 Senate: Senate requested conference committee

HB 1410 Educational institutions, baccalaureate public; enrollment of non-Virginia students.

Chief patron: Albo

Summary as passed House:

Governing boards of public institutions of higher education; duties. Requires the board of visitors of each baccalaureate public institution of higher education, except Virginia Military Institute, Norfolk State University, and Virginia State University, to adopt policies prohibiting the annual enrollment of full-time equivalent undergraduate non-Virginia students from exceeding 30 percent of the total annual enrollment of full-time equivalent undergraduate students unless the board, after covering the cost to educate each full-time equivalent undergraduate non-Virginia student that exceeds such 30 percent cap with tuition revenue from such students, uses any remaining tuition revenue from such students to lower in equal amounts the rate of tuition and fees charged to each undergraduate Virginia student. The bill declares that the governing board of each public institution of higher education has a duty to the Commonwealth and its citizens.

02/08/17 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed
02/08/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
02/13/17 Senate: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
02/13/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1410H2)
02/16/17 Senate: Failed to report (defeated) in Education and Health (7-Y 8-N)

HB 1434 Tuition Assistance Grant Program; eligible institutions, student speech and expression.

Chief patron: Head

Summary as introduced:
Tuition Assistance Grant Program; eligible institutions; student speech and expression. Requires each nonprofit private institution of higher education otherwise eligible to participate in the Tuition Assistance Grant Program to guarantee in writing, in its student handbook or a similar publication, freedom of speech and expression for enrolled students in order to be considered an eligible institution for the Program.

11/22/16 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100053D
11/22/16 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
01/27/17 House: Referred from Courts of Justice
01/27/17 House: Referred to Committee on Education
02/01/17 House: Tabled in Education

HB 1447 Higher educational institutions; establishment of substance abuse recovery housing program.

Chief patron: Miyares

Summary as introduced:
Higher education; student housing; substance abuse recovery housing program. Requires, by July 1, 2021, certain baccalaureate public institutions of higher education to establish a substance abuse recovery housing program to provide recovering students with a substance-free dormitory environment and appropriate support services. The bill allows participating institutions to designate a portion of a dormitory, and states that no participating institution shall be required to designate an entire dormitory, for such program.

12/01/16 House: Referred to Committee on Education
01/13/17 House: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/16/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1447)
01/24/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/07/17 House: Left in Education

HB 1452 Higher educational institutions; graduation requirements, course in Western civilization, etc.

Chief patron: Miyares

Summary as introduced:
Public institutions of higher education; graduation requirements; course in Western civilization or U.S. history. Requires each student at each public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth to complete a three credit hour course in Western civilization or U.S. history. The bill exempts from such requirement any student who has received a score of 4 or better on an Advanced Placement examination in U.S. history.

12/02/16 House: Referred to Committee on Education
01/12/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1452)
01/13/17 House: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/24/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/07/17 House: Left in Education

HB 1500 Budget Bill.

Chief patron: Jones

Summary as introduced:
Budget Bill. Amends Chapter 780, 2016 Acts of Assembly.

02/15/17 House: House acceded to request
02/15/17 House: Conferees appointed by House
02/15/17 House: Delegates: Jones, Cox, Landes, O'Bannon, Greason, Torian
02/15/17 Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
02/15/17 Senate: Senators: Norment, Hanger, Saslaw, Howell, Newman, Ruff, Wagner

HB 1512 Higher educational institutions, public; academic credit for American Sign Language courses.

Chief patron: Bell, Richard P.

Summary as passed:

Public institutions of higher education; academic credit for American Sign Language courses. Requires each public institution of higher education to develop policies for counting credit received for successful completion of foreign language courses, including American Sign Language courses, either in a secondary school or another institution of higher education toward satisfaction of the foreign language entrance, placement, and course credit requirements of the public institution of higher education. The bill requires each public institution of higher education to count credit received for successful completion of American Sign Language courses at the institution toward satisfaction of its foreign language course credit requirements.

02/17/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1512ER)
02/17/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/20/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 1569 Va Polytechnic Institute and State University and Va State University; purpose and courses of study.

Chief patron: Orrock

Summary as passed House:

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Virginia State University; purpose and programs. Declares it the intent of the General Assembly that in order to support a strong Commonwealth and to fulfill the principles of the federal Morrill Land-Grant Acts of 1862 and 1890 and Smith-Lever Act of 1914 (7 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.), the Commonwealth's two land-grant universities, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Virginia State University, shall maintain strong programs of instruction, research, and the extension of knowledge in agriculture, natural resources, family and consumer sciences, community viability, youth development, and such other fields as are necessary to fulfill their respective land-grant missions.

02/15/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1569ER)
02/15/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/17/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/17/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/17/17
02/17/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, February 24, 2017

HB 1592 Comprehensive community colleges; academic credit.

Chief patron: James

Summary as introduced:

Comprehensive community colleges; academic credit. Requires the State Board for Community Colleges to require each comprehensive community college to develop policies and procedures for awarding academic credit to enrolled students who have successfully completed a state-approved registered apprenticeship credential. This bill is identical to SB 999.

02/15/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/17/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/17/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/17/17
02/17/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, February 24, 2017
02/21/17 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 130 (effective 7/1/17)

HB 1662 Higher educational institutions, public; general education course credit, dual enrollment courses.

Chief patron: Greason

Summary as passed House:

Public institutions of higher education; general education course credit; dual enrollment courses. Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), in consultation with each public institution of higher education, to establish a policy for granting undergraduate general education course credit to any entering freshman student who has successfully completed a dual enrollment course. The bill requires SCHEV and each public institution of higher education to make the policy available to the public on their websites. This bill is identical to SB 1534.

02/17/17 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 Senate: Read third time
02/20/17 Senate: Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 Senate: Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 Senate: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)

HB 1664 State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

Chief patron: Greason

Summary as introduced:
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; collection and publication of wage data and the Virginia Longitudinal Data System. Authorizes the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (Council) to publish data on the proportion of graduates of each public institution of higher education and each nonprofit private institution of higher education eligible to participate in the Tuition Assistance Grant Program who are employed at 18 months and five years after the date of graduation. The bill directs that the data include the program and the program level, as recognized by the Council, for each degree awarded by each institution; the percentage of graduates known to be employed in the Commonwealth; the average salary and the average higher education-related debt for the graduates on which the data is based; rates of enrollment in remedial coursework for each institution; individual student credit accumulation for each institution; rates of postsecondary degree completion; and any other information that the Council determines is necessary to address adequate preparation for success in postsecondary education and alignment between secondary and postsecondary education. The bill requires each such institution of higher education to provide a link to such published postsecondary education and employment data.

The bill also requires the Council to administer the Virginia Longitudinal Data System as a multiagency partnership for the purposes of developing educational, health, social service, and employment outcome data; improving the efficacy of state services; and aiding decision making.

02/13/17 Senate: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
02/16/17 Senate: Reported from Education and Health (14-Y 1-N)
02/17/17 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 Senate: Read third time
02/20/17 Senate: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)

HB 1721 Community Colleges, State Board for; reduced rate tuition and mandatory fee charges.

Chief patron: Anderson

Summary as passed House:

State Board for Community Colleges; reduced rate tuition and mandatory fee charges; certain students who are active duty members of the Armed Forces of the United States. Permits the State Board for Community Colleges to charge reduced rate tuition and mandatory fees to any student who is (i) an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed outside of the Commonwealth; (ii) enrolled in a degree program at a comprehensive community college, provided that any such comprehensive community college that offers online degree programs is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity; and (iii) enrolled in training that leads to a Military Occupational Specialty in the Army or Marine Corps, an Air Force Specialty Code, or a Navy Enlisted Classification.

02/16/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1721ER)
02/16/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/17/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/17/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/17/17
02/17/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, February 24, 2017

HB 1746 Higher educational institutions; possession and administration of epinephrine.

Chief patron: Rush

Summary as passed:

Institutions of higher education; possession and administration of epinephrine, insulin, and glucagon. Authorizes and provides liability protection for employees of a public or private institution of higher education who are authorized by a prescriber and trained in the administration of epinephrine, insulin, or glucagon to possess and administer such epinephrine, insulin, or glucagon. This bill is identical to SB 944.

02/17/17 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1746ER)
02/17/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/20/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 1848 Comprehensive community colleges; tuition grants.

Chief patron: Hester

Summary as introduced:

Comprehensive community colleges; tuition grants. Provides that certain Virginia students who were in foster care or in the custody of the Department of Social Services or considered a special needs adoption and are enrolled in a noncredit workforce credential training program in a comprehensive community college may qualify for a grant for the payment of tuition and fees. This bill is identical to SB 1032.

02/17/17 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 Senate: Read third time
02/20/17 Senate: Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 Senate: Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 Senate: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)

HB 1857 Tuition, in-state; eligibility, certain individuals who have applied for permanent residency, etc.

Chief patron: Lopez

Summary as introduced:
Eligibility for in-state tuition; certain individuals who have applied for permanent residency; certain individuals approved under deferred action programs. Declares eligible for in-state tuition any individual who (i) attended a public or private high school in the Commonwealth for at least three years; (ii) graduated from a public or private high school in the Commonwealth or passed a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education; (iii) registers as an entering student or is enrolled in a public institution of higher education; (iv) provides an affidavit to the public institution of higher education in which he has registered as an entering student or is enrolled stating that he has filed an application to become a permanent resident of the United States and is actively pursuing such permanent residency or will do so as soon as he becomes eligible for such permanent residency; and (v) submits evidence to the institution at which he has registered as an entering student or is enrolled that he, or in the case of a dependent student, at least one parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis, has filed, unless exempted by state law, Virginia income tax returns for at least three years prior to the date of registration as an entering student or enrollment. The bill provides that any such individual shall remain eligible for in-state tuition for as long as he maintains continuous enrollment in the public institution of higher education and his application for permanent residency has not been denied. The bill also prohibits any student who became eligible for in-state tuition as a result of his lawful presence in the United States pursuant to approval under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program or any other federal deferred action program from being deemed ineligible for in-state tuition by virtue of the elimination or modification of any such program.

01/20/17 House: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/26/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1857)
01/31/17 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (4-Y 2-N)
01/31/17 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations
02/01/17 House: Tabled in Education

HB 1886 Higher educational institutions, public; admission of certain undergraduate students.

Chief patron: Hugo

Summary as introduced:
Public institutions of higher education; admission of undergraduate students domiciled in the Commonwealth. Requires the governing board of each public institution of higher education, except for the Virginia Military Institute, Norfolk State University, and Virginia State University, to establish policies requiring that at least 75 percent of undergraduate students admitted to the institution have established domicile in the Commonwealth. The bill requires each such governing board to recover any lost revenue caused by this requirement by increasing the tuition charged to undergraduate non-Virginia students. The bill requires compliance with such requirements and policies beginning no later than June 30, 2022.

01/25/17 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
01/25/17 House: Assigned App. sub: Higher Education
01/27/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1886)
02/01/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/03/17 House: Incorporated by Appropriations (HB1410-Albo)

HB 1887 Higher educational institutions; tuition assistance for non-Virginia students.

Chief patron: Hugo

Summary as introduced:
Public institutions of higher education; tuition assistance for non-Virginia students; proceeds from state debt and revenues generated from state taxes and fees. Prohibits each public institution of higher education from using any proceeds from state debt or revenues generated from state taxes and fees that are appropriated to such institution to offer any form of tuition assistance to any non-Virginia student and requires each public institution of higher education to separately account for such proceeds and revenues and provide a report of expenditures from such account to the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance upon the request of such committees.

01/25/17 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
01/25/17 House: Assigned App. sub: Higher Education
02/01/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/02/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1887)
02/03/17 House: Incorporated by Appropriations (HB1410-Albo)

HB 1892 Higher educational institutions, public; independent audit.

Chief patron: Miyares

Summary as introduced:
Governing board of public institution of higher education; independent audit. Requires the governing board of each public institution of higher education to submit the annual financial statements for the fiscal year ending the preceding June 30 and the accounts and status of any ongoing capital projects to a certified public accounting firm for the independent audit of such statements at the expense of the institution.

01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Education
01/18/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1892)
01/20/17 House: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/31/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/07/17 House: Left in Education

HB 1895 Virginia Student Loan Refinancing Authority; established, refinancing loan guaranty program.

Chief patron: Price

Summary as introduced:
Virginia Student Loan Refinancing Authority; refinancing loan guaranty program. Establishes the Virginia Student Loan Refinancing Authority (the Authority), to be governed by a 10-member board, for the purpose of developing and implementing a program by which the Authority may guarantee the obligations of an individual who incurred qualified education loan debt as a Virginia student at an institution of higher education in the Commonwealth under loans that refinance such education loan debt. The measure limits eligibility to individuals who have not received, and are not eligible to receive, relief under applicable federal student loan repayment or loan forgiveness programs. The Authority is authorized to issue bonds to finance its obligations under such loan guarantees.

01/10/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101352D
01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
01/13/17 House: Assigned App. sub: Higher Education
01/23/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Appropriations

HB 1911 Higher educational institutions, public; resident assistants training in mental health.

Chief patron: Yost

Summary as passed:

Public institutions of higher education; resident assistants; mental health first aid training. Requires each resident assistant in a student housing facility at a public institution of higher education to participate in Mental Health First Aid training or a similar program prior to the commencement of his duties.

02/17/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1911ER)
02/17/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/20/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 1915 Student loan servicers; student loan ombudsman.

Chief patron: Simon

Summary as introduced:
Student loan servicers; student loan ombudsman. Prohibits any person from acting as a student loan servicer without first obtaining a license from the State Corporation Commission (SCC) and establishes procedures pertaining to such licenses. Banks and credit unions are exempt from the licensing provisions. The servicing of a student loan encompasses (i) receiving any scheduled periodic payments from a student loan borrower pursuant to the terms of a student education loan; (ii) applying the payments of principal and interest and such other payments with respect to the amounts received from a student loan borrower, as may be required pursuant to the terms of a student education loan; and (iii) performing other administrative services with respect to a student education loan. Student loan servicers are prohibited from, among other things, (a) misrepresenting the amount, nature, or terms of any fee or payment due or claimed to be due on a student loan, the terms and conditions of the loan agreement, or the borrower's obligations under the loan; (b) knowingly misapplying or recklessly applying student loan payments to the outstanding balance of a student loan; and (c) failing to report both the favorable and unfavorable payment history of the borrower to a nationally recognized consumer credit bureau at least annually if the loan servicer regularly reports information to such a credit bureau. The measure also establishes the Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman within the SCC's Bureau of Financial Institutions. The Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman is required to provide timely assistance to any student loan borrower of any student education loan in the Commonwealth. The Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman is further required to establish and maintain a student loan borrower education course, which shall cover key loan terms, documentation requirements, monthly payment obligations, income-based repayment options, loan forgiveness, and disclosure requirements. Violations are subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $2,500. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2019.

01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
01/17/17 House: Assigned C & L sub: Special Sub-Consumer Lending
01/25/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1915)
01/26/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Commerce and Labor

HB 1916 Virginia Student Loan Authority; established, report.

Chief patron: Simon

Summary as introduced:
Virginia Student Loan Authority established. Establishes the Virginia Student Loan Authority, to be governed by a 10-member board, for the purpose of developing and implementing a program by which (i) each individual who incurred qualified education loan debt as a Virginia student at a public institution of higher education or private institution of higher education and who is eligible, on the basis of criteria established by the Authority that are substantially similar to criteria used by private lenders in the Commonwealth to evaluate student eligibility for an unsecured personal loan at market rates, may receive a loan from the Authority to refinance all or part of his qualified education loans, as that term is defined in relevant federal law, and (ii) each Virginia student who is eligible, on the basis of criteria established by the Authority that are substantially similar to criteria used by private lenders in the Commonwealth to evaluate student eligibility for an unsecured personal loan at market rates, may receive a direct qualified education loan from the Authority to attend a public institution of higher education or private institution of higher education.

01/10/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17103557D
01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
01/13/17 House: Assigned App. sub: Higher Education
01/23/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Appropriations

HB 1965 Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program; Expected Family Contribution.

Chief patron: Massie

Summary as introduced:

Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program; Expected Family Contribution. Broadens eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program by including students whose Expected Family Contribution, as calculated by the federal government using the family's financial information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), is no more than $12,000. Currently the program is available only to students whose Expected Family Contribution is no more than $8,000. The bill does not affect additional eligibility requirements for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program. This bill is identical to SB 1026.

02/16/17 Senate: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 House: Enrolled
02/20/17 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1965ER)
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 2001 Higher educational institutions; immigration enforcement.

Chief patron: Poindexter

Summary as introduced:
Immigration enforcement at public institutions of higher education. Requires the governing board and each employee of each public institution of higher education to cooperate in the enforcement of federal law by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement on the institution's campus, in any noncampus building or property, and on public property, as such terms are defined in relevant state law.

01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Education
01/20/17 House: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/26/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2001)
01/31/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/07/17 House: Left in Education

HB 2004 Higher educational institutions, public; annual executive summary.

Chief patron: Poindexter

Summary as introduced:
Governing board of public institutions of higher education; annual executive summary; enrollment and financial assistance data for certain students. Requires the annual executive summary submitted by the governing board of each public institution of higher education to the General Assembly and the Governor to indicate the number of undergraduate students enrolled full time who are not citizens of the United States and the number of such students who receive annual financial assistance to attend such institution in an amount greater than 25 percent of the total annual cost of full-time undergraduate Virginia student tuition and room and board.

01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Education
01/17/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2004)
01/20/17 House: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/31/17 House: Subcommittee recommends striking from docket
02/01/17 House: Stricken from docket by Education

HB 2040 Postsecondary schools; enrollment agreement with each student.

Chief patron: Murphy

Summary as passed:

Postsecondary schools; enrollment agreement. Prohibits postsecondary schools that are required to be certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (the Council) from enrolling students without entering into an enrollment agreement with each student. The enrollment agreement is required to be signed by the student and an authorized representative of the school and to contain all disclosures prescribed by the Council.

02/17/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2040ER)
02/17/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/20/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 2075 Commercial driver's license; instruction in comprehensive community colleges.

Chief patron: Wilt

Summary as passed House:

Commercial driver's license instruction; comprehensive community colleges. Allows comprehensive community colleges in the Virginia Community College System to administer the in-vehicle component of driver instruction to students enrolled in a commercial driver training course offered by such community college who have failed the behind-the-wheel examination or general knowledge examination for a commercial driver's license three times. The bill requires that after such additional training, the Department of Motor Vehicles only shall administer the applicable exam. The bill requires that comprehensive community colleges offering such coursework meet certain standards as established by the Department and that the Department notify such comprehensive community colleges and similarly affected schools of course curriculum requirements and notify such colleges and schools if new topics are added to the mandatory curriculum. Such comprehensive community colleges and affected schools shall have 45 days to comply and update their course curriculum with the relevant changes.

02/15/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2075ER)
02/15/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/17/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/17/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/17/17
02/17/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, February 24, 2017

HB 2167 Opioids and buprenorphine; Boards of Dentistry and Medicine to adopt regulations for prescribing.

Chief patron: Pillion

Summary as passed:

Boards of Dentistry and Medicine; regulations for the prescribing of opioids and buprenorphine. Directs the Boards of Dentistry and Medicine to adopt regulations for the prescribing of opioids and products containing buprenorphine. The bill requires the Prescription Monitoring Program at the Department of Health Professions to provide an annual report to the Joint Commission on Health Care on the prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines in the Commonwealth. The bill contains an emergency clause.

EMERGENCY

02/17/17 House: Impact statement from VDH (HB2167ER)
02/17/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/20/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 2171 Higher educational institutions, public; use of investment fund earnings.

Chief patron: Massie

Summary as passed House:

Public institutions of higher education; annual report; investments. Requires the governing board of each public institution of higher education to annually report to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (i) the value of investments as reflected on the Statement of Net Position as of June 30 of the previous fiscal year, excluding any funds derived from endowment donations, endowment income, or other private philanthropy; (ii) the cash earnings on such balances in the previous fiscal year; and (iii) the use of the cash earnings on such balances. In the event that the commitment of any such investment earnings spans more than one fiscal year, the report shall reflect the commitments made in each future fiscal year. The bill excludes from such reporting requirements the investments of Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority and the University of Virginia Medical Center.

02/17/17 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 Senate: Read third time
02/20/17 Senate: Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 Senate: Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 Senate: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)

HB 2172 Southern Virginia Higher Education Center; members of board of trustees, powers and duties.

Chief patron: Edmunds

Summary as introduced:

Southern Virginia Higher Education Center. Requires the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (the Center) to encourage the development and delivery of workforce training in collaboration with educational institutions serving the region, with a focus on critical shortage areas and the needs of industry. The bill replaces the superintendent of the Halifax County Public Schools as an ex officio member of the board of trustees of the Center with a superintendent of a public school division located in the Southside region appointed by the Governor. The bill also broadens the eligibility requirements to serve as one of the representatives of business and industry on the board of trustees. The bill requires the board of trustees to seek opportunities to collaborate with local comprehensive community colleges to meet specialized noncredit workforce training needs identified by industry. However, if the local comprehensive community college is unable to meet such needs, then the board may seek to collaborate with other education providers or provide Center-delivered specialized noncredit workforce training. This bill is identical to SB 949.

02/15/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2172ER)
02/15/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/17/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/17/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/17/17
02/17/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, February 24, 2017

HB 2249 Virginia State University; revenue-producing capital project.

Chief patron: Jones

Summary as introduced:
Prior authorization of bonds to fund certain revenue-producing capital projects at institutions of higher learning; Virginia State University. Expands the scope of a revenue-producing capital project at Virginia State University funded by a prior bond authorization. The bill has an emergency clause.

EMERGENCY

02/20/17 House: Enrolled
02/20/17 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2249ER)
02/20/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2249ER)
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 2250 Commonwealth of Virginia Institutions of Higher Education Bond Act of 2017; created.

Chief patron: Jones

Summary as passed:

Bonds for institutions of higher education. Authorizes issuance of bonds in an amount up to $13,637,000 for revenue-producing capital projects at institutions of higher education. The bill contains an emergency clause. This bill is identical to SB 1369.

EMERGENCY

02/20/17 House: Enrolled
02/20/17 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2250ER)
02/20/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2250ER)
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 2260 Higher educational institutions, baccalaureate public; to employ a full-time ombudsmen.

Chief patron: Villanueva

Summary as introduced:
Baccalaureate public institutions of higher education; ombudsmen. Requires each baccalaureate public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth to employ a full-time ombudsman to provide confidential and independent assistance to faculty, staff, and students in resolving complaints, conflicts, disputes, and other problems.

01/20/17 House: Referred to Committee on Education
01/23/17 House: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/27/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2260)
01/31/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/07/17 House: Left in Education

HB 2262 Online Virginia Network Authority; established.

Chief patron: Cox

Summary as passed House:

Online Virginia Network Authority established. Establishes the Online Virginia Network Authority (the Authority) as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth for the purpose of establishing the Online Virginia Network to coordinate the online delivery of courses that facilitate the completion of degrees at George Mason University and Old Dominion University. The bill requires the Authority to be governed by a 17-member board that consists of five members of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, four members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, three nonlegislative citizen members appointed by the Governor, one nonlegislative citizen member appointed by the board of visitors of George Mason University, one nonlegislative citizen member appointed by the board of visitors of Old Dominion University, the President of George Mason University, the President of Old Dominion University, and the Director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. The bill sets forth several duties of the Authority and grants the Authority operational flexibility in the areas of procurement and information technology, provided that the Authority adopts and complies with certain policies.

02/21/17 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB2262S1
02/21/17 Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (40-Y 0-N)
02/21/17 Senate: Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/21/17 Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (40-Y 0-N)
02/22/17 House: Placed on Calendar

HB 2299 Comprehensive community colleges; tuition grants.

Chief patron: LaRock

Summary as introduced:
Comprehensive community colleges; tuition grants. Provides that certain Virginia students who were in foster care or in the custody of the Department of Social Services or considered a special needs adoption and are enrolled in a noncredit workforce credential training program in a comprehensive community college may qualify for a grant for the payment of tuition and fees.

01/11/17 House: Referred to Committee on Education
01/19/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2299)
01/20/17 House: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/24/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/07/17 House: Left in Education

HB 2344 Tuition, in-state; individuals granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, etc.

Chief patron: Kory

Summary as introduced:
In-state tuition; domicile; individuals granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Declares, absent congressional intent to the contrary, that any individual granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has the capacity to intend to remain in the Commonwealth indefinitely and is therefore eligible to establish domicile and receive in-state tuition charges at any public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth.

01/14/17 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
01/17/17 House: Assigned App. sub: Higher Education
01/20/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2344)
02/01/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Appropriations

HB 2379 Roanoke Higher Education Authority; removes president of Bluefield College from board of trustees.

Chief patron: Head

Summary as introduced:

Roanoke Higher Education Authority; board of trustees. Removes the president of Bluefield College from the board of trustees of the Roanoke Higher Education Authority. This bill is identical to SB 1447.

02/16/17 Senate: Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
02/17/17 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 Senate: Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 Senate: Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 Senate: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)

HB 2426 Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program; changes student eligibility, renewal, amount of grants.

Chief patron: Sickles

Summary as introduced:
Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program; eligibility; renewal; amount of grants. Changes the student eligibility criteria for Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program grants by removing the requirement that the recipient be a dependent and by requiring the recipient to be enrolled full time. The bill places the following condition of renewal of Program grants: (i) no recipient shall receive a subsequent grant until he has satisfied the requirements to advance to the next class level; (ii) no recipient shall receive more than one year of support per class level for a maximum total of two years of support at an associate-degree-granting public institution of higher education or more than one year of support per class level for a maximum total of four years of support at a baccalaureate public institution of higher education; and (iii) no recipient shall receive more than a combined lifetime total of four years of support. The bill permits public institutions of higher education to use Program funds to provide larger awards to students in a higher class level or to students who enroll in 15 or more credit hours per semester. The provisions of the bill become effective beginning with the first-time entering freshman class of the fall 2018 academic year.

01/25/17 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
01/25/17 House: Assigned App. sub: Higher Education
01/26/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2426)
01/30/17 House: Subcommittee recommends incorporating (HB2427-Cox)
02/01/17 House: Incorporated by Appropriations (HB2427-Cox)

HB 2427 Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program; changes to Program, Commonwealth Award grants.

Chief patron: Cox

Summary as passed House:

Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program; grants. Makes several changes to the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (Program),including adding requirements that (i) each student eligible for the Program receive a grant from the institution's appropriations for undergraduate student financial assistance before Commonwealth Award grants are awarded to students with equivalent remaining need, (ii) each eligible student receive a Program grant in an amount greater than Commonwealth Award grants awarded to students with equivalent remaining need, (iii) each eligible student receive a Program grant in an amount greater than the grant of each eligible student with equivalent remaining need in the next-lowest class level, and (iv) each Program grant be determined by a proportionate award schedule adopted by each institution and vary according to each student's remaining need and the total of tuition, fees, and other necessary charges, including books. This bill is identical to SB 1527.

02/16/17 Senate: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 House: Enrolled
02/20/17 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2427ER)
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HJ 585 Study; State Council of Higher Ed; rates of in-state and out-of-state undergraduate admissions.

Chief patron: Rasoul

Summary as introduced:
Study; State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; rates of in-state and out-of-state undergraduate student admissions and enrollment at public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth and in each other state; report. Requests the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to study rates of in-state and out-of-state undergraduate student admissions and enrollment at public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth and in each other state and to report its findings to the General Assembly no later than the first day of the 2018 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

01/04/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100285D
01/04/17 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
01/12/17 House: Assigned Rules sub: Studies
01/26/17 House: Tabled in Rules

HJ 611 Study; State Council of Higher Ed. for Va; applied baccalaureate degrees at community colleges.

Chief patron: Marshall, D.W.

Summary as introduced:
Study; State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; applied baccalaureate degrees at comprehensive community colleges; report. Requests that the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia study the feasibility and benefits of comprehensive community colleges offering applied baccalaureate degrees by analyzing and making recommendations on (i) the affordability of obtaining an applied baccalaureate degree at a comprehensive community college as compared to a baccalaureate public institution of higher education, including the extent to which obtaining an applied baccalaureate degree at a comprehensive community college would reduce college debt; (ii) the feasibility and benefits of higher education centers on comprehensive community college campuses; (iii) the feasibility and benefits of joint degree programs between comprehensive community colleges and baccalaureate public institutions of higher education that are offered on community college campuses; (iv) the feasibility and benefits of offering applied baccalaureate degrees in engineering and information technology at Danville Community College and Patrick Henry Community College; (v) applied baccalaureate degrees that could be offered at Danville Community College, Patrick Henry Community College, or other comprehensive community colleges in addition to applied baccalaureate degrees in engineering and information technology; and (vi) options for residents in rural parts of the Commonwealth to earn applied baccalaureate degrees.

01/06/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102520D
01/06/17 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
01/12/17 House: Assigned Rules sub: Studies
01/26/17 House: Tabled in Rules

SB 52 Virginia Student Loan Refinancing Authority; established, report.

Chief patron: Howell

Summary as introduced:
Virginia Student Loan Refinancing Authority established. Establishes the Virginia Student Loan Refinancing Authority, to be governed by a 10-member board, for the purpose of developing and implementing a program by which each individual who incurred qualified education loan debt as a Virginia student at an institution of higher education in the Commonwealth and who is eligible, on the basis of criteria established by the Authority that are substantially similar to criteria used by private lenders in the Commonwealth to evaluate student eligibility for an unsecured personal loan at market rates, may receive a loan from the Authority to refinance all or part of his qualified education loans, as that term is defined in relevant federal law.

12/16/15 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16100703D
12/16/15 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/21/16 Senate: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/28/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in Education and Health (13-Y 0-N)
12/02/16 Senate: Left in Education and Health

SB 402 Virginia Higher Education Scholarship Act Fund; created.

Chief patron: Garrett

Summary as introduced:
Virginia Higher Education Scholarship Act. Requires, beginning with the incoming freshman class of 2017, the board of visitors of a four-year public institution of higher education to maintain a ratio of the in-state and out-of-state student population in each incoming freshman class that is not less than 55 percent in-state students. The bill stablishes the Virginia Higher Education Scholarship Fund and Program. The program grants scholarships to the top two percent of graduates from Virginia public high schools. The scholarships pay for tuition, mandatory fees, room, and board for eight semesters over five years. Recipients may apply the scholarships to one of nine public institutions of higher education on the basis of the locality of the student's high school or to Norfolk State University, Virginia Military Institute, or Virginia State University.

01/18/16 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB402)
01/25/16 Senate: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/28/16 Senate: Committee substitute printed to Web only 16104835D-S1
01/28/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
12/02/16 Senate: Left in Education and Health

SB 838 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Scholarship Pilot Program; DSS to establish and administer.

Chief patron: Stanley

Summary as passed Senate:

Virginia Community College System; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Scholarship Pilot Program. Directs the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) to establish a three-year Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Scholarship Pilot Program (the Program) for the purpose of providing access to postsecondary educational opportunities to students living in poverty. The Program would provide scholarships to select community colleges in the amount of $4,000 per year, to be applied toward the costs of tuition and books, to 200 selected students who meet TANF eligibility requirements. The Program would be funded with federal TANF block grant funds. The bill directs VCCS to (i) to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the State Department of Social Services establishing the parameters of the Program and the method for selecting students to participate; (ii) monitor, record, and analyze the outcomes of all participants; (iii) report to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than December 1 of each year regarding the effectiveness of and other information about the Program. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.

02/15/17 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 1-N)
02/15/17 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations
02/20/17 House: Reported from Education (19-Y 3-N)
02/20/17 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
02/21/17 House: Left in Appropriations

SB 900 Budget Bill.

Chief patron: Norment, Hanger

Summary as introduced:
Budget Bill. Amends Chapter 780, 2016 Acts of Assembly.

02/09/17 Senate: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/13/17 House: Placed on Calendar
02/13/17 House: Read first time
02/13/17 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
02/21/17 House: Left in Appropriations

SB 907 Governing boards of public institutions of higher education; leadership; residency.

Chief patron: Surovell

Summary as passed Senate:

Governing boards of public institutions of higher education; leadership; residency. Requires the president of the board of visitors of Virginia Military Institute and each chairman or vice-chairman or rector or vice-rector of the governing board of each other public institution of higher education to be a resident of the Commonwealth.

02/17/17 Senate: Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N)
02/17/17 Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
02/17/17 Senate: Senators: Surovell, Saslaw, Peake
02/20/17 House: Conferees appointed by House
02/20/17 House: Delegates: Landes, Lingamfelter, Hester

SB 944 Institutions of higher education; possession and administration of epinephrine.

Chief patron: Chafin

Summary as passed:

Institutions of higher education; possession and administration of epinephrine, insulin, and glucagon. Authorizes and provides liability protection for employees of a public or private institution of higher education who are authorized by a prescriber and trained in the administration of epinephrine, insulin, or glucagon to possess and administer such epinephrine, insulin, or glucagon. This bill is identical to HB 1746.

02/15/17 Senate: House amendment agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 Senate: Enrolled
02/20/17 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB944ER)
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

SB 955 Certain educational institutions; designation of governing boards.

Chief patron: DeSteph

Summary as introduced:
Certain educational institutions; designation of governing boards. Renames as boards of trustees the boards of visitors of certain educational institutions in the Commonwealth, including baccalaureate public institutions of higher education.

01/02/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/13/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB955)
01/19/17 Senate: Rereferred from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
01/19/17 Senate: Rereferred to Finance
01/25/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Finance (16-Y 0-N)

SB 985 Higher education; in-state tuition.

Chief patron: DeSteph

Summary as introduced:
Higher education; in-state tuition. Prohibits any percentage increase in in-state tuition or instructional fees for undergraduate students at Virginia's public institutions of higher education that exceeds the annual percentage increase, as determined by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, in the Average Consumer Price Index for all items, all urban consumers (CPI-U), as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, from January 1 through December 31 of the year immediately preceding the affected year.

01/03/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/19/17 Senate: Rereferred from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
01/19/17 Senate: Rereferred to Finance
01/24/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB985)
01/25/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Finance (16-Y 0-N)

SB 986 Higher education; in-state tuition.

Chief patron: DeSteph

Summary as introduced:
Higher education; in-state tuition. Prohibits any percentage increase in in-state tuition or instructional fees for undergraduate students at Virginia's public institutions of higher education that exceeds the annual percentage increase, as determined by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, in the national average wage index as defined in § 209(k)(1) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 409(k)(1), of the calendar year immediately preceding the affected year.

01/03/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/19/17 Senate: Rereferred from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
01/19/17 Senate: Rereferred to Finance
01/24/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB986)
01/25/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Finance (16-Y 0-N)

SB 987 Higher education; in-state tuition.

Chief patron: DeSteph

Summary as introduced:
Higher education; in-state tuition. Prohibits any percentage increase in in-state tuition or instructional fees for undergraduate students at Virginia's public institutions of higher education that exceeds the annual percentage increase, as determined by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, of the median household income in the Commonwealth established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, of the calendar year immediately preceding the affected year.

01/03/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/19/17 Senate: Rereferred from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
01/19/17 Senate: Rereferred to Finance
01/24/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB987)
01/25/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Finance (16-Y 0-N)

SB 999 Comprehensive community colleges; academic credit.

Chief patron: Ruff

Summary as introduced:

Comprehensive community colleges; academic credit. Requires the State Board for Community Colleges to require each comprehensive community college to develop policies and procedures for awarding academic credit to enrolled students who have successfully completed a state-approved registered apprenticeship credential. This bill is identical to HB 1592.

02/13/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/13/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/14/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/14/17
02/14/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, February 21, 2017
02/17/17 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 21 (effective 7/1/17)

SB 1026 Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program; Expected Family Contribution.

Chief patron: Dunnavant

Summary as introduced:

Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program; Expected Family Contribution. Broadens eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program by including students whose Expected Family Contribution, as calculated by the federal government using the family's financial information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), is no more than $12,000. Currently the program is available only to students whose Expected Family Contribution is no more than $8,000. The bill does not affect additional eligibility requirements for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program. This bill is identical to HB 1965.

02/13/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/13/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/14/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/14/17
02/14/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, February 21, 2017
02/20/17 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 102 (effective 7/1/17)

SB 1032 Comprehensive community colleges; tuition grants.

Chief patron: Favola

Summary as introduced:

Comprehensive community colleges; tuition grants. Provides that certain Virginia students who were in foster care or in the custody of the Department of Social Services or considered a special needs adoption and are enrolled in a noncredit workforce credential training program in a comprehensive community college may qualify for a grant for the payment of tuition and fees. This bill is identical to HB 1848.

02/17/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1032ER)
02/17/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/20/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

SB 1035 Student loan servicers; student loan ombudsman.

Chief patron: Howell

Summary as introduced:
Student loan servicers; student loan ombudsman. Prohibits any person from acting as a student loan servicer without first obtaining a license from the State Corporation Commission (SCC) and establishes procedures pertaining to such licenses. Banks and credit unions are exempt from the licensing provisions. The servicing of a student loan encompasses (i) receiving any scheduled periodic payments from a student loan borrower pursuant to the terms of a student education loan; (ii) applying the payments of principal and interest and such other payments with respect to the amounts received from a student loan borrower, as may be required pursuant to the terms of a student education loan; and (iii) performing other administrative services with respect to a student education loan. Student loan servicers are prohibited from, among other things, (a) misrepresenting the amount, nature, or terms of any fee or payment due or claimed to be due on a student loan, the terms and conditions of the loan agreement, or the borrower's obligations under the loan; (b) knowingly misapplying or recklessly applying student loan payments to the outstanding balance of a student loan; and (c) failing to report both the favorable and unfavorable payment history of the borrower to a nationally recognized consumer credit bureau at least annually if the loan servicer regularly reports information to such a credit bureau. The measure also establishes the Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman within the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. The Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman is required to provide timely assistance to any student loan borrower of any student education loan in the Commonwealth. The Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman is further required to establish and maintain a student loan borrower education course, which shall cover key loan terms, documentation requirements, monthly payment obligations, income-based repayment options, loan forgiveness, and disclosure requirements. The bill has a delayed effective date of October 1, 2017.

01/04/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101925D
01/04/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/23/17 Senate: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/25/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1035)
01/26/17 Senate: Stricken at request of patron in Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)

SB 1036 Virginia Student Loan Refinancing Authority; refinancing loan guaranty program.

Chief patron: Howell

Summary as introduced:
Virginia Student Loan Refinancing Authority; refinancing loan guaranty program. Establishes the Virginia Student Loan Refinancing Authority (the Authority), to be governed by a 10-member board, for the purpose of developing and implementing a program by which the Authority may guarantee the obligations of an individual who incurred qualified education loan debt as a Virginia student at an institution of higher education in the Commonwealth under loans that refinance such education loan debt. The Authority is authorized to issue bonds to finance its obligations under such loan guarantees.

01/04/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101926D
01/04/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/23/17 Senate: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/26/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Education and Health with letter (15-Y 0-N)

SB 1053 Student loans; licensing of qualified education loan servicers, report, civil penalties.

Chief patron: Howell

Summary as passed Senate:

Qualified education loan servicers. Prohibits any person from acting as a qualified education loan servicer without first obtaining a license from the State Corporation Commission (SCC) and establishes procedures pertaining to such licenses. Banks and credit unions are exempt from the licensing provisions. The servicing of a qualified education loan encompasses (i) receiving any scheduled periodic payments from a qualified education loan borrower pursuant to the terms of a qualified education loan; (ii) applying the payments of principal and interest and such other payments with respect to the amounts received from a qualified education loan borrower, as may be required pursuant to the terms of a qualified education loan; and (iii) performing other administrative services with respect to a qualified education loan. Qualified education loan servicers are prohibited from, among other things, (a) misrepresenting the amount, nature, or terms of any fee or payment due or claimed to be due on a qualified education loan, the terms and conditions of the loan agreement, or the borrower's obligations under the loan; (b) knowingly misapplying or recklessly applying qualified education loan payments to the outstanding balance of a qualified education loan; and (c) failing to report both the favorable and unfavorable payment history of the borrower to a nationally recognized consumer credit bureau at least annually if the loan servicer regularly reports information to such a credit bureau. Violations are subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $2,500. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2018.

02/08/17 House: Placed on Calendar
02/08/17 House: Read first time
02/08/17 House: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
02/13/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1053S1)
02/14/17 House: Failed to report (defeated) in Commerce and Labor (7-Y 13-N)

SB 1087 Higher education; in-state tuition.

Chief patron: Sturtevant

Summary as introduced:
Higher education; in-state tuition. Prohibits, without the prior statutory approval of the General Assembly, any percentage increase in in-state tuition or instructional fees for undergraduate students at Virginia's public institutions of higher education that exceeds twice the annual percentage increase, as determined by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, in the Average Consumer Price Index for all items, all urban consumers (CPI-U), as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, from January 1 through December 31 of the year immediately preceding the affected year.

01/06/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/19/17 Senate: Rereferred from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
01/19/17 Senate: Rereferred to Finance
01/24/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1087)
01/25/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Finance (16-Y 0-N)

SB 1088 Higher educational institutions, public; fixed four-year tuition rate.

Chief patron: Sturtevant

Summary as introduced:
Public institutions of higher education; fixed four-year tuition rate. Requires the governing boards of baccalaureate public institutions of higher education to annually establish an in-state tuition rate class cap that identifies the annual amount that the cost of in-state tuition will not exceed for each of the following four years. The bill prohibits the cost of in-state tuition from exceeding the class rate cap for an in-state student in the relevant class.

01/06/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/19/17 Senate: Rereferred from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
01/19/17 Senate: Rereferred to Finance
01/24/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1088)
01/25/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Finance (16-Y 0-N)

SB 1100 New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program; reporting by SCHEV on Program.

Chief patron: Newman

Summary as passed Senate:

New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program; reporting. Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to include in its annual report on the New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program information on the wages, including average wage and other relevant information, of students who have completed noncredit workforce training programs by credential name and relevant industry sector.

02/17/17 House: Passed House BLOCK VOTE (99-Y 0-N)
02/17/17 House: VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (99-Y 0-N)
02/22/17 Senate: Enrolled
02/22/17 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1100ER)
02/22/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1100ER)

SB 1109 State-level charitable contribution deductions; elimination of certain deductions.

Chief patron: Saslaw

Summary as introduced:
Certain tax credits; elimination of state-level charitable contribution deductions when such credits are claimed. Prohibits a taxpayer from claiming a charitable contribution deduction in calculating Virginia taxable income if a neighborhood assistance tax credit or an education improvement scholarships tax credit is claimed for the same donation. The prohibition is effective for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2017.

01/09/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101776D
01/09/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance
01/09/17 Senate: Introduced bill reprinted 17101776D
01/15/17 Senate: Impact statement from TAX (SB1109)
02/01/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Finance with letter (16-Y 0-N)

SB 1121 Military personnel, certain; eligibility of dependents for in-state tuition.

Chief patron: McPike

Summary as introduced:
Dependents of certain military personnel; in-state tuition. Provides that dependents of active duty military personnel and veterans who are eligible to receive educational assistance under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill and have transferred the educational assistance to the dependent are eligible to receive in-state tuition if the military personnel or veteran within the last five years was (i) assigned to a permanent duty station or workplace in the Commonwealth, the District of Columbia, or a state contiguous to the Commonwealth and resided in the Commonwealth; (ii) assigned unaccompanied orders and immediately prior to receiving such unaccompanied orders was assigned to a permanent duty station or workplace in the Commonwealth, the District of Columbia, or a state contiguous to the Commonwealth and resided in the Commonwealth; or (iii) assigned unaccompanied orders with the Commonwealth listed as the designated place move.

01/09/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102251D
01/09/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/23/17 Senate: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/26/17 Senate: Stricken at request of patron in Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)

SB 1234 Higher educational institutions, public; SCHEV to develop a passport credit program.

Chief patron: Dunnavant

Summary as passed Senate:

Public institutions of higher education; passport credit program. Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (Council), in consultation with each public institution of higher education, to develop a passport credit program that will be offered at each associate-degree-granting public institution of higher education. Under the program, each passport credit course shall satisfy a lower division general education requirement at any public institution of higher education, and any student who completes a passport credit course at an associate-degree-granting public institution of higher education shall be permitted to transfer all such credit hours earned to any public institution of higher education to which the student has been admitted and apply such credit hours toward the general education requirements at such institution. The bill requires the Council to develop such program by July 1, 2020 and each associate-degree-granting public institution of higher education to offer such program by the 2020-2021 academic year.

02/22/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1234H1)
02/22/17 House: Read third time
02/22/17 House: Committee substitute agreed to 17105429D-H1
02/22/17 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB1234H1
02/22/17 House: Passed House with substitute (100-Y 0-N)

SB 1346 Associate-degree-granting institutions; transfer of credit information.

Chief patron: Surovell

Summary as introduced:
Associate-degree-granting institutions; transfer credit information. Requires each associate-degree-granting institution of higher education to (i) designate in its course catalog each course that is offered in an associate degree program at such institution and is transferable for course credit to a baccalaureate public institution of higher education and (ii) provide information on the State Transfer Tool to all enrolled students.

01/10/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100789D
01/10/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/22/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1346)
01/30/17 Senate: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
02/02/17 Senate: Incorporated by Education and Health (SB1234-Dunnavant) (15-Y 0-N)

SB 1353 Higher educational institutions; primary duties of members of governing boards.

Chief patron: DeSteph

Summary as introduced:
Higher education; members of governing boards; duties. Provides that the primary duty of any member of a governing board of a public institution of higher education is to the Commonwealth. The bill requires that the educational programs for the governing boards of public institutions of higher education, developed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, shall include presentations on such primary duty.

01/17/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1353)
01/23/17 Senate: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/26/17 Senate: Reported from Education and Health (11-Y 4-N)
01/26/17 Senate: Rereferred to Finance
02/01/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Finance (15-Y 0-N)

SB 1369 Commonwealth of Virginia Institutions of Higher Education Bond Act of 2017; created.

Chief patron: Norment

Summary as passed:

Bonds for institutions of higher education. Authorizes issuance of bonds in an amount up to $13,637,000 for revenue-producing capital projects at institutions of higher education. The bill contains an emergency clause. This bill is identical to HB 2250.

EMERGENCY

02/17/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/20/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1369ER)
02/20/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

SB 1370 Virginia State University; revenue-producing capital project.

Chief patron: Norment

Summary as introduced:

Prior authorization of bonds to fund certain revenue-producing capital projects at institutions of higher education; Virginia State University. Expands the scope of a revenue-producing capital project at Virginia State University funded by a prior bond authorization. The bill contains an emergency clause.

EMERGENCY

02/17/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/20/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1370ER)
02/20/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

SB 1376 Higher educational institutions; public notice of proposed undergraduate tuition increase.

Chief patron: Petersen

Summary as passed Senate:

Public institutions of higher education; public notice of proposed tuition increase. Prohibits the governing board of a public institution of higher education from approving an increase in undergraduate tuition or mandatory fees without first providing students, parents, and the public a projected range of the proposed increase, an explanation of the need for the increase, and notice of the date, time, and location of any vote on the increase at least 30 days prior to such vote.

02/21/17 House: Read second time
02/22/17 House: Read third time
02/22/17 House: Committee amendments agreed to
02/22/17 House: Engrossed by House as amended
02/22/17 House: Passed House with amendments (99-Y 0-N)

SB 1379 Higher educational institutions; governing board to implement a plan to reduce in-state tuition.

Chief patron: Petersen

Summary as introduced:
Public institutions of higher education; tuition. Requires the governing board of a public institution of higher education to implement a plan to reduce in-state tuition over the next five years if the total of any budget surpluses or cash reserves is greater than 150 percent of its cost of education for the total enrollment in actual attendance during the fiscal year.

01/11/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/19/17 Senate: Rereferred from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
01/19/17 Senate: Rereferred to Finance
01/24/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1379)
01/25/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Finance (16-Y 0-N)

SB 1389 Higher educational institutions; letter certifying good standing of certain students.

Chief patron: Mason

Summary as introduced:
Institutions of higher education; letter certifying good standing of certain students. Requires institutions of higher education that include notations on the transcripts of students who have been suspended for, have been permanently dismissed for, or withdraw from the institution while under investigation for offenses involving sexual violence under the institution's code, rules, or set of standards governing student conduct to require the dean of students or similar such individual at any other institution of higher education within or outside the Commonwealth to submit to it a letter certifying the good standing of any student who seeks admission to the institution that requires the letter of certification and who, at the time such student withdraws from the other institution of higher education within or outside the Commonwealth, is determined to be in good standing according to the institution's code, rules, or set of standards governing such a determination and is not under investigation or subject to any pending institutional proceedings for a violation of the institution's code, rules, or set of standards governing student conduct.

01/11/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102279D
01/11/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/20/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1389)
01/30/17 Senate: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
02/02/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Education and Health with letter (15-Y 0-N)

SB 1405 Higher educational institutions, public; notice of proposed tuition increase.

Chief patron: Surovell

Summary as introduced:
Public institutions of higher education; notice of proposed tuition increase. Prohibits the governing board of a public institution of higher education from approving an increase in tuition or mandatory fees without first publishing in a prominent location on the institution's website a brief synopsis of the proposed increase including an explanation of the need for such increase and the maximum potential amount of such increase and notice of the date, time, and location of any vote on the increase at least 30 days prior to such vote. The bill requires a copy of the synopsis and the notice to be emailed to each student and requires that public comment be accepted at any hearing on the increase.

01/11/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102301D
01/11/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/19/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1405)
01/23/17 Senate: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/26/17 Senate: Incorporated by Education and Health (SB1376-Petersen) (15-Y 0-N)

SB 1447 Roanoke Higher Education Authority; removes president of Bluefield College from board of trustees.

Chief patron: Edwards

Summary as introduced:

Roanoke Higher Education Authority; board of trustees. Removes the president of Bluefield College from the board of trustees of the Roanoke Higher Education Authority. This bill is identical to HB 2379.

02/17/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/19/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1447ER)
02/20/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

SB 1527 Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program; changes to Program, Commonwealth Award grants.

Chief patron: Saslaw

Summary as passed:

Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program; grants. Makes several changes to the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (Program),including adding requirements that (i) each student eligible for the Program receive a grant from the institution's appropriations for undergraduate student financial assistance before Commonwealth Award grants are awarded to students with equivalent remaining need, (ii) each eligible student receive a Program grant in an amount greater than Commonwealth Award grants awarded to students with equivalent remaining need, (iii) each eligible student receive a Program grant in an amount greater than the grant of each eligible student with equivalent remaining need in the next-lowest class level, and (iv) each Program grant be determined by a proportionate award schedule adopted by each institution and vary according to each student's remaining need and the total of tuition, fees, and other necessary charges, including books. This bill is identical to HB 2427.

02/20/17 Senate: House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 Senate: Title replaced 17105424D-H1
02/22/17 Senate: Enrolled
02/22/17 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1527ER)
02/22/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1527ER)

SB 1534 Higher educational institutions, public; general education course credit, dual enrollment courses.

Chief patron: Sturtevant

Summary as passed Senate:

Public institutions of higher education; general education course credit; dual enrollment courses. Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), in consultation with each public institution of higher education, to establish a policy for granting undergraduate general education course credit to any entering freshman student who has successfully completed a dual enrollment course. The bill requires SCHEV and each public institution of higher education to make the policy available to the public on the SCHEV and institution's websites. This bill is identical to HB 1662.

02/17/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1534ER)
02/17/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/20/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

SB 1565 Higher educational institutions; tuition increases.

Chief patron: Wagner

Summary as introduced:
Public institutions of higher education; tuition increases. Prohibits any percentage increase in in-state tuition or instructional fees for undergraduate students at Virginia's public institutions of higher education that exceeds the state-mandated salary percentage increase for state employees of the immediately preceding year.

01/20/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/26/17 Senate: Rereferred from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
01/26/17 Senate: Rereferred to Finance
01/26/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1565)
02/01/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Finance (16-Y 0-N)

SJ 86 Pay It Forward, Pay It Back; SCHEV to study feasibility of implementing.

Chief patron: Edwards

Summary as introduced:

Study; SCHEV; Pay It Forward, Pay It Back; report. Directs the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to study the feasibility of implementing a "Pay It Forward, Pay It Back" higher education tuition financing model to increase access to educational opportunities and to decrease the debt burden on students in the Commonwealth.

01/13/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16101845D
01/13/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Rules
02/11/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in Rules
12/02/16 Senate: Left in Rules

SJ 242 Study; Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission; free community college; report.

Chief patron: Edwards

Summary as introduced:
Study; Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission; free community college; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the feasibility of providing Virginians the opportunity to attend comprehensive community college without paying tuition or fees.

12/27/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100932D
12/27/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Rules
02/02/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Rules

SJ 254 Study; State Council of Higher Education for Va; applied baccalaureate degrees.

Chief patron: Stanley

Summary as introduced:
Study; State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; applied baccalaureate degrees at comprehensive community colleges; report. Requests that the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia study the feasibility and benefits of comprehensive community colleges offering applied baccalaureate degrees by analyzing and making recommendations on (i) the affordability of obtaining an applied baccalaureate degree at a comprehensive community college as compared to a baccalaureate public institution of higher education, including the extent to which obtaining an applied baccalaureate degree at a comprehensive community college would reduce college debt; (ii) the feasibility and benefits of higher education centers on comprehensive community college campuses; (iii) the feasibility and benefits of joint degree programs between comprehensive community colleges and baccalaureate public institutions of higher education that are offered on community college campuses; (iv) the feasibility and benefits of offering applied baccalaureate degrees in engineering and information technology at Danville Community College and Patrick Henry Community College; (v) applied baccalaureate degrees that could be offered at Danville Community College, Patrick Henry Community College, or other comprehensive community colleges in addition to applied baccalaureate degrees in engineering and information technology; and (vi) options for residents in rural parts of the Commonwealth to earn applied baccalaureate degrees.

01/03/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102841D
01/03/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Rules
02/02/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Rules

SJ 292 Study; SCHEV; financial reserves; report.

Chief patron: Surovell

Summary as introduced:
Study; SCHEV; financial reserves; report. Requests the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to study the practice of maintaining financial reserves at baccalaureate public universities of higher education.

01/11/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102779D
01/11/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Rules
02/02/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Rules

Counts: HB: 40 HJ: 2 SB: 34 SJ: 4