Bill Text: VA SB474 | 2024 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: School Construction Fund and Program; definitions.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-04-04 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0389) [SB474 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-SB474-Comm_Sub.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§22.1-175.1 and 22.1-175.4 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§22.1-175.1. Virginia Public School Construction Grants Program established.
A. For the purposes of this chapter:
"Public school buildings and facilities" or "public school buildings" includes any building or facility used for career and technical education programs provided at any regional comprehensive school established pursuant to §22.1-26.
"School division" includes joint or regional schools established pursuant to §22.1-26.
B. The Virginia Public School Construction Grants
Program is hereby established to provide grants to eligible school divisions
for school construction, additions, infrastructure, site acquisition for public
school buildings and facilities, and renovations, including the costs of
retrofitting or enlarging public school buildings; further, if a school
division has completed any such projects during the previous ten 10
years, the grants may be used for debt service payments or a portion thereof.
The Program shall be administered by the Board of Education.
Local governing bodies may also establish a separate escrow fund for the deposit of such funds as provided in §22.1-175.5.
§22.1-175.4. Application for grants.
All funds appropriated for financial assistance for the
purposes of this chapter shall be apportioned and distributed among the school
divisions of the Commonwealth in accordance with eligibility and needs criteria
established by the 2000 Session of the General Assembly Board.
2. That the Board of Education shall update the guidelines it is required to issue pursuant to §22.1-175.3 of the Code of Virginia to explicitly clarify that grants provided to any qualifying school division under the Virginia Public School Construction Grants Program may be used for construction, additions, infrastructure, site acquisition, and renovations for buildings and facilities.