Authority: Title 23, Chapter 16, Code of Virginia.

A. It is the objective of the Commonwealth that a standard of 70 percent full-time faculty be established for the Virginia Community College System.

B.1. Out of this appropriation, $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for the A. L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership at Patrick Henry Community College.

2. Out of this appropriation, $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for the A. L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership at Patrick Henry Community College for an on-going match for a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce to develop a manufacturer's assistance program covering most of Virginia.

C. Out of this appropriation, amounts for the following special programs are designated: at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Program for the Deaf, $99,300 and 4.0 positions the first year and $99,300 and 4.0 positions the second year from the general fund and the Program for the Mentally Retarded, $140,000 and 4.0 positions the first year and $140,000 and 4.0 positions the second year from the general fund; and, at New River Community College, the Program for the Deaf, $120,500 and 4.0 positions the first year and $120,500 and 4.0 positions the second year from the general fund; and the Program for the Mentally Retarded, $107,200 and 4.5 positions the first year and $107,200 and 4.5 positions the second year from the general fund.

D. Out of this appropriation, $799,196 the first year and $799,196 the second year from the general fund is designated for the first two of five annual payments for the lease purchase of approximately $3,555,000 of computing and other equipment required for the opening of the Norfolk Campus of Tidewater Community College. Payments of $799,196 will be required for years three through five of the lease-purchase agreement, with a final payment of $133,199. In addition, included within the amounts provided for in this item is $200,000 from the general fund in the second year for the first of five annual payments for the lease purchase of computing and related equipment totaling approximately $816,000 for facilities located at the new Fredericksburg campus of Germanna Community College.

E. Out of this appropriation, $60,000 the first year and $60,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to support the Southwest Virginia Telecommunications Network.

F. Out of this appropriation, $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to support the Southwestern Virginia Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center at Wytheville Community College.

G. It is the intent of the General Assembly that funds available to the Virginia Community College System be reallocated to accommodate changes in enrollment and other cost factors at each of the community colleges.

H. Out of this appropriation, $3,537,918 from the general fund and $512,750 in nongeneral funds the first year and $2,926,004 from the general fund and $512,750 in nongeneral funds the second year for estimated lease payments to support the cost of equipment purchased with the proceeds of bonds issued by the Virginia College Building Authority. The Director of the Department of Planning and Budget shall transfer to the Virginia College Building Authority on July 1, 1998, the amounts in the first year, and on July 1, 1999, the amounts in the second year to support the authority's debt obligation.

I. Out of this appropriation, $50,000 the first year and $50,000 the second year is designated from the general fund to enhance the skills of the interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing and to enable them to achieve higher levels of expertise.