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 $250,000 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, $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for the A. L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership at Patrick Henry Community College for an ongoing 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 third and fourth 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 first year and $200,000 from the general fund in the second year for the second and third 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, $4,695,358 from the general fund and $512,750 in nongeneral funds the first year and $3,599,623 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 $185,000 and two positions 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.

J. Out of the Higher Education Equipment Trust Fund allocation for the Virginia Community College System, in the second year $500,000 is provided for the acquisition of heavy industrial equipment for programs at New River Community College, Mountain Empire Community College, and Central Virginia Community College.

K. This appropriation includes $50,000 the first year from the general fund for a study relating to the development of technology initiatives involving the community colleges and local school systems. The study shall be coordinated by the Virginia Community College System Office. The study's findings and recommendations shall be submitted by June 15, 1999, to the State Board for Community Colleges.

L.1. Out of this appropriation, $50,000 the first year from the general fund is provided for construction of a Commonwealth Classroom at Rappahannock Community College, Warsaw Campus.

2. Out of this appropriation, $130,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for construction of a Commonwealth Classroom on the Glenns Campus of Rappahannock Community College and a Commonwealth Classroom on the Locust Grove Campus of Germanna Community College.

M.1. As recommended by House Joint Resolution No. 622, the Joint Subcommittee to Study Noncredit Education for Workforce Training in the Commonwealth, there are hereby established three statewide Institutes of Excellence, responsible for training in semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and information technology throughout the state.

2. Out of the Higher Education Equipment Trust Fund allocation for the Virginia Community College System, $1,000,000 in each year is provided for semiconductor manufacturing training equipment for the Institute of Excellence in Semiconductor Training in Richmond.

3. Under the guidance of the Statewide Workforce Training Council, authorized in Chapter 701, 1998 Acts of Assembly, the Virginia Community College System shall submit to the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees by November 4, 1998, an interim report on the establishment of the Institutes of Excellence and the Workforce Development Centers, and related workforce training initiatives funded through this appropriation. The Virginia Community College System shall submit by November 4 of each subsequent year a report detailing the financing, activities, accomplishments and plans for the Institutes of Excellence, the Workforce Development Centers, and other workforce training initiatives. The report shall include, but not be limited to:

a. performance measures to be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the workforce recruiters;

b. detailed information on job placements, participation by local governments and the private sector, and other data relevant to the activities of the Workforce Development Centers;

c. the number of grants awarded from the general fund appropriations provided for noncredit instruction, the number of students trained and courses offered, the amounts of local government or private sector funding used to match these appropriations, and the program outcomes; and

d. detailed information on the number of students enrolled and training programs offered through the Institutes of Excellence and Workforce Development Centers; the number of students successfully completing training and education courses, and the types of certifications awarded; the amount or percentage of private funding contributed for the institutes' capital and operating needs; the number of businesses participating in the institutes' programming; the number of students completing the training who were placed in jobs or took action to further their education; and plans to share or broadcast information and classroom instruction to other Virginia Community College campuses and workforce development centers in the Commonwealth.

N. Out of this appropriation, $500,000 and 10 positions the first year and $875,000 and 18 positions the second year from the general fund is provided for staff who will be responsible for coordinating workforce training in the campus service area. The staff will work with local business and industry to determine training needs, coordinate with local economic development personnel, the local workforce training council, and other providers. It is the General Assembly's intent that the Virginia Community College System maximize these positions by encouraging funding matches at the local level.

O. Out of this appropriation, $40,000 the first year from the general fund is provided to Danville Community College for the Learning Center in Gretna, Virginia.

P. Out of this appropriation, $600,000 in each year and four positions from the general fund is provided for four workforce training centers: the Peninsula Workforce Development Center (Thomas Nelson Community College), $100,000 each year and 1.0 position; the Regional Center for Applied Technology Training (Danville Community College), $200,000 each year and 1.0 position; a Workforce Development Center at Paul D. Camp Community College, $200,000 each year and 1.0 position; and the Central Virginia Manufacturing Technology Training Center in the Lynchburg area, $100,000 each year and 1.0 position. Each center shall provide a 25 percent match prior to the release of state funding.

Q. It is the intent of the General Assembly that noncredit business and industry work-related training courses and programs offered by community colleges be funded at a ratio of 30 percent from the general fund and 70 percent in nongeneral funds. Out of this appropriation, $750,000 in the first year and $1,000,000 in the second year from the general fund is designated for this purpose. These funds may be combined with funds of $200,000 per year already included in the Virginia Community College System budget for the "Virginia Works" program. The funds will be allocated on a competitive grant basis, with criteria to include programs that serve small to medium-sized businesses, especially in regions where other education services, either public or proprietary, are not available.

R.1. Out of this appropriation, $203,484 the first year and $297,596 the second year from the general fund is provided for the first two of five annual lease payments for the purchase of $1,327,000 of equipment for the new Midlothian Campus of John Tyler Community College. Annual payments in years three through five are expected to be $297,596, with a final payment in year six of $99,199.

2. Out of the Higher Education Equipment Trust Fund allocation for the Virginia Community College System, in the second year $1,289,562 is provided for equipment for the Midlothian Campus of John Tyler Community College.

S. Out of this appropriation, $125,000 the first year from the general fund is provided to Southwest Virginia Community College as the state match for a $500,000 federal grant to expand the scope of the Pre-Employment Training Center.

T. The Virginia Community College System is authorized to charge community college students a technology fee pursuant to § 4-2.01 c of this act. The fee may be determined on a credit hour basis.

U.1. Out of this appropriation, $345,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the annual lease or rental costs of space in the Botetourt County Education and Training Center at Greenfield. The State Board for Community Colleges may enter into a lease agreement with Botetourt County, its agents or instrumentalities, for the purpose of providing workforce training and retraining facilities and programming, and community education facilities and programming.

2. The form and terms of the agreement shall be approved by the State Board for Community Colleges and the Governor, as otherwise provided by law.

3. The term of such lease or rental agreement shall be for a period not to exceed 20 years from the date of beneficial occupancy.

4. The general fund amounts provided for in this Item for workforce training, retraining, programming, and community education facilities shall be matched by local or private sources in a ratio of two-thirds state funds to at least one-third local or private funds, as approved by the State Board for Community Colleges.

5. Prior to the execution of the lease agreement, the plans and specifications for the facilities to be provided shall be approved by the State Board for Community Colleges.

6. This appropriation includes $200,000 the second year from the general fund for the first of five annual payments for the lease-purchase of furnishings and equipment totaling $1,240,000 for the Botetourt County Education and Training Center at Greenfield. Annual payments in years two through five are expected to be $279,099, with a final payment in year six of $116,291.

V. This appropriation includes $165,000 from the general fund in the first year for the purchase of equipment for facilities at Piedmont Virginia Community College. In addition, the appropriation includes $74,355 the first year and $108,758 the second year from the general fund for the first two of five annual payments for the lease-purchase of equipment totaling $485,000 for facilities at the college.

W.1. Out of this appropriation, $330,000 the first year and $330,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the annual lease or rental costs of space in the Virginia Peninsula Work Force Workforce Development Center. The State Board for Community Colleges may enter into a lease agreement with the City of Hampton, its agents or instrumentalities, for the purpose of providing workforce training and retraining facilities and programming, and community education facilities and programming.

2. The form and terms of the agreement shall be approved by the State Board for Community Colleges and the Governor, as otherwise provided by law.

3. The term of such lease or rental agreement shall be for a period not to exceed 20 years from the date of beneficial occupancy.

4. The general fund amounts provided for in this Item for workforce training, retraining, programming, and community education facilities shall be matched by local or private sources in a ratio of two-thirds state funds to at least one-third local or private funds, as approved by the State Board for Community Colleges.

5. Prior to the execution of the lease agreement, the plans and specifications for the facilities to be provided shall be approved by the State Board for Community Colleges.

X.1. The State Board for Community Colleges, with the approval of the Governor as otherwise provided by law, is authorized to convey title, or to grant a non-exclusive terminable license to use, to the City of Hampton, its agents or instrumentalities, certain real property described generally as thirty acres, more or less, of the eastern-most portion of the campus of Thomas Nelson Community College.

2. The conveyance provided in this section is authorized for the beneficial purpose of improving said property for use by the college, and for other workforce development/municipal purposes. The conveyance agreement shall require that should the City of Hampton, its agents or instrumentalities at any time in the future cease using the property for workforce development/municipal purposes, title shall revert to the Commonwealth.

Y.1. Out of this appropriation, $750,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the annual lease or rental costs of space in the Phase II facilities of the Norfolk Campus of Tidewater Community College. The State Board for Community Colleges may enter into a lease agreement with the City of Norfolk, its agents or instrumentalities, for the purpose of providing academic, training and retraining facilities and programming.

2. The form and terms of the agreement shall be approved by the State Board for Community Colleges and the Governor, as otherwise provided by law.

3. The term of such lease or rental agreement shall be for a period not to exceed 20 years from the date of beneficial occupancy.

4. The City of Norfolk, its agents and instrumentalities, shall provide, prior to occupancy, assurances satisfactory to the State Board for Community Colleges that the demised premises are free from hazardous materials and conditions.

5. The agreement shall further provide that the City, its agents or instrumentalities, shall be responsible for all costs relating to landscaping, public streets, sidewalks, lighting, and associated improvements which are reasonably necessary and incidental to the project.

6. Out of this appropriation, $500,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to furnish and equip the new facility.

7. Prior to the execution of the lease agreement, the plans and specifications for the facilities to be provided shall be approved by the State Board for Community Colleges.

Z. Out of the Higher Education Equipment Trust Fund allocation for the Virginia Community College System, $3,500,000 the second year is provided to replace obsolete equipment used in occupational and technical programs.

AA.1. Out of this appropriation, $100,000 from the general fund the second year is provided for New River Community College to develop and plan a Center of Excellence Training program. The community college, local high schools, and Virginia Tech shall be involved in the programs to offer training in areas requiring high-tech skills.

2. The campus of New River Community College shall be given priority consideration as the site for the educational and technical training center to be constructed as part of the economic assistance package provided to Volvo Truck for an industrial expansion in Virginia.

BB. Out of this appropriation, $75,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to plan the development, acquisition, and installation of access security systems at selected campuses of the Virginia Community College System.

CC.1. Out of this appropriation, $210,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the annual lease or rental costs of space in a Workforce Training and Community Center for use by Blue Ridge Community College. The State Board for Community Colleges may enter into a lease agreement with Augusta County or the City of Staunton, their agents or instrumentalities, for the purpose of providing workforce training and community development facilities and programming.

2. The form and terms of the agreement shall be approved by the State Board for Community Colleges and the Governor, as otherwise provided by law.

3. The term of such lease or rental agreement shall be for a period not to exceed 20 years from the date of beneficial occupancy.

4. The general fund amounts provided in this Item for the workforce training and community services facility shall be matched by local or private sources in a ratio of two-thirds state funds to at least one-third local or private funds, as approved by the State Board for Community Colleges.

5. Prior to the execution of the lease agreement, the plans and specifications for the facilities to be provided shall be approved by the State Board for Community Colleges.