Authority: Title 23, Chapter 9.1, Code of Virginia.

A. Out of this appropriation, an amount estimated at $289,614 from the general fund and $124,120 from nongeneral funds the first year and $289,614 from the general fund and $124,120 from nongeneral funds the second year is designated for the educational telecommunications project to provide graduate engineering education, subject to a plan approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

B. This appropriation includes $30,000 the first year and $30,000 the second year from the general fund to support the Virginia Writing Project.

C. Included in Item 291, Paragraph C 3 of this act is $3,915,992 from the general fund and $117,484 in nongeneral funds the first year and $3,779,282 from the general fund and $117,484 in nongeneral funds the second year to support the debt service on bonds issued by the Virginia College Building Authority to finance equipment. The Treasury Board shall transfer to the Virginia College Building Authority on July 1, 2000, the amounts in the first year, and on July 1, 2001, the amounts in the second year to support the Authority's debt obligation.

D. Out of this appropriation, $412,500 the first year and $412,500 the second year from the general fund is designated for the Center for Conflict Resolution at George Mason University.

E. Out of this appropriation, $8,556,250 from the general fund and $2,031,250 from nongeneral funds the first year and $11,806,250 from the general fund and $2,031,250 from nongeneral funds the second year is designated to support technology infrastructure and workforce training. This appropriation includes funding to develop a minor concentration in information technology, training for "fast-track" certificates in technical fields, and additional merit-based scholarships for students in information technology. The nongeneral fund component shall be supported from partnerships with private-sector organizations throughout the region.

F. This appropriation authorizes George Mason University to charge students a technology service fee in conformity with § 4-2.01 c of this act. This appropriation includes $774,870 the first year and $774,870 the second year from nongeneral funds, the unexpended balance of which shall not revert to the general fund in any fiscal year but shall be carried forward on the books of the Department of Accounts and allotted for expenditure each July 1. The fee charged resident undergraduate students each year shall not exceed one percent of the total of tuition and required fees charged in FY 1998, and the amounts appropriated in this Item reflect that policy. The Department of Planning and Budget shall allot technology fee revenues in excess of the amounts appropriated in this Item provided that the revenues are not generated by resident undergraduate students and provided that such revenues reflect a fee that does not exceed three percent of the total of tuition and required fees charged in FY 1998 to nonresident undergraduate students and three percent of the total of tuition and required fees charged in FY 1998 to graduate and professional students.

G. Out of this appropriation, $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for the George Mason University School of Law. This appropriation includes funding for the National Center for Technology and the Law within the School of Law, instructional programs within the proposed Juris Master program, and expansion of School of Law activities.

H. Out of this appropriation, $3,650,000 the first year and $7,150,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to support additional full time faculty, academic support staff, and merit-based scholarships in order to reduce class sizes, dependence on part-time teachers, and attract and retain high quality students.