Authority: Title 23, Chapter 9, Code of Virginia.

A. This Item includes general and nongeneral fund appropriations to support institutional initiatives that help meet statewide goals described in the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act of 2005 (Chapters 933 and 945, 2005 Acts of Assembly).

B.1. This appropriation includes an amount not to exceed $1,966,091 the first year and $1,983,202 the second year from the general fund for the operation of the Family Practice Residency Program and Family Practice medical student programs. This appropriation for Family Practice programs, whether ultimately implemented by contract, agreement or other means, is considered to be a grant.

2. The University shall report by July 1 annually to the Department of Planning and Budget an operating plan for the Family Practice Residency Program.

3. The University of Virginia, in cooperation with the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority, shall establish elective Family Practice Medicine experiences in Southwest Virginia for both students and residents.

4. In the event the Governor imposes across-the-board general fund reductions, pursuant to his executive authority in §4-1.02 of this act, the general fund appropriation for the Family Practice programs shall be exempt from any reductions, provided the general fund appropriation for the family practice program is excluded from the total general fund appropriation for the University of Virginia for purposes of determining the University's portion of the statewide general fund reduction requirement.

C. Out of this appropriation, $1,431,320 the first year and $1,431,320 the second year from the general fund is designated for the Virginia Foundation for Humanities and Public Policy. Pursuant to House Joint Resolution 762, 1999 Session of the General Assembly, funds in this Item begin to address the objective of appropriating one dollar per capita for the support of the Foundation.

D. Out of this appropriation shall be expended an amount estimated at $775,197 from the general fund and at least $468,850 from nongeneral funds the first year and $775,197 from the general fund and at least $468,850 from nongeneral funds the second year, for the educational telecommunications project to provide graduate engineering education, subject to a plan approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

E. Out of this appropriation, $283,500 the first year and $283,500 the second year from the general fund, and at least $283,500 the first year and at least $283,500 the second year from nongeneral funds is designated for the independent Virginia Institute of Government at the University of Virginia Center for Public Service.

F. Out of this appropriation, $91,530 the first year and $91,530 the second year from the general fund is designated for the Virginia State Climatologist Office.

G.1. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the University of Virginia, in conjunction with the Eastern Virginia Medical School and Virginia Commonwealth University, maintain its efforts to educate and train sufficient generalist physicians to meet the needs of the Commonwealth, recognizing the Commonwealth's need for generalist physicians in medically underserved regions of the state.  Further, it is the intent that the University support medical education and training in the principles of generalist medicine for all undergraduate medical students, regardless of their chosen specialty or field of study.

2. The University of Virginia, in conjunction with Virginia Commonwealth University and Eastern Virginia Medical School, shall jointly collect and report on their production of generalist residents.  The report shall be submitted biennially to the Secretary of Education and the State Council of Higher Education no later than October 1.

3.  Reporting requirements shall be set forth by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia in consultation with the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Eastern Virginia Medical School.

4.  The State Council shall, in consultation with the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Eastern Virginia Medical School, provide a summary of the biennial report to the chairman of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by November 1, and shall include policy and funding recommendations, as appropriate, to address the need for medical education and training in the Commonwealth.

H. It is the intent of the General Assembly to assist the three Virginia medical schools as they respond to changes in the need for delivery and financing of medical education, both undergraduate and graduate.

I. Out of this appropriation, at least $196,263 the first year and $196,263 the second year from the general fund shall be provided in support of diabetes education and public service at the Virginia Center for Diabetes Professional Education at the University of Virginia.

J.1. Out of this appropriation, $655,000 the first year and $655,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided for the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia to conduct and preserve oral histories with senior public officials, to conduct the Virginia Youth Leadership Initiative which educates students in Virginia's secondary schools in the democratic process, and to develop programs that foster increased public awareness of the electoral system.

2.  Out of this appropriation, $130,000 from the general fund each year is provided to the Center of Politics to provide civic education resources to all public elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth.

K. Out of this appropriation, $210,000 the first year and $210,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to the University of Virginia to establish the Fishery Resource Grant Fund and Program authorized in Chapter 719, Acts of Assembly of 1999. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request of the Chairman of the Graduate Marine Science Consortium at the University of Virginia.

L.1. In order to appropriately plan and reserve for future major maintenance and repair work that will be required for Educational and General (E&G) facilities constructed with nongeneral funds and for which general fund maintenance reserves may be inadequate, the University of Virginia may establish, fund, and maintain reserves for major repairs, renewal, replacement and renovation to be funded from tuition or other nongeneral fund revenues. Annual contributions to such reserve funds shall not exceed three percent of the asset value of the educational and general buildings constructed with nongeneral fund revenues for which such reserves are established.

2. Any unexpended balances in such reserves at the close of business on June 30 of each year shall not revert to the surplus of the general fund but shall automatically be carried forward on the books of the State Comptroller and reappropriated for expenditure in the succeeding year.

3. On a monthly basis, the Comptroller of Virginia shall credit to the special reserve account fund detail for such reserve funds, the imputed interest earned by the investment of such reserve balances on deposit with the State Treasurer.

M. Out of this appropriation, $219,000 from the general fund and $53,189 in nongeneral funds in the first year and $219,000 from the general fund and $53,189 in nongeneral funds in the second year is provided in support of the State Arboretum at Blandy Farm.

N. As Virginia's public colleges and universities approach full funding of the base adequacy guidelines and as the General Assembly strives to fully fund the general fund share of the base adequacy guidelines, these funds are provided with the intent that, in exercising their authority to set tuition and fees, the Board of Visitors shall take into consideration the impact of escalating college costs for Virginia students and families.  In accordance with the cost-sharing goals set forth in § 4-2.01 b. of this act, the Board of Visitors is encouraged to limit increases on tuition and mandatory educational and general fees for in-state, undergraduate students to the extent possible.

O. The appropriation for the fund source Higher Education Operating in this Item shall be considered a sum sufficient appropriation, which is an estimate of the amount of revenues to be collected for the educational and general program under the terms of the management agreement between the University of Virginia and the Commonwealth, as set forth in Chapters 933 and 943, of the 2006 Acts of Assembly.

P. Out of this appropriation, $255,613 the second year from the general fund is provided to increase the average salary of nursing faculty by 10 percent, effective November 25, 2007.  This additional funding will help to attract and retain nursing faculty that are needed to address a shortage of nurses in the Commonwealth.