Authority: Title 23.1, Chapter 29, Code of Virginia.

A. Out of this appropriation, $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for Tidewater Community College to support an apprenticeship program for Virginia's shipyard workers. All general fund amounts appropriated for this apprenticeship program shall be used to provide scholarships to shipyard workers enrolled in the program. The conditions for receiving a scholarship shall be those conditions described in § 23.1-2912, Code of Virginia.

B. Funding in this Item shall be allocated for the Virginia Guarenteed Assistance Program, the Commonwealth Award and need-based student financial assistance for industry-based certifications or related programs that do not qualify for other sources of student financial assistance.

C. Up to 15 percent of the funding in this item may be used to support Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program eligible students for (1) priority funding who are enrolled in Data Science and Technology, Science and Engineering, Healthcare and Education programs and (2) as a grant for students in innovative internship programs provided that the institutions has at least one private sector partner and the grant is matched equally by the partner with non-state funding and / or the institution from private funds.

D.1. Out of this appropriation, $34,500,000 the first year and $34,500,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for the Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back Program (G3 Program) pursuant to § 23.1-2911.2.

The programs covered under the G3 Program by Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) Codes are as follows:

2. a. By December 1 of each year, the Office of Education and Labor Market Alignment within the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority System shall evaluate the skills and training including those provided through high school career and technical education, credentials, certifications, apprenticeships, internships, and other degree and non-degree programs needed for Virginians to fill jobs available in certified regional council areas.

b. Based on this evaluation, the Office of Education and Labor Market Alignment within the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority System shall make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly what programs should be offered in each region that qualify for financial assistance under the G3 Program.

c. All additions and changes to the eligible high-demand fields for which programs may be offered pursuant to this item shall be approved by the General Assembly prior to implementation.

3. In order to be eligible for financial assistance under this program at a qualified public institution, an applicant shall:

a. Receive a total household income less than or equal to four hundred percent of the Federal Poverty Level;

b. Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time or part-time student at an approved institution in an approved program specific to a high-demand field, as specified in paragraph D.1., and shall be enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours per semester, or in an eligible non-credit program;

c. Have submitted complete applications for federal and state student financial aid programs for which they may be eligible.

d. In addition, healthcare workers, first responders and other essential workers as defined under Phase 1a and 1b of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and that are serving in the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic shall, subject to the provisions of paragraph D.1. of this item, be eligible for programs offered under the G-3 initiative that enhance or upgrade their skills at no cost during the period that is covered under the state of emergency and for two years thereafter.

4. In order to remain eligible for financial assistance under this program at an approved institution, a participating student shall:

a. Meet standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress and maintain the required grade point average established by federal Higher Education Act of 1965 Title IV requirements;

b. Demonstrate reasonable progress to complete their specific program of study to earn an associate degree in no more than three years;

c. Not exceed 150 percent of required credits of certificate or degree.

5. a. Payments out of this appropriation shall provide (i) grants up to the amount necessary to pay for the last-dollar cost of the enrolled institution's tuition, mandatory fees, and textbook stipend for eligible students after all other qualified federal and state financial aid, and (ii) a Student Support Incentive Grant up to $2,250 per year for eligible students who are enrolled full-time and receive full Federal Pell Grants.

b. Each Student Support Incentive Grant shall be distributed to the eligible students in two equal payments, with the first disbursement after the census date for the enrollment period is reached, and the final disbursement at the end of the term of which the students qualified. Students who withdraw or stop attending during the term shall not receive additional payments and shall be subject to repayment of the funds already received. An eligible student may receive up to $900 per semester and up to $450 per Summer Term.

6. a. Funds for marketing and public awareness efforts to increase participation in the program are contained in Item 200 of this act.

b. The governing boards of Virginia's public associate degree-granting institutions shall ensure that program participation does not exceed budget appropriation.

7. a. No later than September 1 of each year, each Virginia public associate degree-granting institution shall submit to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the Virginia Community College System a report with data from the previous fiscal year on program participation and completion, including data on what high-demand fields are supported by students at each institution.

b. The Council and System shall work collaboratively to compile the data provided by each public associate degree-granting institution and report such data, in aggregate and by institution annually, to the Governor, the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees, the Senate Education and Health Committee, and the House Education Committee. The report must include student enrollment, retention rates between terms and academic years, wage data including median wages prior to enrollment and one year after completion of a credential or degree, wage rates of students who have not enrolled in over a year and did not complete a credential, and a comparison of demand of jobs and completion rates. The report must disaggregate the information above by program of study, college, and student income level at start of program.

8. a. Any general fund appropriation in the G3 Program that is unexpended at the close of business on June 30 each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall be reappropriated in the following fiscal year. Such reappropriated funds may be used to support the G3 Program based on actual demand in this program, or such funds may be transferred to the College and Career Ready Virginia (CCRV) Fund established pursuant to § 22.1-237.2, Code of Virginia, to support actual demand under the CCRV Program. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in fiscal year 2026, the Director, Department of Planning and Budget shall make a one-time transfer from the reappropriated G3 Program balances to the CCRV Fund pursuant to paragraph E.2. of this item.

b. Additionally, within each fiscal year, the Director, Department of Planning and Budget may transfer unobligated G3 Program appropriation that is not required to meet existing or projected G3 Program demand to the CCRV Fund to support actual demand under the CCRV Program.

c. The Virginia Community College System shall report to the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Finance, the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction on demand within the G3 Program and the CCRV Program and projected funds available for redirection 30 calendar days prior to requesting any transfer in accordance with paragraph D.8.b.

E.1. Out of this appropriation, $15,000,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for the College and Career Ready Virginia (CCRV) Program and Fund.

2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in fiscal year 2026, the Director, Department of Planning and Budget shall make a one-time transfer of $20,000,000 general fund from the reappropriated G3 Program balances to the CCRV Fund.

3.a. Notwithstanding § 22.1-237.1 through § 22.1-237.5, Code of Virginia, the CCRV Program and Fund shall include support for qualified public high school students to complete noncredit workforce training and credentialing through the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) training programs eligible for the New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program (VCCS FastForward Program) at no cost to such students and at no cost to the local school divisions.

b. The CCRV Program student eligibility and admission requirements established by the Department of Education and the VCCS pursuant to subdivision 3 of § 22.1-237.4, Code of Virginia, shall incorporate eligibility and admission of qualified public high school students for noncredit workforce training and credentialing through the VCCS FastForward Program.

c. Beginning with course registration for the fall term of the 2025 academic year, qualified public high school students enrolled in the VCCS FastForward Program shall be excluded from the VCCS reimbursement requests submitted to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia under the New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program.

d. The CCRV data collections and reports on student outcomes, including those required pursuant to § 22.1-237.4, Code of Virginia, shall include qualified public high school students enrolled in noncredit workforce training through the VCCS FastForward Program.