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. This appropriation includes $150,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year from the general fund for the A. L. Philpott Manufacturing Research Center at Patrick Henry Community College.

C. This appropriation includes amounts for the following special programs: 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.1. Included in the amounts set forth in this section are funds to pay the City of Norfolk, its agents or instrumentalities, an amount which shall not exceed $1,300,000 annually beginning July 1, 1996 for the remainder of the term for payments for the lease/purchase of the construction of the Norfolk Campus of Tidewater Community College. The Commonwealth shall be responsible for the cost of maintenance and operation of the facilities as may be mutually agreed.

2. Prior to occupancy of the facilities, the City of Norfolk, its agencies or instrumentalities, shall provide assurances satisfactory to the Virginia Community College System, that the demised premises are free from hazardous materials and conditions.

3. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the facilities contemplated by this paragraph shall be made available for occupancy by Tidewater Community College as soon as practicable, but not later than January 1, 1997, and all agencies and institutions of the Commonwealth are hereby directed to act forthwith to this end, including amendment of the inducement agreement between the Virginia Community College System and the City of Norfolk.

E. Out of this appropriation, $679,921 the first year and $799,196 the second year from the general fund is provided 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.

F. Out of this appropriation, $310,000 the first year and $60,000 the second year from the general fund shall be allocated to support the Southwest Virginia Telecommunications Network.

G. This appropriation includes $175,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year from the general fund to support the Southwestern Virginia Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center at Wytheville Community College.

H. This appropriation includes $2,500,000 the first year and $2,500,000 the second year from nongeneral funds, contingent upon approval by the State Board for Community Colleges to be generated by tuition and fees in conformity with § 4-2.01d. of this act, 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. This appropriation is provided to support acquisition of information infrastructure technology.

I. 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. This policy shall go into effect in the second year. The System during the first year shall plan for implementation of the policy, and shall report to the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees on its plan prior to the 1997 session of the General Assembly.

J. This appropriation includes $2,500,735 from the general fund and $512,750 in nongeneral funds the first year and $2,164,256 from the general fund and $512,750 in nongeneral funds the second year for 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, 1996, the amounts in the first year, and on July 1, 1997, the amounts in the second year to support the authority's debt obligation.

K. This appropriation includes a one-time allotment of $100,000 the first year from the general fund for the development of a higher education center in Downtown Roanoke. Funds provided in the first year shall be used for planning the Center, which may include renovations and improvements to a building to be donated to the City of Roanoke. The Virginia Community College System shall serve as the fiscal agent for the project.

L. Out of this appropriation $2,500,000 and 67.50 positions the second year from the general fund are provided for operating the Norfolk Campus of Tidewater Community College for 1,900 annualized full-time equivalent students. Should this projected enrollment not materialize, proportionate funds and positions shall revert to the Virginia Community College System pursuant to Item 162.I. The Director of the State Council of Higher Education and the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System shall report to the General Assembly during the first month of the 1998 session on the status of enrollment at Tidewater Community College. The report shall include recommendations for adjusting the funding and position levels for the college based upon latest available enrollment estimates for fiscal year 1998.

M. Out of this appropriation $600,000 and 11.75 positions the second year from the general fund is provided for operating the Fredericksburg Campus at Germanna Community College for 900 annualized full-time equivalent students. Should this projected enrollment not materialize, proportionate funds and positions shall revert to the Virginia Community College System pursuant to Item 162.I.

N. This appropriation includes $50,000 from the general fund in the second year for a feasibility study of moving the site of Thomas Nelson Community College for the purposes of expansion, including the possibility of co-locating a workforce development center. The Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System shall issue a report with recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by November 15, 1997.

O.1. The Virginia Community College System shall work directly with the Virginia Commission on the Future of Public Education to develop a mechanism for providing post-secondary high technology education and training for manufacturing businesses and industries in the Commonwealth.

2. The System shall also proceed to implement, to the extent available resources or the reallocation of resources may permit, all aspects of its plan for workforce development in the Commonwealth, with emphasis on the development of specific programs and assistance for the technology industry in Northern Virginia.

P. This appropriation includes $50,000 from the general fund in the second year to help finance planning for a regional Workforce Development Center at Paul D. Camp Community College to serve the western Tidewater region.

Q. Out of this appropriation $150,000 from the general fund in the second year shall be made available to Danville Community College for its partnership with Pittsylvania County regarding library facilities in Gretna, Virginia, where the community college would share space and provide educational programs for students in the area.

R. This appropriation includes $50,000 from the general fund in the second year for a program to enhance the skills of the interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing and to enable them to achieve higher levels of expertise.

S. The Virginia Retirement System is directed to study the feasibility, and the fiscal and policy impacts, of allowing full-time faculty of the Virginia Community College System to include in their annual earnings those earnings from summer teaching as part of their Virginia Retirement System salary contribution. In assessing these impacts, the Virginia Retirement System shall consider the long-term implications of such action. The Virginia Community College System shall cooperate in this study. The Virginia Retirement System shall report its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by November 1, 1997.