Authority: §§ 23-114 through 23-131, Code of Virginia and Chapter 440, Acts of Assembly of 1991.

A. Out of this appropriation shall be expended an amount estimated at $869,882 from the general fund and $436,357 from nongeneral funds the first year and $869,882 from the general fund and $436,357 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.

B. Out of this appropriation, $225,294 from the general fund and $250,813 from nongeneral funds the first year and $225,294 from the general fund and $250,813 from nongeneral funds the second year is designated to support the Educational and General portion of the debt service for the coal-fired facility, as approved in Item D-6.1, Chapter 459, Acts of Assembly of 1991.

C. Out of this appropriation, $450,000 the first year and $450,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to support the Marion duPont Scott Equine Center of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.

D. Out of this appropriation, $175,000 and one position the first year and $175,000 and one position the second year from the general fund is designated for the Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research.

E. Out of this appropriation, $30,000 the first year and $30,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to support the Virginia Writing Project.

F. Out of this appropriation, $50,000 the first year and $50,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to support continuing education activities at the Reynolds Homestead.

G. Included in Item 291, paragraph C 3 of this act is $9,248,959 from the general fund and $415,254 nongeneral funds the first year and $7,810,221 from the general fund and $415,254 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.

H. Out of this appropriation, $125,000 the first year and $125,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to support the research activities of the Virginia Water Resources Center.

I. Out of this appropriation, $512,013 the first year and $512,013 the second year from the general fund is designated to support one position for tobacco research for medicinal purposes. Of this amount, $100,000 and two positions in each year will be used to support field tests at sites in Blackstone and Abingdon.

J. This appropriation authorizes Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University to charge students a technology service fee in conformity with § 4-2.01 c of this act. This appropriation includes $1,089,666 the first year and $1,089,666 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.

K. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is hereby authorized to participate with representatives from the City of Danville, County of Pittsylvania, Averett College, Danville Community College, the Future of the Piedmont Foundation, and other groups in the Southside Virginia region to plan the development of the proposed Institute for Advanced Learning and Research and to assist in planning and developing a facility to house the proposed institute. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is authorized to act as fiscal agent to receive and expend funds on behalf of the proposed institute until such time as an authority, or similar legal entity, is established to operate the facility.