Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 23-38.10:10 and 23-38.10:11 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§23-38.10:10. Eligibility criteria.

A. Under this program, grants shall be made to or on behalf of eligible Virginia domiciles who (i) have received an associate degree at a Virginia two-year public institution of higher education, (ii) have enrolled in a Virginia four-year public or private institution of higher education by the fall or spring following the award of the associate degree, (iii) have applied for financial aid, and (iv) have financial need, defined by an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of no more than $8,000 $12,000 as calculated by the federal government using the family's financial information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Only students who maintained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 or its equivalent while enrolled in an associate degree program at a Virginia two-year public institution of higher education shall be eligible to receive a grant under this chapter.

B. Eligibility for a higher education grant under this program shall be limited to three academic years or 70 credit hours and shall be used only for undergraduate collegiate work in educational programs other than those providing religious training or theological education. To remain eligible for a grant under this program, a student must continue to demonstrate financial need, as defined in this section, maintain a 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 or its equivalent, and make satisfactory academic progress towards a degree.

C. Individuals who have failed to meet the federal requirement to register for the Selective Service shall not be eligible to receive grants pursuant to this chapter. However, a person who has failed to register for the Selective Service shall not be denied a right, privilege, or benefit under this section if (i) the requirement to so register has terminated or become inapplicable to the person and (ii) the person shows by a preponderance of the evidence that the failure to register was not a knowing and willful failure to register.

§23-38.10:11. Amount of award.

The amount of the grant for an eligible student shall be provided in accordance with the appropriation act and shall be fixed at $1,000 per year. An additional $1,000 per year shall be provided to those students pursuing undergraduate collegiate work in engineering, mathematics, nursing, teaching, or science.