Bill Text: VA HB2067 | 2023 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate Exam Fee Elimination Fund & Program; established.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-03 - Tabled in Appropriations (11-Y 10-N) [HB2067 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2023-HB2067-Comm_Sub.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-199.8 as follows:
§22.1-199.8. Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate Exam Fee Reduction Fund and Program.
A. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate (AP/IB) Exam Fee Reduction Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for the purposes of awarding grants to local school divisions pursuant to the AP/IB Exam Fee Reduction Program as set forth in subsection B. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Superintendent.
B. There is hereby established the AP/IB Exam Fee Reduction Program (the Program) for the purpose of covering all but $20 of the last dollar cost of applicable fees associated with taking an AP or IB examination for any public high school student who is eligible to receive free or reduced price lunch after all other applicable discounts and financial assistance are taken into account. The Program shall be administered by the Department. Pursuant to the Program, the Department shall annually transfer to each local school board a grant in a sum sufficient to cover such portion of such fees for each such student in the local school division.
C. The Department shall establish such rules, policies, and procedures as it deems necessary or appropriate for the administration of the Program, including an annual process whereby each local school board demonstrates its grant funding needs.
D. Each local school board shall annually notify the parents of each public high school student in the local school division who is eligible for free or reduced price lunch of the opportunity for the student to take an AP or IB examination at such reduced fee.
2. That the Board of Education shall transfer any unspent and unobligated federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) state reserve funds to the AP/IB Exam Fee Reduction Fund established in subsection A of §22.1-199.8 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act.
