Bill Text: VA HB961 | 2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered

Virginia House Bill 961 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Higher educational institutions; alternative tuition or fee structures to students, report.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2016-03-29 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0523) [HB961 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2016-HB961-Chaptered.html

CHAPTER 523 An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 23-7.4:8, relating to alternative tuition or fee structures. [H 961] Approved March 29, 2016

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 23-7.4:8 as follows:

§23-7.4:8. Alternative tuition or fee structures.

Any public institution of higher education may offer alternative tuition or fee structures to students that result in lower costs of attendance, including discounted tuition, flat tuition rates, discounted student fees, or student fee and student services flexibility, to any first-time, incoming freshman undergraduate student who (i) has established domicile, as that term is defined in §23-7.4, in the Commonwealth and (ii) enrolls full time with the intent to earn a degree in a program that leads to employment in a high-demand field in the region. Such an alternative tuition or fee structure may be renewed each year if the recipient maintains eligibility for the alternative tuition and fee structure. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia shall offer guidance, upon request, to any public institution of higher education in establishing an alternative tuition or fee structure pursuant to this section.

2. That the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (the Council) shall develop recommendations regarding financial incentives and benefits that might be offered to public institutions of higher education that offer alternative tuition or fee structures pursuant to this act. Such incentives and benefits may be related to targeted economic and innovation incentives pursuant to subdivision A 3 of §23-38.87:16 of the Code of Virginia, base adequacy funding, or biennial assessments of institutional performance as set forth in Part 4 of the general appropriation act and § 23-9.6:1.01 of the Code of Virginia. The Council shall report its recommendations to the Joint Subcommittee on the Future Competitiveness of Virginia Higher Education no later than November 1, 2016.