HB1502: Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Testing Grant Fund and Program; created.

HOUSE BILL NO. 1502

Offered January 18, 2018
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-199.4:1, relating to the establishment of the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Testing Grant Fund and Program.
Patron-- Miyares

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-199.4:1 as follows:

§ 22.1-199.4:1. Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Testing Grant Fund and Program established.

A. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Testing Grant 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 pursuant to 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 of Public Instruction.

B. The Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Testing Grant Program (the Program) is established for the purpose of awarding grants from the Fund to local school boards to be used to cover half of the fee required to participate in any Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate test for any high school student in the local school division who receives free or reduced price lunch. The Department of Education shall administer the Program and shall establish guidelines and procedures for application for and disbursement of grants from the Fund.

C. Local school boards shall use grant funds received pursuant to the Program to supplement, not supplant, any other federal, state, local, or private funds made available to cover such testing fees for high school students who receive free or reduced price lunch.