VMI; the Institute shall be grounded in a strict code of honor and academic excellence, etc. (SB994)

Introduced By

Sen. Tommy Norment (R-Williamsburg)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Virginia Military Institute. Provides that Virginia Military Institute (the Institute) shall be grounded in a strict code of honor and high academics, shall uphold a strict military structure, and shall remain solely an undergraduate degree-granting institution of higher education. All cadets shall participate in one of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) programs at all times while attending the Institute. The Institute shall continue to demonstrate its commitment to contributing to the elimination of sexual violence in the military and shall develop reasonable policies and procedures to demonstrate such continued commitment. The bill provides that the Adjutant General, who is a member of the board of visitors (the board), shall serve as an ex officio nonvoting member. Current law states that the Adjutant General shall serve ex officio. The bill removes the requirement that the board get the prior written consent of the Governor in order to exercise its powers regarding gifts, grants, devises, and bequests. The bill states that the board shall prescribe the terms upon which all cadets, and not just pay cadets, may be admitted, their number, the course of their instruction, and the nature and duration of their service. The bill provides that the Institute, rather than the board, may admit annually as state cadets, upon evidence of fair moral character, individuals selected from the Commonwealth at large who are at least 16 but not more than 25 years old. The bill replaces the current provision allowing the Institute to admit military scholarship cadets to allow the Institute to admit Virginia National Guard scholarship cadets and removes the annual cap of 40 such scholarships. The bill expands who can confer degrees to include the superintendent and removes the authority of the board to confer honorary degrees or diplomas of distinguished merit. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/16/2020Presented and ordered printed 20105408D
01/16/2020Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/24/2020Impact statement from DPB (SB994)
01/29/2020Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
02/06/2020Reported from Education and Health with substitute (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/06/2020Committee substitute printed 20107377D-S1
02/07/2020Constitutional reading dispensed (37-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/10/2020Read second time
02/10/2020Reading of substitute waived
02/10/2020Committee substitute agreed to 20107377D-S1
02/10/2020Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB994S1
02/10/2020Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/10/2020Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/18/2020Placed on Calendar
02/18/2020Read first time
02/18/2020Referred to Committee on Rules
02/18/2020Impact statement from DPB (SB994S1)
02/27/2020Reported from Rules (18-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/02/2020Read second time
03/03/2020House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
03/03/2020Read third time
03/03/2020Amendment by Delegate Helmer agreed to
03/03/2020Engrossed by House as amended
03/03/2020Passed House with amendment (93-Y 2-N)
03/03/2020VOTE: Passage (93-Y 2-N) (see vote tally)
03/04/2020House amendment rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N) (see vote tally)
03/05/2020House insisted on amendment
03/05/2020House requested conference committee
03/05/2020Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/05/2020Conferees appointed by Senate
03/05/2020Senators: Norment, Reeves, Stuart
03/05/2020Conferees appointed by House
03/05/2020Delegates: Helmer, Carroll Foy, Collins
03/07/2020C Amended by conference committee
03/07/2020Conference substitute printed 20109961D-S2
03/07/2020Conference report agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
03/08/2020Conference report agreed to by House (91-Y 4-N)
03/08/2020VOTE: Adoption (91-Y 4-N) (see vote tally)
03/18/2020Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB994ER)
03/18/2020Enrolled
03/18/2020Signed by President
03/19/2020Signed by Speaker
03/20/2020Impact statement from DPB (SB994ER)
03/20/2020Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 20, 2020
03/20/2020G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2020
04/10/2020G Approved by Governor-Chapter 1047 (effective 7/1/20)
04/10/2020G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1047)