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VA SB501

VA SB501
Virginia College Opportunity Endowment and Fund; created.


summary

Introduced
01/09/2024
In Committee
02/01/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/22/2025

Introduced Session

2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Virginia College Savings Plan; Virginia College Opportunity Endowment and Fund. Directs the board of the Virginia College Savings Plan to deposit $250 million per year of surplus moneys from the Plan's fund into the Virginia College Opportunity Fund, established by the bill. The bill provides that such deposit shall not be made or shall be reduced in any year in which the College Opportunity Investment Advisory Committee determines that certain conditions relating to the Plan's funded status are not met. The Committee is established by the bill as an advisory committee for the Plan, for the purpose of determining the amount of deposits to be made to the Fund. The bill provides that financial management of the Fund is the responsibility of the board of the Plan but authorizes the board of the Virginia College Opportunity Endowment, also established by the bill, to manage a scholarship program funded by the Fund. The bill establishes an individual and corporate income tax subtraction for donations to the Fund. Under the bill, the Endowment provides scholarships to students who attend or plan to attend one of 12 eligible universities named in the bill. The bill provides that only such students who meet the eligibility requirements for a Federal Pell Grant and commit to being employed in Virginia, or being enrolled in postgraduate education in Virginia, for at least eight years after graduation from an eligible university are eligible for such scholarships.

AI Summary

This bill creates the Virginia College Opportunity Endowment and Fund, a new initiative designed to support higher education in Virginia. The bill directs the Virginia College Savings Plan to deposit $500 million into the new Virginia College Opportunity Fund beginning in fiscal year 2024, with potential additional deposits based on the Plan's financial surplus. The fund will be managed by a newly established College Opportunity Investment Advisory Committee, which will assess the Plan's financial health before recommending further deposits. The Virginia College Opportunity Endowment will use the fund's investment income to provide scholarships to students attending 12 specific Virginia public universities. To be eligible, students must meet Federal Pell Grant requirements and commit to either working or pursuing postgraduate education in Virginia for at least eight years after graduation. The bill also introduces a tax incentive by allowing individual and corporate taxpayers to claim a tax deduction for donations to the Virginia College Opportunity Fund for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2024. The scholarship program aims to enhance educational access and affordability for Virginia students, with 90% of the fund's annual income dedicated to scholarships and 10% allocated to support other educational access programs.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Education, Health and Social Services

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Left in Finance and Appropriations (on 11/19/2024)

bill text


bill summary

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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?251+sum+SB501
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB501/text/SB501S1
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB501/text/SB501
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100972D https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/legacy/1002258.PDF
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