Budget Bill. Amends Chapter 552 of the 2021 Acts of Assembly, Special Session I, as amended by Chapter 1 of the 2021 Acts of Assembly, Special Session II.

Literary Fund; loans; application process; maximum loan amounts; rates of interest; waiting lists. Makes several changes to the provisions relating to loans from the Literary Fund to finance the construction and renovation of public elementary and secondary school buildings in the Commonwealth. The bill requires the Board of Education (the Board) to establish an annual open application process for Literary Fund loans to occur during the period that the Board deems most suitable and to prioritize applications on the basis of the composite index of local ability-to-pay. The bill increases from $7.5 million to $25 million the maximum Literary Fund loan amount and requires the Board to offer a loan add-on not to exceed $5 million per loan for projects that result in school consolidation and the net reduction of at least one existing school. The bill requires the Board, in consultation with the Department of Treasury, to establish loan interest rates that are benchmarked to a market index on an annual basis, not to exceed two percent per year for the localities with a school division composite index of local ability-to-pay between 0.0 and 0.299, and to utilize a sliding scale based on the local school division's composite index of local ability-to-pay to determine the interest rate on each such loan. Under current law, such rates are required to be set between two and six percent per year. The bill also permits the Board to remove any project that has been inactive for at least five years from any Literary Fund loan project waiting list that it maintains. Literary Fund; loans; application process; maximum loan amounts; rates of interest; waiting lists. Makes several changes to the provisions relating to loans from the Literary Fund to finance the construction and renovation of public elementary and secondary school buildings in the Commonwealth. The bill requires the Board of Education (the Board) to establish an annual open application process for Literary Fund loans to occur during the period that the Board deems most suitable and to prioritize applications on the basis of the composite index of local ability-to-pay. The bill increases from $7.5 million to $25 million the maximum Literary Fund loan amount and requires the Board to offer a loan add-on not to exceed $5 million per loan for projects that result in school consolidation and the net reduction of at least one existing school. The bill requires the Board, in consultation with the Department of Treasury, to establish loan interest rates that are benchmarked to a market index on an annual basis, not to exceed two percent per year for the localities with a school division composite index of local ability-to-pay between 0.0 and 0.299, and to utilize a sliding scale based on the local school division's composite index of local ability-to-pay to determine the interest rate on each such loan. Under current law, such rates are required to be set between two and six percent per year. The bill also permits the Board to remove any project that has been inactive for at least five years from any Literary Fund loan project waiting list that it maintains.

College partnership laboratory schools; application and establishment. Permits any public institution of higher education and any nonprofit private institution of higher education that is eligible for the Tuition Assistance Grant Program to establish a college partnership laboratory school as a new school or through the conversion of all or part of an existing school. Under current law, only public and private institutions of higher education that operate approved teacher education programs are permitted to apply to the Board to establish such a school, and no explicit provision is made for the conversion of an existing school. The bill requires applications for formation of a college partnership laboratory school to describe how the applicant will cooperate with local school boards, including allowing the local school board to elect to name a board member to the governing board of the college partnership laboratory school, and to include assurances that the applicant will work with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to develop programs that may award college credits. The bill requires the Board, among other criteria for reviewing and ruling on such applications, to give substantial preference to any application from a historically black college or university; any application to establish a college partnership laboratory school in an underserved community, which the bill defines as a geographical area that is served by public schools in which a high percentage of students are eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunch, as determined by the Board; and any joint application submitted by an institution of higher education in partnership with one or more local school boards. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act. College partnership laboratory schools; application and establishment. Permits any public institution of higher education and any nonprofit private institution of higher education that is eligible for the Tuition Assistance Grant Program to establish a college partnership laboratory school as a new school or through the conversion of all or part of an existing school. Under current law, only public and private institutions of higher education that operate approved teacher education programs are permitted to apply to the Board to establish such a school, and no explicit provision is made for the conversion of an existing school. The bill requires applications for formation of a college partnership laboratory school to describe how the applicant will cooperate with local school boards, including allowing the local school board to elect to name a board member to the governing board of the college partnership laboratory school, and to include assurances that the applicant will work with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to develop programs that may award college credits. The bill requires the Board, among other criteria for reviewing and ruling on such applications, to give substantial preference to any application from a historically black college or university; any application to establish a college partnership laboratory school in an underserved community, which the bill defines as a geographical area that is served by public schools in which a high percentage of students are eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunch, as determined by the Board; and any joint application submitted by an institution of higher education in partnership with one or more local school boards. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.

2022 Special Session I operating resolution. 2022 Special Session I operating resolution.

Limiting legislation to be considered by the 2022 Special Limiting legislation to be considered by the 2022 Special Session I of the General Assembly and establishing a schedule for the conduct of business coming before such Special Session.

Local correctional facilities; fees. Directs the State Board of Local and Regional Jails (the Board) to convene a work group to review and make recommendations regarding the reduction or elimination of costs and fees charged to inmates in local or regional correctional facilities, including fees related to the costs of an inmate's keep, work release, or participation in educational or rehabilitative programs; telephone services; commissaries; and electronic visitation systems. The bill requires the Board to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Public Safety and the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services by December 1, 2022. This bill is identical to Senate Bill 581 (2022 Regular Session). Local correctional facilities; fees. Directs the State Board of Local and Regional Jails (the Board) to convene a work group to review and make recommendations regarding the reduction or elimination of costs and fees charged to inmates in local or regional correctional facilities, including fees related to the costs of an inmate's keep, work release, or participation in educational or rehabilitative programs; telephone services; commissaries; and electronic visitation systems. The bill requires the Board to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Public Safety and the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services by December 1, 2022. This bill is identical to Senate Bill 581 (2022 Regular Session).

Natural gas service; discontinuing service. Requires a municipal corporation to satisfy certain requirements prior to discontinuing natural gas utility services to any residential, commercial, or industrial customer. Natural gas service; discontinuing service. Requires a municipal corporation to satisfy certain requirements prior to discontinuing natural gas utility services to any residential, commercial, or industrial customer.

Commending the Honorable Larry Nicholas Rush.

Commending Gregg Conner.

Commending the Cooper Middle School band.

Commending the Nansemond River High School girls' track and field team.

Commemorating the life and legacy of Whittaker Chambers.

Commending the Alexandria Soccer Association.

Commending the Blessed Sacrament Huguenot School football team.

Celebrating the life of Nancy Beverly Hutchins Morgan.