VA HB2158 | 2025 | Regular Session
Status
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: Introduced on January 7 2025 - 25% progression
Action: 2025-01-27 - Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 0-N)
Hearing: Jan 29 @ 8:00 am in House Committee Room A - 008
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [HTML]
Status: Introduced on January 7 2025 - 25% progression
Action: 2025-01-27 - Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 0-N)
Hearing: Jan 29 @ 8:00 am in House Committee Room A - 008
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [HTML]
Summary
Department of Corrections; establishment of general system of schools for incarcerated individuals; Virginia Prison Education Task Force. Requires the Superintendent employed by the Department of Corrections (the Department) to oversee the operation of all educational and vocational programs in all institutions and community-based programs for adults operated by the Department to implement a consistent education program across all state correctional facilities that shall include a (i) functional literacy program for inmates testing below a selected grade level, which shall be at least at the eighth grade level and include evidence-based literacy instruction; (ii) secondary and adult education program for inmates testing between an eighth and twelfth grade level that includes a program to prepare for the high school equivalency examination established by the Board of Education; and (iii) postsecondary education program that provides access to coursework sufficient to earn a Uniform Certificate of General Studies; an associate degree; and postsecondary credentials, certifications, and licenses. The bill also requires the Director of the Department to enter into interagency agreements with the Chief Information Officer of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System to support the development, implementation, and administration of the education programs. The bill requires the Department of Corrections to (a) eliminate the waitlists for the education programs within five years of the programs' implementation; (b) implement the postsecondary education program in every state correctional facility by July 1, 2030; (c) implement the functional literacy program by January 1, 2026; and (d) enter into the interagency agreements required by the bill by January 1, 2026. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Human Resource Management to, by November 1, 2025, (1) review and update the salary schedules for teachers licensed by the Board of Education and employed by the Department of Corrections to provide instruction in the schools of the correctional centers to be competitive with those in effect for the school division in which the correctional facility is located and (2) make recommendations for the inclusion of such teacher salary increases in the appropriation act. The bill also establishes the Virginia Prison Education Task Force for the purpose of implementing a consistent education program across all state correctional facilities. The bill requires the Task Force to complete its work by July 1, 2030.
Title
General system of schools for incarcerated individuals; established.
Sponsors
| Del. Betsy Carr [D] | Del. Carrie Coyner [R] | Del. Michael Jones [D] | Del. Karen Keys-Gamarra [D] |
| Del. Alfonso Lopez [D] |
Roll Calls
2025-01-27 - House - Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 0-N) (Y: 8 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
History
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-27 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 0-N) |
| 2025-01-23 | House | Assigned Educ sub: K-12 Subcommittee |
| 2025-01-07 | House | Referred to Committee on Education |
| 2025-01-07 | House | Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25104313D |
