Bill Text: VA HB2158 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: General system of schools for incarcerated individuals; established.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-1)
Status: (Engrossed) 2025-02-05 - Referred to Committee on Education and Health [HB2158 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2025-HB2158-Introduced.html
2025 SESSION
INTRODUCED
25104313D
HOUSE BILL NO. 2158
Offered January 8, 2025
Prefiled January 7, 2025
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2007, 22.1-23, 23.1-2908, and 53.1-10 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Corrections; establishment of general system of schools for incarcerated individuals.
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Patron—Carr
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Committee Referral Pending
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 2.2-2007, 22.1-23, 23.1-2908, and 53.1-10 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 2.2-2007. Powers of the CIO.
A. The CIO shall promulgate regulations necessary or incidental to the performance of duties or execution of powers conferred under this chapter. The CIO shall also develop policies, standards, and guidelines for the planning, budgeting, procurement, development, maintenance, security, and operations of information technology for executive branch agencies. Such policies, standards, and guidelines shall include those necessary to:
1. Support state and local government exchange, acquisition, storage, use, sharing, and distribution of data and related technologies.
2. Support the development of electronic transactions including the use of electronic signatures as provided in § 59.1-496.
3. Support a unified approach to information technology across the totality of state government, thereby assuring that the citizens and businesses of the Commonwealth receive the greatest possible security, value, and convenience from investments made in technology.
4. Ensure that the costs of information technology systems, products, data, and services are contained through the shared use of existing or planned equipment, data, or services.
5. Provide for the effective management of information technology investments through their entire life cycles, including identification, business case development, selection, procurement, implementation, operation, performance evaluation, and enhancement or retirement. Such policies, standards, and guidelines shall include, at a minimum, the periodic review by the CIO of agency Commonwealth information technology projects.
6. Establish an Information Technology Investment Management Standard based on acceptable technology investment methods to ensure that all executive branch agency technology expenditures are an integral part of the Commonwealth's performance management system, produce value for the agency and the Commonwealth, and are aligned with (i) agency strategic plans, (ii) the Governor's policy objectives, and (iii) the long-term objectives of the Council on Virginia's Future.
B. In addition to other such duties as the Secretary may assign, the CIO shall:
1. Oversee and administer the Virginia Technology Infrastructure Fund created pursuant to § 2.2-2023.
2. Report annually to the Governor, the Secretary, and the Joint Commission on Technology and Science created pursuant to § 30-85 on the use and application of information technology by executive branch agencies to increase economic efficiency, citizen convenience, and public access to state government.
3. Prepare annually a report for submission to the Secretary, the Information Technology Advisory Council, and the Joint Commission on Technology and Science on a prioritized list of Recommended Technology Investment Projects (RTIP Report) based upon major information technology projects submitted for business case approval pursuant to this chapter. As part of the RTIP Report, the CIO shall develop and regularly update a methodology for prioritizing projects based upon the allocation of points to defined criteria. The criteria and their definitions shall be presented in the RTIP Report. For each project recommended for funding in the RTIP Report, the CIO shall indicate the number of points and how they were awarded. For each listed project, the CIO shall also report (i) all projected costs of ongoing operations and maintenance activities of the project for the next three biennia following project implementation; (ii) a justification and description for each project baseline change; and (iii) whether the project fails to incorporate existing standards for the maintenance, exchange, and security of data. This report shall also include trends in current projected information technology spending by executive branch agencies and secretariats, including spending on projects, operations and maintenance, and payments to VITA. Agencies shall provide all project and cost information required to complete the RTIP Report to the CIO prior to May 31 immediately preceding any budget biennium in which the project appears in the Governor's budget bill.
4. Provide oversight for executive branch agency efforts to modernize the planning, development, implementation, improvement, operations and maintenance, and retirement of Commonwealth information technology, including oversight for the selection, development and management of enterprise information technology.
5. Develop statewide technical and data standards and specifications for information technology and related systems, including (i) the efficient exchange of electronic information and technology, including infrastructure, between the public and private sectors in the Commonwealth and (ii) the utilization of nationally recognized technical and data standards for health information technology systems or software purchased by an executive branch agency.
6. Direct the compilation and maintenance of an inventory of information technology, including but not limited to personnel, facilities, equipment, goods, and contracts for services.
7. Provide for the centralized marketing, provision, leasing, and executing of licensing agreements for electronic access to public information and government services through the Internet, wireless devices, personal digital assistants, kiosks, or other such related media on terms and conditions as may be determined to be in the best interest of the Commonwealth. VITA may fix and collect fees and charges for (i) public information, media, and other incidental services furnished by it to any private individual or entity, notwithstanding the charges set forth in § 2.2-3704, and (ii) such use and services it provides to any executive branch agency or local government. Nothing in this subdivision authorizing VITA to fix and collect fees for providing information services shall be construed to prevent access to the public records of any public body pursuant to the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.). VITA is authorized, subject to the approval by the Secretary of Administration and any other affected Secretariat, to delegate the powers and responsibilities granted in this subdivision to any agency within the executive branch.
8. Periodically evaluate the feasibility of outsourcing information technology resources and services, and outsource those resources and services that are feasible and beneficial to the Commonwealth.
9. Have the authority to enter into and amend contracts, including contracts with one or more other public bodies, or public agencies or institutions or localities of the several states, of the United States or its territories, or the District of Columbia, for the provision of information technology services.
10. Enter into an interagency agreement with the Department of Corrections as required by subdivision 4 e of § 53.1-10 to assist in the development of information technology strategic plans and preparation of budget requests for information technology to support the literacy and education programs required to be developed and implemented pursuant to subdivision 4 c of § 53.1-10 and include appropriate security protections.
C. Consistent with § 2.2-2012, the CIO may enter into public-private partnership contracts to finance or implement information technology programs and projects. The CIO may issue a request for information to seek out potential private partners interested in providing programs or projects pursuant to an agreement under this subsection. The compensation for such services shall be computed with reference to and paid from the increased revenue or cost savings attributable to the successful implementation of the program or project for the period specified in the contract. The CIO shall be responsible for reviewing and approving the programs and projects and the terms of contracts for same under this subsection. The CIO shall determine annually the total amount of increased revenue or cost savings attributable to the successful implementation of a program or project under this subsection and such amount shall be deposited in the Virginia Technology Infrastructure Fund created in § 2.2-2023. The CIO is authorized to use moneys deposited in the Fund to pay private partners pursuant to the terms of contracts under this subsection. All moneys in excess of that required to be paid to private partners, as determined by the CIO, shall be reported to the Comptroller and retained in the Fund. The CIO shall prepare an annual report to the Governor, the Secretary, and General Assembly on all contracts under this subsection, describing each information technology program or project, its progress, revenue impact, and such other information as may be relevant.
D. Executive branch agencies shall cooperate with VITA in identifying the development and operational requirements of proposed information technology systems, products, data, and services, including the proposed use, functionality, and capacity, and the total cost of acquisition, operation, and maintenance.
§ 22.1-23. Duties in general.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall:
1. Serve as secretary of the Board of Education;
2. Provide such assistance in his office as shall be necessary for the proper and uniform enforcement of the provisions of the school laws in cooperation with the local school authorities;
3. Prepare and furnish such forms for attendance officers, teachers and other school officials as are required by law;
4. (Expires July 1, 2028) At least annually, survey all local school divisions to identify critical shortages of (i) teachers and administrative personnel by geographic area, by school division, or by subject matter; (ii) specialized student support positions as that term is described in subsection O of § 22.1-253.13:2; and (iii) school bus drivers by geographic area and local school division and report such critical shortages to each local school division and to the Virginia Retirement System;
5. Develop and provide to local school divisions a model exit questionnaire for teachers;
6. Along with the State Health Commissioner, work to combat childhood obesity and other chronic health conditions that affect school-age children;
7. Designate an employee of the Department of Education to serve as its liaison to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the State Board for Community Colleges; and
8. Enter into an interagency agreement with the Department of Corrections as required by subdivision 4 e of § 53.1-10 to assist in the development and ongoing implementation of the literacy, secondary, and adult education programs required to be developed and implemented pursuant to subdivision 4 c of § 53.1-10 across all state correctional facilities, including adoption of teacher credential requirements that reduce teacher vacancy rates; and
9. Perform such other duties as the Board of Education may prescribe.
§ 23.1-2908. Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System.
A. The State Board shall appoint a Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System to be the chief executive officer of the System and secretary to the State Board, fix his salary, and prescribe his duties in addition to those duties set forth in subsection B.
B. The Chancellor shall:
1. Formulate such policies and regulations and provide for such assistance in his office as are necessary for the proper performance of the duties prescribed by the provisions of this chapter;
2. Designate an employee of the State Board to serve as its liaison to the Board of Education;
3. Appoint agents and employees and fix their functions, powers, duties, titles, and salaries, subject to the approval of the State Board and the provisions of the Virginia Personnel Act (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.);
4. Submit an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly on or before November 1 of each year. Such report shall be submitted as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website. Such report shall contain, at a minimum, the annual financial statements for the year ending the preceding June 30 and the accounts and status of any ongoing capital projects;
5. Prescribe the forms of applications, reports, affidavits, and such other forms as may be required in the administration of this chapter;
6. Cooperate with agencies of the United States in relation to matters set forth in this chapter and in any reasonable manner that may be necessary for the Commonwealth to qualify for and to receive grants or aid from such federal agencies, subject to the direction of the State Board; and
7. Enforce the standards established by the State Board for personnel employed in the administration of this chapter and remove or cause to be removed each employee who does not meet such standards;
8. Enter into an interagency agreement with the Department of Corrections as required by subdivision 4 e of § 53.1-10 to provide and expand access to coursework provided by comprehensive community colleges to incarcerated individuals that leads to certificates, degrees, credentials, or licenses that enhance workforce skills or transfer to a baccalaureate public institution of higher education; and
9. Develop and implement a program to support comprehensive community colleges in (i) providing coursework to incarcerated individuals that leads to certificates, degrees, credentials, or licenses that enhance workforce skills or transfer to a baccalaureate public institution of higher education and (ii) applying for and maintaining eligibility as Federal Pell Grant-eligible prison education programs pursuant to 34 C.F.R. § 668.238.
C. The Chancellor may receive, for and on behalf of the Commonwealth and its subdivisions, from the United States and agencies of the United States and any other source grants-in-aid and gifts made for the purpose of providing or assisting in providing any career and technical or other education or educational programs authorized by this chapter, including expenses of administration. All such funds shall be paid into the state treasury. However, nothing in this chapter shall preclude any other agency, board, or officer of the Commonwealth from being designated as the directing or allocating agency, board, or officer for the distribution of federal grants-in-aid or the performance of other duties to the extent necessary to qualify for and to receive grants-in-aid for programs and institutions under the administration of the State Board.
§ 53.1-10. Powers and duties of Director.
The Director shall be the chief executive officer of the Department and shall have the following duties and powers:
1. To supervise and manage the Department and its system of state correctional facilities;
2. To implement the standards and goals of the Board as formulated for local and community correctional programs and facilities and lock-ups;
3. To employ such personnel and develop and implement such programs as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this title, subject to Chapter 29 (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.) of Title 2.2, and within the limits of appropriations made therefor by the General Assembly;
4. To establish and maintain a general system of schools for persons committed to the institutions and community-based programs for adults as set forth in § 53.1-67.9. Such system shall include, as applicable, elementary, secondary, postsecondary, career and technical education, adult, and special education schools.
a. The Director shall employ a Superintendent who will oversee the operation of educational and vocational programs in all institutions and community-based programs for adults as set forth in § 53.1-67.9 operated by the Department. The Department shall be designated as a local education agency (LEA) but shall not be eligible to receive state funds appropriated for direct aid to public education.
b. When the Department employs a teacher licensed by the Board of Education to provide instruction in the schools of the correctional centers, the Department of Human Resource Management shall establish salary schedules for the teachers which endeavor and annually review and update such salary schedules to be competitive with those in effect for the school division in which the correctional center is located.
c. The Superintendent shall develop a and implement a consistent education program across all state correctional facilities that shall include the following:
(1) A functional literacy program for inmates testing below a selected grade level, which shall be at least at the twelfth eighth grade level and include evidence-based literacy instruction, as defined by § 22.1-1;
(2) A 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 pursuant to § 22.1-254.2; and
(3) A 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.
d. The program programs required to be developed and implemented pursuant to subdivision c shall include guidelines for implementation and test administration, participation requirements, criteria for satisfactory completion, and a strategic plan for encouraging enrollment at an institution of higher education or an accredited vocational training program or other accredited continuing education program goals for eliminating waitlists for participation in such programs within five years of implementation.
e. The Director shall enter into interagency agreements on behalf of the Department with the following agencies to support the development, implementation, and administration of the programs required by subdivision c:
(1) The Chief Information Officer of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) to assist in the development of information technology strategic plans and preparation of budget requests for information technology to support such literacy and education programs and include appropriate security protections;
(2) The Superintendent of Public Instruction to assist in the development and ongoing implementation of the literacy, secondary, and adult education programs required to be developed and implemented pursuant to subdivision c, including the adoption of teacher credential requirements that reduce the teacher vacancy rate in such literacy and education programs; and
(3) The Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System to provide and expand access to coursework provided by comprehensive community colleges that leads to certificates, degrees, credentials, or licenses that enhance workforce skills or transfer to a baccalaureate public institution of higher education.
f. The Superintendent shall:
(1) Share data with the state entity that oversees the management, direction, and governance of the Commonwealth's education and workforce data for the purpose of developing educational, health, social service, and employment outcome data and improving the efficacy of state services;
(2) Share data with the Virginia Community College System necessary for comprehensive community colleges to apply for and maintain eligibility as Federal Pell Grant-eligible prison education programs pursuant to 34 C.F.R. § 668.238; and
(3) Track and publicly report at least annually the number of incarcerated individuals eligible for, enrolled in, and waitlisted for the literacy and education programs required to be implemented by subdivision c.
d. g. For the purposes of this section, the term "functional literacy" shall mean those educational skills necessary to function independently in society, including, but not limited to, reading, writing, comprehension, and arithmetic computation.
e. h. In evaluating a prisoner's educational needs and abilities pursuant to § 53.1-32.1, the Superintendent shall create a system for identifying prisoners with learning disabilities.
5. a. To make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of the Department's duties and the execution of its powers under this title, including, but not limited to, contracts with the United States, other states, and agencies and governmental subdivisions of this Commonwealth, and contracts with corporations, partnerships, or individuals which include, but are not limited to, the purchase of water or wastewater treatment services or both as necessary for the expansion or construction of correctional facilities;
b. Notwithstanding the Director's discretion to make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of the Department's duties and the execution of its powers under this title, upon determining that it shall be desirable to contract with a public or private entity for the provision of community-based residential services pursuant to Chapter 5 (§ 53.1-177 et seq.), the Director shall notify the local governing body of the jurisdiction in which the facility is to be located of the proposal and of the facility's proposed location and provide notice, where requested, to the chief law-enforcement officer for such locality when an offender is placed in the facility at issue;
c. Notwithstanding the Director's discretion to make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of the Department's duties and the execution of its powers under this title, upon determining that it is necessary to transport Virginia prisoners through or to another state and for other states to transport their prisoners within the Commonwealth, the Director may execute reciprocal agreements with other states' corrections agencies governing such transports that shall include provisions allowing each state to retain authority over its prisoners while in the other state.
6. To accept, hold and enjoy gifts, donations and bequests on behalf of the Department from the United States government and agencies and instrumentalities thereof, and any other source, subject to the approval of the Governor. To these ends, the Director shall have the power to comply with such conditions and execute such agreements as may be necessary, convenient or desirable;
7. To collect data pertaining to the demographic characteristics of adults, and juveniles who are adjudicated as adults, incarcerated in state correctional institutions, including, but not limited to, the race or ethnicity, age, and gender of such persons, whether they are a member of a criminal gang, and the types of and extent to which health-related problems are prevalent among such persons. Beginning July 1, 1997, such data shall be collected, tabulated quarterly, and reported by the Director to the Governor and the General Assembly at each regular session of the General Assembly thereafter. The report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports;
8. To make application to the appropriate state and federal entities so as to provide any prisoner who is committed to the custody of the state a Department of Motor Vehicles approved identification card that would expire 90 days from issuance, a copy of his birth certificate if such person was born in the Commonwealth, and a social security card from the Social Security Administration;
9. To forward to the Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council, updated on a monthly basis, a list of all identified criminal gang members incarcerated in state correctional institutions. The list shall contain identifying information for each criminal gang member, as well as his criminal record;
10. To give notice, to the attorney for the Commonwealth prosecuting a defendant for an offense that occurred in a state correctional facility, of that defendant's known gang membership. The notice shall contain identifying information for each criminal gang member as well as his criminal record;
11. To designate employees of the Department with internal investigations authority to have the same power as a sheriff or a law-enforcement officer in the investigation of allegations of criminal behavior affecting the operations of the Department. Such employees shall be subject to any minimum training standards established by the Department of Criminal Justice Services under § 9.1-102 for law-enforcement officers prior to exercising any law-enforcement power granted under this subdivision. Nothing in this section shall be construed to grant the Department any authority over the operation and security of local jails not specified in any other provision of law. The Department shall investigate allegations of criminal behavior in accordance with a written agreement entered into with the Department of State Police. The Department shall not investigate any action falling within the authority vested in the Office of the State Inspector General pursuant to Chapter 3.2 (§ 2.2-307 et seq.) of Title 2.2 unless specifically authorized by the Office of the State Inspector General;
12. To prescribe and enforce rules prohibiting the possession of obscene materials, as defined in Article 5 (§ 18.2-372 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2, by prisoners incarcerated in state correctional facilities;
13. To develop and administer a survey of each correctional officer, as defined in § 53.1-1, who resigns, is terminated, or is transitioned to a position other than correctional officer for the purpose of evaluating employment conditions and factors that contribute to or impede the retention of correctional officers;
14. To promulgate regulations pursuant to the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) to effectuate the provisions of Chapter 5.1 (§ 32.1-162.16 et seq.) of Title 32.1 for human research, as defined in § 32.1-162.16, to be conducted or authorized by the Department. The regulations shall require the human research committee to submit to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Director or his designee at least annually a report on the human research projects reviewed and approved by the committee and shall require the committee to report any significant deviations from the proposals as approved; and
15. To provide, pursuant to § 24.2-314, to the Division of Legislative Services, not later than July 1 of any year in which the decennial census is taken and in a format specified by the Division of Legislative Services, information regarding each person incarcerated in a state correctional facility on April 1 of that year. Such information shall include, for each person incarcerated, (i) a unique identifier, other than his name or offender identification number, assigned by the Director; (ii) his residential street address at the time of incarceration, or other legal residence, if known; (iii) his race, his ethnicity as identified by him, and whether he is 18 years of age or older; and (iv) the street address of the correctional facility in which he was incarcerated on April 1 of that year.
2. That the Department of Corrections shall eliminate the waitlists for participation in the literacy and education programs required to be implemented by subdivision 4 c of § 53.1-10 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, within five years of implementation of such programs.
3. That the Department of Corrections shall implement a 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 as required by subdivision 4 c of § 53.1-10 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, in every state correctional facility by July 1, 2030.
4. That the interagency agreements required to be entered into by the Department of Corrections with the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System pursuant to subdivision 4 e of § 53.1-10 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, shall be signed by January 1, 2026.
5. That the Department of Corrections shall implement the functional literacy program required to be implemented by subdivision 4 c of § 53.1-10 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, by January 1, 2026.
6. That the Department of Human Resource Management shall, by November 1, 2025, (i) 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 as required by subdivision 4 b of § 53.1-10 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, and (ii) make recommendations for the inclusion of such teacher salary increases in the appropriation act.
7. That there is hereby established the Virginia Prison Education Task Force (the Task Force) for the purpose of implementing a consistent education program across all state correctional facilities. The Task Force shall consist of the following members: (i) two members of the Senate who are not members of the same political party, who shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; (ii) two members of the House of Delegates who are not members of the same political party, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; (iii) the Secretary of Finance or his designee; (iv) the Secretary of Education or his designee; (v) the Secretary of Labor or his designee; (vi) the Secretary of Commerce and Trade or his designee; (vii) the Director of the Department of Corrections or his designee; (viii) the Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement or his designee; (ix) the Chief Information Officer of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency or his designee; (x) the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System or his designee; (xi) the Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development or his designee; (xii) the Research Director of the Virginia Office of Education Economics or his designee; (xiii) the President of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce or his designee; (xiv) the Director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia or his designee; (xv) the Superintendent of Public Instruction or his designee; (xvi) three formerly incarcerated individuals appointed by the Secretary of Labor, including one individual who was enrolled in the Department of Correction's Adult Basic Education program while incarcerated, one individual who was enrolled in postsecondary coursework while incarcerated, and one individual who was not able to access education services while incarcerated; (xvii) a member of a faith-based organization with expertise in prison higher education appointed by the Secretary of Labor; (xviii) a member of a criminal justice advocacy organization appointed by the Secretary of Labor; (xix) a representative with expertise in management of state education and workforce data to be appointed by the Secretary of Labor; and (xx) any other stakeholders as may be appropriate appointed by the Secretary of Labor. The Secretary of Labor shall serve as the chair of the Task Force. A majority of the members of the Task Force shall constitute a quorum. The Task Force shall meet at least four times a year and upon the call of the chair or at the request of a majority of the members. The Task Force shall make recommendations for and track progress on the development and implementation of a consistent education program across all state correctional facilities as required by subdivision 4 c of § 53.1-10 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act. In making such recommendations, the Task Force shall (a) analyze existing and potential state and federal funding programs and develop a strategy to maximize securement and use of available funds; (b) recommend additional budget requests to meet the goals of implementation of the education programs required by subdivision 4 c of § 53.1-10 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act; (c) review and support development of the interagency agreements between the Department of Corrections, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, and the Chief Information Officer of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency as required by subdivision 4 e of § 53.1-10 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act; (d) advise and support the Department of Corrections in developing a strategy to eliminate waitlists for participation in the literacy and education programs required to be implemented by subdivision 4 c of § 53.1-10 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, within five years of implementation; (e) study and recommend the most effective ways to facilitate data collection, sharing, and analysis relating to prison education; (f) study and recommend the most effective ways to increase technological infrastructure in all state correctional facilities to support education; (g) study and recommend the most effective ways to establish reentry supports to facilitate positive employment outcomes post-release; and (h) conduct regular evaluations of program effectiveness, outcomes, and conditions to inform education program improvement.
The Task Force shall establish a Higher Education Advisory Group (the Advisory Group), which shall, at minimum, consist of the following members of the Task Force: the Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement, the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, the Director of the Department of Corrections, and the Chief Information Officer of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, or their designees, and a member of a faith-based organization with expertise in prison higher education. The Advisory Group shall make recommendations on the interagency agreement between the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System and the Department of Corrections required pursuant to subdivision 4 e of § 53.1-10 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act; necessary technology infrastructure to meet the needs of higher education staff in state correctional facilities; and necessary technology tools to provide incarcerated students coursework commensurate with that provided to nonincarcerated students, including a learning management system, research library access, advising, synchronous teleconference instruction, application suites, and long-term storage for students' academic resource materials and work product.
The Task Force shall submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1 each year, beginning on November 1, 2026, on its activities, findings and recommendations, and progress toward implementing the literacy and education programs required by subdivision 4 c of § 53.10 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act. The Task Force shall complete its work by July 1, 2030.
