Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends regulations on the appointment of members of the Virginia commission on higher education board.

Highlights:

• Prohibits individuals from reappointment during the recess of the General Assembly to fill a vacancy caused by a refusal to confirm (Sec. 1). 

• Authorizes the Governor to remove an individual from office for malfeasance, misfeasance, incompetence, misconduct, neglect of duty, absenteeism, conflict of interest, and/or a failure to carry out policies of the Commonwealth and requires a public written statement for why removal occurred (Sec. 1). 

• Requires the Commission to consist of at least six but no more than fifteen nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Governor (Sec. 1).

• Requires each management agreement to include (Sec. 1): 

• A copy of the governing board’s resolution in support of a request for restructured operational authority;

• The institution’s expressed agreement to reimburse the Commonwealth for additional costs;

• The institution’s undergraduate Virginia student enrollment, financial aid requirements and capabilities, and tuition policy for undergraduates; and

• A statement from the Governor’s power to void management agreements.

• Authorizes members appointed by the Governor to the governing boards of public institutions to serve for four years and specifies that vacancies for the term shall be filled for the unexpired term (Sec. 1). 

• Authorizes the board of visitors of any baccalaureate public institution of higher education to appoint one or more students as nonvoting, advisory representatives (Sec. 1). 

• Prohibits a baccalaureate public institution of higher education to employ an individual appointed by the Governor to the board of visitors of such institution within two years of the expiration of their term (Sec. 1). 

• Requires governing boards of each public institution of higher education to act at all times in accordance with its primary duties of advancing the interests of the institution  and the people of the Commonwealth (Sec. 1). 

• Prohibits any individual as a member of the governing board from promoting any ideological, personal, or partisan interests (Sec. 1). 

• Requires the office of the Attorney General to convene a work group to examine the feasibility of the above, requiring reports no later than November 1, 2026 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text