1 00:00:16,565 --> 00:00:19,565 So good afternoon everyone. And 2 00:00:19,601 --> 00:00:20,936 welcome to the Brown versus 3 00:00:20,936 --> 00:00:22,471 Board of Education Scholarship 4 00:00:22,471 --> 00:00:24,640 Committee. I am Senator Angela 5 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:26,942 Williams Graves, chair of this 6 00:00:26,942 --> 00:00:28,942 committee representing Senate 7 00:00:29,778 --> 00:00:31,747 District 21. And it's great to 8 00:00:31,747 --> 00:00:34,582 have all of you. Thank you so 9 00:00:34,582 --> 00:00:36,451 much for being here. We had 10 00:00:36,451 --> 00:00:39,688 originally we had a quorum and 11 00:00:39,688 --> 00:00:40,622 we have lost it, but we do have 12 00:00:40,622 --> 00:00:42,491 a workaround for that because 13 00:00:42,491 --> 00:00:44,260 we do have some important 14 00:00:44,260 --> 00:00:47,626 legislation that we need to get 15 00:00:48,330 --> 00:00:51,330 into the 2026 session. So let's 16 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,403 call the members to order and 17 00:00:54,403 --> 00:00:55,504 call the roll, and we'll go 18 00:00:55,504 --> 00:00:57,473 from there. 19 00:00:57,473 --> 00:00:59,473 >> Senator Hashmi, Senator 20 00:00:59,641 --> 00:01:02,410 Williams, graves here, Delegate. 21 00:01:03,780 --> 00:01:05,470 Munden, King Delegate Runyon 22 00:01:05,470 --> 00:01:07,447 Delegate glass here, Delegate. 23 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:10,416 Theta here, doctor. Barbara. 24 00:01:12,540 --> 00:01:14,454 Inman. Doctor. Doctor. Janita. 25 00:01:14,823 --> 00:01:16,823 Kearney. Here. Cameron. 26 00:01:19,161 --> 00:01:21,161 Patterson. Present. Jones. 27 00:01:21,397 --> 00:01:23,797 Johns. Cobb. Harris. Turner. 28 00:01:24,990 --> 00:01:26,340 MADAM Chair. MADAM Chair, you 29 00:01:26,340 --> 00:01:28,671 do not have a quorum. 30 00:01:28,671 --> 00:01:29,872 >> All right, so Michael said 31 00:01:29,872 --> 00:01:32,574 the quiet part out loud. We 32 00:01:32,574 --> 00:01:34,877 don't have a quorum, but we do. 33 00:01:34,877 --> 00:01:38,477 We can go through our agenda 34 00:01:39,781 --> 00:01:42,781 and the policy amendments were 35 00:01:42,851 --> 00:01:44,620 a consensus in our last meeting 36 00:01:44,620 --> 00:01:48,820 of what we had. We cannot vote 37 00:01:51,193 --> 00:01:53,462 on this agenda item as a. 38 00:01:53,462 --> 00:01:56,699 Without a quorum. We can't vote 39 00:01:56,699 --> 00:01:59,468 on this to be a commission 40 00:01:59,468 --> 00:02:01,468 recommendation. However, I'll 41 00:02:03,606 --> 00:02:04,707 carry it and make sure that 42 00:02:04,707 --> 00:02:06,408 whatever committee it ends up 43 00:02:06,408 --> 00:02:07,977 in, I don't know where it's 44 00:02:07,977 --> 00:02:09,678 going to end up, understands 45 00:02:09,678 --> 00:02:11,580 the circumstances as to why we 46 00:02:11,580 --> 00:02:15,284 did not have a vote. I have a 47 00:02:15,284 --> 00:02:17,987 couple of spots left that I can 48 00:02:17,987 --> 00:02:20,589 carry this, and we can have it. 49 00:02:20,589 --> 00:02:21,690 Ideally, it will still pass 50 00:02:21,690 --> 00:02:24,690 because I think the changes 51 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,930 that we made are are reasonable. 52 00:02:27,930 --> 00:02:30,633 So you all know all the members. 53 00:02:30,633 --> 00:02:31,434 We don't have any new members. 54 00:02:31,434 --> 00:02:34,503 So we'll go through. If you 55 00:02:34,503 --> 00:02:37,406 look at the attachment for the 56 00:02:37,406 --> 00:02:39,806 proposed draft legislation that 57 00:02:40,750 --> 00:02:43,675 is in your packet, the changes 58 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:46,849 start on line 3032. And well, 59 00:02:46,849 --> 00:02:49,849 actually there's a cross-out in 60 00:02:51,420 --> 00:02:53,656 line 30. But the the real 61 00:02:53,656 --> 00:02:56,425 changes I believe. Yeah. Start 62 00:02:56,425 --> 00:02:59,425 on line 32. Is that correct? 63 00:02:59,662 --> 00:03:02,498 Yes. Okay. And then that change. 64 00:03:02,498 --> 00:03:05,434 Let's see where does that 65 00:03:05,434 --> 00:03:09,340 sentence start. That is a long 66 00:03:11,874 --> 00:03:15,474 sentence. It is. Yeah. It's it 67 00:03:15,878 --> 00:03:18,514 it it starts okay on 24 okay. 68 00:03:18,514 --> 00:03:20,616 So line 24 educational agency 69 00:03:20,616 --> 00:03:22,452 means any one public school of 70 00:03:22,452 --> 00:03:24,587 the Commonwealth to public or 71 00:03:24,587 --> 00:03:25,688 private accredited two year or 72 00:03:25,688 --> 00:03:28,880 four year Virginia Institution 73 00:03:29,625 --> 00:03:31,360 of Higher Education that is in 74 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:33,620 compliance with the Southern 75 00:03:33,620 --> 00:03:34,797 Association of Colleges and 76 00:03:34,797 --> 00:03:36,797 Schools accreditation standards 77 00:03:37,500 --> 00:03:39,402 for institutions and academic 78 00:03:39,402 --> 00:03:42,402 programs, or other national or 79 00:03:42,505 --> 00:03:44,473 regional organization or agency 80 00:03:44,473 --> 00:03:46,809 recognized by the United States 81 00:03:46,809 --> 00:03:47,543 Secretary of Education for 82 00:03:47,543 --> 00:03:49,543 accreditation. Accrediting 83 00:03:50,580 --> 00:03:52,281 purposes. Three high school 84 00:03:52,281 --> 00:03:54,281 equivalency preparation program 85 00:03:55,217 --> 00:03:57,219 in compliance with the Board of 86 00:03:57,219 --> 00:03:58,187 Education guidelines for 87 00:03:58,187 --> 00:04:00,187 College level examination 88 00:04:00,556 --> 00:04:02,910 program. The Clep program, in 89 00:04:02,910 --> 00:04:03,392 compliance with the 90 00:04:03,392 --> 00:04:05,792 requirements of the College 91 00:04:06,662 --> 00:04:09,620 Board governing college level 92 00:04:09,866 --> 00:04:12,266 examination programs, or five 93 00:04:12,801 --> 00:04:14,570 accredited career and technical 94 00:04:14,570 --> 00:04:16,570 education. Post-secondary 95 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:18,641 school in the Commonwealth that 96 00:04:18,641 --> 00:04:20,641 accepts for admission 97 00:04:21,110 --> 00:04:21,711 recipients from the Brown v 98 00:04:21,711 --> 00:04:23,880 Board of Education Scholarship 99 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:25,548 Program. And here's where the 100 00:04:25,548 --> 00:04:27,850 change six. Solely for the 101 00:04:27,850 --> 00:04:30,453 purpose of a scholarship for 102 00:04:30,453 --> 00:04:32,588 any eligible student or any 103 00:04:32,588 --> 00:04:34,490 individual who is a lineal 104 00:04:34,490 --> 00:04:36,890 descendant of an eligible 105 00:04:38,270 --> 00:04:40,427 student, as defined in 106 00:04:42,632 --> 00:04:45,320 subsection g of paragraph 32 107 00:04:46,936 --> 00:04:48,936 3023 point I'm sorry, 3230 1.2 108 00:04:49,171 --> 00:04:50,540 accredited two year or four 109 00:04:50,540 --> 00:04:52,940 year institution of higher 110 00:04:53,776 --> 00:04:56,176 education outside of the 111 00:04:58,915 --> 00:05:01,915 Commonwealth, and that is the 112 00:05:04,287 --> 00:05:07,287 substance of the change. And 113 00:05:07,523 --> 00:05:09,492 then on page 56, I'm sorry, 114 00:05:09,492 --> 00:05:11,561 line 56, that any scholarship 115 00:05:11,561 --> 00:05:12,862 awarded pursuant to the Brown v 116 00:05:12,862 --> 00:05:14,597 Board of Education Scholarship 117 00:05:14,597 --> 00:05:16,997 Program established pursuant to 118 00:05:19,502 --> 00:05:21,502 chapter 34.1, section 3231.01 119 00:05:23,473 --> 00:05:25,508 at sequence of title 30 of the 120 00:05:25,508 --> 00:05:26,676 Code of Virginia to an eligible 121 00:05:26,676 --> 00:05:28,511 student to attend any 122 00:05:28,511 --> 00:05:29,546 accredited two year or four 123 00:05:29,546 --> 00:05:31,147 year institution of higher 124 00:05:31,147 --> 00:05:33,547 education outside of the 125 00:05:34,170 --> 00:05:36,417 Commonwealth, as described in 126 00:05:36,786 --> 00:05:39,489 clause six of the definition of 127 00:05:39,489 --> 00:05:40,824 educational agency. In the 128 00:05:40,824 --> 00:05:42,559 section noted of the Code of 129 00:05:42,559 --> 00:05:45,161 Virginia, as amended by this 130 00:05:45,161 --> 00:05:46,863 act, shall be limited to $5,000 131 00:05:46,863 --> 00:05:49,263 annually, provided that the 132 00:05:49,599 --> 00:05:51,534 Brown, Brown v Board of 133 00:05:51,534 --> 00:05:53,534 Education Scholarship Committee 134 00:05:53,636 --> 00:05:55,905 established in the subsection 135 00:05:55,905 --> 00:05:57,474 notice noted of the Code of 136 00:05:57,474 --> 00:05:59,474 Virginia, MAY subsequently 137 00:06:00,477 --> 00:06:02,877 adjust such annual scholarship 138 00:06:03,613 --> 00:06:06,482 limit as it deems necessary or 139 00:06:06,482 --> 00:06:09,452 appropriate. So I think we got 140 00:06:09,452 --> 00:06:12,452 everything that we intended to 141 00:06:12,655 --> 00:06:14,524 accomplish in the last meeting 142 00:06:14,524 --> 00:06:16,292 in this particular piece of 143 00:06:16,292 --> 00:06:17,460 legislation, and it is my 144 00:06:17,460 --> 00:06:19,629 understanding that that is the 145 00:06:19,629 --> 00:06:21,464 consensus of the board. If 146 00:06:21,464 --> 00:06:24,464 anybody is of a different 147 00:06:24,868 --> 00:06:27,268 opinion, let us know. 148 00:06:27,570 --> 00:06:30,730 >> MADAM Chair, can I just 149 00:06:30,730 --> 00:06:32,473 clarify? So with the $5,000 150 00:06:32,709 --> 00:06:34,711 language, is that saying that 151 00:06:34,711 --> 00:06:36,880 we as a committee can amend 152 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:38,648 that absent of a code change? 153 00:06:38,648 --> 00:06:41,480 >> Is that the accurate 154 00:06:41,184 --> 00:06:42,619 interpretation? 155 00:06:42,619 --> 00:06:45,190 >> MADAM Chair? Yes, that's 156 00:06:47,257 --> 00:06:49,326 correct. The committee has the 157 00:06:49,326 --> 00:06:51,595 range to amend different 158 00:06:51,595 --> 00:06:55,195 policies or the amount of the 159 00:06:55,532 --> 00:06:57,932 scholarship once they meet. 160 00:06:58,334 --> 00:07:00,360 >> As per this language, in the 161 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,436 legislation, in the proposed 162 00:07:04,774 --> 00:07:07,174 legislation. Yes. Okay. Okay. 163 00:07:08,578 --> 00:07:10,580 Any other questions. All right. 164 00:07:10,580 --> 00:07:13,850 So if that is a consensus of 165 00:07:13,850 --> 00:07:17,450 the group we'll carry it. I 166 00:07:18,588 --> 00:07:19,556 will reach out to Delegate 167 00:07:19,556 --> 00:07:21,591 glass. We can talk about if you 168 00:07:21,591 --> 00:07:23,627 want to if you can carry the 169 00:07:23,627 --> 00:07:24,494 house side, I don't know if 170 00:07:24,494 --> 00:07:26,596 Delegate King will be able to 171 00:07:26,596 --> 00:07:28,798 do that, but if not, can you 172 00:07:28,798 --> 00:07:31,901 carry the house side on it? 173 00:07:31,901 --> 00:07:34,404 Okay. All right. Very good. And 174 00:07:34,404 --> 00:07:38,400 then the any. Is there any 175 00:07:41,177 --> 00:07:43,460 public comment? 176 00:07:43,460 --> 00:07:44,715 >> You're online and would like 177 00:07:44,715 --> 00:07:47,115 to speak electronically. Please 178 00:07:52,322 --> 00:07:54,624 raise your hand electronically. 179 00:07:54,624 --> 00:07:57,240 >> All right. No commenters. 180 00:07:57,600 --> 00:07:58,562 All right. So this is our last 181 00:07:58,562 --> 00:08:00,962 meeting before the General 182 00:08:02,165 --> 00:08:04,565 Assembly 2026 session. We start. 183 00:08:04,701 --> 00:08:07,370 I told my team that's the set. 184 00:08:07,370 --> 00:08:10,637 She wants to speak. Oh, yes. 185 00:08:15,450 --> 00:08:17,714 Please come on up. Yes, you. 186 00:08:17,714 --> 00:08:19,316 Tell us your name. Okay. Good 187 00:08:19,316 --> 00:08:21,652 morning everybody. My name is 188 00:08:21,652 --> 00:08:22,719 Morgan Bassfield. I attend the 189 00:08:22,719 --> 00:08:24,554 illustrious Alabama State 190 00:08:24,554 --> 00:08:26,189 University, and I was just 191 00:08:26,189 --> 00:08:27,658 coming to speak. Just to give 192 00:08:27,658 --> 00:08:29,593 you guys a little background, I 193 00:08:29,593 --> 00:08:31,661 am a Dean student. I was 194 00:08:31,661 --> 00:08:34,610 recently inducted into the 195 00:08:34,970 --> 00:08:36,497 National Success and Leadership 196 00:08:37,401 --> 00:08:38,635 of the Nsls at our school. And 197 00:08:38,635 --> 00:08:40,971 the scholarship would mean a 198 00:08:40,971 --> 00:08:42,806 lot to me because I am an 199 00:08:42,806 --> 00:08:44,700 out-of-state student and I was 200 00:08:44,700 --> 00:08:45,909 awarded a few scholarships. But, 201 00:08:45,909 --> 00:08:48,512 you know, it doesn't cover like 202 00:08:48,512 --> 00:08:50,380 the the total, you know, cost 203 00:08:50,380 --> 00:08:51,782 of school. And it is a lot on 204 00:08:51,782 --> 00:08:53,717 my parents to pay the remaining 205 00:08:53,717 --> 00:08:54,818 balance out of pocket. So 206 00:08:54,818 --> 00:08:56,553 that's what the scholarship 207 00:08:56,553 --> 00:08:58,488 would mean to me. If I was to 208 00:08:58,488 --> 00:08:58,689 receive it. It would mean a lot 209 00:08:58,689 --> 00:09:00,657 to me. 210 00:09:00,657 --> 00:09:02,525 >> Well, thank you so much for 211 00:09:02,525 --> 00:09:03,327 coming and for speaking. Your 212 00:09:03,327 --> 00:09:04,628 mother has been advocating, 213 00:09:04,628 --> 00:09:06,730 your family has been advocating 214 00:09:06,730 --> 00:09:09,466 on your behalf and for students 215 00:09:09,466 --> 00:09:10,634 just like you to be able to 216 00:09:10,634 --> 00:09:13,340 receive scholarship funds. So 217 00:09:13,103 --> 00:09:14,538 thank you. It's great to see 218 00:09:14,538 --> 00:09:16,740 you and in person. And we are 219 00:09:16,740 --> 00:09:18,709 proud of all of the things that 220 00:09:18,709 --> 00:09:19,643 you have accomplished in your 221 00:09:19,643 --> 00:09:22,643 collegiate career. And so just 222 00:09:23,447 --> 00:09:25,983 as a timeline for everyone, 223 00:09:25,983 --> 00:09:27,384 this legislation will go into 224 00:09:27,384 --> 00:09:29,586 the JANUARY session. It will. 225 00:09:29,586 --> 00:09:30,821 I'm also carrying a budget 226 00:09:30,821 --> 00:09:32,456 amendment for the legislation 227 00:09:32,456 --> 00:09:34,240 as well to match the previous 228 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:36,240 budget. Previous biennial 229 00:09:36,793 --> 00:09:38,562 budget amendment. It will be 230 00:09:38,562 --> 00:09:40,464 voted on. Ideally, it will pass 231 00:09:40,464 --> 00:09:44,635 the House and the Senate and it 232 00:09:44,635 --> 00:09:47,171 will. And then the new governor 233 00:09:47,171 --> 00:09:50,407 will sign it and it will go 234 00:09:50,407 --> 00:09:52,743 into effect JULY 1st. So that 235 00:09:52,743 --> 00:09:55,143 would mean that applications 236 00:09:58,150 --> 00:10:00,618 under this legislation for the 237 00:10:00,618 --> 00:10:02,319 2027 year, is that right? Am I 238 00:10:02,319 --> 00:10:04,719 calculating that correct goes 239 00:10:04,822 --> 00:10:06,590 into effect JULY 1st. We would 240 00:10:06,590 --> 00:10:08,726 have already awarded JULY. We 241 00:10:08,726 --> 00:10:09,960 would have awarded 26 242 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:11,960 scholarships. So then 243 00:10:13,497 --> 00:10:15,566 applications for 2027 will go 244 00:10:15,566 --> 00:10:18,602 into this will go into place 245 00:10:18,602 --> 00:10:21,338 for 2027. And then in years 246 00:10:21,338 --> 00:10:24,938 going on after that. All right. 247 00:10:26,243 --> 00:10:28,379 Thank you. All right. Again 248 00:10:28,379 --> 00:10:30,447 this is our last meeting. 249 00:10:30,447 --> 00:10:31,815 Session starts JANUARY 14th. We 250 00:10:31,815 --> 00:10:33,851 run the 60 day session this 251 00:10:33,851 --> 00:10:36,554 year. So it is the long game. 252 00:10:36,554 --> 00:10:38,389 And I appreciate all of you for 253 00:10:38,389 --> 00:10:40,624 being here, for showing up and 254 00:10:40,624 --> 00:10:42,726 for making this scholarship 255 00:10:42,726 --> 00:10:45,726 even more meaningful than I 256 00:10:46,330 --> 00:10:47,531 think it was when it first was 257 00:10:47,531 --> 00:10:49,600 instituted. So thank you for 258 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:51,435 your time. Thank you to our 259 00:10:51,435 --> 00:10:53,437 families who have come out and 260 00:10:53,437 --> 00:10:54,705 who have given us a different 261 00:10:54,705 --> 00:10:56,373 perspective of the real life 262 00:10:56,373 --> 00:10:58,773 implications of the scholarship. 263 00:10:59,910 --> 00:11:01,612 Without that work and that 264 00:11:01,612 --> 00:11:04,120 advocacy, this work wouldn't 265 00:11:04,581 --> 00:11:05,482 get done. So thank you so much. 266 00:11:05,482 --> 00:11:08,482 We appreciate you. Any other 267 00:11:08,619 --> 00:11:11,619 comments from anyone else? All 268 00:11:11,622 --> 00:11:15,259 right. So the the last thing I 269 00:11:15,259 --> 00:11:19,459 have is I didn't do this last 270 00:11:20,498 --> 00:11:22,600 meeting because grief and death 271 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,000 are very sensitive subjects. 272 00:11:25,536 --> 00:11:29,136 And I told Delegate King my 273 00:11:29,473 --> 00:11:30,741 reason for not acknowledging 274 00:11:30,741 --> 00:11:32,810 the passing of her daughter. 275 00:11:32,810 --> 00:11:35,546 And she said, oh girl, say my 276 00:11:35,546 --> 00:11:37,348 baby's name. So today, as our 277 00:11:37,348 --> 00:11:40,348 last meeting, we will adjourn 278 00:11:40,618 --> 00:11:42,653 in honor and memory of Candice 279 00:11:42,653 --> 00:11:45,653 Gabriela King, who passed away 280 00:11:46,524 --> 00:11:48,726 at 15 from a battle with sickle 281 00:11:48,726 --> 00:11:50,828 cell. And we want to say her 282 00:11:50,828 --> 00:11:53,828 name, to remember her legacy 283 00:11:54,632 --> 00:11:56,634 and to make sure that her short 284 00:11:56,634 --> 00:11:58,769 life, which was very impactful, 285 00:11:58,769 --> 00:12:00,471 is not forgotten. So I just 286 00:12:00,471 --> 00:12:01,472 need a motion. 287 00:12:01,472 --> 00:12:02,807 >> Second. 288 00:12:02,807 --> 00:12:05,207 >> I need a motion. 289 00:12:05,576 --> 00:12:07,711 >> Oh, so move to. 290 00:12:07,711 --> 00:12:09,413 >> Adjourn. In the honor and 291 00:12:09,413 --> 00:12:09,747 memory of Canberra's Candice 292 00:12:09,747 --> 00:12:11,150 Gabriela King. 293 00:12:11,150 --> 00:12:12,416 >> a second. 294 00:12:12,416 --> 00:12:14,385 >> Thank you so much. We are 295 00:12:14,385 --> 00:12:16,385 adjourned.