Longwood University Governmental Affairs

The Longwood University Governmental Affairs web site is dedicated to keeping you informed and will provide you with information on key issues in the Virginia legislature, as well as certain Federal issues, that affect Longwood.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Brenda Atkins at 434-395-2027 or atkinsbl@longwood.edu .

Current Legislative Issues

Legislative Update - March 11, 2009

On Saturday, February 28, the Virginia General Assembly adjourned its 2009 session after passing the 2010 budget crafted by the Senate and House conferees. The budget includes American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. These funds are a part of President Obama's stimulus package and are one-time funds, not base budget additions.

The FY 2010 budget approved by the Senate and House includes the following for Longwood University:

• Nursing Program $ 240,442 (base budget addition included in Governor Kaine's December budget)
• Financial Aid $ 192,953 (base budget additional financial aid dollars)
• ARRA Allocation $3,169,668 (one-time funding only)

Other budget actions affecting state employees include:

Restoring funding for the Long-Term Care insurance program for state employees enrolled in the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program (VSDP), increasing the recurrent period for repeat Short-Term Disability (STD) claims from 14 workdays to 45 workdays, instituting a one-year waiting period for new employees before receiving STD benefits for non-work related claims, and instituting a cap of 60 percent on the STD income replacement rate until a new employee completes a five-year vesting period. These changes to the STD program are meant to bring the VSDP program in line with best practices prevalent in private sector disability plans.

Deleted language included in the Governor's introduced budget eliminating coverage for lap band and gastric bypass surgery under the state employee health program. The replacement language makes coverage for these procedures contingent on the beneficiary completing a weight management program.

The Governor is reviewing the budget and the General Assembly will reconvene on April 8 for the "Veto Session" at which time the legislature will act on any recommendations to the FY 2010 budget made by the Governor. While the FY 2010 budget will not be finalized until after the April 8 session, it is not anticipated that the Governor will make any changes affecting Longwood's funding.

On March 8, Delegate Clarke Hogan announced that he will not run for re-election in November. Delegate Hogan has represented the 60th District, which includes Longwood University, since 2002. He has been very supportive of the University and its initiatives and he will be missed.

On the Federal front, additional ARRA stimulus funding for higher education includes:

• Increases of $619 in Pell grants to $5350 for this fall and $5550 in 2010.
• $2500 tax credit each year for four years under the American Opportunity Tax Credit portion of the bill.

Much of the ARRA funding is geared toward the research institutions (and Longwood will not be eligible for most of those funds).

There is still much to be learned about the ARRA funding and available grant opportunities. Some federal agencies have until May 1 to develop guidelines for distributing these funds. We will continue to pursue these funding opportunities.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact me.

Brenda Atkins

Executive Assistant to the President for Governmental

Affairs and Special Projects

395-2027