Committee adopts amendment and approves grant program for non-public special education school renovations

Delegate Smith introduced House Bill 854 and described it as establishing the non-public special education school renovation program, which would provide grants to eligible non-public special education schools. She moved an amendment that, according to the transcript, modifies program eligibility and adds a recommended appropriation.

The committee took a voice vote on the amendment; the Chair called for those in favor to say "I" and declared "the ayes have it." The bill itself was then moved and seconded; the Chair again called for the ayes and declared that the bill passes.

The transcript does not specify the dollar amount of the recommended appropriation or the precise eligibility criteria added by the amendment; it records only that an amendment altered eligibility and added a recommendation for appropriation. No public testimony or outside stakeholder comments are recorded in the transcript for this item. The Chair closed the bill-voting portion of the session after the passage of the bill.