<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>86977</law_id><section_number>23.1-704</section_number><catch_line>Powers and duties of the board</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>2.2-2746</reference><reference>2.2-3705.7</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="23.1">Institutions of Higher Education; Other Educational and Cultural Institutions</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Students and Campus</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="7">Commonwealth Savers Plan and Able Savings Trust Accounts</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">board</span> shall:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Administer the <span class="dictionary">Plan</span> established by this chapter; <a id="paragraph-311422" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-704/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Develop and implement programs for (i) the prepayment of undergraduate <span class="dictionary">tuition</span>, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/23.1-700/">23.1-700</a>, at a fixed, guaranteed level for application at a <span class="dictionary">public institution of higher education</span>; (ii) contributions to <span class="dictionary">college <span class="dictionary">savings trust accounts</span></span> established pursuant to this chapter on behalf of a <span class="dictionary">qualified beneficiary</span> in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to apply distributions from the account toward qualified higher education expenses, as that term is defined in &#xA7; 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or other applicable federal <span class="dictionary">law</span>; and (iii) contributions to <span class="dictionary">ABLE <span class="dictionary">savings trust accounts</span></span> established pursuant to this chapter on behalf of a <span class="dictionary">qualified beneficiary</span> in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to apply distributions from the account toward qualified disability expenses for an eligible individual, as both such terms are defined in &#xA7; 529A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or other applicable federal <span class="dictionary">law</span>; <a id="paragraph-311423" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-704/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Invest moneys in the <span class="dictionary">Plan</span> in any instruments, obligations, securities, or property deemed appropriate by the <span class="dictionary">board</span>; <a id="paragraph-311424" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-704/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Develop requirements, procedures, and guidelines regarding <span class="dictionary">prepaid tuition contracts</span> and <span class="dictionary">savings trust accounts</span>, including residency and other eligibility requirements; the number of participants in the <span class="dictionary">Plan</span>; the termination, withdrawal, or transfer of payments under a <span class="dictionary">prepaid tuition contract</span> or <span class="dictionary">savings trust account</span>; time limitations for the use of tuition benefits or <span class="dictionary">savings trust account</span> distributions; and payment <span class="dictionary">schedules</span>; <a id="paragraph-311425" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-704/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Enter into contractual agreements, including contracts for legal, actuarial, financial, and consulting services and contracts with other states to provide <span class="dictionary">savings trust accounts</span> for residents of contracting states; <a id="paragraph-311426" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-704/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Procure insurance as determined appropriate by the <span class="dictionary">board</span> (i) against any loss in connection with the <span class="dictionary">Plan</span>&#x2019;s property, <span class="dictionary">assets</span>, or activities and (ii) indemnifying <span class="dictionary">board</span> members from personal loss or accountability from liability arising from any action or inaction as a <span class="dictionary">board</span> member; <a id="paragraph-311427" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-704/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Make arrangements with public institutions of higher education to fulfill obligations under <span class="dictionary">prepaid tuition contracts</span> and apply <span class="dictionary">college <span class="dictionary">savings trust account</span></span> distributions, including (i) payment from the <span class="dictionary">Plan</span> of the appropriate amount of tuition on behalf of a <span class="dictionary">qualified beneficiary</span> of a <span class="dictionary">prepaid tuition contract</span> to the institution to which the beneficiary is admitted and at which the beneficiary is enrolled and (ii) application of such benefits toward graduate-level tuition and toward qualified higher education expenses, as that term is defined in 26 U.S.C. &#xA7; 529 or any other applicable section of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as determined by the <span class="dictionary">board</span> in its sole discretion; <a id="paragraph-311428" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-704/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Develop and implement scholarship or matching grant programs, or both, as the <span class="dictionary">board</span> may deem appropriate, to further its goal of making higher education more affordable and accessible to all citizens of the Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-311429" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-704/#8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="9"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> Apply for, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from public or private sources to enable it to carry out its objectives; <a id="paragraph-311430" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-704/#9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="10"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> Adopt regulations and procedures and perform any act or function consistent with the purposes of this chapter; and <a id="paragraph-311431" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-704/#10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="11"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> Reimburse, at its option, all or part of the cost of employing legal <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> and such other costs as are demonstrated to have been reasonably necessary for the defense of any <span class="dictionary">board</span> member, officer, or employee of the <span class="dictionary">Plan</span> upon the <span class="dictionary">acquittal</span>, <span class="dictionary">dismissal</span> of charges, <span class="dictionary">nolle prosequi</span>, or any other final <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> concluding the innocence of such member, officer, or employee who is brought before any regulatory body, summoned before any <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span>, investigated by any <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency, arrested, indicted, or otherwise prosecuted on any criminal charge arising out of any act committed in the discharge of his official duties that alleges a violation of state or federal securities <span class="dictionary">laws</span>. The <span class="dictionary">board</span> shall provide for the payment of such legal fees and expenses out of funds appropriated or otherwise available to the <span class="dictionary">board</span>. <a id="paragraph-311432" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-704/#11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1994, c. 661, &#xA7; 23-38.77; 1997, cc. 785, 861; 1998, cc. 61, 85; 1999, cc. 485, 518; 2000, cc. 382, 400; 2009, cc. 827, 845; 2015, cc. 227, 311; 2016, c. 588; 2019, cc. 803, 804.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
