                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD RELATED TO PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS;
DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS (§ 22.1-20.1)

A. As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:
			&#8220;Public broadcasting station&#8221; means any noncommercial,
educational television or radio station that (i) is licensed and regulated by
the Federal Communications Commission as a noncommercial, educational
broadcasting station; (ii) is operated by a public agency or a nonprofit private
foundation, corporation, or association; (iii) has offices and studios located
in Virginia; and (iv) on or before January 1, 1997, was qualified to receive or
was the recipient of a Virginia community service grant or other instructional
television service funds, or, after January 1, 1997, until July 1, 2012, was
qualified by the Virginia Public Broadcasting Board to receive state funds under
standards and criteria established by the Virginia Public Broadcasting Board
pursuant to law, or, after July 1, 2012, was qualified by the Board of Education
in accordance with this section. Public broadcasting station shall not include
any institution of higher education that produces or transmits distance
education and other credit and noncredit television programs, unless such
institution requests qualification as a public broadcasting station and the
Board of Education approves its request.

B. The Board shall have the power and duty to:

   1. Receive, allocate, and dispense funds appropriated by the General Assembly
   and funds received by the Board from other sources, subject to the approval of
   the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget;

   2. Develop reasonable and fair formulas for allocating and distributing state
   funds and other funds of the Board to Virginia&#8217;s public broadcasting
   stations consistent with the intent of such appropriations;

   3. Apply for, accept, and receive grants of federal funds and funds from other
   public and private sources;

   4. Adopt, administer, and apply standards and criteria by which the Board may
   permit television and radio stations to qualify as public broadcasting
   stations if those stations did not qualify for or receive Virginia community
   service grants or other instructional television service funds as of January
   1, 1997, but otherwise qualify as such under the definition of a public
   broadcasting station. To avoid unnecessary duplication of public broadcasting
   services, the Board shall consider: (i) the adequacy of existing programming,
   coverage, and other public broadcasting services in the geographic area to be
   served and the extent to which those services would be duplicated by an
   additional public broadcasting station and (ii) the sufficiency of funds
   administered by the Board to support existing or proposed public broadcasting
   stations;

   5. Coordinate such strategic planning by the public broadcasting stations as
   the Board deems appropriate and identify and communicate to the Governor and
   the General Assembly the funding and other requirements of Virginia&#8217;s
   public broadcasting stations; and

   6. Enter into contracts with public broadcasting stations, state agencies and
   institutions, public schools, and private entities for goods and services.

C. The Director of the Department of Planning and Budget shall oversee and
approve the disbursement of all funds appropriated to the Board for the purposes
enumerated in this section. Upon approval, the funds of the Board shall be
disbursed for the following general purposes:

   1. Annual operating-grant-funding to public broadcasting stations for
   developing, acquiring, producing, and distributing programs and related
   services that support local needs of preschool and adult education;
   disseminating information to the citizenry regarding the government and its
   affairs; promoting tourism and enhancing the Commonwealth&#8217;s economic
   development; and supporting other programs that inform, educate, and entertain
   the citizenry with noncommercial programming.

   2. Annual contract-funding to public broadcasting stations to regionally
   manage and provide programming and related services that directly support the
   instructional activities of local schools and home educators.

   3. Matching-capital-funding to public broadcasting stations for construction
   and equipment modernization to keep Virginia stations consistent with industry
   standards.

   4. Funding for specific programs and projects to be provided by a public
   broadcasting station that may not be included in another funding category.

HISTORY: 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2022, c. 355.