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_ 202 Item Details($) Appropriations($) ITEM 125. First Year Second Year First Year Second Year FY2025 FY2026 FY2025 FY2026 provided to elementary schools, secondary schools, and libraries and the universal service funding mechanisms as provided under § 254 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, is hereby encouraged to make the discounts for intrastate services provided to elementary schools, secondary schools, and libraries for educational purposes as large as is prudently possible and to fund such discounts through the universal fund as provided in § 254 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The commission shall proceed as expeditiously as possible in implementing these discounts and the funding mechanism for intrastate services, consistent with the rules of the Federal Communications Commission aimed at the preservation and advancement of universal service. 15. Security Equipment Payments 1) A security equipment grant program shall be conducted through the Virginia Public School Authority, through the issuance of equipment notes in an amount estimated at up to $12,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 and $12,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 in conjunction with the Virginia Public School Authority technology notes program authorized in C.12. of this Item. Proceeds of the notes will be used to help offset the related costs associated with the purchase of appropriate security equipment that will improve and help ensure the safety of students attending public schools in Virginia. 2) The Department of Education shall authorize estimated amounts as indicated in Table 1 from the Literary Fund to provide debt service payments for the security equipment grant programs conducted through the Virginia Public School Authority in the referenced years. Table 1 Grant Year FY 2025 FY 2026 2020 $2,430,750 2021 $2,424,400 $2,428,400 2022 $2,581,250 $2,579,750 2023 $2,583,000 $2,581,750 2024 $2,768,425 $2,626,373 $2,768,425 $2,625,250 2025 $2,768,425 3) It is the intent of the General Assembly to authorize sufficient Literary Fund revenues to pay debt service on the Virginia Public School Authority bonds or notes authorized for this program. In developing the proposed 2026-2028, 2028-2030, and 2030-2032 biennial budgets for public education, the Department of Education shall include a recommendation to the Governor to authorize sufficient Literary Fund revenues to make debt service payments for these programs in fiscal years 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, and 2031. 4) In the event that, on any scheduled payment date of bonds or notes of the Virginia Public School Authority issued for the purpose described in § 22.1-166.2, Code of Virginia, and not benefiting from the provisions of either § 22.1-168 (iii), (iv) and (v), Code of Virginia, or § 22.1-168.1, Code of Virginia, the available moneys in the Literary Fund are less than the amounts authorized for debt service due on such bonds or notes on such date, there is hereby appropriated to the Virginia Public School Authority from the general fund a sum equal to such deficiency. 5) The Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Virginia Public School Authority shall, on or before November 1 of each year, deliver to the Governor and the Secretary of Finance a certificate setting forth his estimate of total debt service during each fiscal year of the biennium on bonds and notes issued and projected to be issued during such biennium. The Governor's budget submission each year shall include provisions for the payment of debt service pursuant to paragraph 1) above. 6) Grant award funds from the issuance of up to $12,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 and $12,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 in equipment notes shall be distributed to eligible school divisions. The grant awards will be based on a competitive grant basis of up to $250,000 per school division. School divisions will be permitted to apply annually for grant funding. For purposes of this program, eligible schools shall include schools that are subject to state accreditation and reporting membership in grades K through 12 as of September 30, 2024, for