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2008 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Education and Health

Chairman: R. Edward Houck

Clerk: Jocelyn R. Lance
Staff: Jessica Eades, Brenda Edwards
Date of Meeting: January 24, 2008
Time and Place: Thursday, 8:30 AM; Senate Room B, General Assembly Building

S.B. 124 Public schools; Superintendent to develop guidelines eliminating trans fatty foods served.

Patron: Edwards

Superintendent of Public Instruction; eliminating trans fats.  Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop guidelines with the goal of eliminating foods containing trans fatty acids from public schools. The gradual elimination shall begin with the elimination of trans fats from vegetable oils used in school cafeterias. The final goal shall be to eliminate trans fats in all (i) foods sold as part of the official school breakfast and lunch programs, (ii) foods sold in vending machines on school grounds, and (iii) competitive foods sold during school hours.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-23 of the Code of Virginia, relating to trans fats in public schools.

087974228

S.B. 125 Community College Scholarship Match Program; created.

Patron: Edwards

Community College Scholarship Match Program.  Establishes the Community College Scholarship Match Program to provide matching funds to community college foundations and the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education.  Funds may be paid on the basis of one dollar of state general fund appropriation for every one dollar donated by private individuals, foundations, or corporations beginning on July 1, 2008.  These funds shall be used to award scholarships to students who (i) are domiciled residents of Virginia, (ii) graduated from a public or private Virginia high school, and (iii) are enrolled in a Virginia community college.  The provisions of the bill are contingent upon an appropriation of general funds in the 2008 General Appropriation Act.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 16 of Title 23 an article numbered 2.1, consisting of sections numbered 23-220.5 through 23-220.7, relating to the Community College Scholarship Match Program.

084014228

S.B. 126 Dependent Children of University and College Faculty Reduced Tuition Program; created.

Patron: Edwards

Partial tuition waiver; children of university and college faculty.  Establishes the Dependent Children of University and College Faculty Reduced Tuition Program, to provide 50% tuition waivers for the children of current full-time faculty members who have been employed full-time by any one or more public Virginia colleges or universities for an aggregate period of at least seven years. The tuition waivers shall be used for undergraduate education at any public institution of higher education in Virginia.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 23-7.4:6, relating to a partial tuition waiver for dependent children of university and college faculty.

084026228

S.B. 134 Occupational therapy assistants; licensing and regulation.

Patron: Houck

Occupational therapy assistants; licensing and regulation.  Requires occupational therapy assistants to be licensed by the Board of Medicine. However, a person who has graduated from a duly accredited occupational therapy assistant education program may practice with the title "Occupational Therapy Assistant, License Applicant" or "O.T.A., Applicant" until he has taken and received the results of any examination required by the Board or until six months from the date of graduation, whichever occurs sooner.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 54.1-2900, 54.1-2956.1, 54.1-2956.4, and 54.1-2956.5 of the Code of Virginia, relating to licensing and regulation of occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants.

084492244

S.B. 151 Dental assistants; Board of Dentistry to regulate practice.

Patron: Lucas

Practice of dental assistants.  Requires the Board of Dentistry to regulate the practice of dental assistants.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 54.1-2712 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 27 of Title 54.1 an article numbered 4, consisting of a section numbered 54.1-2729.01, relating to the practice of dental assistants.

084003802

S.B. 169 Teaching Scholarship Loan Program; expands program to community college students pursuing.

Patron: Blevins

Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program. Expands the scholarship program to award scholarships to community college students pursuing prerequisites for an approved teacher education program leading to an endorsement in career and technical education.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-290.01 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program.

086620204

S.B. 227 HIV/Hepatitis testing; parental consent for minors.

Patron: McDougle

HIV/Hepatitis testing; consent for minors. Makes the process for HIV and hepatitis testing when someone other than a school board member is exposed to the minor's bodily fluids consistent with the process for that of exposure of school board members. Requires consent from the minor's parents, and, if consent is refused, the bill requires such a person to petition the juvenile and domestic relations district court where the minor resides or resided, rather than the general district court, for an order requiring such testing. Recommendation of the Committee on District Courts.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 32.1-45.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to consent for the testing of minors for HIV and hepatitis.

084062866

S.B. 256 Public institutions of higher education; crisis and emergency management plans.

Patron: Deeds

Public institutions of higher education; crisis and emergency management plans.  Requires the board of visitors or other governing body of each public institution of higher education to develop, adopt, and keep current a written crisis and emergency management plan. Such plan must be reviewed and revised every four years. The Department of Emergency Management must assist institutions, as needed, in their development of the plan.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 44-146.18 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 1 of Title 23 a section numbered 23-9.2:9, relating to crisis and emergency management plans for public institutions of higher education.

089815220

S.B. 271 Schools for students with disabilities; administration of prescription medications.

Patron: Deeds

Prescription medications; schools for students with disabilities.  Allows a person employed in a school for students with disabilities licensed by the Board of Education to administer prescription medication to a student if the person (i) has satisfactorily completed a training program for this purpose approved by the Board of Nursing and taught by a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine, or pharmacist; (ii) has obtained written authorization from a parent or guardian; (iii) administers drugs only to the student identified on the prescription label in accordance with the prescriber's instructions pertaining to dosage, frequency, and manner of administration; and (iv) administers only those drugs that were dispensed from a pharmacy and maintained in the original, labeled container that would normally be administered by a parent or guardian to the student.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 54.1-2722, 54.1-3005 and 54.1-3408 of the Code of Virginia, relating to administration of prescription drugs to students in a school for students with disabilities.

086259220

S.B. 290 Advance Health Care Directive Registry; created.

Patron: Barker

Advance Health Care Directive Registry; creation.  Requires the Department of Health to create and maintain a secure online central registry for advance health care directives. The registry shall be accessible to health care providers licensed by the Board, through a site maintained by the Department of Health.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 54.1-2983 and 54.1-2985 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 29 of Title 54.1 an article numbered 9, consisting of sections numbered 54.1-2994 through 54.1-2999, relating to an Advance Health Care Directive Registry.

086274201

S.B. 297 Veterans; Commissioner et al., to establish comprehensive program to address mental health needs.

Patron: Puller

Veterans Services; mental health program.  Requires the Commissioner of Veterans Services to establish, in cooperation with the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services and the Department of Rehabilitative Services, a comprehensive program to address the unique mental health needs of veterans, including post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, and seek additional federal, state, and private sources of funding for such program.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2004, 37.2-304 and 51.5-14 of the Code of Virginia, relating to a comprehensive mental health program for veterans.

084016304

S.B. 304 Veterans; Commissioner et al., to develop various mental health programs.

Patron: Houck

Veterans Services; mental health program. Requires the Commissioner of Veterans Services to develop, in cooperation with the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, a strategy for coordinating the various programs that address the unique mental health needs of veterans, including post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, and to seek additional federal, state, and private sources of funding for such programs.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2004 and 37.2-304 of the Code of Virginia, relating to a comprehensive mental health program for veterans.

087705244

S.B. 326 Career and technical education; industry certification.

Patron: Wagner

Career and technical education; industry certification.  Requires the Board of Education to develop a plan for increasing the number of students receiving industry certification and state licensure as part of their career and technical education. The plan shall include an annual goal for school divisions, which may be based on the adequate yearly progress calculation used to measure academic improvement. School divisions shall report annually to the Board the number of students obtaining such credentials or licensure.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-227.1 and 22.1-253.13:4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to industry certifications and licensure in career and technical education.

084620340

S.B. 354 Medical examiner's investigation; examination of body.

Patron: Deeds

Medical examiner's investigation; examination of body. Specifies that a medical examiner investigating a suspicious death shall examine the dead body in-person, either at the scene of death or another location, before making his report to the Chief Medical Examiner.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 32.1-283 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the local medical examiner's investigation.

084056220

S.B. 356 Textbook purchases; permits local school boards to enter into contracts with publishers.

Patron: Watkins

Textbook purchasing contracts. Permits local school boards to enter into contracts with publishers for the purchase of textbooks. The bill expands the definition of textbook to include print, electronic, online, and other manipulatives-based programs. The bill reorganizes the textbook purchasing process and repeals several sections of outdated code. Also provides that if consumable materials are sold to students, the local school board must provide those materials at a reduced price, or free of charge, to students who are unable to afford them.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-238, 22.1-239, 22.1-241, 22.1-242, and 22.1-243 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal §§ 22.1-240, 22.1-244 through 22.1-251, and 22.1-253 of the Code of Virginia, relating to textbook purchasing.

085662348

S.B. 358 Virginia Commonwealth University; management agreement with State.

Patron: Watkins

Management agreement with Virginia Commonwealth University. Provides a management agreement between the Commonwealth of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University pursuant to the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act.

A BILL providing a management agreement between the Commonwealth and Virginia Commonwealth University, pursuant to the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act, Chapter 4.10 (§ 23-38.88 et seq.) of Title 23 of the Code of Virginia.

083344348

S.B. 376 School divisions, local; required to publish budget on website.

Patron: Stuart

Local school divisions; annual budget.  Requires local school divisions to publish their annual budget on the local school division website. If there is no local school division website, the budget must be available in hard copy.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-93 of the Code of Virginia, relating to publication of the approved annual budget for school purposes.

087742792

S.B. 381 Mental health and substance abuse treatment providers; background checks.

Patron: Martin

Mental health and substance abuse treatment providers; background checks.  Allows community services boards and providers licensed by the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services to hire as a direct care employee in adult substance abuse or mental health treatment programs someone with certain misdemeanor assault and battery convictions as long as such offences were substantially related to substance abuse or mental illness and the applicant has been rehabilitated.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 37.2-416 and 37.2-506 of the Code of Virginia, relating to background checks for direct care employees.

084047840

S.B. 438 Character education; adds humane education in treatment of companion animals to programs.

Patron: Vogel

Character education; humane education.  Adds that humane education, including compassion and responsibility in the treatment of companion animals, may be covered in character education programs.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-208.01 of the Code of Virginia, relating to character education.

087059352

S.B. 463 Infectious diseases; residential facility or group home licensed by DMHMRSAS et al. to report cases.

Patron: Whipple

Reporting of infectious diseases; residential facilities.  Adds persons in charge of residential facilities licensed by the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services or the Department of Social Services to the list of nonphysicians who must report infectious diseases. Also requires that reports be made to both the local health director and the Commissioner of Health, rather than just one of the two.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 32.1-37 of the Code of Virginia, relating to reporting of infectious diseases.

084674352

S.B. 495 Medicine, Board of; certain information to be made available thereto.

Patron: Northam

Board of Medicine; information to be made public.  Exempts anyone holding an inactive, temporary, limited, or volunteer license to practice medicine from the requirement to make certain information available to the Board of Medicine.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 54.1-2910.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to certain information doctors are required to make public.

084001802

S.B. 510 Higher educational institutions; policies addressing for-profit student loan vendors.

Patrons: McEachin, Petersen

Institutions of higher education; student lending policies; report.  Requires the governing boards of public institutions of higher education to develop policies and procedures for disclosing certain information to students on student lending practices, and to report this information annually to the State Council for Higher Education.  This information shall include (i) disclosure of the for-profit status of private vendors, (ii) the criteria used to determine which lenders, if any, are recommended or endorsed by the school, and (iii) explicit notification that students are free to borrow from any lender of their choosing and are not limited to a list offered by the school.  Also the bill prohibits public institutions of higher education from entering into exclusive agreements with vendors, and prohibits employees from accepting gifts to induce endorsement of certain vendors.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 23-4.3:2, relating to policies addressing for-profit student loan vendors.

087842273

S.B. 557 Students, first-time; preadmission physical examinations.

Patron: Obenshain

Preadmission physical examinations. Provides that a pupil's comprehensive physical examination completed within the 24 months prior to the date such pupil first enters a public kindergarten or elementary school is acceptable so long as the physical examination was performed prior to the pupil's attending a public pre-kindergarten program.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-270 of the Code of Virginia, relating to physical examinations for first-time students.

086252288

S.B. 613 Eastern Virginia Medical School; length of term for Board of Visitors.

Patron: Stolle

Eastern Virginia Medical School; Board of Visitors terms.  Allows officers of the Board of Visitors to serve up to three additional one-year terms. Contains an emergency clause.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2 of Chapter 471 of the Acts of Assembly of 1964, as amended by Chapter 87 of the Acts of Assembly of 2002, relating to Eastern Virginia Medical School; emergency.

084018328

S.B. 672 Nursing facility beds; Health Commissioner to issue Request for Applications in Planning District 9.

Patron: Houck

Certificate of public need; certain request for applications.  Requires the Commissioner of Health to issue a Request For Applications for 90 new nursing facility beds in Planning District 9 no later than October 1, 2008.

A BILL to provide for the authorization and acceptance of certain certificate of public need applications.

088700244

EMERGENCY

S.B. 683 Higher Education Board Appointments, Commission on; removes sunset provision.

Patron: Norment

Virginia Commission on Higher Education Board Appointments; sunset. Removes the sunset on the Virginia Commission on Higher Education Board Appointments.

A BILL to repeal § 2.2-2523 of the Code of Virginia, relating to sunset on the Virginia Commission on Higher Education Board Appointments.

088828284

S.B. 746 Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia. 

Patron: Hanger

Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia.  Allows the Museum to lease structures on state property, with consent of the Governor, and allows the Museum to accept donations gathered by the American Frontier Culture Foundation on its behalf.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 23-298 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia.

084810232