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ACROSS SESSIONS
- Subject Index: Since 1995
- Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
- Summaries: Since 1994
Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
2024 SESSION
Chair: Ghazala F. Hashmi
Clerk: Hobie Lehman
Staff: Julia Bergamini, Hannah Yates
Date of Meeting: February 22, 2024
Time and Place: 8:30 AM / Senate Room A, 3rd floor, General Assembly Building
Updated to add HB 187
Patron: Hope
Civil immunity; dentists and dental hygienists; mental health treatment for health care professionals; reporting requirements. Adds dentists and dental hygienists to the list of providers who are immune from civil liability for any act done or made in performance of his duties while serving as a member of or consultant to an entity that functions primarily to review, evaluate, or make recommendations on a professional program to address issues related to career fatigue and wellness in health care professionals. The bill also extends civil immunity to certain providers for any act done or made in performance of his duties while serving as a member of or consultant to an entity that functions primarily to arrange for or provide outpatient health care for health care professionals. The bill also revises the Board of Medicine reporting requirements when a health care professional is admitted for mental health treatment. Under the bill, if a health care professional is voluntarily admitted to a health care institution for treatment of a substance abuse or psychiatric illness and is no longer believed to be a danger within 30 days then no report will be made to the Board of Medicine.
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 8.01-581.16 and 54.1-2400.6 of the Code of Virginia, relating to civil immunity; dentists and dental hygienists; mental health treatment for health care professionals; reporting requirements.24100700D
Patron: Wachsmann
Alpha-gal syndrome; Board of Health; reportable disease list. Directs the Board of Health to add alpha-gal syndrome to the list of diseases required to be reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025.
A BILL to direct the Board of Health to adopt regulations to include alpha-gal syndrome on the list of diseases that shall be required to be reported in accordance with § 32.1-35 of the Code of Virginia.24106019D
Patron: Green
Public secondary schools; satisfaction of physical education requirements; participation in Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Requires each local school board to accept participation in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps as fulfillment of any physical education requirements applicable to students in grades nine through 12.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-253.13:1, as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to public secondary schools; satisfaction of physical education requirements; participation in Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps.24101212D
Patron: Sullivan
Board of Education; health education Standards of Learning; severe allergic reaction awareness training. Requires the Board of Education to include in the Standards of Learning for health education for grade nine and grade 10 an in-person or online severe allergic reaction awareness training that includes certain topics enumerated in the bill.
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-274.2:1, relating to grade nine and grade 10 health education Standards of Learning instruction; severe allergic reaction awareness training.24106350D
Patron: Convirs-Fowler
Department of Education; learning needs dashboard. Requires the Department of Education to continue to maintain until July 1, 2029, a learning needs dashboard that includes an interactive bar chart feature to compare annual pass rates and an interactive scatterplot feature to compare changes in pass rates between select years on history and social sciences, mathematics, reading, science, and writing Standards of Learning assessments on a statewide basis and for specific local school divisions, public elementary and secondary schools, and student subgroups.
A BILL to require the Department of Education to maintain a learning needs dashboard.24105560D
Patron: Cole
Public institutions of higher education; student identification cards; emergency services website page and telephone numbers. Requires each public institution of higher education to maintain and annually update as necessary to ensure accuracy and currency a website page that includes telephone numbers for certain emergency services enumerated in the bill and to include (i) the URL of such website page on each new digital student identification card and any replacement digital student identification card issued by the institution beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year and (ii) the URL of or a QR Code that directs to such website page on each new physical student identification card and any replacement physical student identification card issued by the institution beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 23.1-802.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public institutions of higher education; student identification cards; emergency services website page and telephone numbers.24105873D
Patron: Keys-Gamarra
Department of Education; resource document on supports and services for homeless students. Requires the Department of Education to develop and make available to each school board a resource document containing guidance and best practices for providing the necessary supports and services to homeless students, including guidance and best practices relating to (i) decisions regarding whether and when such a student should remain enrolled in a school in a previous school division of residence, (ii) wrap-around supports and services for such students that include the parents when they are available and specific wrap-around supports and services for such students who may have experienced additional trauma prior to becoming homeless, and (iii) any other means by which such students can be best served and protected, particularly those homeless children and youths at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Education; resource document on supports and services for homeless students.24101865D
Patron: Clark
Average teacher salary in the Commonwealth; national average. Requires the Governor's introduced budget bills for the 2025, 2026, and 2027 Regular Sessions of the General Assembly to propose funding for, and state funding to be provided pursuant to the general appropriation act enacted during any regular or special session of the General Assembly during 2025, 2026, or 2027 to fund, the Commonwealth's share of compensation supplement incentives for Standards of Quality-funded instructional and support positions sufficient to increase the average teacher salary in the Commonwealth to at least the national average teacher salary by the end of the 2026–2028 biennium and establishes a detailed timeline and process for satisfying such requirement.
24107278D
Patron: Henson
Public schools; teachers and other relevant personnel; mental health awareness training. Requires each teacher and other relevant personnel, as determined by the applicable school board, employed on a full-time basis to complete mental health awareness training that addresses the needs of youth populations that are at a high risk of experiencing mental health challenges and disorders. Current law requires such teachers and personnel to complete mental health awareness training but does not contain any requirements relating to the specific topics such training must address.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-298.6 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public schools; mental health awareness training and instruction; requirements.24105961D
Patron: Cole
Sickle cell disease; statewide registry; collection of sickle cell disease case information; penalties; notification; annual report. Creates a statewide registry of sickle cell disease patients to be maintained by the State Health Commissioner. The bill establishes: (i) standards and selection criteria for the collection of sickle cell disease information; (ii) penalties for unauthorized use of data from such registry; and (iii) notice requirements for patients whose personal identifying information has been submitted to such registry. The bill allows patients diagnosed with sickle cell disease to self-report information to the sickle cell disease registry. Under the bill, a patient has the right to opt out of having his information reported to the statewide sickle cell disease registry. The bill also directs the Commissioner to submit an annual report of the information obtained from the sickle cell disease registry to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1 of each year.
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 2 of Title 32.1 an article numbered 21, consisting of sections numbered 32.1-73.21 through 32.1-73.26, relating to sickle cell disease; statewide registry; collection of sickle cell disease case information; penalties; notification; annual report.24104509D
Patron: Cole
School boards; meetings; public comment or citizen participation; enrolled students. Requires each school board to permit any student enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school in the local school division who provides acceptable proof of identification, if requested, and who signs up in accordance with the sign-up procedures for the respective school board meeting or is physically present at a school board meeting to submit oral comments during any public comment portion of such meeting.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-79 of the Code of Virginia, relating to school boards; meetings; public comment or citizen participation; enrolled students.24101889D
Patron: Mundon King
Adult wellness screening; sickle cell anemia or sickle cell trait. Provides that every adult resident of the Commonwealth may be offered screening tests for sickle cell disease or the sickle cell trait and requires that the health care professional in charge of an adult's annual health examination provide education and appropriate counseling regarding the results of any such test that is performed.
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 2 of Title 32.1 an article numbered 21, consisting of a section numbered 32.1-73.21, relating to adult wellness screening; sickle cell anemia or sickle cell trait.24106066D
Patron: Hope
Office of the State Inspector General; investigations of abuse or neglect at state psychiatric hospitals; report. Directs the Office of the State Inspector General to (i) develop a plan to fulfill its statutory obligation to fully investigate all complaints it receives alleging abuse, neglect, or inadequate care at a state psychiatric hospital and (ii) submit such plan to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2024. The bill also requires the Office to submit an annual report to the General Assembly on or before December 1 regarding the number of such complaints received and the number of complaints that were fully investigated by the Office.
A BILL to direct the Office of the State Inspector General to develop a plan and submit reports regarding investigations of abuse or neglect at state psychiatric hospitals.24103984D
Patron: Glass
Social Work Licensure Compact. Authorizes Virginia to become a signatory to the Social Work Licensure Compact. The Compact allows social workers who have or are eligible for an active, unencumbered license in the compact member state where they reside to apply for a multistate license. After verifying eligibility, the social worker is granted a multistate license that authorizes practice in all other compact member states. The Compact takes effect when it is enacted by a seventh member state.
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 37 of Title 54.1 an article numbered 3, consisting of a section numbered 54.1-3709.4, relating to Social Work Licensure Compact.24101350D
Patron: Sickles
Board of Counseling; licensure by endorsement for marriage and family therapists. Directs the Board of Counseling to amend its regulations related to the process for licensure by endorsement for marriage and family therapists. The bill removes requirements that applicants for licensure by endorsement provide evidence that they meet certain educational and experience requirements.
A BILL to direct the Board of Counseling to amend its regulations related to licensure by endorsement for licensure as a marriage and family therapist.24101176D
Patron: Henson
Advanced registered medication aides; certified nursing facilities; work group; report. Requires advanced registered medication aides who administer drugs that would otherwise be self-administered to residents in a certified nursing facility licensed by the Department of Health to register with the Board of Nursing. Under the bill, an advanced registered medication aide who is registered to administer drugs to residents in a certified nursing facility shall also be eligible to administer drugs that would otherwise be self-administered to residents in an assisted living facility. The foregoing provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025. The bill also requires the Board of Nursing to convene a work group to develop recommendations to enable such medication aides to administer drugs to residents in a certified nursing facility and to report such recommendations to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health and Human Services by November 1, 2024. Finally, the bill requires the Department of Health to promulgate regulations to authorize such medication aides to administer prescription drugs to residents in certified nursing facilities. The bill directs the Board of Nursing to adopt regulations to implement the provisions of the bill to be effective as of July 1, 2025.
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 54.1-3041 and 54.1-3042 of the Code of Virginia, relating to medication aides; certified nursing facilities; work group; report.24100783D
Patron: Hope
Public pools; regulations. Directs the Board of Health to adopt regulations governing swimming pools and other water recreational facilities operated for public use, including swimming pools and other water recreational facilities operated in conjunction with a tourist facility or health spa.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 32.1-248.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public pools; regulations.24100851D
Patron: Simonds
Voluntarily registered family day homes; safe sleep practices; checklist. Requires the Department of Education to update its Voluntary Registration Health and Safety Checklist for any voluntarily registered family day home to include safe sleep practices.
A BILL to require the Department of Education to update its Voluntary Registration Health and Safety Checklist.24106148D
Patron: Simonds
Superintendent of Public Instruction; duties; fixed and actual school staffing ratios. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to biennially calculate, compare, and report to the Board of Education and the General Assembly the differences between the fixed staffing ratios in the Standards of Quality funding formula and the actual staffing ratios in local school divisions in the Commonwealth so that such fixed staffing ratios can be regularly adjusted as needed to more closely approximate such actual staffing ratios.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-23 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Superintendent of Public Instruction; duties; fixed and actual school staffing ratios.24100395D
Patron: Hernandez
Child Care Subsidy Program; categorical eligibility for certain families. Provides that any family that receives public assistance through Medicaid or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children shall be deemed to categorically satisfy income eligibility requirements to receive assistance through the Child Care Subsidy Program.
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 14.1 of Title 22.1 a section numbered 22.1-289.08:2, relating to Child Care Subsidy Program; categorical eligibility for certain families.24104498D
Patron: Arnold
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; facilities licensed to provide inpatient substance use disorder treatment; valid discharge plans. Directs the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to amend its regulations to require that any facility licensed by the Department to provide inpatient substance use disorder treatment be required to prepare and record a valid discharge plan upon the discharge or withdrawal of any individual from the facility who has received substance use disorder treatment while admitted to such facility. The bill requires such discharge plan to include the provision of funds withheld from the individual's prior payments to the facility to assist the individual in the execution of such discharge plan. The bill requires the regulations to provide that failure by a facility to prepare and record valid discharge plans may result in civil penalties, license suspension, or license revocation.
A BILL to require the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to require certain facilities to prepare and record valid discharge plans.24101627D
Patron: Coyner
Restroom Access Act. Requires a retail establishment that does not have a public restroom but has an employee toilet facility to allow any customer with an eligible medical condition, as defined in the bill, to use such employee toilet facility during normal business hours if certain conditions are met. A customer who suffers loss as a result of a violation may bring an action to recover damages not to exceed $100.
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 59.1 a chapter numbered 57, consisting of sections numbered 59.1-603 through 59.1-606, relating to Restroom Access Act.24106961D
Patron: Cohen
School building evacuation plans, policies, and protocols; students with mobility impairments. Requires any divisionwide or public elementary or secondary school-specific school building evacuation plan, policy, or protocol to include provisions that seek to maximize the opportunity for students with mobility impairments to evacuate the school building alongside their non-mobility-impaired peers.
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-137.4, relating to school building evacuation plans, policies, and protocols; students with mobility impairments.24101047D
Patron: Cohen
Department of Education; background checks for child day program employees and volunteers; dissemination of information in certain circumstances. Requires the Department of Education, upon receiving a written request for such a written certification from an individual, to provide written certification to an entity designated by the Department that provides staffing for child day programs that such individual satisfies all requirements set forth in relevant law and is eligible to serve as an employee, temporary employee, or volunteer in a child day program. The bill further provides that (i) each such written certification shall also state the date by which the individual is required to complete a new background check in accordance with the periodic requirement for such background checks, (ii) no such written certification shall reveal the nature of any disqualifying barrier crime committed by or founded complaint of child abuse or neglect against the individual, and (iii) any such written certification may be shared among child day programs for the purpose of facilitating the creation and maintenance of a child day program substitute staff pool system.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-289.035 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Education; background checks for child day program employees and volunteers; dissemination of information in certain circumstances.24102635D
Patron: Hope
Advisory Council on Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections and Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome; sunset. Extends from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2028, the sunset of the Advisory Council on Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections and Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 32.1-73.11 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Advisory Council on Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections and Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome; sunset.24101093D
Patron: Hope
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; discharge pilot program; report. Directs the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to develop and implement a pilot program relating to the discharge of individuals at one state hospital. The bill requires the Department to submit a report to the General Assembly on its findings and recommendations no later than November 1, 2025.
A BILL to direct the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to develop and implement a pilot program relating to the discharge of individuals at one state hospital; report.24107017D
Patron: Mundon King
Board of Medicine; unprofessional conduct. Prohibits the Board of Medicine from taking disciplinary action against a doctor based on the alleged provision or receipt of abortion care that is not prohibited under the laws of the Commonwealth, regardless of where such abortion care was provided or received. The bill also specifies that grounds for refusal to issue a certificate or license to any applicant or to take disciplinary action for procuring or performing an abortion apply to such action only as it is prohibited by the laws of the Commonwealth. Under current law, such grounds for refusal or disciplinary action apply for procuring or performing a criminal abortion.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 54.1-2915 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Board of Medicine; unprofessional conduct.24103442D
Patron: Askew
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; membership; representative of a historically black college or university. Requires the membership of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to include at least one nonlegislative citizen member who has served as a chief executive officer of one of the Commonwealth's historically black colleges or universities. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 23.1-200 of the Code of Virginia, relating to State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; membership; representative of a historically black college or university.24103116D
Patron: Delaney
Prescription Drug Affordability Board established; drug cost affordability review. Establishes the Prescription Drug Affordability Board for the purpose of protecting the citizens of the Commonwealth and other stakeholders within the health care system from the high costs of prescription drug products. The bill requires the Board to meet in open session at least four times annually, with certain exceptions and requirements enumerated in the bill. Members of the Board are required to disclose any conflicts of interest, as described in the bill. The bill also creates a stakeholder council for the purpose of assisting the Board in making decisions related to drug cost affordability. The bill tasks the Board with identifying prescription, generic, and other drugs, as defined in the bill, that are offered for sale in the Commonwealth and, at the Board's discretion, conducting an affordability review of any prescription drug product. The bill lists factors for the Board to consider that indicate an affordability challenge for the health care system in the Commonwealth or high out-of-pocket costs for patients. The bill also provides that any person aggrieved by a decision of the Board may request an appeal of the Board's decision and that the Attorney General shall have authority to enforce the provisions of the bill. The bill provides that the Board shall establish no more than 12 upper payment limit amounts annually between January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2028.
The bill requires the Board to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly twice annually, beginning on July 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. Provisions of the bill shall apply to state-sponsored and state-regulated health plans and health programs and obligate such policies to limit drug payment amounts and reimbursements to an upper payment limit amount set by the Board, if applicable, following an affordability review. The bill specifies that Medicare Part D plans shall not be bound by such decisions of the Board.
The bill also requires the nonprofit organization contracted by the Department of Health to provide the Board access to certain data reported by manufacturers. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 54.1-3442.02 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 32.1 a chapter numbered 7.3, consisting of sections numbered 32.1-276.12 through 32.1-276.19, relating to Prescription Drug Affordability Board established; drug cost affordability review.
24106760D
Patron: Delaney
Policies on parental notification of instructional material that includes sexually explicit content; scope and use. Provides that nothing in the law requiring the Department of Education to develop and make available to each school board model policies for ensuring parental notification of any instructional material that includes sexually explicit content and requiring each school board to adopt policies that are consistent with but may be more comprehensive than such model policies or that is in such model policies or school board policies shall be construed to permit the censoring of books in any public elementary or secondary school.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-16.8 of the Code of Virginia, relating to policies on parental notification of instructional material that includes sexually explicit content; scope and use.24102157D
Patron: Runion
Department of Medical Assistance Services; Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; slot-retention requests; Developmental Disability waivers; sunset. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to amend their regulations to allow for support coordinators to request and subsequently obtain approval of consecutive waiver slot-retention requests for a period of up to 365 calendar days for individuals who have been assigned a Developmental Disability waiver slot. Current regulations allow for four consecutive 30-day slot-retention extensions. The bill sunsets on June 30, 2026.
A BILL to direct the Department of Medical Assistance Services and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to amend its regulations related to slot-retention requests for Developmental Disability waiver slots; sunset.24104893D
Patron: Sickles
Department of Health; emergency regulations related to prescription drug price transparency; effective period; emergency. Directs that the emergency regulations 12VAC5-219, promulgated by the Department of Health pursuant to Chapter 304 of the Acts of Assembly of 2021, Special Session I, shall remain in effect until the promulgation of final regulations. The bill requires such effective period to be retroactive to January 1, 2024, and contains an emergency clause.
A BILL to direct that certain Department of Health emergency regulations related to prescription drug price transparency remain in effect until final regulations are promulgated; emergency.24104638D
EMERGENCY
Patron: Simonds
School boards; unexpended local funds; capital reserve fund permitted. Permits any school board, with the concurrence of the local governing body, to establish a capital reserve fund as a savings account into which it exclusively deposits the local operating funds that remain unexpended at the end of the year for future school division capital expenditures at no additional cost to local taxpayers, subject to certain conditions enumerated in the bill.
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-100 and 22.1-100.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to school boards; unexpended local funds; capital reserve fund permitted.24102222D
Patron: Price
Public elementary and secondary schools; health instruction, certain topics relating to mental health. Requires health instruction provided to elementary and secondary school students to include certain topics relating to mental health that are enumerated in the bill, including (i) general themes of social and emotional learning, including self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, relationship skills, and social awareness; (ii) signs and symptoms of common mental health challenges; and (iii) mental health wellness and healthy strategies for coping with stress and negative feelings, including conflict resolution skills.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-207 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public schools; health instruction; certain topics relating to mental health.24106110D
Patron: Price
Dental hygienists; remote supervision. Extends from 90 days to 180 days the period during which a dental hygienist practicing under remote supervision may continue to treat a patient, after which period the supervising dentist shall conduct an examination or refer the patient to another dentist to conduct an examination. Under current law, a dental hygienist practicing under remote supervision may continue to treat a patient for 90 days.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 54.1-2722 of the Code of Virginia, relating to dental hygienists; remote supervision.24101672D
Patron: Price
Contraception; right to contraception; applicability; enforcement. Establishes a right to obtain contraceptives and engage in contraception, as defined in the bill. The bill creates a cause of action that may be instituted against anyone who infringes on such right.
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 32.1 a chapter numbered 21, consisting of sections numbered 32.1-376, 32.1-377, and 32.1-378, relating to contraception; right to contraception; applicability; enforcement.24102170D
Patron: Price
Virginia STEM Education Advisory Board; purpose and duties; historically underrepresented students. Expands the purpose of the Virginia Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Advisory Board to include promoting the participation of historically underrepresented students, as defined in the bill, in primary and secondary schools in STEM education. The bill expands the duties of the Board to effectuate this additional purpose. Finally, the bill increases from 16 to 23 the nonlegislative citizen membership of the Board and provides that the seven additional members be appointed by the chairmen of the Virginia African American Advisory Board, Virginia-Asian Advisory Board, Latino Advisory Board, Council on Women, Virginia LGBTQ+ Advisory Board, Office of New Americans Advisory Board, and Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, with each chairman appointing one member representing the population served by his advisory board subject to the approval of a majority of the members of his advisory board.
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-364, 22.1-365 and 22.1-367 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Virginia STEM Education Advisory Board; purpose and duties; historically underrepresented students.24106463D
Patron: Ballard
Board of Education; open school enrollment policies; guidance on best practices. Requires the Board of Education to develop and make available to each school board guidance on best practices relating to open school enrollment, including on several topics enumerated in the bill.
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-7.1:1, relating to Board of Education; guidance on best practices for open school enrollment policies.24107350D
Patron: Runion
Board of Visitors of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind; authority to establish campus police department. Permits the Board of Visitors of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind to establish a campus police department, in compliance with the provisions of law relating to campus police departments established by institutions of higher education, and to employ campus police officers therein.
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-346.2 and 23.1-812 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Board of Visitors of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind; authority to establish campus police department.24101897D
Patron: Maldonado
Board of Medicine; Board of Dentistry; Board of Optometry; Boards of Medicine and Nursing; patient counseling; treatment with opioids. Directs the Board of Medicine, the Board of Dentistry, the Board of Optometry, and the Boards of Medicine and Nursing to amend their regulations to require the provision of certain information to patients being prescribed an opioid for the treatment of acute or chronic pain. The bill requires that the regulations include an exception to the required provision of such information for patients who are (i) in active treatment for cancer, (ii) receiving hospice care from a licensed hospice or palliative care, (iii) residents of a long-term care facility, (iv) being prescribed an opioid in the course of treatment for substance abuse or opioid dependence, or (v) receiving treatment for sickle cell disease. The bill directs the Boards to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill.
A BILL to direct the Board of Medicine, the Board of Dentistry, the Board of Optometry, and the Boards of Medicine and Nursing to amend their regulations related to patient counseling for the prescription of opioids to treat acute or chronic pain.24101933D
Patron: Tata
Certain individuals in foster care, in the custody of the Department of Social Services, or considered a special needs adoption; parameters of higher education grants; point of contact for support and guidance. Adds the cost of room and board to the amount of the grants required to be provided by comprehensive community colleges to certain individuals who were in foster care or in the custody of the Department of Social Services or were considered a special needs adoption; expands such requirement to include all associate-degree-granting and baccalaureate public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth; and makes eligible for such grants any individual who meets certain other eligibility criteria and was in foster care or in the custody of the Department of Social Services or was considered a special needs adoption at any time after he turned 14. Current law requires such an individual to have been in foster care or in the custody of the Department of Social Services or considered a special needs adoption at the time that his high school diploma or equivalency examination certificate was awarded. The bill also requires each public institution of higher education to identify at least one employee of the institution to serve as a point of contact for each enrolled student who was in foster care or in the custody of the Department of Social Services or was considered a special needs adoption in order to provide such student with support and guidance, including support and guidance relating to financial aid and any associated applications or other required paperwork.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 23.1-601 of the Code of Virginia, relating to certain individuals in foster care, in the custody of the Department of Social Services, or considered a special needs adoption; parameters of higher education grants; point of contact for support and guidance.24101448D
Patron: Torian
Institutions of higher education; campus safety and emergency preparedness training; first-year completion and biennial review. Requires the governing board of each public institution of higher education to develop and implement policies requiring that a campus safety and emergency preparedness training program be provided to and completed by all first-year students by the last day of each student's first academic term and reviewed biennially by each returning student at such institution. The bill provides that such training program will focus on active shooter event preparedness and may be offered in any format and include any supplementary materials as the governing board of each such institution deems appropriate. Finally, the bill directs the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to encourage private institutions of higher education to develop and implement policies requiring a campus safety and emergency preparedness training program be provided to each first-year student by the last day of each student's first academic term and reviewed biennially by each returning student at such institution.
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 23.1 a section numbered 23.1-808.2, relating to institutions of higher education; campus safety and emergency preparedness training; first-year completion and biennial review.24107101D
Patron: Reaser
Health or physical education Standards of Learning; research-based hazing prevention instruction. Requires the Board to develop Standards of Learning and curriculum guidelines for research-based hazing prevention instruction to be provided as a part of physical or health education instruction provided to students in grade nine or 10, including age-appropriate, extensive, and current education about hazing that includes (i) examples of hazing; (ii) the dangers of hazing, including the consequences of alcohol intoxication; and (iii) school policies and laws relating to hazing, including criminal penalties and bystander intervention. The bill requires, beginning with the school year following the Board of Education's adoption of the relevant revised Standards of Learning and curriculum guidelines, each local school board to provide research-based hazing prevention instruction as a part of physical or health education instruction for students in grade nine or 10.
24107033D
Patron: Delaney
Board of Health; hospital regulations; use of smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures. Requires the Board of Health to amend its regulations to require that every hospital where surgical procedures are performed adopt a policy requiring the use of a smoke evacuation system for all planned surgical procedures. The bill defines "smoke evacuation system" as smoke evacuation equipment and technologies designed to capture, filter, and remove surgical smoke at the site of origin and to prevent surgical smoke from making ocular contact or contact with a person's respiratory tract. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 32.1-127, as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to Board of Health; hospital regulations; use of smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures.24105653D
Patron: Callsen
Enrollment of and provision of free public education for certain students; kinship care and foster care. Provides that in the event that a student in a kinship care arrangement moves into a different school division during the school year as a result of safely returning home, being emancipated, or transitioning to a new kinship care arrangement, such student shall be deemed to continue to reside in the previous school division of residence for the remainder of the school year for the purpose of tuition-free enrollment and attendance. The bill also provides that certain provisions of law relating to continuity of public school enrollment and attendance for students in foster care apply to a student who has transitioned out of foster care and whose custody has been transferred to the student's parent or prior legal guardian or who has been emancipated.
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-3 and 22.1-3.4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to enrollment of and provision of free public education for certain students.24106309D
Patron: Herring
Task Force on Maternal Health Data and Quality Measures; report. Directs the State Health Commissioner to reestablish the Task Force on Maternal Health Data and Quality Measures for the purpose of evaluating maternal health data collection processes to guide policies in the Commonwealth to improve maternal care, quality, and outcomes for all birthing people in the Commonwealth. The bill directs the Task Force to report its findings and conclusions to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1 of each year regarding its activities. The bill directs the Task Force to conclude its work by December 1, 2025. This bill reestablishes the Task Force on Maternal Health Data and Quality Measures that concluded on December 1, 2023. The bill incorporates HB 169.
A BILL to reestablish the Task Force on Maternal Health Data and Quality Measures; report.24106067D
Patron: Rasoul
Department of Human Resource Management; employee designation and payment policies; nursing staff at state psychiatric hospitals. Directs the Department of Human Resource Management to amend its policies to authorize the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and state psychiatric hospitals to designate as full-time employees nursing staff and psychiatric technicians who work at least 36 hours per week. The bill prohibits the Department from requiring reductions in pay or other benefits for such employees based solely on the fact that the employee works 36 hours per week. The bill directs the Department to examine whether this change should be extended to comparable direct care positions at other executive branch agencies. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and the Behavioral Health Commission.
A BILL to direct the Department of Human Resource Management to amend its policies relating to employee designations, pay, and benefits for nursing staff at state psychiatric hospitals.24103982D
Patron: Mundon King
Department of Medical Assistance Services; annual review of medication and treatment for sickle cell disease; report. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to conduct an annual review of all medications and forms of treatment for sickle cell disease, and services for enrollees with a diagnosis of sickle cell disease, that are eligible for coverage under the state plan for medical assistance. The bill requires the Department to report its findings and recommendations by November 15 each year to the Chairmen of the House Committee of Health and Human Services and the Senate Committee on Education and Health and to the Joint Commission on Health Care.
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 32.1 a section numbered 32.1-331.06, relating to Department of Medical Assistance Services; annual review of medication and treatment for sickle cell disease; report.24101288D
Patron: McQuinn
Virginia Commission for the Arts; membership. Reduces the membership of the Virginia Commission for the Arts from 13 to nine members and requires at least one member to be appointed from each of the eight superintendent's regions. Current law requires at least one but no more than two members to be appointed from each congressional district in the Commonwealth.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 23.1-3222 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Commission for the Arts; membership.24103285D
Patron: Shin
Department of Medical Assistance Services; certain waivers for services to individuals with developmental disabilities; financial eligibility. Requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services to amend the financial eligibility standards for certain waivers providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities so that Social Security Disability Insurance income is disregarded by the Department when calculating such individuals' financial eligibility for such waivers.
A BILL to require the Department of Medical Assistances Services to amend the financial eligibility standards for certain waivers providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities.24100525D
Patron: Shin
Department of Medical Assistance Services; Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services Medicaid Waivers; state plan amendments; program rule modifications. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to seek federal authority through the necessary state plan amendments under Titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to modify the program rules for certain 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services Medicaid Waivers to (i) modify the 40-hour-per-week work limit to allow legally responsible individuals with more than one waiver-receiving child to receive reimbursement for 40 hours of work per week per child receiving a waiver; (ii) eliminate the requirement that, in order for a legally responsible individual to receive reimbursement for personal care services, no one else be available to provide services to the member; and (iii) modify the program rules to allow a legally responsible individual or stepparent to be the employer of record.
A BILL to direct the Department of Medical Assistance Services and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to submit state plan amendments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to seek to modify the program rules for certain 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services Medicaid Waivers.24107401D
Patron: Srinivasan
School boards; model memorandum of understanding; partnerships with certain mental health service providers; provision and expansion of virtual mental health services. Directs the Department, in consultation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Department of Medical Assistance Services, to develop, adopt, and distribute to each school board a model memorandum of understanding between a school board and a nationally recognized school-based telehealth provider that sets forth the parameters for the provision of mental health teletherapy to public school students enrolled in the local school division by such provider. Current law only requires the development, adoption, and distribution of a model memorandum of understanding between a school board and a public or private community mental health services provider. The bill also permits each school board to adopt policies and procedures to increase the accessibility of school-based mental health services for students enrolled in each school division that may not have access to mental health services otherwise by providing or expanding virtual mental health resources and establishing or expanding a partnership with a community mental health service provider or a nationally recognized school-based telehealth provider that provides mental health teletherapy to students.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-272.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to school boards; model memorandum of understanding; partnerships with certain mental health service providers; provision and expansion of virtual mental health services.24103336D
Patron: Earley
Department of Education; survey; excess food donation; best practices. Requires the Department of Education to survey each school board to determine (i) whether it has an existing policy or practice relating to the donation of excess food, as that term is defined in relevant law, from public elementary or secondary schools in the local school division to local food banks or shelters that serve meals or otherwise provide food to individuals in need and (ii) if so, how such policy or practice is implemented and the impact that it has on the local community. The bill requires the Department of Education, after completing such survey, to compile in a guidance document or Superintendent's Memo and distribute to each school board a list of resources and best practices on the subject of excess food donation.
A BILL to require the Department of Education to survey each local school division to determine best practices relating to the donation of excess food.24104117D
Patron: Willett
Board of Medicine; executive director; qualifications. Allows attorneys to serve as the executive director for the Board of Medicine. Under current law, the executive director for the Board of Medicine must be a physician.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 54.1-2911 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Board of Medicine; executive director; qualifications.24102311D
Patron: Bennett-Parker
Places of public accommodation; possession and administration of epinephrine. Permits every place of public accommodation, defined in relevant law as all places or businesses offering or holding out to the general public goods, services, privileges, facilities, advantages, or accommodations, to make epinephrine available for administration and permits any employee of such place of public accommodation who is authorized by a prescriber and trained in the administration of epinephrine to possess and administer epinephrine to a person present in such place of public accommodation believed in good faith to be having an anaphylactic reaction. Current law limits such permission to every public place, defined in relevant law as any enclosed, indoor area used by the general public, and any employee of such public place.
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 8.01-225, 54.1-3408, and 54.1-3408.5 of the Code of Virginia, relating to places of public accommodation; possession and administration of epinephrine.24100076D
Patron: Bennett-Parker
Public elementary and secondary schools; possession and administration of undesignated glucagon; school board policies; donations. Permits any local school board to adopt and implement policies for the possession and administration of undesignated nasal or injectable glucagon in each public elementary or secondary school in the local school division, provided that such policies are consistent with the guidance outlined in the most recent revision of the Diabetes Management In School: Manual for Unlicensed Personnel published by the Department of Education and include guidance on several items enumerated in the bill. The bill also permits any public elementary or secondary school to maintain a supply of nasal or injectable glucagon in any secure location that is immediately accessible to any school nurse or other employee trained in the administration of nasal and injectable glucagon prescribed to the school by a prescriber. The bill requires any such school to ensure that such a supply consists of at least two doses. The bill permits any school nurse or other authorized employee who is trained in the administration of nasal and injectable glucagon consistent with the guidance outlined in the most recent revision of the Diabetes Management In School: Manual for Unlicensed Personnel published by the Department to administer nasal or injectable glucagon from undesignated inventory with parental consent and if the student's prescribed glucagon is not available on school grounds or has expired. The bill permits any school board to accept donations of nasal or injectable glucagon from a wholesale distributor of glucagon or donations of money from any individual to purchase nasal or injectable glucagon for the purpose of maintenance and administration in a public school in the local school division as permitted pursuant to the aforementioned provisions of the bill.
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-274.2 and 54.1-3408 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public elementary and secondary schools; possession and administration of undesignated glucagon; school board policies; donations.24104884D
Patron: Hodges
Pharmacy technicians; expansion of allowable duties. Allows pharmacy technicians to clarify quantity or refills for a prescription issued for a Schedule VI drug. Current law only allows pharmacy technicians to accept refill authorizations for prescribed drugs. The bill also allows pharmacy technicians to accept electronic transfer of a refill for a Schedule VI drug upon order of the pharmacist-in-charge or pharmacist on duty if the refill is not an on-hold prescription. The bill defines "on-hold prescription" as a valid prescription that is received and maintained at the pharmacy for initial dispensing on a future date.
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 54.1-3300, 54.1-3320, and 54.1-3321 of the Code of Virginia, relating to pharmacy technicians; expansion of allowable duties.24102344D
Patron: Carr
Virginia College Savings Plan; renamed Commonwealth Savers Plan. Renames the Virginia College Savings Plan as the Commonwealth Savers Plan.
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2744, 2.2-2753, 2.2-2905, 2.2-3114, 2.2-3705.4, as it is currently effective and as it may become effective, 2.2-3705.7, 2.2-3711, as it is currently effective and as it may become effective, 2.2-4006, 2.2-4343, as it is currently effective and as it may become effective, 8.01-424, 23.1-306, 23.1-700, 23.1-701, 23.1-1004, 30-330 through 30-333, 30-335, 51.1-505.01, 58.1-322.02, 58.1-322.03, as it is currently effective and as it may become effective, and 58.1-344.4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia College Savings Plan; renamed Commonwealth Savers Plan.24102467D
Patron: Laufer
Child care; background checks. Allows applicants for employment and applicants to serve as volunteers to work in certain child day centers, family day homes, and family day systems pending the results of a full background check, provided that (i) the applicant has received qualifying results on a fingerprint-based background check through the Central Criminal Records Exchange or the Federal Bureau of Investigation and (ii) the applicant is supervised at all times by a person who received a qualifying result on a full background check within the past five years.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-289.035 of the Code of Virginia, relating to child care; background checks.24106132D
Patron: Cole
Department of Medical Assistance Services; Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid Waivers; state plan amendments; program rule modifications. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to seek to modify the program rules for certain 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid Waivers to eliminate the requirement that in order for a legally responsible individual to receive reimbursement for personal care services, no one else be available to provide such services to the Medicaid member. This bill incorporates HB 1282.
A BILL to direct the Department of Medical Assistance Services and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to submit state plan amendments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to seek to modify the program rules for certain 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid Waivers.24106944D
Patron: Ballard
Roanoke Higher Education Authority; board of trustees; powers and duties; specialized noncredit workforce training. Requires the board of trustees of the Roanoke Higher Education Authority to seek opportunities to collaborate with local comprehensive community colleges to meet specialized noncredit workforce training needs identified by industry but provides that if local comprehensive community colleges are unable to meet identified industry needs, then the board may seek to collaborate with other education providers to provide or may provide Roanoke Higher Education Center-delivered specialized noncredit workforce training independent of local comprehensive community colleges.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 23.1-3118 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Roanoke Higher Education Authority; board of trustees; powers and duties; specialized noncredit workforce training.24105198D
Patron: Cole
Department of Medical Assistance Services; publication of information related to home care services. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to annually publish on its website the average hourly payment rates for home care services for each type of service provided. The bill also requires the Department to publish the total number of Medicaid-paid home care claims and the number of Medicaid enrollees who received home care services in the prior year.
A BILL to direct the Department of Medical Assistance Services to publish certain information related to home care services.24103359D
Patron: Hodges
Alternative onsite sewage systems; approval of treatment units. Requires the Department of Health to approve treatment units for alternative onsite sewage systems if they meet certain NSF/ANSI standards or certain testing requirements.
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 32.1-164.10, relating to alternative onsite sewage systems; approval of treatment units.24106335D
Patron: Clark
Department of Education; development and distribution of fentanyl education and awareness informational one-sheet; requirements. Requires the Department of Education to develop, in collaboration with the Department of Health, a fentanyl education and awareness informational one-sheet designed to promote awareness of the dangers associated with and the prevalence of fentanyl and provide essential information on fentanyl overdose prevention and preparedness among high school-age students. The bill requires the Department of Education to make available to each school board and post in a publicly accessible location on its website such informational one-sheet and to annually review and update such informational one-sheet in collaboration with the Department of Health to ensure its currency and accuracy. The bill requires each public high school or secondary school that includes grades nine through 12 to annually distribute such informational one-sheet to each student in grades nine through 12 within the first two weeks of the school year. This bill incorporates HB 1007.
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-206.01, relating to Department of Education; development and distribution of fentanyl education and awareness informational one-sheet; requirements.24106748D
Patron: Simon
Abortion or other reproductive health care services; prohibitions on extradition for certain crimes; prohibited practices under Virginia Consumer Protection Act. Provides that no demand for extradition of a person charged with a criminal violation of the law of another state shall be recognized by the Governor if such alleged violation involves the receipt of or assistance with reproductive health care services, defined in the bill, within the Commonwealth unless the alleged criminal violation would also constitute a criminal offense under the laws of the Commonwealth. The bill also provides that such limit on extradition shall not apply when the person who is subject to such demand for extradition by another state was physically present in the demanding state at the time of the commission of the alleged offense and thereafter fled from such state. The bill adds obtaining, disclosing, selling, or disseminating certain enumerated personal reproductive or sexual health information without the consent of the consumer as a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. This bill incorporates HB 1493.
A BILL to amend and reenact § 59.1-200 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 19.2-87.1, relating to abortion or other reproductive health care services; prohibitions on extradition for certain crimes; prohibited practices under Virginia Consumer Protection Act.24107461D