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Bill > SB1037


VA SB1037

VA SB1037
School boards; school-based telehealth and mental health teletherapy services, accessibility.


summary

Introduced
01/07/2025
In Committee
02/17/2025
Crossed Over
01/31/2025
Passed
03/07/2025
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
03/24/2025

Introduced Session

2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

School boards; student access to telehealth services; policies. Directs each school board to consider, for the purpose of increasing access to health care services for students, developing and implementing policies for permitting any public school student in the school division to schedule and participate in telehealth services, including mental health teletherapy services pursuant to a memorandum of understanding with a nationally recognized school-based telehealth provider developed in accordance with applicable law, on school property during regular school hours with parental consent. The bill requires any such policies developed and implemented by a school board to (i) require each public elementary and secondary school to designate a location in the school for student use for such telehealth appointments and implement measures to ensure the safety and privacy of any student participating in a telehealth appointment, (ii) prohibit any student from being subject to any disciplinary measure or consequence for participating in a telehealth appointment during regular school hours if such student would not be subject to any disciplinary measure or consequence for an absence for the purpose of receiving any health care services in person during regular school hours, and (iii) include such other requirements as the school board deems necessary and appropriate. Finally, the bill requires any school board that develops and implements any policies for permitting students to schedule and participate in telehealth services pursuant to the bill to provide and post in a publicly accessible location on its website at the beginning of each school year guidance relating to the implementation of such policies for administrative and instructional personnel. This bill incorporates SB 1130 and is identical to HB 1945.

AI Summary

This bill seeks to improve student access to telehealth and mental health services by directing school boards to consider developing policies that allow public school students to schedule and participate in telehealth appointments on school property during regular school hours with parental consent. The bill requires school boards that choose to implement such policies to designate private, safe locations within schools for telehealth appointments, ensure student privacy, and prohibit disciplinary actions against students who attend telehealth appointments in the same manner as they would not be disciplined for in-person medical appointments. Schools must develop these policies in conjunction with a nationally recognized school-based telehealth provider, using a model memorandum of understanding created by the Department of Education in consultation with behavioral health and medical assistance departments. Additionally, school boards must provide and publicly post guidance about these telehealth policies at the beginning of each school year, making the process transparent for administrative and instructional staff. The overall goal is to increase healthcare accessibility for students by removing barriers to receiving medical and mental health services during the school day.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Education, Health and Social Services

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0563) (on 03/24/2025)

bill text


bill summary

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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1037
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1037/text/CHAP0563
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1037) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069753.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1037/text/SB1037ER
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1037) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1056825.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1037/text/SB1037H1
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1037) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1036918.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1037/text/SB1037S1
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1037/text/SB1037SC1
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1037/text/SB1037
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