Bill > SB1240

This bill requires public and private school principals to report school-connected student overdoses to parents within 24 hours of confirmation or suspicion. A "school-connected student overdose" is defined as an overdose occurring on school premises during school hours or during school-sanctioned activities, and a "suspected school-connected student overdose" is an incident where naloxone or a similar medication is administered to counter an overdose. The bill mandates that parental notifications include available information about the controlled substance and the location of the overdose, using standard school communication methods. School principals must also notify their respective oversight bodies (the Department for public schools and the Virginia Council for Private Education for private schools) within 24 hours of the initial parent notification. If any initial information is inaccurate, schools must issue an updated notification. The Board of Education is required to establish guidelines for overdose response and parental notification, including a model action plan, criteria for sensitive information disclosure, and guidance on communication strategies. The bill emphasizes protecting the privacy and dignity of individuals involved in such incidents, ensuring compliance with federal privacy regulations like FERPA, and requiring both public and private schools to adopt consistent policies for handling these sensitive situations.

Education, Health and Social Services

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1240