Bill > HB513

This bill expands the scope of local and regional overdose fatality review teams to include reviewing overdose-related deaths by suicide among veterans and military service members, and it adds a local representative from the Virginia Department of Veterans Services to the membership of these teams. The bill also establishes new local and regional suicide fatality review teams, which will investigate deaths by suicide, including those of military service members and veterans, to understand causes, develop prevention strategies, and recommend policy changes. These teams will be composed of various local officials and professionals, such as medical examiners, social services officials, law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, and representatives from the Department of Veterans Services, and their proceedings and records will be kept confidential, with violations punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor. Furthermore, members of these teams and those providing information to them will be granted immunity from civil liability for actions taken in good faith, unless due to gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Health and Social Services

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB513