Bill > SB238

This bill grants the Board of Visitors of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind the authority to establish its own campus police department, similar to how colleges and universities in Virginia can do so, and to hire campus police officers. This change is made by amending existing laws that outline exemptions from certain employment regulations and the powers and duties of the Board of Visitors for the school, as well as the process for appointing campus police officers. Specifically, the bill adds language to § 2.2-2905 to exempt the faculty of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind from certain employment provisions, and it amends § 22.1-346.2 to explicitly grant the Board of Visitors the power to establish a campus police department and employ campus police officers, aligning it with the procedures for higher education institutions. Additionally, § 22.1-349 is updated to reflect that the Board of Visitors will oversee the establishment of policies regarding retirement and other state benefits for faculty and other employees exempt from the Virginia Personnel Act, and § 23.1-812 is amended to clarify that this new authority for the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind does not affect the existing provisions for appointing campus police officers.

Education, Health and Social Services

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB238