HB1609: Higher education; mental health treatment coordination for certain students.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 23-9.2:8 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 23-9.2:8. Student mental health policies.
A. The governing boards board of each
public institution of higher education shall develop and implement policies
that advise students, faculty, and staff, including residence hall staff, of
the proper procedures for identifying and addressing the needs of students
exhibiting suicidal tendencies or behavior, and provide for training, where
appropriate.
B. The governing board of each public four-year institution of higher education may establish a written memorandum of understanding with its local community services board or behavioral health authority and with local hospitals and other local mental health facilities in order to expand the scope of services available to students seeking treatment. The memorandum shall designate a contact person to be notified when a student is involuntarily committed, or when a student is discharged from a facility and consents to such notification. The memorandum shall also provide for the inclusion of the institution in the post-discharge planning of a student who has been committed and intends to return to campus, to the extent allowable under state and federal privacy laws.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1609
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That 23-9.2:8 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
23-9.2:8. Student mental health policies.
A. The
governing boards board
of each public institution of higher education shall develop and implement
policies that advise students, faculty, and staff, including residence hall
staff, of the proper procedures for identifying and addressing the needs of
students exhibiting suicidal tendencies or behavior, and provide for training,
where appropriate.
B. The governing board of each public four-year institution of higher education shall establish a written memorandum of understanding with its local community services board or behavioral health authority and with local hospitals and other local mental health facilities in order to expand the scope of services available to students seeking treatment. Each public four-year institution of higher education shall designate a contact person to be notified when a student is involuntarily committed, or when a student is discharged from a facility and he consents to such notification. Each memorandum shall provide for the inclusion of the institution of higher education in the post-discharge planning of a student who has been committed and intends to return to campus, to the extent allowable under state and federal privacy laws.