HB1609: Higher education; mental health treatment coordination for certain students.


HOUSE BILL NO. 1609
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Education and Health
on February 7, 2013)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Hugo)
A BILL to amend and reenact § 23-9.2:8 of the Code of Virginia, relating to mental health treatment coordination for students in higher education.

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

Offered January 9, 2013
Prefiled January 6, 2013
A BILL to amend and reenact 23-9.2:8 of the Code of Virginia, relating to mental health treatment coordination for students in higher education.
Patron-- Hugo

Committee Referral Pending

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.