Higher educational institutions, certain; sexual violence policies, student rights. (HB1830)

Introduced By

Del. Joe Lindsey (D-Norfolk) with support from co-patron Del. Kaye Kory (D-Falls Church)

Description

Certain institutions of higher education; sexual violence policies; scope; student rights. Requires the Virginia Community College System, Richard Bland College, each baccalaureate public institution of higher education, and each nonprofit private institution of higher education to include in its sexual violence policy certain rights of each student who alleges a violation of such policy and each student who is alleged to have violated such policy, including notice, an opportunity to be heard, and assistance by a licensed attorney, an advocate supervised by a licensed attorney, or another trained advocate in any disciplinary proceeding relating to the alleged violation. The bill requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (the Council) (i) in consultation with state and local bar associations and legal services providers with experience and expertise in disciplinary proceedings relating to alleged violations of the sexual violence policies of such institutions, to generate and maintain a list of attorneys and advocates who are qualified and willing to provide such assistance to students on a pro bono basis or at a reduced-fee rate equivalent to the fee charged by the Legal Services Corporation of Virginia to provide such assistance and (ii) to provide to any attorney or advocate retained by a student funds to provide such assistance at such reduced-fee rate, regardless of whether such attorney or advocate is on the list generated and maintained by the Council. Read the Bill »

Outcome

History