HB457: Higher educational institutions; immunity from disciplinary action in certain cases.

HOUSE BILL NO. 457

Offered January 12, 2022
Prefiled January 11, 2022
A BILL to amend and reenact § 23.1-808 of the Code of Virginia, relating to institutions of higher education; immunity from disciplinary action in certain cases involving a good faith report of an act of sexual violence.
Patron-- Helmer

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 23.1-808 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 23.1-808. Sexual violence; policy review; disciplinary immunity for certain individuals who make reports.

A. By October 31 of each year, the System, Richard Bland College, each baccalaureate public institution of higher education, and each nonprofit private institution of higher education shall certify to the Council that it has reviewed its sexual violence policy and updated it as appropriate. The Council and the Department of Criminal Justice Services shall establish criteria for the certification process and may request information relating to the policies for the purposes of sharing best practices and improving campus safety. The Council and the Department of Criminal Justice Services shall report to the Secretary of Education on the certification status of each such institution by November 30 of each year.

B. The governing board of each nonprofit private institution of higher education and each public institution of higher education except the Virginia Military Institute shall include as part of its policy, code, rules, or set of standards governing sexual violence a provision for immunity from disciplinary action based on (i) curfew violation or (ii) personal consumption of drugs or alcohol where such in any case in which disclosure of such violation or personal consumption is made in conjunction with a good faith report of an act of sexual violence.