HB 2774: School-connected student overdoses; policies relating to parental notification, guidelines. - Virginia

Conference Substitute → Chaptered · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill changed from a House Substitute version to a Chaptered version, which is the final enacted form of the legislation. The substantive policy content regarding school-connected student overdose policies, parental notification requirements, and guidelines remains identical between the two versions. The primary differences are formatting changes, including the addition of official chapter headers, approval dates, and page numbering typical of enacted legislation.

TECHNICAL

Added official chapter header (CHAPTER 576), approval date (March 24, 2025), and page numbering to reflect the bill's enactment status

Changed document title from 'HOUSE SUBSTITUTE' to 'VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY' to indicate final passage

Adjusted line breaks and spacing for proper formatting in the final enacted version

REQUIREMENT

All substantive policy requirements regarding overdose definitions, parental notification timelines (24 hours), and guidelines remain identical to the substitute version

Education and Health Substitute → Conference Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a Senate Substitute to a Conference Substitute, incorporating changes from both House and Senate versions. Key substantive changes include expanding the definition of overdose to exclude alcohol, adding a new definition for suspected overdoses involving naloxone, requiring private school administrators to follow similar notification procedures as public schools, and modifying notification triggers to include law enforcement or medical confirmation. These changes aim to standardize overdose response protocols across both public and private schools while improving clarity on what constitutes a suspected overdose.

Scope change

The bill now applies to both public and private elementary and secondary schools, whereas the original Senate version only addressed public school divisions.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'overdose' was narrowed to exclude alcohol, now specifying only controlled substances.

A new definition was added for 'suspected school-connected student overdose' to clarify situations where naloxone or similar medications are administered.

SCOPE

Private school administrators are now required to follow the same parental notification procedures as public school principals.

REQUIREMENT

Notification triggers were changed to require notification within 24 hours of either law enforcement/medical confirmation OR the principal's knowledge of a suspected overdose, rather than just learning of a suspected overdose.

The parental notification requirements were simplified to include only the drug name/features and location of the incident, removing detailed drug description requirements.

School principals must now notify the Department within 24 hours after parental notification, and private school administrators must notify the Virginia Council for Private Education.

Education Substitute → Education and Health Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand its scope from the House Substitute to the Senate Substitute, adding 'alcohol' to the definition of substances involved in overdoses and shifting focus from opioid antagonist treatments to broader overdose response and prevention. The Senate version also simplifies parental notification requirements by removing the distinction between confirmed overdoses and opioid antagonist treatments, instead requiring notification for any suspected overdose. Additionally, the Senate version removes references to private schools, limiting the policy's application to public school divisions only.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from covering both public and private schools to only public school divisions, and the definition of overdose was expanded to include alcohol in addition to controlled substances.

DEFINITION

Added 'alcohol' to the definition of substances that can cause an overdose, expanding what the law covers beyond just controlled substances.

REQUIREMENT

Changed parental notification requirements from being triggered by confirmed overdoses or opioid antagonist treatments to being triggered by any suspected overdose.

Simplified the Board's guidelines to focus only on public school boards rather than including private elementary or secondary schools.

Removed the requirement for principals of private schools to issue updated notifications to correct inaccuracies.

Removed the requirement for school administrators to take steps to protect privacy and dignity of individuals involved in overdoses.

SCOPE

Removed provisions requiring private schools to notify parents and adopt policies, limiting the bill's requirements to public school divisions only.

Enrolled → Education Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was changed from an enrolled version to a House substitute version with significant substantive modifications to definitions, notification responsibilities, and scope of coverage. The substitute version adds 'opioid antagonist treatment' as a defined term and changes who must issue parental notifications from school principals to division superintendents for public schools, while keeping private school responsibilities with principals. These changes affect how overdose incidents are reported to parents and which officials are responsible for communication.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly covers both confirmed overdoses and opioid antagonist treatments, expanding the scope of incidents requiring parental notification. Public school notification responsibility shifted from school principals to division superintendents.

DEFINITION

Added new definition for 'school-connected student opioid antagonist treatment' to clarify that administering reversal medication counts as a reportable incident

REQUIREMENT

Changed public school notification responsibility from school principals to division superintendents for both overdose and treatment incidents

Updated title and language to reflect that opioid antagonist treatments are now included alongside overdoses in the notification requirements

TECHNICAL

Changed document type from 'Enrolled' to 'House Substitute' indicating this is a revised version with amendments proposed by the House Committee on Education

Introduced → Enrolled · 6 edits · Mar 24, 2025

MODERATE

This bill was amended and reenacted to expand its scope from only public schools to include both public and private schools, add a new definition for suspected overdoses, shift notification responsibility from division superintendents to school principals/headmasters, and strengthen privacy protections. The changes ensure private schools are covered under the same parental notification requirements and add specific guidance for handling unclear situations or multiple overdoses.

Scope change

Expanded from public schools only to include both public and private elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth.

DEFINITION

Added new definition for 'suspected school-connected student overdose' to clarify when naloxone or similar medications are administered.

REQUIREMENT

Changed notification responsibility from division superintendents to school principals, headmasters, or chief administrators for both public and private schools.

Added requirement for principals to notify the Virginia Council for Private Education within 24 hours of parental notification.

TIMELINE

Updated notification timing to occur within 24 hours of either law enforcement/medical confirmation OR knowledge of a suspected overdose.

GUIDELINES

Expanded Board guidelines to include guidance on unclear circumstances and divisionwide notifications for multiple overdoses.

ENFORCEMENT

Added specific requirements for private school administrators to adopt and maintain policies consistent with the new guidelines.

School-connected student overdoses; policies relating to parental notification, guidelines.

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