HB 1301: School boards; student diabetes care & management in schools, division wide plan required. - Virginia

Elementary & Secondary Education Subcommittee Substitute → Education and Health Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to shift legislative responsibility from the House Appropriations Committee to the Senate Education and Health Committee, aligning the bill with its subject matter. The most significant substantive change is the acceleration of the deadline for the Department of Education to update its diabetes management manual from January 1, 2028, to January 1, 2027. Additionally, the effective date for new school divisionwide diabetes care plans was moved forward from the 2028-2029 school year to the 2027-2028 school year.

Scope change

The bill's scope of applicability remains focused on school board requirements for student diabetes care, but the timeline for implementation has been compressed by one year.

TIMELINE

The deadline for the Department of Education to revise the Diabetes Management in Schools manual was moved from January 1, 2028, to January 1, 2027.

The effective date for school board divisionwide diabetes care plans was advanced from the 2028-2029 school year to the 2027-2028 school year.

REQUIREMENT

Subsection C was modified to clarify that school boards can place reasonable restrictions on the assignment of employees providing diabetes care, provided these restrictions are consistent with prescriber authorization and the divisionwide plan.

TECHNICAL

Minor grammatical adjustments were made to Subsection B to improve clarity regarding employee authorization and training requirements.

SCOPE

The bill was re-substituted by the Senate Committee on Education and Health instead of the House Committee on Appropriations, reflecting a change in the legislative body proposing the amendment.

K-12 Subcommittee Subcommittee Substitute → Appropriations Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was transferred from the Education Committee to the Appropriations Committee, shifting its primary focus to budgetary considerations. The most significant substantive change is the extension of the implementation deadline for the new diabetes care staffing requirements and divisionwide plans from the 2027-2028 school year to the 2028-2029 school year. Additionally, the deadline for the Department of Education to revise its diabetes management manual was pushed back from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2028. A new sunset provision was added, requiring the act to be reenacted in the 2027 session to remain in effect.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from an Education-focused initiative to an Appropriations-focused initiative, likely due to the inclusion of funding or budgetary implications in the revised text. The applicability of the new staffing and plan requirements remains the same, but the timeline for compliance has been extended.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the new divisionwide diabetes care plans and staffing requirements was delayed from the 2027-2028 school year to the 2028-2029 school year.

The deadline for the Department of Education to update the Diabetes Management in Schools manual was extended from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2028.

ENFORCEMENT

A sunset clause was added, stipulating that the entire act will expire unless it is reenacted by the 2027 Session of the General Assembly.

SCOPE

The bill was reattributed from the House Committee on Education to the House Committee on Appropriations, indicating a change in the legislative body responsible for its oversight.

Education and Health Substitute → Chaptered · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill formalizes Virginia's existing diabetes care laws into official state code and mandates that every school division create a comprehensive, division-wide plan for managing student diabetes. The changes clarify rules for unlicensed staff assisting with insulin pumps, establish specific training requirements for schools based on staff size, and set a deadline for the Department of Education to update its diabetes management manual by January 1, 2027.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a proposed substitute amendment to an enacted chapter, adding a new statutory requirement for a division-wide diabetes care plan and formalizing the timeline for its implementation starting in the 2027-2028 school year.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new section (22.1-274.01:2) requiring every school board to develop and implement a division-wide plan for student diabetes care, including parental involvement and staff training tailored to each school's unique needs.

Modified training requirements in the new plan to ensure schools with fewer than 10 staff members have at least one employee trained in insulin and glucagon administration if a student with diabetes is present.

Added a mandate for school boards to provide informational materials on type 1 and type 2 diabetes to parents at the beginning of each school year.

DEFINITION

Added formal definitions for 'diabetes device,' 'connected diabetes technology,' and 'designated unlicensed employee' to clarify the legal status of devices and non-nurse staff assisting with insulin administration.

TIMELINE

Established a specific deadline of January 1, 2027, for the Department of Education to revise the Diabetes Management in Schools manual to include new definitions and liability protections.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a requirement for the Department of Education to review and update the diabetes management manual biennially and post it publicly.

Appropriations Substitute → Elementary & Secondary Education Subcommittee Substitute · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill text was reformatted from a standard legislative layout to a 'House Substitute' version with different header styling and line numbers, but the actual policy language regarding diabetes care and staffing ratios appears to be cut off in the provided text. No substantive policy changes, such as new requirements, funding shifts, or eligibility updates, can be identified from the available excerpt.

TECHNICAL

The document layout was changed to a 'House Substitute' format with new line numbering and header styles, while the original text was removed.

Education Substitute → K-12 Subcommittee Subcommittee Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to add Delegate Cherry as a co-patron and update the bill title to reflect the new 'House Substitute' status. The substantive policy language regarding school health services, diabetes care protocols, and staffing requirements remains unchanged from the previous version.

TECHNICAL

Added Delegate Cherry as a co-patron alongside Delegate Thomas in the bill header.

Updated the bill header to indicate this is now a 'House Substitute' rather than an 'Education Substitute'.

Added formatting artifacts, including blank lines, page numbers, and timestamps, which do not affect the legal content.

Enrolled → Education Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from an 'Enrolled' version (ready for signing) to an 'Education Substitute' draft, which includes significant new provisions for student diabetes care. The most important change is the addition of a requirement for school boards to create a 'divisionwide plan' for managing student diabetes. The text also adds specific definitions and guidance for unlicensed employees assisting with insulin pumps and glucagon administration, expanding the scope of who can provide this care under certain conditions.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a mandatory requirement for school boards to develop a comprehensive, divisionwide plan for diabetes care, which was not present in the original enrolled version.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new section requiring every school board to develop, amend, and implement a divisionwide plan for the care of students diagnosed with diabetes to ensure a safe learning environment.

DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for 'diabetes device,' 'connected diabetes technology,' and 'designated unlicensed employee' to clarify who can assist with care.

TIMELINE

Set a deadline of January 1, 2028, for the Department of Education to revise the diabetes management manual and for school boards to implement their new divisionwide plans.

TECHNICAL

Changed the document status from 'Enrolled' (final) to 'Education Substitute' (draft), adding committee markup and draft formatting.

Introduced → Enrolled · 7 edits · Apr 6, 2026

MODERATE

The bill evolved from a draft introducing new diabetes care provisions to an enrolled act that significantly expanded the scope of coverage. The final version added a new section requiring school boards to create a divisionwide plan for diabetes management and clarified that the law applies to all school health services, not just diabetes. It also updated training requirements for staff, specifying that employees without specific duties cannot be disciplined for refusing to perform non-emergency health tasks.

Scope change

The bill's scope was broadened from focusing solely on student diabetes care to encompassing general school health services and requiring a divisionwide strategic plan for diabetes management.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for school boards to develop and maintain a divisionwide plan for student diabetes care and management.

Modified staff training requirements to specify that employees without a specific duty to deliver health services cannot be disciplined for refusing non-emergency tasks, but instructional aides and clerical staff cannot refuse to dispense oral medications.

Added a mandate for the Department of Education to review and revise the state's diabetes management manual to include guidance for school bus drivers and ensure alignment with national standards.

Added a requirement for the Department of Education to collect and publicly report data on student access to glucagon, including reasons for lack of prescriptions or availability.

DEFINITION

Revised the definition of 'administration of insulin' to explicitly include delivery via inhalation, smart pens, and other modern methods authorized by a prescriber.

Added new definitions for 'Connected diabetes technology,' 'Diabetes care and management services,' and 'Wearable diabetes device' to clarify coverage under the law.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded student rights to include carrying and using cell phones or smart devices to communicate with parents and healthcare providers regarding diabetes care needs.

School boards; student diabetes care & management in schools, division wide plan required.

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