School boards; bleeding control programs, bleeding control kits.
HB1700 requires each Virginia school board, subject to funding provided in the state budget, to develop and implement a bleeding control program in every public elementary and secondary school. The program must place bleeding control kits in accessible locations, incorporate the kits into school emergency plans and drills, and ensure the kits are inspected annually and restocked after use. The bill defines a bleeding control kit as a first aid response kit containing specified trauma-care items, including a tourniquet, compression bandage, bleeding control bandage, gloves, scissors, a marker, and instructional materials associated with the Stop the Bleed campaign.
The measure is aimed at improving emergency preparedness and response to traumatic bleeding incidents in schools, especially in the event of serious injuries or violent emergencies. It adds a new section to the Code of Virginia, § 22.1-274.7, and places implementation responsibility on local school boards, division safety officials, and local first responders. The bill’s requirements are tied to appropriations, meaning the mandate is conditioned on funding from the General Assembly.
HB1700 amends the Code of Virginia by adding § 22.1-274.7, creating a statewide framework for bleeding control programs in public schools. It affects school boards, public elementary and secondary schools, and school emergency planning procedures by requiring trauma kits, training/drill integration, inventory checks, and replenishment protocols. Because the bill is contingent on funding in the general appropriation act, its practical effect depends on whether state funds are made available for implementation.
The bill appears to have broad support overall, with strong committee and floor votes in both chambers and no recorded opposition in several later committee stages. The House passed the bill 77-22, and the Senate passed it 39-0 before the House agreed to the Senate substitute 77-19. The voting pattern suggests general agreement on the goal of improving school safety and emergency response, even though some members opposed the measure at the House floor stage.
The main points of contention appear to have been less about the concept of bleeding control kits and more about implementation details, funding, and the scope of school safety mandates. Early House consideration showed some opposition, and the bill was repeatedly amended and substituted as it moved through committees, indicating negotiation over the final language. The funding condition is also notable: the requirement applies only with funds provided by the General Assembly, which likely reflects concern about unfunded mandates on school divisions and the cost of purchasing, maintaining, and restocking kits.