Model memorandum of understanding; counseling from school counselors by way of telehealth.
Summary
SB 1370 amends Virginia law governing the Department of Education’s model memorandum of understanding for school divisions that partner with community mental health services providers or a nationally recognized school-based telehealth provider. The bill directs the Department, in consultation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Department of Medical Assistance Services, to develop, adopt, distribute, and maintain a model MOU that sets parameters for providing mental health services to public school students, including mental health teletherapy and counseling by school counselors through telehealth.
The model agreement must include effective practices, address privacy and information-sharing issues, and require parental consent before any such services are provided to students under 18. In practical terms, the bill is intended to make it easier for school divisions to establish telehealth-based mental health partnerships while ensuring the arrangement is structured around privacy, consent, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Impact
The bill amends Code of Virginia § 22.1-272.2 and expands the scope of the Department of Education’s model memorandum of understanding to explicitly include telehealth mental health services and telehealth counseling by school counselors. It affects school boards, public and private mental health providers, nationally recognized school-based telehealth providers, students, parents, and school counselors by creating a standardized framework for local agreements and by requiring parental consent for minors under 18.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and little visible opposition. It passed the Senate and House overwhelmingly, including unanimous or near-unanimous committee reports and final concurrence in the Governor’s recommendations. The vote history suggests general agreement that the measure is a practical step to expand access to school-based mental health services through telehealth.
Contention
There is little recorded contention in the available materials, but the main policy issues embedded in the bill are privacy, information sharing, and parental consent for students under 18. Any concerns would likely center on how telehealth counseling is implemented in schools, how student records and communications are protected, and the extent to which parents must approve services before they begin. The bill resolves those issues by requiring the model MOU to address privacy and by mandating parental consent for minors.