<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-274 and 22.1-274.01:1 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-274.01:2, relating to school boards; student diabetes care and management in schools; divisionwide plan required. </p>
HB624 revises Virginia law governing school health services and diabetes care for students in public schools. The bill requires each school board to develop, maintain, and implement a divisionwide plan for the care of students diagnosed with diabetes, with the goal of supporting a safe learning environment and academic success. The plan must incorporate state guidance, include staff training procedures, address parental involvement and dispute resolution, and ensure each school has a minimum number of employees trained in insulin and glucagon administration. It also directs the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health and other stakeholders, to update the state’s Diabetes Management in Schools manual and make it publicly available.
The bill expands and clarifies student self-care rights and school employee responsibilities. Students with diabetes, with parental consent and prescriber approval, may carry and use diabetes supplies, insulin pumps, glucose-monitoring equipment, and a cell phone or smart device for diabetes management. Certain trained school employees may assist with insulin, glucagon, and insulin pump insertion or reinsertion, while other employees are protected from discipline if they decline nonemergency health-related services or insulin/glucagon training, subject to specified exceptions. The bill also adds references to immunity and professional-practice protections for authorized employees who provide diabetes-related care under existing law.
In practical terms, HB624 would amend §§ 22.1-274 and 22.1-274.01:1 and add new § 22.1-274.01:2 to the Code of Virginia. It would impose new planning, training, and notice obligations on school boards, require periodic state review of diabetes guidance, and create a framework for local implementation beginning with the 2027-2028 school year. The legislation also requires parent-facing informational materials on type 1 and type 2 diabetes to be developed by the state and distributed annually by school divisions.
The general sentiment reflected in the bill’s structure is supportive of stronger student health protections and more consistent diabetes accommodations in schools. The bill appears designed to standardize practices statewide, reduce uncertainty for school staff, and improve access to care for students with diabetes. The available voting history shows the measure was incorporated by Education as part of HB1301, suggesting it was treated as a policy item to be folded into another bill rather than advanced independently.
The main points of contention likely center on staffing and implementation burdens. School boards must meet minimum training requirements and create divisionwide plans, which may be challenging for smaller schools or divisions with limited nursing staff. The bill also balances expanded care duties with employee protections, allowing some staff to decline certain health-related tasks, which reflects an effort to address concerns about mandatory medical responsibilities for nonmedical personnel. Another possible issue is the extent to which local boards may impose reasonable restrictions on diabetes care while still complying with the new statewide requirements.
HB624 would expand and reorganize Virginia’s statutory framework for school health services by adding a new diabetes-specific planning mandate and revising existing provisions on student self-care, staff training, and employee protections. It would require school boards to adopt divisionwide diabetes care plans, ensure minimum numbers of trained employees in each school building, and provide annual parent information, while also directing state agencies to update and maintain official diabetes guidance. The bill affects school boards, school employees, students diagnosed with diabetes, parents, and the Department of Education, and it would take effect for implementation beginning with the 2027-2028 school year.
The overall sentiment appears favorable toward improving diabetes care in schools and giving students clearer rights to manage their condition during the school day. The bill’s detailed requirements suggest a policy consensus around the need for more structured accommodations, staff training, and updated state guidance. At the same time, the design of the bill shows sensitivity to operational concerns by preserving employee refusal rights in some circumstances and allowing local boards to set reasonable parameters for implementation.
The most notable tension is between the goal of ensuring reliable diabetes care and the practical limits of school staffing. Smaller schools and divisions with limited personnel may struggle to meet the minimum training thresholds or to find volunteers willing to provide care. There is also a policy balance between empowering trained unlicensed staff to assist with insulin, glucagon, and pump-related care and protecting employees from being compelled into medical tasks outside their normal duties. Local control versus statewide uniformity is another likely point of concern, since the bill requires a standardized divisionwide plan but still allows school boards some discretion over procedures and restrictions.