HB163 - ericsundberg/legwiki GitHub Wiki
| House | Senate | Conference | Governor | ||||||||||||
| Committee | Floor | Committee | Floor | ||||||||||||
| Referred to Committee | Referred to Subcommittee | Subcommittee | Committee | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Referred to Committee | Referred to Subcommittee | Subcommittee | Committee | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | ||
| Education | Higher Education | On Agenda (1/22/24) | |||||||||||||
Public institutions of higher education; student identification cards; contact information of certain emergency services required. Requires each public institution of higher education that issues student identification cards to clearly print and conspicuously label on each student identification card, in addition to the "988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline," the contact information of the following emergency services: (i) the law enforcement, fire department, and emergency medical services serving the geographical area in which such institution is located; (ii) the institution's campus police department and any additional security departments or services and emergency medical services or health departments available on campus; and (iii) the sexual assault crisis center or victim support service with which the institution entered into a memorandum of understanding pursuant to relevant law and the National Sexual Assault Hotline. The bill requires each such institution to annually review the required contact information to ensure that it is accurate and current.
- Joshua G. Cole (chief patron)
- None
01/02/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101608D PDF
- 01/02/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101608D
- 01/02/24 House: Referred to Committee on Education
- 01/19/24 House: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
No fiscal impact statement is currently available.
The language for this bill has been superseded by a substitute.
The language of HB163, as initially filed, can be viewed here.
The language of the substitute is as follows:
HOUSE BILL NO. 163
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Education)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Cole)
A BILL to amend and reenact § 23.1-802.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public institutions of higher
education; student identification cards; emergency services website page and telephone numbers.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
That § 23.1-802.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 23.1-802.1. Student identification cards; 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; emergency
services website page and telephone numbers.
A. As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Digital student identification card" means a digital identification or digital wallet issued by a
public institution of higher education to identify and authenticate a student's status or information.
"Emergency services website page" means the website page required to be maintained by each
public institution of higher education pursuant to subsection D.
"Physical student identification card" means a tangible, non-digital card or document issued by a
public institution of higher education to identify and authenticate a student's status or information.
"QR code" means a two-dimensional matrix barcode consisting of blocks arranged in a grid that
can be read by an imaging device.
"URL" means Uniform Resource Locator.
B. Each public institution of higher education that issues physical student identification cards shall
print on one side of each student identification card "988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline." and the URL of its
emergency services website page. Each public institution of higher education may print on one side of
each student identification card a QR code that directs to such URL. Each such public institution of higher
education shall also:
1. Ensure that "988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline" is clearly printed and conspicuously labeled on
each physical student identification card; and
2. Annually review the telephone number for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline being included
on each physical student identification card to ensure that such contact information is accurate and current.
C. Each public institution of higher education that issues digital student identification cards shall
include alongside other student resources on such cards "988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline" and the URL of
its emergency services website page. Each such public institution of higher education shall also annually
review the telephone number for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline included on each digital student
identification card to ensure that such contact information is accurate and current.
D. Each public institution of higher education shall maintain and annually update as necessary to
ensure accuracy and currency a website page that includes telephone numbers for the following emergency
services:
1. The law enforcement, fire department, and emergency medical services applicable to the
geographical area in which such institution is located;
2. The institution's campus police department, any additional security departments or services
available on campus pursuant to § 23.1-818, and any emergency medical services or student health
departments available on campus; and
3. The sexual assault crisis center or victim support service with which such institution entered
into a memorandum of understanding pursuant to § 23.1-807 and the National Sexual Assault Hotline.
That the provisions of this act shall apply to each new digital or physical student identification
card and any replacement digital or physical student identification card issued by any public
institution of higher education beginning with the 2024–2025 academic year.
Thank you Madam Chair,
HB163, aims to enhance the safety and mental health support for college students in Virginia. The proposal requires Virginia universities and colleges to print, on any physical student identification cards, the URL of a university-maintained webpage with contact information for local emergency services. This webpage must include campus police, sexual assault crisis centers, student health departments, and other essential resources. The bill also advises institutions to print a QR code linking students to the webpage as well.
The bill also looks ahead; taking into account our quickly digitizing world, the bill sets standards and requires for maintaining the emergency services webpage if the institution issues digital student identification cards. These digital cards, a form of digital wallet, lack the physical printing surface, so ensuring the intent of the bill carries on beyond physical IDs was critical, hence its inclusion in our substitute.
The substitute does not change the core objective of our initial legislation. There is still a crisis amongst our students. According to a TimelyMD survey in 2023, 50 percent of college students identified mental health struggles as their top stressor, with 71 percent indicating they grapple with issues like stress, anxiety, and depression. These statistics highlight the urgent need for proactive support and resources for students.
We cannot look at these figures and handwave. It is imperative that we take proactive measures to provide essential resources and services to students. HB163 represents a small, but necessary step, in the right direction towards addressing these challenges.
We have worked closely with stakeholders throughout the development of this bill; we have high hopes this substitute will be a win-win-win for all parties.
Those key changes include:
- Reducing need for reprints
- Clarifying a starting date for the legislation to take affect
- Taking into account digital technologies and digital IDs
- Clearing up any ambiguities from the original language
n/a
Thank you Mr. Speaker, I move the committee substitute.
Thank you Mr. Speaker,
House Bill 163 aims to assist our higher ed students in the commonwealth by providing them with necessary mental health assistance.
This bill will direct colleges and universities who print ID cards to include a URL for and maintain a website with necessary first responders, local aid numbers, and emergency services.
This bill also mandates the emergency services should be updated as needed and well-maintained.
I hope it would be the pleasure of the body to engross and pass the bill on to it’s third reading.
Thank you, Madam Chair;
I would ask that the committee amendments be adopted.
Thank you, Madam Chair;
House Bill 163 aims to assist our higher ed students in the commonwealth by providing them with necessary mental health assistance.
This bill will direct colleges and universities who print ID cards to include a URL for and maintain a website with necessary first responders, local aid numbers, and emergency services.
In addition, the bill suggests institutions to also place a QR code that directs to the maintained webpage of numbers.
This bill also mandates the emergency services listed on the webpage should be updated as needed and well-maintained.
I hope it would be the will of the body to reporting to full committee.
Thank you, Madam Chair;
House Bill 163 aims to assist our higher ed students in the commonwealth by providing them with necessary mental health assistance.
This bill will direct colleges and universities who print ID cards to include a URL for and maintain a website with necessary first responders, local aid numbers, and emergency services.
In addition, the bill suggests institutions to also place a QR code that directs to the maintained webpage of numbers.
This bill also mandates the emergency services listed on the webpage should be updated as needed and well-maintained.
I hope it would be the will of the body to report this bill.
No support or opposition is currently noted.