Virginia HB 1446: School nurses; sickle cell disease training.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26105335D

HOUSE BILL NO. 1446

Offered January 22, 2026

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-274.9, relating to school nurses; sickle cell disease training.

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Patrons—Sewell, Anderson, Anthony, Bennett-Parker, Bulova, Callsen, Carnegie, Carr, Carroll, Cohen, Cole, J.G., Cole, N.T., Cousins, Delaney, Dougherty, Downey, Feggans, Franklin, L.V., Franklin, M.A., Gardner, Glass, Guzman, Hayes, Henson, Hernandez, Herring, Hope, Keys-Gamarra, Laufer, LeVere Bolling, Lopez, Maldonado, Martinez, McClure, McQuinn, Mehta, Nivar, Pope Adams, Price, Rasoul, Reaser, Schmidt, Shin, Simon, Singh, Thomas, Thornton, Torian, Tran, Ward, Watts and Willett

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Referred to Committee on Education

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-274.9 as follows: 

§ 22.1-274.9. School nurse sickle cell disease training.

Each local school division shall require all school nurses employed by the division to complete, within six months of employment and at least every three years thereafter, an online or in-person course of instruction approved by the Board in collaboration with the Department of Health regarding recognition and management of sickle cell disease. Approved training programs shall address (i) information on sickle cell disease; (ii) recognition of symptoms; (iii) applicability and implementation of school-based interventions; (iv) academic support for students with sickle cell disease; and (v) collaboration with families of students with sickle cell disease for education and treatment.