Virginia Law

A. Each local school board shall develop a plan, in accordance with subsection X of § 54.1-3408 and the guidelines developed by the Department of Health in collaboration with the Department of Education, for the procurement, placement, and maintenance in each public elementary and secondary school of a supply of opioid antagonists in an amount equivalent to at least two unexpired doses for the purposes of opioid overdose reversal. Such plan shall provide for the development and implementation of policies and procedures relating to the procurement, placement, and maintenance of such supply of opioid antagonists in each such school, including policies and procedures:

1. Providing for the placement and maintenance in each public elementary and secondary school of a supply of opioid antagonists in an amount equivalent to at least two unexpired doses, including policies and procedures by which each such school shall request a replacement dose of an opioid antagonist any time a dose has expired, is administered for overdose reversal, or is otherwise rendered unusable and by which each such request shall be timely fulfilled;

2. Requiring each such school to inspect its opioid antagonist supply at least annually and maintain a record of the date of inspection, the expiration date on each dose, and, in the event that a dose of such opioid antagonist is administered for overdose reversal to a person who is believed to be experiencing or about to experience a life-threatening opioid overdose, the date of such administration; and

3. Relating to the proper and safe storage of such opioid antagonist supply in each such school.

B. Each local school board shall, in accordance with the provisions of subsection X of § 54.1-3408 and the guidelines developed by the Department of Health in collaboration with the Department of Education, develop policies and procedures relating to the possession and administration of opioid antagonists by any school nurse or employee of the school board who is authorized by a prescriber and trained in the administration of an opioid antagonist to any student, faculty, or staff member who is believed to be experiencing or about to experience a life-threatening opioid overdose, including:

1. Policies requiring each public elementary and secondary school to ensure that at least one employee (i) is authorized by a prescriber and has been trained and is certified in the administration of an opioid antagonist by a program administered or approved by the Department of Health to provide training in opioid antagonist administration and (ii) has the means to access at all times during regular school hours any such opioid antagonist supply that is stored in a locked or otherwise generally inaccessible container or area; and

2. Policies and procedures for (i) partnering with a program administered or approved by the Department of Health to provide training in opioid antagonist administration for the purpose of organizing and providing the training and certification required pursuant to subdivision 1 and (ii) maintaining records of each employee of each such public elementary and secondary school who is trained and certified in the administration of an opioid antagonist pursuant to subdivision 1.

C. Any employee of any public elementary or secondary school, school board, or local health department who, during regular school hours, on school premises, or during a school-sponsored activity, in good faith administers an opioid antagonist for opioid overdose reversal to any individual who is believed to be experiencing or about to experience a life-threatening opioid overdose, regardless of whether such employee was trained in administration of an opioid antagonist pursuant to subsection B, shall be immune from any disciplinary action or civil or criminal liability for any act or omission made in connection with the administration of an opioid antagonist in such incident, unless such act or omission was the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

D. Each school board shall adopt and each public elementary and secondary school shall implement policies and procedures in accordance with the provisions of this section. Each school board and each public elementary and secondary school shall, in adopting and implementing the policies set forth in this section, utilize to the fullest extent possible programs offered by the Department of Health for the provision of opioid antagonist administration training and certification and the procurement of opioid antagonists for placement in each public elementary and secondary school.

2024, cc. 451, 519.