Committee endorses revised diabetes-management framework for Virginia schools, adds licensed practical nurses to staffing definition

A Virginia legislative subcommittee unanimously endorsed a revised draft bill on diabetes management in schools on a recommendation from its subcommittee and added licensed practical nurses to the list of designated staff.

The committee, chaired by Chair Pivotala of the subcommittee, voted to endorse the subcommittee’s recommended version of the bill (referred to in committee as the latest draft, printed at 10:19) after a report from Delegate Mike Cherry, the subcommittee lead. The draft would direct school boards to maintain a diabetes management plan at each school, require Department of Education guidance, and apply to students with individual health plans who have diabetes.

The endorsement follows hours of stakeholder meetings and multiple draft revisions. “Through all of the stakeholder meetings, through all of the work that we’ve done as legislators, as committee members, nurses, [and] school health experts, I believe we are in a very, very good place with the recommended version of 13 0 3 that we have,” Delegate Mike Cherry said, summarizing the subcommittee’s work. Chair Pivotala said the draft differs from the earlier Senate version by directing school boards to adopt a diabetes plan for each school rather than a single districtwide plan, and that the bill ties down staffing so responsibilities are not left to voluntary agreement.

The draft also directs the Department of Education to issue a Diabetes Management in Schools Manual on a biannual basis to help school divisions implement the statute. Julia Bergamini, staff counsel, told members the committee had removed a subdivision on field trips from the current draft after stakeholders raised feasibility concerns; she noted the Department of Education’s existing manual includes guidance for field trips and extracurricular activities, which the draft does not put into code.

Senator Stella Pekarski proposed a technical amendment to add licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to the definition of designated licensed or designated unlicensed staff who could be included in school diabetes response staffing. The committee adopted the amendment; a member seconded the motion and the committee voted “aye” unanimously. Chair Pivotala asked staff to make the LPN change where appropriate throughout the draft.

After additional questions about parental involvement and implementation, the committee voted to endorse the draft, as amended. Chair Pivotala said she would assign two members—one from the House and one from the Senate—to carry the bill when it is introduced. The committee’s endorsement is a recommendation that the full legislative process consider the draft; enactment is subject to future committee and floor votes.

Members repeatedly emphasized that the draft sets minimum requirements and does not prevent local school boards from adopting stronger policies. Delegate Laura Jane Cohen and others raised concerns about students who participate in out-of-school activities such as governor’s school or extended extracurricular programs; committee staff and other members said that local boards can adopt policies beyond the statutory minimum and that Department of Education guidance may address some situations.

The committee recorded unanimous endorsement of the subcommittee’s recommended draft with the LPN amendment. The committee also asked staff to update other cross-references in the draft to reflect the added language.

The committee’s discussion and amendments focused on implementation details rather than a change in the draft’s central approach: school-level diabetes plans, staff authorization, parental involvement, and a Department of Education manual to provide operational guidance.

Committee members said they expect continuing discussion as the bill moves through the legislative process and stakeholders review the introduced language.