Subcommittee advances bill to strengthen school mental‑health training for staff
Summary
HB 38 would require at least one evidence‑based mental‑health awareness training for full‑time teachers and designated school personnel; the bill reported 9‑1 after supporters cited workforce shortages and advocates urged alignment with APA standards.
House Bill 38 would strengthen existing mental‑health awareness requirements by ensuring full‑time teachers and other designated school personnel receive at least one training grounded in evidence‑based practices. Sponsor Delegate Henson said the bill builds on prior work and aims to equip staff to identify and respond to students with mental‑health needs.
Supporters including the Virginia Education Association and Voices for Virginia’s Children told the subcommittee the training will help schools identify needs earlier, particularly in localities with mental‑health professional shortages. Opposing testimony, including from Anne Tatus, stressed statutory limits on school counseling and raised questions about use of paraprofessionals and the scope of training content.
The subcommittee reported the bill out, 9‑1. The sponsor said existing county trainings that meet American Psychological Association‑aligned standards will satisfy the requirement, and the bill’s language was narrowed to avoid imposing duplicative training.
