Senate panel approves substitute to allow trained, unlicensed staff to assist students with insulin and diabetes devices

The Senate Education and Health Committee on Monday advanced a substitute for Senate Bill 122 that would allow trained, unlicensed school personnel to assist students with diabetes devices such as continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps and expand the protections beyond regular school hours to include school-sponsored activities.

The substitute, which the committee voted to report by a recorded voice vote (Ayes 15, No 0), was described by Senator Van Valkenburg as an attempt to balance student safety with school operations: the bill makes clear that a parent and physician may authorize an unlicensed school employee to assist a student, while also permitting schools to set guardrails and establish backup plans when a primary staff member is unavailable.

Why it matters: Supporters said the change updates Virginia’s guidance to reflect modern diabetes technology and reduces classroom disruptions for students who require timely insulin dosing or device adjustments. Opponents did not register in committee; sponsors and subcommittee members said remaining technical fiscal questions could be resolved outside the committee.

Family members, clinicians and school nurses gave the committee personal and clinical reasons to act. Carrie Murphy, founder and executive director of Follow T1Ds, told the committee, “I fully support SB 122, and I’m asking for you to vote yes,” and pediatric endocrinologists participating remotely expressed full support. High school senior Jillian Jurkow recounted a testing-day emergency: “At the conclusion of my test, my blood sugar was nearly 600 milligrams per deciliter,” she said, urging the committee to empower staff to act when devices and technology fail.

School nurses and advocates urged standardized, competency-based training and supervision structures. Jackie Perry, a school nurse from Grayson County, said advances such as continuous glucose monitoring and automated insulin delivery “give students greater independence, confidence, and safety during the school day,” and Betsy Looney, president of the Virginia Association of School Nurses, said the substitute reflects stakeholder compromise and that “Virginia will become the first state to allow unlicensed personnel the ability to insert or reinsert a CGM or insulin pump.”

What the substitute does: Committee members said the substitute (1) clarifies that assistance can be performed by an unlicensed school employee (not only a licensed nurse), (2) extends coverage to school activities beyond standard school hours, and (3) encourages language to require backup plans so necessary school duties (for example, attendance at an IEP meeting) do not prevent care. Senator McPike noted that combining an enactment clause into the substitute may create a small fiscal impact and suggested coordination with finance staff and the Board of Education to resolve any costs.

Next steps: With the committee’s report, SB 122 moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. Committee members said they expect to work out remaining drafting and fiscal questions in consultation with agency staff before floor action.