Bill Text: VA HB913 | 2020 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Higher educational institutions; sexual violence policies, immunity from disciplinary action.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 25-2)
Status: (Passed) 2020-04-10 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1041) [HB913 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HB913-Engrossed.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §23.1-808 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§23.1-808. Sexual violence; policy review; amnesty for certain individuals who make reports.
A. By October 31 of each year, the System, Richard Bland College, each baccalaureate public institution of higher education, and each nonprofit private institution of higher education shall certify to the Council that it has reviewed its sexual violence policy and updated it as appropriate. The Council and the Department of Criminal Justice Services shall establish criteria for the certification process and may request information relating to the policies for the purposes of sharing best practices and improving campus safety. The Council and the Department of Criminal Justice Services shall report to the Secretary of Education on the certification status of each such institution by November 30 of each year.
B. The governing board of each public institution of higher
education and each nonprofit private institution of higher education shall
include as part of its policy, code, rules, or set of standards governing
sexual violence a provision for immunity from disciplinary action [ to
be provided to any student who commits a minor violation of the institution's
code of student conduct, such as a violation that would constitute a
misdemeanor or a nonviolent felony, at the same time as the commission of an
act of sexual violence by another individual and who subsequently reports such
act of sexual violence to the institution based on personal
consumption of drugs or alcohol where such disclosure is made in conjunction
with a good faith report of an act of sexual violence ] .