16100105D
SENATE BILL NO. 338
Senate Amendments in [ ] -- February 1, 2016
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 1 of
Title 23 a section numbered 23-9.2:19, relating to study abroad programs;
reporting requirements.
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Patron Prior to Engrossment--Senator Alexander
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Referred to Committee on Education and Health
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter
1 of Title 23 a section numbered 23-9.2:19 as follows:
§23-9.2:19. Study abroad programs; reporting requirements.
A. As used in this section, "study abroad
program" means a program sponsored, offered, or approved for credit by an
institution of higher education in which program participants travel outside
the United States in connection with an educational experience.
B. [ Each public or
private institution of higher education shall, by November 1 of each year,
report to the Council a list of all study abroad programs offered or approved
for credit by the institution, any deaths of study abroad program participants
that occurred during and as a result of participating in such program, and any
accidents or illnesses that resulted in hospitalization that occurred during
and as a result of participating in such program.
C. The Council shall publish on its website the
annual study abroad reports and the best available information on sexual
assaults and other criminal acts affecting study abroad program participants
during program participation. The published information regarding sexual
assaults and criminal acts shall be separated by country and shall not be
limited to the study abroad programs offered, sponsored, or approved for credit
by institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth.
D. Any person offering a study abroad program shall
be considered, in any civil action involving a participant of such program who
is a resident of the Commonwealth or attends an institution of higher education
in the Commonwealth, to have transacted business in the Commonwealth for the
purposes of §8.01-328.1. The Council shall
develop a model policy for study abroad programs. ]
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