Subcommittee advances multiple education bills, tables special-education rewrite for review

The Probation Elementary and Secondary Subcommittee met and advanced a slate of education bills, reporting most with substitutes and tabling one measure for additional study.

House Bill 298: restorative discipline and data collection
Speaker 2 described House Bill 298 as a requirement that public schools "consider at least 1 evidence-based restorative disciplinary practice before suspension or expulsion of a student with certain exceptions for enumerated, severe student offenses" and said the bill would "require the department to collect and report data on the use of these practices." Speaker 3 moved to report the bill; the committee recorded a vote and reported HB 298 by 4 yes to 2 no.

House Bill 410: SAT administration at school
The committee reconsidered House Bill 410 and adopted a committee substitute. Speaker 2 said the substitute would "require each school board to provide the opportunity for students to take the SAT during regular school hours at their home high school" and that it removed earlier provisions that would have required fee waivers and participation reporting. The substitute was reported 7 to 0.

House Bill 473: special-education dispute-resolution (tabled)
Speaker 2 introduced HB 473, describing revisions to the special-education dispute-resolution system, creation of four regional ombuds centers, and department oversight of division complaints and IEP facilitation. Speaker 3 moved to "gently table" HB 473, noting the Commission on Youth "recently completed a study of the dispute resolution system" and recommending time to assess implementation. The motion to table was recorded as 7 to 0.

House Bill 613: teacher recruitment and mentorship pilot
Speaker 2 described a committee substitute for HB 613 establishing a teacher recruitment and retention mentorship pilot; the substitute removes an initial "with such funds" clause. The committee reported HB 613 with the substitute by a vote of 5 to 2.

House Bill 1301: diabetes management in schools
Speaker 2 explained that HB 1301 (recorded in the transcript as "13 o 1") would permit certain diabetes-management tasks by school division employees and allow self-administration by students, and would direct the department to update and biannually review the diabetes manual for public schools. The substitute was reported 7 to 0.

House Bill 1373: CISA program assessment
Speaker 2 said the substitute for HB 1373 would direct the Department of Education to assess potential enhancements to the CISA (students with intensive support needs) program to reduce referrals to private day programs; the committee reported the substitute 5 to 2. Speaker 2 noted the original bill focused on using CSA funds to serve public school students.

House Bill 1446: sickle-cell training for school nurses
Speaker 2 introduced HB 1446 from Delegate Sewell, saying it "requires school nurses to complete an online or in person course of instruction related to the recognition and management of sickle cell disease." The committee reported HB 1446 7 to 0.

Votes at a glance
- HB 298: reported (recorded vote) 4 yes, 2 no.
- HB 410 (substitute): reported 7 yes, 0 no.
- HB 473: gently tabled (recorded vote) 7 yes, 0 no.
- HB 613 (substitute): reported 5 yes, 2 no.
- HB 1301 (substitute): reported 7 yes, 0 no.
- HB 1373 (substitute): reported 5 yes, 2 no.
- HB 1446: reported 7 yes, 0 no.

The committee adjourned after reporting HB 1446.