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Bill

HB 2055

Student health and safety; responsibility to contact parent of student at imminent risk of suicide.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Elizabeth Bennett-Parker and 13 co-sponsors

Virginia schools must immediately contact parents when staff identifies students at imminent suicide risk, creating legal duty to notify families before other interventions.

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0525)
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Bill Summary · HB 2055

Legislative bill overview

HB 2055 mandates that Virginia schools must contact parents or guardians without delay when school personnel identify a student at imminent risk of suicide. The bill establishes a duty of care requiring schools to notify families before implementing other interventions and creates a legal framework for this communication requirement.

Why is this important

Student suicide is a leading cause of death among youth, and early parental notification can facilitate immediate mental health intervention and support. This bill directly addresses a gap in school protocols by legally requiring family involvement at critical moments, potentially preventing tragedies and ensuring parents have information necessary to protect their children.

Potential points of contention

  • Liability and threshold ambiguity: Schools must determine what constitutes "imminent risk," which is subjective and could lead to over-notification, false alarms, or conversely, missed cases if standards are applied inconsistently across districts
  • Privacy and confidentiality concerns: Mandatory parental notification may conflict with student privacy rights and could deter at-risk students from seeking help from school counselors if they fear automatic parent disclosure
  • Resource and training demands: Schools must identify at-risk students and implement immediate notification protocols, requiring adequate mental health staff, training, and infrastructure that may strain under-resourced districts

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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