{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/22.1-79.4.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/22.1-79.4.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/22.1-79.4.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/22.1-79.4.html"}],"law_id":58943,"edition_id":1,"section_id":58943,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-79.4","catch_line":"Threat assessment teams and oversight committees","history":"2013, c. 710; 2014, cc. 7, 158; 2016, c. 554; 2019, cc. 39, 456; 2022, c. 769; 2023, c. 295; 2025, c. 500.","full_text":"A\n\nEach local school board shall adopt policies for the establishment of threat assessment teams, including the assessment of and intervention with individuals whose behavior may pose a threat to the safety of school staff or students consistent with the model policies developed by the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety (the Center) in accordance with &#xA7; 9.1-184. Such policies shall include procedures for referrals to community services boards or health care providers for evaluation or treatment, when appropriate.B\n\nThe superintendent of each school division may establish a committee charged with oversight of the threat assessment teams operating within the division, which may be an existing committee established by the division. The committee shall include individuals with expertise in human resources, education, school administration, mental health, and law enforcement.C\n\nEach division superintendent shall establish, for each school, a threat assessment team that shall include persons with expertise in counseling, instruction, school administration, and law enforcement and, in the case of any school in which a school resource officer is employed, at least one such school resource officer. New threat assessment team members shall complete an initial threat assessment training and all threat assessment team members shall be required to complete refresher threat assessment training every three years. Threat assessment teams may be established to serve one or more schools as determined by the division superintendent. Each team shall (i) provide guidance to students, faculty, and staff regarding recognition of threatening or aberrant behavior that may represent a threat to the community, school, or self; (ii) identify members of the school community to whom threatening behavior should be reported; and (iii) implement policies adopted by the local school board pursuant to subsection A.D\n\nUpon a preliminary determination that a student poses a threat of violence or physical harm to self or others, a threat assessment team shall immediately report its determination to the division superintendent or his designee. The division superintendent or his designee shall immediately attempt to notify the student&#8217;s parent or legal guardian. The division superintendent or his designee shall provide, either in such initial attempt to notify the student&#8217;s parent or legal guardian or through a separate communication to the student&#8217;s parent or legal guardian made as soon as practicable thereafter, materials on recognition of and strategies for responding to behavior indicating that a student poses a threat of violence or physical harm to self or others that shall include information on the legal requirements set forth in &#xA7; 18.2-56.2 relating to the safe storage of firearms in the presence of minors and that may include guidance on best practices and strategies for limiting a student&#8217;s access to lethal means, including firearms and medications. Such materials shall be selected in accordance with the provisions of the criteria set forth in the guidelines required by subsection G. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude school division personnel from acting immediately to address an imminent threat.E\n\nEach threat assessment team established pursuant to this section shall collect and report to the Center quantitative data on its activities using the case management tool developed by the Center.F\n\nUpon a preliminary determination by the threat assessment team that an individual poses a threat of violence to self or others or exhibits significantly disruptive behavior or need for assistance, a threat assessment team may obtain criminal history record information, as provided in &#xA7;&#xA7; 19.2-389 and 19.2-389.1, and health records, as provided in &#xA7; 32.1-127.1:03. No member of a threat assessment team shall redisclose any criminal history record information or health information obtained pursuant to this section or otherwise use any record of an individual beyond the purpose for which such disclosure was made to the threat assessment team.G\n\nThe Board, in cooperation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Department of Health, shall develop guidelines for the provision of materials on recognition of and strategies for responding to behavior indicating that a student poses a threat of violence or physical harm to self or others required pursuant to subsection D. Such guidelines shall include criteria for selecting such materials as well as materials that have been preapproved for such use by the Board.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":216161,"text":"Each local school board shall adopt policies for the establishment of threat assessment teams, including the assessment of and intervention with individuals whose behavior may pose a threat to the safety of school staff or students consistent with the model policies developed by the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety (the Center) in accordance with &#xA7; 9.1-184. Such policies shall include procedures for referrals to community services boards or health care providers for evaluation or treatment, when appropriate.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":216162,"text":"The superintendent of each school division may establish a committee charged with oversight of the threat assessment teams operating within the division, which may be an existing committee established by the division. The committee shall include individuals with expertise in human resources, education, school administration, mental health, and law enforcement.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":216163,"text":"Each division superintendent shall establish, for each school, a threat assessment team that shall include persons with expertise in counseling, instruction, school administration, and law enforcement and, in the case of any school in which a school resource officer is employed, at least one such school resource officer. New threat assessment team members shall complete an initial threat assessment training and all threat assessment team members shall be required to complete refresher threat assessment training every three years. Threat assessment teams may be established to serve one or more schools as determined by the division superintendent. Each team shall (i) provide guidance to students, faculty, and staff regarding recognition of threatening or aberrant behavior that may represent a threat to the community, school, or self; (ii) identify members of the school community to whom threatening behavior should be reported; and (iii) implement policies adopted by the local school board pursuant to subsection A.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":216164,"text":"Upon a preliminary determination that a student poses a threat of violence or physical harm to self or others, a threat assessment team shall immediately report its determination to the division superintendent or his designee. The division superintendent or his designee shall immediately attempt to notify the student&#8217;s parent or legal guardian. The division superintendent or his designee shall provide, either in such initial attempt to notify the student&#8217;s parent or legal guardian or through a separate communication to the student&#8217;s parent or legal guardian made as soon as practicable thereafter, materials on recognition of and strategies for responding to behavior indicating that a student poses a threat of violence or physical harm to self or others that shall include information on the legal requirements set forth in &#xA7; 18.2-56.2 relating to the safe storage of firearms in the presence of minors and that may include guidance on best practices and strategies for limiting a student&#8217;s access to lethal means, including firearms and medications. Such materials shall be selected in accordance with the provisions of the criteria set forth in the guidelines required by subsection G. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude school division personnel from acting immediately to address an imminent threat.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":216165,"text":"Each threat assessment team established pursuant to this section shall collect and report to the Center quantitative data on its activities using the case management tool developed by the Center.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":216166,"text":"Upon a preliminary determination by the threat assessment team that an individual poses a threat of violence to self or others or exhibits significantly disruptive behavior or need for assistance, a threat assessment team may obtain criminal history record information, as provided in &#xA7;&#xA7; 19.2-389 and 19.2-389.1, and health records, as provided in &#xA7; 32.1-127.1:03. No member of a threat assessment team shall redisclose any criminal history record information or health information obtained pursuant to this section or otherwise use any record of an individual beyond the purpose for which such disclosure was made to the threat assessment team.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":216167,"text":"The Board, in cooperation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Department of Health, shall develop guidelines for the provision of materials on recognition of and strategies for responding to behavior indicating that a student poses a threat of violence or physical harm to self or others required pursuant to subsection D. Such guidelines shall include criteria for selecting such materials as well as materials that have been preapproved for such use by the Board.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13368,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Powers and Duties of School Boards","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12823,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:43","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:43","permalink":{"id":184095,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13368,"identifier":"7","token":"22.1\/7","url":"\/22.1\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12823,"edition_id":1,"name":"Education","identifier":"22.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":180949,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12823,"identifier":"22.1","token":"22.1","url":"\/22.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":56889,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-71","catch_line":"School board constitutes body corporate; corporate powers","url":"\/22.1-71\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-71","metadata":false},{"id":80856,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-72","catch_line":"Annual organizational meetings of school boards","url":"\/22.1-72\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-72","metadata":false},{"id":80333,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-73","catch_line":"Quorum","url":"\/22.1-73\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-73","metadata":false},{"id":78594,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-74","catch_line":"Minutes of meetings","url":"\/22.1-74\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-74","metadata":false},{"id":86210,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-75","catch_line":"Procedure in case of tie vote","url":"\/22.1-75\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-75","metadata":false},{"id":63104,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-76","catch_line":"Chairman; clerk; vice-chairman; deputy clerk; terms; compensation and bonds of clerk and deputy clerk; officers ineligible to serve as clerk and deputy clerk; approval of division superintendent's designee","url":"\/22.1-76\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-76","metadata":false},{"id":60823,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-77","catch_line":"Duties of clerk","url":"\/22.1-77\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-77","metadata":false},{"id":78612,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-78","catch_line":"Bylaws and regulations","url":"\/22.1-78\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-78","metadata":false},{"id":54343,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-79","catch_line":"Powers and duties","url":"\/22.1-79\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79","metadata":false},{"id":66917,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-79.1","catch_line":"Opening of the school year; approvals for certain alternative schedules","url":"\/22.1-79.1\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.1","metadata":false},{"id":72475,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-79.2","catch_line":"Uniforms in public schools; Board of Education guidelines","url":"\/22.1-79.2\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.2","metadata":false},{"id":73078,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-79.3","catch_line":"Policies regarding certain activities","url":"\/22.1-79.3\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.3","metadata":false},{"id":60962,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-79.3:1","catch_line":"Student cell phone and smart device possession and use policies; development and implementation","url":"\/22.1-79.3_1\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.3_1","metadata":false},{"id":58943,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-79.4","catch_line":"Threat assessment teams and oversight committees","url":"\/22.1-79.4\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.4","metadata":false},{"id":81294,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-79.5","catch_line":"Policy regarding retail tobacco products and hemp products intended for smoking","url":"\/22.1-79.5\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.5","metadata":false},{"id":81218,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-79.6","catch_line":"Employee lactation support policy","url":"\/22.1-79.6\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.6","metadata":false},{"id":81408,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-79.7","catch_line":"School meal policies; donations","url":"\/22.1-79.7\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.7","metadata":false},{"id":63509,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-79.7:1","catch_line":"School meals; availability to students","url":"\/22.1-79.7_1\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.7_1","metadata":false},{"id":76207,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-79.8","catch_line":"Policies regarding job assistance for certain persons","url":"\/22.1-79.8\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.8","metadata":false},{"id":55052,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-79.9","catch_line":"Promotion of broadband services for educational purposes","url":"\/22.1-79.9\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.9","metadata":false},{"id":62073,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-80","catch_line":"Development of park areas adjacent to public schools","url":"\/22.1-80\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-80","metadata":false},{"id":66197,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-81","catch_line":"Annual report","url":"\/22.1-81\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-81","metadata":false},{"id":74871,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-82","catch_line":"Employment of counsel to advise or defend school boards and officials; payment of costs, expenses and liabilities; consent of governing bodies required prior to institution of proceedings","url":"\/22.1-82\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-82","metadata":false},{"id":61321,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-83","catch_line":"Payment of employee's legal fees and expenses","url":"\/22.1-83\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-83","metadata":false},{"id":58731,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-84","catch_line":"Insurance","url":"\/22.1-84\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-84","metadata":false},{"id":86141,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-85","catch_line":"Fund for payment of hospital, medical, etc., services provided officers, employees and dependents","url":"\/22.1-85\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-85","metadata":false},{"id":67471,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-86","catch_line":"Meetings of people of school division; local committees","url":"\/22.1-86\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-86","metadata":false},{"id":84284,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-86.1","catch_line":"Appointment of student representatives to local school boards","url":"\/22.1-86.1\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-86.1","metadata":false},{"id":57040,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-87","catch_line":"Judicial review","url":"\/22.1-87\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-87","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":60962,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-79.3:1","catch_line":"Student cell phone and smart device possession and use policies; development and implementation","url":"\/22.1-79.3_1\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.3_1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":81294,"structure_id":13368,"section_number":"22.1-79.5","catch_line":"Policy regarding retail tobacco products and hemp products intended for smoking","url":"\/22.1-79.5\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.5","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/22.1-79.4\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 2013. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?131+ful+CHAP0710\">710<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2014, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?141+ful+CHAP0007\">7<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?141+ful+CHAP0158\">158<\/a>; in 2016, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?161+ful+CHAP0554\">554<\/a>; in 2019, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?191+ful+CHAP0039\">39<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?191+ful+CHAP0456\">456<\/a>; in 2022, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?221+ful+CHAP0769\">769<\/a>; in 2023, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?231+ful+CHAP0295\">295<\/a>; in 2025, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?251+ful+CHAP0500\">500<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":65049,"section_number":"18.2-371.1","catch_line":"Abuse and neglect of children; penalties; abandoned infant","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-371.1\/"},{"id":81089,"section_number":"19.2-389","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Dissemination of criminal history record information","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-389\/"},{"id":63594,"section_number":"19.2-389.1","catch_line":"Dissemination of juvenile record information","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-389.1\/"},{"id":67553,"section_number":"2.2-3705.2","catch_line":"Exclusions to application of chapter; records relating to public safety","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3705.2\/"},{"id":69909,"section_number":"2.2-3705.4","catch_line":"Exclusions to application of chapter; educational records and certain records of educational institutions","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3705.4\/"},{"id":58930,"section_number":"32.1-127.1:03","catch_line":"Health records privacy","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-127.1_03\/"},{"id":70579,"section_number":"9.1-184","catch_line":"Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety created; duties","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-184\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":57206,"section_number":"18.2-56.2","catch_line":"Allowing access to firearms by children; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-56.2\/"},{"id":81089,"section_number":"19.2-389","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Dissemination of criminal history record information","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-389\/"},{"id":63594,"section_number":"19.2-389.1","catch_line":"Dissemination of juvenile record information","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-389.1\/"},{"id":58930,"section_number":"32.1-127.1:03","catch_line":"Health records privacy","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-127.1_03\/"},{"id":70579,"section_number":"9.1-184","catch_line":"Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety created; duties","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-184\/"}],"permalink":{"id":184149,"object_type":"law","relational_id":58943,"identifier":"22.1-79.4","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.4","url":"\/22.1-79.4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/22.1-79.4\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.4","dublin_core":{"Title":"Threat assessment teams and oversight committees","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 22.1-79.4","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> Each local <span class=\"dictionary\">school board<\/span> shall adopt policies for the establishment of threat assessment teams, including the assessment of and intervention with individuals whose behavior may pose a threat to the safety of school staff or students consistent with the model policies developed by the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety (the Center) in accordance with &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety created; duties\" href=\"\/9.1-184\/\">9.1-184<\/a>. Such policies shall include procedures for referrals to <span class=\"dictionary\">community services<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">boards<\/span> or health care providers for evaluation or treatment, when appropriate. <a id=\"paragraph-216161\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/22.1-79.4\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> The <span class=\"dictionary\">superintendent<\/span> of each school division may establish a committee charged with oversight of the threat assessment teams operating within the division, which may be an existing committee established by the division. The committee shall include individuals with expertise in human resources, education, school administration, mental health, and <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span> enforcement. <a id=\"paragraph-216162\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/22.1-79.4\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"C\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">C.<\/span> Each <span class=\"dictionary\">division superintendent<\/span> shall establish, for each school, a threat assessment team that shall include persons with expertise in counseling, instruction, school administration, and <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span> enforcement and, in the case of any school in which a school resource officer is employed, at least one such school resource officer. New threat assessment team members shall complete an initial threat assessment training and all threat assessment team members shall be required to complete refresher threat assessment training every three years. Threat assessment teams may be established to serve one or more schools as determined by the <span class=\"dictionary\">division superintendent<\/span>. Each team shall (i) provide guidance to students, faculty, and staff regarding recognition of threatening or aberrant behavior that may represent a threat to the community, school, or self; (ii) identify members of the school community to whom threatening behavior should be reported; and (iii) implement policies adopted by the local <span class=\"dictionary\">school board<\/span> pursuant to subsection A. <a id=\"paragraph-216163\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/22.1-79.4\/#C\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"D\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">D.<\/span> Upon a preliminary determination that a student poses a threat of violence or physical harm to self or others, a threat assessment team shall immediately report its determination to the <span class=\"dictionary\">division superintendent<\/span> or his designee. The <span class=\"dictionary\">division superintendent<\/span> or his designee shall immediately attempt to notify the student&#8217;s <span class=\"dictionary\">parent<\/span> or legal guardian. The <span class=\"dictionary\">division superintendent<\/span> or his designee shall provide, either in such initial attempt to notify the student&#8217;s <span class=\"dictionary\">parent<\/span> or legal guardian or through a separate communication to the student&#8217;s <span class=\"dictionary\">parent<\/span> or legal guardian made as soon as practicable thereafter, <span class=\"dictionary\">materials<\/span> on recognition of and strategies for responding to behavior indicating that a student poses a threat of violence or physical harm to self or others that shall include information on the legal requirements set forth in &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Allowing access to firearms by children; penalty\" href=\"\/18.2-56.2\/\">18.2-56.2<\/a> relating to the safe storage of firearms in the presence of <span class=\"dictionary\">minors<\/span> and that may include guidance on best practices and strategies for limiting a student&#8217;s access to lethal means, including firearms and medications. Such <span class=\"dictionary\">materials<\/span> shall be selected in accordance with the provisions of the criteria set forth in the guidelines required by subsection G. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude school division personnel from acting immediately to address an imminent threat. <a id=\"paragraph-216164\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/22.1-79.4\/#D\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"E\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">E.<\/span> Each threat assessment team established pursuant to this section shall collect and report to the Center quantitative data on its activities using the case management tool developed by the Center. <a id=\"paragraph-216165\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/22.1-79.4\/#E\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"F\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">F.<\/span> Upon a preliminary determination by the threat assessment team that an individual poses a threat of violence to self or others or exhibits significantly disruptive behavior or need for assistance, a threat assessment team may obtain criminal history record information, as provided in &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"(Effective July 1, 2026) Dissemination of criminal history record information\" href=\"\/19.2-389\/\">19.2-389<\/a> and <a class=\"law\" title=\"Dissemination of juvenile record information\" href=\"\/19.2-389.1\/\">19.2-389.1<\/a>, and health records, as provided in &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Health records privacy\" href=\"\/32.1-127.1_03\/\">32.1-127.1:03<\/a>. No member of a threat assessment team shall redisclose any criminal history record information or health information obtained pursuant to this section or otherwise use any record of an individual beyond the purpose for which such disclosure was made to the threat assessment team. <a id=\"paragraph-216166\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/22.1-79.4\/#F\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"G\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">G.<\/span> The Board, in cooperation with the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Health, shall develop guidelines for the provision of <span class=\"dictionary\">materials<\/span> on recognition of and strategies for responding to behavior indicating that a student poses a threat of violence or physical harm to self or others required pursuant to subsection D. Such guidelines shall include criteria for selecting such <span class=\"dictionary\">materials<\/span> as well as <span class=\"dictionary\">materials<\/span> that have been preapproved for such use by the Board. <a id=\"paragraph-216167\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/22.1-79.4\/#G\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nTHREAT ASSESSMENT TEAMS AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES (\u00a7 22.1-79.4)\n\nA. Each local school board shall adopt policies for the establishment of threat\nassessment teams, including the assessment of and intervention with individuals\nwhose behavior may pose a threat to the safety of school staff or students\nconsistent with the model policies developed by the Virginia Center for School\nand Campus Safety (the Center) in accordance with &#xA7; 9.1-184. Such policies\nshall include procedures for referrals to community services boards or health\ncare providers for evaluation or treatment, when appropriate.\n\nB. The superintendent of each school division may establish a committee charged\nwith oversight of the threat assessment teams operating within the division,\nwhich may be an existing committee established by the division. The committee\nshall include individuals with expertise in human resources, education, school\nadministration, mental health, and law enforcement.\n\nC. Each division superintendent shall establish, for each school, a threat\nassessment team that shall include persons with expertise in counseling,\ninstruction, school administration, and law enforcement and, in the case of any\nschool in which a school resource officer is employed, at least one such school\nresource officer. New threat assessment team members shall complete an initial\nthreat assessment training and all threat assessment team members shall be\nrequired to complete refresher threat assessment training every three years.\nThreat assessment teams may be established to serve one or more schools as\ndetermined by the division superintendent. Each team shall (i) provide guidance\nto students, faculty, and staff regarding recognition of threatening or aberrant\nbehavior that may represent a threat to the community, school, or self; (ii)\nidentify members of the school community to whom threatening behavior should be\nreported; and (iii) implement policies adopted by the local school board\npursuant to subsection A.\n\nD. Upon a preliminary determination that a student poses a threat of violence or\nphysical harm to self or others, a threat assessment team shall immediately\nreport its determination to the division superintendent or his designee. The\ndivision superintendent or his designee shall immediately attempt to notify the\nstudent&#8217;s parent or legal guardian. The division superintendent or his\ndesignee shall provide, either in such initial attempt to notify the\nstudent&#8217;s parent or legal guardian or through a separate communication to\nthe student&#8217;s parent or legal guardian made as soon as practicable\nthereafter, materials on recognition of and strategies for responding to\nbehavior indicating that a student poses a threat of violence or physical harm\nto self or others that shall include information on the legal requirements set\nforth in &#xA7; 18.2-56.2 relating to the safe storage of firearms in the\npresence of minors and that may include guidance on best practices and\nstrategies for limiting a student&#8217;s access to lethal means, including\nfirearms and medications. Such materials shall be selected in accordance with\nthe provisions of the criteria set forth in the guidelines required by\nsubsection G. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude school division\npersonnel from acting immediately to address an imminent threat.\n\nE. Each threat assessment team established pursuant to this section shall\ncollect and report to the Center quantitative data on its activities using the\ncase management tool developed by the Center.\n\nF. Upon a preliminary determination by the threat assessment team that an\nindividual poses a threat of violence to self or others or exhibits\nsignificantly disruptive behavior or need for assistance, a threat assessment\nteam may obtain criminal history record information, as provided in &#xA7;&#xA7;\n19.2-389 and 19.2-389.1, and health records, as provided in &#xA7;\n32.1-127.1:03. No member of a threat assessment team shall redisclose any\ncriminal history record information or health information obtained pursuant to\nthis section or otherwise use any record of an individual beyond the purpose for\nwhich such disclosure was made to the threat assessment team.\n\nG. The Board, in cooperation with the Department of Behavioral Health and\nDevelopmental Services and the Department of Health, shall develop guidelines\nfor the provision of materials on recognition of and strategies for responding\nto behavior indicating that a student poses a threat of violence or physical\nharm to self or others required pursuant to subsection D. Such guidelines shall\ninclude criteria for selecting such materials as well as materials that have\nbeen preapproved for such use by the Board.\n\nHISTORY: 2013, c. 710; 2014, cc. 7, 158; 2016, c. 554; 2019, cc. 39, 456; 2022,\nc. 769; 2023, c. 295; 2025, c. 500.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}