{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/37.2-309.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/37.2-309.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/37.2-309.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/37.2-309.html"}],"law_id":74547,"edition_id":1,"section_id":74547,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-309","catch_line":"Department responsible for substance abuse services; office established; qualifications of staff","history":"1976, cc. 739, 767, \u00a7\u00a7 37.1-204, 37.1-219; 1980, c. 582; 1998, c. 724; 2005, c. 716.","full_text":"The Department shall be responsible for the administration, planning, and regulation of substance abuse services in the Commonwealth. The Commissioner shall establish an Office of Substance Abuse Services and employ a director and staff who shall have knowledge and experience in the field of substance abuse to carry out this responsibility. Each substance abuse treatment program shall provide data, statistics, schedules, and information that may be reasonably required to the Department.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":267913,"text":"The Department shall be responsible for the administration, planning, and regulation of substance abuse services in the Commonwealth. The Commissioner shall establish an Office of Substance Abuse Services and employ a director and staff who shall have knowledge and experience in the field of substance abuse to carry out this responsibility. Each substance abuse treatment program shall provide data, statistics, schedules, and information that may be reasonably required to the Department.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":12846,"edition_id":1,"name":"The Department and the Commissioner","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12845,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":209715,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12846,"identifier":"1","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1","url":"\/37.2\/I\/3\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12845,"edition_id":1,"name":"Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12844,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":209713,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12845,"identifier":"3","token":"37.2\/I\/3","url":"\/37.2\/I\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12844,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12843,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":209675,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12844,"identifier":"I","token":"37.2\/I","url":"\/37.2\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12843,"edition_id":1,"name":"Behavioral Health and Developmental Services","identifier":"37.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":209673,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12843,"identifier":"37.2","token":"37.2","url":"\/37.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":53989,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-300","catch_line":"Creation and supervision of Department","url":"\/37.2-300\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-300","metadata":false},{"id":87072,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-301","catch_line":"Appointment of Commissioner","url":"\/37.2-301\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-301","metadata":false},{"id":61895,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-302","catch_line":"Term of office and vacancy therein","url":"\/37.2-302\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-302","metadata":false},{"id":68733,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-303","catch_line":"Qualifications of Commissioner","url":"\/37.2-303\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-303","metadata":false},{"id":58889,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-304","catch_line":"Duties of Commissioner","url":"\/37.2-304\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-304","metadata":false},{"id":55805,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-305","catch_line":"Receiving gifts and endowments","url":"\/37.2-305\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-305","metadata":false},{"id":76091,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-306","catch_line":"Research into causes of mental illness, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, and related subjects","url":"\/37.2-306\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-306","metadata":false},{"id":79296,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-307","catch_line":"Employment of special counsel to defend Board member, officer, or employee of Department in criminal cases","url":"\/37.2-307\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-307","metadata":false},{"id":69476,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-308","catch_line":"Data reporting on children and adolescents","url":"\/37.2-308\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-308","metadata":false},{"id":85097,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-308.01","catch_line":"Commitment hearings for involuntary admissions; data sharing","url":"\/37.2-308.01\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-308.01","metadata":false},{"id":58069,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-308.1","catch_line":"Acute psychiatric bed registry","url":"\/37.2-308.1\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-308.1","metadata":false},{"id":74547,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-309","catch_line":"Department responsible for substance abuse services; office established; qualifications of staff","url":"\/37.2-309\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-309","metadata":false},{"id":63480,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-310","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Department related to substance abuse","url":"\/37.2-310\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-310","metadata":false},{"id":71267,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-311","catch_line":"Review of applications for state or federal funds or services used in substance abuse programs","url":"\/37.2-311\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-311","metadata":false},{"id":70901,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-311.1","catch_line":"Comprehensive crisis system; Marcus alert system; powers and duties of the Department related to comprehensive mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disability crisis services","url":"\/37.2-311.1\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-311.1","metadata":false},{"id":55219,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-311.2","catch_line":"Powers and duties of crisis call center","url":"\/37.2-311.2\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-311.2","metadata":false},{"id":79442,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-311.3","catch_line":"Standards for community care teams and mobile crisis teams","url":"\/37.2-311.3\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-311.3","metadata":false},{"id":72863,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-311.4","catch_line":"Crisis Call Center Fund","url":"\/37.2-311.4\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-311.4","metadata":false},{"id":60255,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-311.5","catch_line":"Collection of 988 charges","url":"\/37.2-311.5\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-311.5","metadata":false},{"id":65423,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-311.6","catch_line":"Liability for emergency calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline","url":"\/37.2-311.6\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-311.6","metadata":false},{"id":59415,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-312","catch_line":"Department responsible for education and training programs","url":"\/37.2-312\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-312","metadata":false},{"id":69006,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-312.1","catch_line":"Department to be lead agency for suicide prevention across the lifespan","url":"\/37.2-312.1\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-312.1","metadata":false},{"id":62132,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-312.2","catch_line":"Commonwealth Mental Health First Aid Program","url":"\/37.2-312.2\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-312.2","metadata":false},{"id":83802,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-313","catch_line":"Employment of unlicensed physician by Department","url":"\/37.2-313\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-313","metadata":false},{"id":81127,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-313.1","catch_line":"Licensed physician required at certain training centers","url":"\/37.2-313.1\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-313.1","metadata":false},{"id":75182,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-314","catch_line":"Background check required","url":"\/37.2-314\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-314","metadata":false},{"id":82101,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-314.1","catch_line":"Developmental Disabilities Mortality Review Committee; duties; membership; confidentiality; report; penalty","url":"\/37.2-314.1\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-314.1","metadata":false},{"id":67219,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-314.2","catch_line":"Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund","url":"\/37.2-314.2\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-314.2","metadata":false},{"id":85328,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-314.3","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Department related to supported decision-making agreements; report","url":"\/37.2-314.3\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-314.3","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":58069,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-308.1","catch_line":"Acute psychiatric bed registry","url":"\/37.2-308.1\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-308.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":63480,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-310","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Department related to substance abuse","url":"\/37.2-310\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-310","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/37.2-309\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1976. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 739 and 767 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. Unfortunately, the 1976 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 1980, chapter 582; in 1998, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?981+ful+CHAP0724\">724<\/a>; in 2005, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0716\">716<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":209761,"object_type":"law","relational_id":74547,"identifier":"37.2-309","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-309","url":"\/37.2-309\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/37.2-309\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-309","dublin_core":{"Title":"Department responsible for substance abuse services; office established; qualifications of staff","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 37.2-309","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>The <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> shall be responsible for the administration, planning, and regulation of substance abuse services in the Commonwealth. The <span class=\"dictionary\">Commissioner<\/span> shall establish an Office of Substance Abuse Services and employ a director and staff who shall have knowledge and experience in the field of substance abuse to carry out this responsibility. Each <span class=\"dictionary\">substance abuse treatment<\/span> program shall provide data, statistics, <span class=\"dictionary\">schedules<\/span>, and information that may be reasonably required to the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES; OFFICE ESTABLISHED;\nQUALIFICATIONS OF STAFF (\u00a7 37.2-309)\n\nThe Department shall be responsible for the administration, planning, and\nregulation of substance abuse services in the Commonwealth. The Commissioner\nshall establish an Office of Substance Abuse Services and employ a director and\nstaff who shall have knowledge and experience in the field of substance abuse to\ncarry out this responsibility. Each substance abuse treatment program shall\nprovide data, statistics, schedules, and information that may be reasonably\nrequired to the Department.\n\nHISTORY: 1976, cc. 739, 767, \u00a7\u00a7 37.1-204, 37.1-219; 1980, c. 582; 1998, c.\n724; 2005, c. 716.","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}}