2025 SESSION

INTRODUCED

25102193D

SENATE BILL NO. 981

Offered January 8, 2025

Prefiled January 7, 2025

A BILL to amend and reenact § 32.1-15.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to certified community health workers; annual report.

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Patron—Hashmi

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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 § 32.1-15.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 32.1-15.1. Certified community health workers; annual report.

A. As used in this section, "certified community health worker" means a community health worker who has met the requirements of subsection B.

B. No person shall use or assume the title "certified community health worker" unless he is a community health worker who (i) has received training and education as a community health worker from an entity approved by a body approved by the Board and (ii) is certified as a certified community health worker by a body approved by the Board.

C. No entity shall hold itself out as providing training and education for certified community health workers required by subsection B unless its curriculum and training program has been approved by a body approved by the Board.

D. The Board shall adopt regulations setting forth requirements for (i) use of the title "certified community health worker" and (ii) education and training programs necessary to meet the requirements for certification as a certified community health worker.

E. The Department shall submit a report on certified community health workers to the Chairs of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations and the House Committee on Appropriations and the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget by November 1 of each year. Such report shall include information on the number of certified community health workers employed by the Department and local health departments; the types of services provided by certified community health workers as well as performance and outcome measures for such services; the need for additional certified community health workers to meet demands for services provided by the Department and local health departments; any nonstate resources used to fund certified community health workers; and descriptions of contracts entered into by localities to provide community health services.