HOUSE BILL NO. 1523

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Education and Health

on March 5, 2026)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Delegate McGuire)

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 1 of Title 32.1 a section numbered 32.1-15.2, relating to certified violence prevention professionals; certification.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 1 of Title 32.1 a section numbered 32.1-15.2 as follows:

§ 32.1-15.2. Certified violence prevention professionals.

A. As used in this section, "certified violence prevention professional" means an individual who (i) provides evidence-based and trauma-informed services intended to prevent, interrupt, or reduce the occurrence of interpersonal violence and (ii) has met the requirements of subsection B. Such services may include peer support, mentorship, conflict mediation, crisis intervention, outreach, targeted case management, and violence prevention education.

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

C. No entity shall hold itself out as providing training and education for certified violence prevention professionals required by subsection B unless its curriculum and training program have 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 violence prevention professional," (ii) education and training programs necessary to meet the requirements for certification as a certified violence prevention professional, (iii) qualifications for training entities, (iv) limitations on the number of training entities approved by a body approved by the Board, and (v) other regulations as deemed necessary by the Board to carry out the provisions of this section.