Bill Text: VA SB1280 | 2019 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Community health worker; definitions, individuals seeking certification, etc.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-02-19 - Left in Appropriations [SB1280 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2019-SB1280-Comm_Sub.html

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19105601D
SENATE BILL NO. 1280 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Senate Committee on Education and Health on January 24, 2019) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Barker) A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 4 of Chapter 3 of Title 32.1 a section numbered 32.1-92.3, relating to community health workers; certification.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 4 of Chapter 3 of Title 32.1 a section numbered 32.1-92.3 as follows:

§32.1-92.3. Community health workers; certification.

A. As used in this section:

"Certified community health worker" means a community health worker who has been certified by an entity approved by the Department in accordance with subsection C.

"Community health worker" means an individual who (i) applies his unique understanding of the experience, language, and culture of the populations he serves to promote healthy living and to help people take greater control over their health and lives and (ii) is trained to work in a variety of community settings, partnering in the delivery of health and human services to carry out one or more of the following roles: (a) providing culturally appropriate health education and information; (b) linking people to direct service providers, including informal counseling and social support; and (c) advocating for individual and community needs, including identification of gaps and existing strengths and actively building individual and community capacity.

B. No person shall use or assume the title "certified community health worker" unless he is certified by the Department in accordance with subsection C.

C. An individual seeking certification shall submit to the Department a completed application and evidence satisfactory to the Department that the individual is certified by a Department-approved credentialing entity. The Department shall approve one or more credentialing entities. Any such entity shall have a certification process that is based on a standard scope of practice and core competencies aligned with national standards.