Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Virginia General Assembly, fetched 2026-08-29. Where this bill amends existing law, language marked for deletion in the official page appears here in brackets. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
CHAPTER 109 An Act to amend and reenact § 9.1-203.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Fire Programs; mental health awareness training. [H 325] Approved April 6, 2026 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1. That § 9.1-203.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows: § 9.1-203.1. Firefighter mental health awareness training. A. Each fire department as defined in § 27-6.01 shall develop curricula for mental health awareness training for its personnel, which shall include training regarding the following: 1. Understanding signs and symptoms of cumulative stress, depression, anxiety, exposure to acute and chronic trauma, compulsive behaviors, and addiction; 2. Combating and overcoming stigmas; 3. Responding appropriately to aggressive behaviors such as domestic violence and harassment; 4. Accessing available mental health treatment and resources; and 5. Managing stress, self-care techniques, and resiliency. B. Any fire department may develop the mental health awareness training curricula in conjunction with other fire departments or firefighter stakeholder groups or may use any training program, developed by any entity, that satisfies the criteria set forth in subsection A. [C.] [Firefighters] [who] [receive] [mental] [health] [awareness] [training] [in] [accordance] [with] [this] [section] [shall] [receive] [appropriate] [continuing] [education] [credits] [from] [the] [Department] [of] [Fire] [Programs] [and] [the] [Virginia] [Fire] [Services] [Board.] 2. That the Department of Fire Programs shall develop a standardized, two-hour virtual asynchronous training program on mental health awareness tailored for firefighters that includes training on each subject matter set forth in subsection A of § 9.1-203.1 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, no later than December 1, 2026. To meet the requirements of § 9.1-203.1 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, each fire department in the Commonwealth may use such standardized training program or may use such standardized training program as guidance in developing its own mental health awareness training for its personnel.
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