Virginia Senate Bill 1194

---

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: Introduced on January 8 2025 - 25% progression
Action: 2025-01-21 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1194)
Pending: Senate Courts of Justice Committee
Hearing: Feb 3 @ 8:00 am in Senate Room A, Room 305, General Assembly Building
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [HTML]

Arrest of certain persons with or without a warrant not required. Provides that no law-enforcement officer with the power to arrest is required to arrest an individual who is currently subject to an emergency custody order, temporary detention order, or involuntary admission; however, such officer may arrest such individual upon the expiration of any such order. The bill further provides that the Department of Criminal Justice Services, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, shall (i) provide and require in-person training to all law-enforcement agencies and officers and (ii) provide information to advise attorneys for the Commonwealth on the provisions of the bill and other existing statutes related to the arrest and prosecution of persons with mental or behavioral health disorders by January 1, 2026. The bill requires any person employed as a law-enforcement officer prior to January 1, 2026, to complete such training by July 1, 2026 and biennially thereafter, and any person employed as a law-enforcement officer after January 1, 2026 to complete the training within one year of his date of hire and biennially thereafter. Lastly, the bill directs the Criminal Justice Services Board to promulgate regulations pursuant to relevant law requiring in-person training to special conservators of the peace on the provisions of the bill and other existing statutes related to the arrest and prosecution of persons with mental or behavioral health disorders by January 1, 2026. The bill requires any person appointed as a special conservator of the peace prior to January 1, 2026, to complete the training by July 1, 2026 and biennially thereafter, and any person appointed as a special conservator of the peace after January 1, 2026 to complete the training within one year of his appointment and biennially thereafter. This bill is a recommendation of the Behavioral Health Commission.

Persons, certain; arrest with or without a warrant not required.

Sen. Creigh Deeds [D]

Date	Chamber	Action
2025-01-21	Senate	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1194)
2025-01-08	Senate	Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2025-01-08	Senate	Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25103606D

Type	Source
Summary	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1194
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1194/text/SB1194
Supplement	https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1024679.PDF