Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 23.1-1301.1 as follows:
§23.1-1301.1. Possession of concealed handguns by permit holders.
A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no board of visitors or other governing body of a public institution of higher education shall adopt or enforce any rule, regulation, or policy, and no appointee, employee, or agent of the institution shall take any administrative action, governing the carrying of a concealed handgun on the property of, in buildings owned by, or at events hosted at the institution by a firefighter, as defined in §65.2-102, person employed as a search and rescue personnel, as defined in §18.2-51.1, person employed as an emergency medical services personnel, as defined in §32.1-111.1, certified campus security officer, or student, employee, contractor, vendor, or faculty member of a public institution of higher education that participates in a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program, who has a valid concealed handgun permit.
B. Any rule, regulation, or policy adopted by a board of visitors or governing body of a public institution of higher education prior to July 1, 2017, that would prohibit a firefighter, as defined in §65.2-102, person employed as a search and rescue personnel, as defined in §18.2-51.1, person employed as an emergency medical services personnel, as defined in §32.1-111.1, certified campus security officer, or student, employee, contractor, vendor, or faculty member of a public institution of higher education that participates in a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program, who has a valid concealed handgun permit from carrying a concealed handgun on the property of, in the buildings owned by, or at events hosted at the institution is invalid.
C. No adverse employment action shall be taken against any firefighter, as defined in §65.2-102, person employed as a search and rescue personnel, as defined in §18.2-51.1, person employed as an emergency medical services personnel, as defined in §32.1-111.1, certified campus security officer, or student, employee, contractor, vendor, or faculty member of a public institution of higher education that participates in a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program who, while holding a valid concealed handgun permit, chooses to carry a concealed handgun on the property of, in the buildings owned by, or at events hosted at the institution.
As used in this section, a "valid concealed handgun permit" means a permit issued pursuant to Article 6.1 (§18.2-307.1 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 or concealed weapon permit issued by another state recognized by the Commonwealth pursuant to § 18.2-308.014.