Virginia § 32.1-162.15:1.10 - (Effective July 1, 2026) Background check upon application for licensure; penalty

§ 32.1-162.15:1.10. (Effective July 1, 2026) Background check upon application for licensure; penalty

A. Upon application for licensure as a Center, (i) all applicants and (ii) all agents at the time of application who are or will be involved in the day-to-day operations of the Center or who are or will be alone with, in control of, or supervising one or more children shall undergo a background check pursuant to subsection B.

B. Background checks pursuant to subsection A require:

1. A sworn statement or affirmation disclosing whether the person has a criminal conviction or is the subject of any pending criminal charges within or outside the Commonwealth and whether or not the person has been the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or neglect within or outside the Commonwealth;

2. A criminal history records check through the Central Criminal Records Exchange pursuant to § 19.2-389; and

3. A search of the central registry maintained pursuant to § 63.2-1515 for any founded complaint of child abuse and neglect.

C. Each person required to have a background check pursuant to subsection A shall submit the background check information required in subsection B to the Commissioner's representative prior to issuance of a license. The applicant shall provide an original criminal record clearance with respect to any barrier crime as defined in § 19.2-392.02 or an original criminal history record from the Central Criminal Records Exchange.

D. Any person making a materially false statement regarding the sworn statement or affirmation provided pursuant to subdivision B 1 is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

E. If any person specified in subsection A required to have a background check (i) has been convicted of any barrier crime as defined in § 19.2-392.02 or (ii) is the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or neglect within or outside the Commonwealth, the Commissioner shall not issue a license. For the purposes of this section, convictions for any barrier crime as defined in § 19.2-392.02 shall include prior adult convictions and juvenile convictions or adjudications of delinquency based on a crime that would be a felony if committed by an adult within or outside the Commonwealth.

F. No person specified in subsection A shall be (i) involved in the day-to-day operations of a Center; (ii) alone with, in control of, or supervising one or more children receiving services from a Center; or (iii) permitted to work in a position that involves direct contact with a person receiving services without first having completed background checks pursuant to subsection B unless such person is directly supervised by another person for whom a background check has been completed in accordance with the requirements of this section.

G. If an applicant is denied licensure because of information from the central registry or convictions appearing on his criminal history record, the Commissioner shall provide a copy of the information obtained from the central registry or the Central Criminal Records Exchange or both to the applicant.

H. Further dissemination of the background check information is prohibited other than to the Commissioner's representative or a federal or state authority or court as may be required to comply with an express requirement of law for such further dissemination.

2025, c. 451.