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2000 SESSION

008720608
HOUSE BILL NO. 1390
Offered January 24, 2000
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 37.1-20.3, 37.1-183.3, and 37.1-197.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to criminal background checks.
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Patrons-- Christian, Almand, Baskerville, Darner, Hull, Plum, Robinson, Stump, Watts and Woodrum
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Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 37.1-20.3, 37.1-183.3, and 37.1-197.2 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 37.1-20.3. Background check required.

A. As a condition of employment, the Department shall require any individual who (i) accepts a position of employment at a state facility as defined in § 37.1-1 and was not employed by that state facility prior to July 1, 1996, or (ii) accepts a position with the Department that receives, monitors or disburses funds of the Commonwealth and was not employed by the Department prior to July 1, 1996, to submit to fingerprinting and to provide personal descriptive information to be forwarded along with the applicant's fingerprints through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information regarding such applicant.

For purposes of clause (i) above, the Department, except as otherwise provided herein, shall not hire for compensated employment persons who have been (i) convicted of murder or manslaughter as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-30 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2; malicious wounding by mob as set out in § 18.2-41; abduction as set out in § 18.2-47 A; abduction for immoral purposes as set out in § 18.2-48; assault and bodily wounding as set out in Article 4 (§ 18.2-51 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2; robbery as set out in § 18.2-58; carjacking as set out § 18.2-58.1; extortion by threat as set out in § 18.2-59; threat as set out in § 18.2-60; any felony stalking violation as set out in § 18.2-60.3; sexual assault as set out in Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2; arson as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-77 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 18.2; burglary as set out in Article 2 (§ 18.2-89 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 18.2; any felony violation relating to possession or distribution of drugs as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2; drive-by shooting as set out in § 18.2-286.1; use of a machine gun in a crime of violence as set out in § 18.2-289 or aggressive use of a machine gun as set out in § 18.2-290; use of a sawed-off shotgun in a crime of violence as set out in § 18.2-300 A; pandering as set out in § 18.2-355; crimes against nature involving children as set out in § 18.2-361, taking indecent liberties with children as set out in § 18.2-370 or § 18.2-370.1, abuse and neglect of children as set out in § 18.2-371.1, including failing to secure medical attention for an injured child as set out in § 18.2-314, obscenity offenses as set out in § 18.2-374.1, possession of child pornography as set out in § 18.2-374.1:1, or electronic facilitation of pornography as set out in § 18.2-374.3; incest as set out in § 18.2-366; abuse and neglect of incapacitated adults as set out in § 18.2-369; employing or permitting a minor to assist in an act constituting an offense under Article 5 (§ 18.2-372 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2 as set out in § 18.2-379; delivery of drugs to prisoners as set out in § 18.2-474.1; escape from jail as set out in § 18.2-477; felonies by prisoners as set out in § 53.1-203; or an equivalent offense in another state; or (ii) convicted of any felony violation relating to possession of drugs as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 in the five years prior to the application date for employment or convicted of any felony violation relating to possession of drugs as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 and continue on probation or parole or have failed to pay required court costs. However, the Department may hire for compensated employment at adult substance abuse treatment facilities persons who were convicted of a felony violation relating to distribution of drugs as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2, or burglary as set out in Article 2 (§ 18.2-89 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 18.2, or pandering as set out in § 18.2-355, or any equivalent offense in another state, provided that such conviction occurred more than five years prior to the application date for employment.

The Central Criminal Records Exchange, upon receipt of an individual's record or notification that no record exists, shall submit a report to the state facility or to the Department. If an individual is denied employment because of information appearing on his criminal history record and the applicant disputes the information upon which the denial was based, the Central Criminal Records Exchange shall, upon written request, furnish to the applicant the procedures for obtaining a copy of the criminal history record from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The information provided to the state facility or Department shall not be disseminated except as provided in this section.

B. Those individuals listed in clause (i) of subsection A also shall provide the state facility or Department a copy of information from the central registry maintained pursuant to § 63.1-248.8 on any investigation of child abuse or neglect undertaken on him.

C. The Board may promulgate regulations to comply with the provisions of this section. Copies of any information received by the state facility or Department pursuant to this section shall be available to the Department and to the applicable state facility but shall not be disseminated further, except as permitted by state or federal law. The cost of obtaining the criminal history record and the central registry information shall be borne by the applicant, unless the Department, at its option, decides to pay such cost.

§ 37.1-183.3. Background checks required.

A. Every agency licensed pursuant to this chapter shall, except as otherwise provided herein, on and after July 1, 1999, require any applicant who accepts employment in any direct consumer care position to submit to fingerprinting and provide personal descriptive information to be forwarded through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for the purpose of obtaining national criminal history record information regarding the applicant. Every agency licensed pursuant to this chapter shall not hire for compensated employment persons who have been (i) convicted of murder or manslaughter as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-30 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2; malicious wounding by mob as set out in § 18.2-41; abduction as set out in § 18.2-47 A; abduction for immoral purposes as set out in § 18.2-48; assault and bodily wounding as set out in Article 4 (§ 18.2-51 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2; robbery as set out in § 18.2-58; carjacking as set out § 18.2-58.1; extortion by threat as set out in § 18.2-59; threat as set out in § 18.2-60; any felony stalking violation as set out in § 18.2-60.3; sexual assault as set out in Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2; arson as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-77 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 18.2; burglary as set out in Article 2 (§ 18.2-89 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 18.2; any felony violation relating to distribution of drugs as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2; drive-by shooting as set out in § 18.2-286.1; use of a machine gun in a crime of violence as set out in § 18.2-289 or aggressive use of a machine gun as set out in § 18.2-290; use of a sawed-off shotgun in a crime of violence as set out in § 18.2-300 A; pandering as set out in § 18.2-355; crimes against nature involving children as set out in § 18.2-361, taking indecent liberties with children as set out in § 18.2-370 or § 18.2-370.1, abuse and neglect of children as set out in § 18.2-371.1, including failing to secure medical attention for an injured child as set out in § 18.2-314, obscenity offenses as set out in § 18.2-374.1, possession of child pornography as set out in § 18.2-374.1:1, or electronic facilitation of pornography as set out in § 18.2-374.3; incest as set out in § 18.2-366; abuse and neglect of incapacitated adults as set out in § 18.2-369; employing or permitting a minor to assist in an act constituting an offense under Article 5 (§ 18.2-372 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2 as set out in § 18.2-379; delivery of drugs to prisoners as set out in § 18.2-474.1; escape from jail as set out in § 18.2-477; felonies by prisoners as set out in § 53.1-203; or an equivalent offense in another state; or (ii) convicted of any felony violation relating to possession of drugs as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 in the five years prior to the application date for employment or convicted of any felony violation relating to possession of drugs as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 and continue on probation or parole or have failed to pay required court costs. However, any agency may hire for compensated employment at adult substance abuse treatment facilities persons who were convicted of a felony violation relating to distribution of drugs as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2, or burglary as set out in Article 2 (§ 18.2-89 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 18.2, or pandering as set out in § 18.2-355, or any equivalent offense in another state, provided that such conviction occurred more than five years prior to the application date for employment.

The Central Criminal Records Exchange, upon receipt of an individual's record or notification that no record exists, shall submit a report to the requesting authorized officer or director of agencies licensed pursuant to this chapter. If any applicant is denied employment because of information appearing on the criminal history record and the applicant disputes the information upon which the denial was based, the Central Criminal Records Exchange shall, upon written request, furnish to the applicant the procedures for obtaining a copy of the criminal history record from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The information provided to the authorized officer or director of agencies licensed pursuant to this chapter shall not be disseminated except as provided in this section.

B. Agencies licensed pursuant to this chapter shall also require, as a condition of employment for all such applicants, written consent and personal information necessary to obtain a search of the registry of founded complaints of child abuse and neglect maintained by the Department of Social Services pursuant to § 63.1-248.8.

C. The cost of obtaining the criminal history record and search of the child abuse and neglect registry record shall be borne by the applicant, unless the agency licensed pursuant to this chapter, at its option, decides to pay such cost.

D. As used in this section, the term "direct consumer care position" means any position with a job description that includes responsibility for (i) treatment, case management, health, safety, development or well-being of a consumer or (ii) immediately supervising a person in a position with such responsibility.

§ 37.1-197.2. Background checks required.

A. Every operating community services board, administrative policy board, local government department with a policy-advisory board, behavioral health authority, and agency licensed pursuant to Chapter 8 (§ 37.1-179 et seq.) of this title that provides services under contract with a community services board, behavioral health authority or local government department shall, except as otherwise provided herein, on and after July 1, 1997, require any applicant who accepts employment in any direct consumer care position with the operating community services board, administrative policy board, local government department with a policy-advisory board, behavioral health authority or agency licensed pursuant to Chapter 8 (§ 37.1-179 et seq.) of this title that provides services under contract with a community services board, behavioral health authority or local government department to submit to fingerprinting and provide personal descriptive information to be forwarded through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for the purpose of obtaining national criminal history record information regarding such applicant. An operating community services board, administrative policy board, local government department with a policy-advisory board, behavioral health authority, and agency licensed pursuant to Chapter 8 (§ 37.1-179 et seq.) of this title that provides services under contract with a community services board, behavioral health authority or local government department shall not hire for compensated employment persons who have been (i) convicted of murder or manslaughter as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-30 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2; malicious wounding by mob as set out in § 18.2-41; abduction as set out in § 18.2-47 A; abduction for immoral purposes as set out in § 18.2-48; assault and bodily wounding as set out in Article 4 (§ 18.2-51 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2; robbery as set out in § 18.2-58; carjacking as set out § 18.2-58.1; extortion by threat as set out in § 18.2-59; threat as set out in § 18.2-60; any felony stalking violation as set out in § 18.2-60.3; sexual assault as set out in Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2; arson as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-77 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 18.2; burglary as set out in Article 2 (§ 18.2-89 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 18.2; any felony violation relating to distribution of drugs as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2; drive-by shooting as set out in § 18.2-286.1; use of a machine gun in a crime of violence as set out in § 18.2-289 or aggressive use of a machine gun as set out in § 18.2-290; use of a sawed-off shotgun in a crime of violence as set out in § 18.2-300 A; pandering as set out in § 18.2-355; crimes against nature involving children as set out in § 18.2-361, taking indecent liberties with children as set out in § 18.2-370 or § 18.2-370.1, abuse and neglect of children as set out in § 18.2-371.1, including failing to secure medical attention for an injured child as set out in § 18.2-314, obscenity offenses as set out in § 18.2-374.1, possession of child pornography as set out in § 18.2-374.1:1, or electronic facilitation of pornography as set out in § 18.2-374.3; incest as set out in § 18.2-366; abuse and neglect of incapacitated adults as set out in § 18.2-369; employing or permitting a minor to assist in an act constituting an offense under Article 5 (§ 18.2-372 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2 as set out in § 18.2-379; delivery of drugs to prisoners as set out in § 18.2-474.1; escape from jail as set out in § 18.2-477; felonies by prisoners as set out in § 53.1-203; or an equivalent offense in another state; or (ii) convicted of any felony violation relating to possession of drugs as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 in the five years prior to the application date for employment or convicted of any felony violation relating to possession of drugs as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 and continue on probation or parole or have failed to pay required court costs. However, any operating community services board, administrative policy board, local government department with a policy-advisory board, behavioral health authority, and agency licensed pursuant to Chapter 8 (§ 37.1-179 et seq.) of this title that provides services under contract with a community services board, behavioral health authority or local government department may hire for compensated employment in substance abuse treatment programs persons who have been convicted of a felony violation relating to distribution of drugs as set out in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2, or burglary as set out in Article 2 (§ 18.2-89 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 18.2, or pandering as set out in § 18.2-355, or any equivalent offense in another state, provided that such conviction occurred more than five years prior to the application date for employment.

The Central Criminal Records Exchange, upon receipt of an individual's record or notification that no record exists, shall submit a report to the requesting (a) authorized officer or director of agencies licensed pursuant to Chapter 8 (§ 37.1-179 et seq.) of this title that provide services under contract with a community services board, behavioral health authority or local government department or (b) executive director or personnel director serving the operating community services board, administrative policy board, local government department with a policy-advisory board or the behavioral health authority. If any applicant is denied employment because of information appearing on the criminal history record and the applicant disputes the information upon which the denial was based, the Central Criminal Records Exchange shall, upon written request, furnish to the applicant the procedures for obtaining a copy of the criminal history record from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The information provided to (a) the authorized officer or director of agencies licensed pursuant to Chapter 8 (§ 37.1-179 et seq.) of this title that provide services under contract with a community services board, behavioral health authority or local government department or (b) the executive director or personnel director serving any operating community services board, administrative policy board, local government department with a policy-advisory board or behavioral health authority shall not be disseminated except as provided in this section.

B. Operating community services boards, administrative policy boards, local government departments with policy-advisory boards, behavioral health authorities and agencies licensed pursuant to Chapter 8 (§ 37.1-179 et seq.) of this title that provide services under contract with a community services board, behavioral health authority or local government department shall also require, as a condition of employment for all such applicants, written consent and personal information necessary to obtain a search of the registry of founded complaints of child abuse and neglect maintained by the Department of Social Services pursuant to § 63.1-248.8.

C. The cost of obtaining the criminal history record and search of the child abuse and neglect registry record shall be borne by the applicant, unless the operating community services board, administrative policy board, local government department with a policy-advisory board, behavioral health authority, or agency licensed pursuant to Chapter 8 (§ 37.1-179 et seq.) of this title that provides services under contract with a community services board, behavioral health authority or local government department, at its option, decides to pay such cost.

D. As used in this section, the term "direct consumer care position" means any position with a job description that includes responsibility for (i) treatment, case management, health, safety, development or well-being of a consumer or (ii) immediately supervising a person in a position with such responsibility.