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2006 SESSION


CHAPTER 790
An Act to amend and reenact § 22.1-296.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to background checks for school contract employees; penalty.
[H 1109]
Approved April 6, 2006

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 22.1-296.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 22.1-296.1. Data on convictions for certain crimes and child abuse and neglect required; penalty.

A. As a condition of employment for all of its public school employees, whether full-time or part-time, permanent, or temporary, every school board shall require on its application for employment certification (i) that the applicant has not been convicted of a felony or any offense involving the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse or rape of a child; and (ii) whether the applicant has been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude. Any person making a materially false statement regarding any such offense shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and upon conviction, the fact of said conviction shall be grounds for the Board of Education to revoke such person's license to teach.

B. Every school board shall also require on its application for employment, as a condition of employment requiring direct contact with students, whether full-time or part-time, permanent, or temporary, certification that the applicant has not been the subject of a founded case of child abuse and neglect.

C. Prior to awarding a contract for the provision of services that require the contractor or his employees to have direct contact with students, the school board shall require the contractor and, when relevant, any employee who will have direct contact with students, to provide certification that (i) he has not been convicted of a felony or any offense involving the sexual molestation or physical or sexual abuse or rape of a child; and (ii) whether he has been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude.

Any person making a materially false statement regarding any such offense shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and, upon conviction, the fact of such conviction shall be grounds for the revocation of the contract to provide such services and, when relevant, the revocation of any license required to provide such services. School boards shall not be liable for materially false statements regarding the certifications required by this subsection.

For the purposes of this subsection, "direct contact with students" means being in the presence of students during regular school hours or during school-sponsored activities.