SEARCH SITE
VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL
- Code of Virginia
- Virginia Administrative Code
- Constitution of Virginia
- Charters
- Authorities
- Compacts
- Uncodified Acts
- RIS Users (account required)
SEARCHABLE DATABASES
- Bills & Resolutions
session legislation - Bill Summaries
session summaries - Reports to the General Assembly
House and Senate documents - Legislative Liaisons
State agency contacts
ACROSS SESSIONS
- Subject Index: Since 1995
- Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
- Summaries: Since 1994
Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
2008 SESSION
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 18.2-62 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 18.2-62. Testing of certain persons for human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis B or C viruses.
A. As soon as practicable following arrest, the attorney for
the Commonwealth may request, after consultation with any victim
complaining witness, that any person charged with (i) any crime involving
sexual assault pursuant to this article, (ii) any offenses against children as
prohibited by §§ 18.2-361, 18.2-366, 18.2-370, and 18.2-370.1, or (iii) any
assault and battery in which the victim complaining witness was
exposed to body fluids of the person arrested, be requested to submit to
testing for infection with human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis B or C
viruses. The person so charged shall be counseled about the meaning of the
test, about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or hepatitis B or C viruses, and
about the transmission and prevention of infection with human immunodeficiency
virus or hepatitis B or C viruses.
If the person so charged refuses to submit to the test or the competency of the person to consent to the test is at issue, the court with jurisdiction of the case shall hold a hearing to determine whether there is probable cause that the individual has committed the crime with which he is charged. If the court finds probable cause, the court shall order the accused to undergo testing for infection with human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis B or C viruses. The court may enter such an order in the absence of the defendant if the defendant is represented at the hearing by counsel or a guardian ad litem. The court's finding shall be without prejudice to either the Commonwealth or the person charged and shall not be evidence in any proceeding, civil or criminal.
B. Upon conviction, or adjudication as delinquent At
any point following indictment, arrest by warrant, or service of a petition in
the case of a juvenile, of any crime involving sexual assault pursuant to this
article or any offenses against children as prohibited by §§ 18.2-361,
18.2-366, 18.2-370, and 18.2-370.1, the attorney for the Commonwealth may
request, or after consultation with any victim a
complaining witness and, upon the request of any victim the
complaining witness shall, request, and the court shall order
the defendant to submit to testing for infection with human immunodeficiency
virus or hepatitis B or C viruses within 48 hours, and follow-up testing as
may be medically appropriate. Any test conducted following conviction indictment,
arrest by warrant, or service of a petition shall be in addition to such
tests as may have been conducted following arrest pursuant to subsection A.
C. Confirmatory tests shall be conducted before any test result shall be determined to be positive. The results of the tests for infection with human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis B or C viruses shall be confidential as provided in § 32.1-36.1; however, the Department of Health shall also disclose the results to any victim and offer appropriate counseling as provided by subsection B of § 32.1-37.2. The Department shall conduct surveillance and investigation in accordance with § 32.1-39.
The results of such tests shall not be admissible as evidence in any criminal proceeding.
The cost of such tests shall be paid by the Commonwealth and taxed as part of the cost of such criminal proceedings.