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2018 SESSION
18103141DBe 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 of whether
the applicant has not
been convicted of a any felony or offense against a child; any act of
violence as defined in § 19.2-297.1 or violent felony set forth in subsection C
of § 17.1-805; 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 or any 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. No school board shall
employ (i) any individual who has been convicted of any felony
offense against a child; any act of
violence as defined in § 19.2-297.1 or violent
felony set forth in subsection C of § 17.1-805; or any
offense involving the sexual molestation, physical or
sexual abuse, or rape of a child or (ii) any
other individual who has been convicted of any felony offense that is
not set forth in clause (i) unless such individual has
had his civil rights restored by the Governor and at least 5
years have passed since such conviction.
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. Any person making a materially false statement regarding a finding of child abuse and neglect 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.
C. As a condition of awarding a contract for the provision of services that require the contractor or his employees to have direct contact with students on school property during regular school hours or during school-sponsored activities, the school board shall require the contractor to provide certification that all persons who will provide such services have not been convicted of a felony or any offense involving the sexual molestation or physical or sexual abuse or rape of a child.
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.
This subsection shall not apply to a contractor or his employees providing services to a school division in an emergency or exceptional situation, such as when student health or safety is endangered or when repairs are needed on an urgent basis to ensure that school facilities are safe and habitable, when it is reasonably anticipated that the contractor or his employees will have no direct contact with students.