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2020 SESSION

20101566D
HOUSE BILL NO. 392
Offered January 8, 2020
Prefiled January 2, 2020
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-296.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to school boards; applicants for employment and volunteer service; criminal history.
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Patron-- Ward
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Referred to Committee on Education
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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 and volunteer service in schools for any individual, whether full-time or part-time, permanent, or temporary, every school board shall require on its application for employment or volunteer service certification (i) that of whether the applicant has not been convicted of a any violent felony or 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 individual making a materially false statement regarding any such offense shall be is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and, in the case of a teacher, upon conviction, the fact of said such conviction shall be is grounds for the Board of Education to revoke such person's his license to teach.

B. No school board shall employ or accept the volunteer service of any individual who has been convicted of any 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.

C. Any school board may employ or accept the volunteer service of any individual who has been convicted of any felony or crime of moral turpitude that is not set forth in subsection C of § 17.1-805 and does not involve the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or rape of a child, provided that in the case of a felony conviction, such individual has had his civil rights restored by the Governor.

D. 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 is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and upon conviction, the fact of said conviction shall be is grounds for the Board of Education to revoke such person's license to teach.

C. E. 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 of whether any individual who will provide such services have not has been convicted of a any violent felony or set forth in subsection C of § 17.1-805; any offense involving the sexual molestation or, physical or sexual abuse, or rape of a child; or any crime of moral turpitude.

Any person individual making a materially false statement regarding any such offense shall be is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and, upon conviction, the fact of such conviction shall be is 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.

F. No school board shall award 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 when any individual who provides such services has been convicted of any 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.

G. Any school board may award 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 when any individual who provides such services has been convicted of any felony or crime of moral turpitude that is not set forth in subsection C of § 17.1-805 and does not involve the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or rape of a child, provided that in the case of a felony conviction, such individual has had his civil rights restored by the Governor.