{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/40.1-28.7_1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/40.1-28.7_1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/40.1-28.7_1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/40.1-28.7_1.html"}],"law_id":64716,"edition_id":1,"section_id":64716,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.7:1","catch_line":"Genetic testing or genetic characteristics as a condition of employment","history":"2002, cc. 565, 659.","full_text":"A\n\nNo employer shall:1\n\nRequest, require, solicit or administer a genetic test, as defined in &#xA7; 38.2-508.4, to any person as a condition of employment; or2\n\nRefuse to hire, fail to promote, discharge or otherwise adversely affect any terms or conditions of employment of any employee or prospective employee solely on the basis of a genetic characteristic, as defined in &#xA7; 38.2-508.4, or the results of a genetic test, regardless of how the employer obtained such information or results. Nothing in this section shall preclude the use of information related to a criminal investigation.B\n\nThe employee may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction over the employer who took adverse action against the employee in violation of this section. Any such action shall be brought within 180 days from the date of the adverse action. The court may, in its discretion, award actual or punitive damages, including back pay with interest at the judgment rate as provided in &#xA7; 6.2-302, or injunctive relief.C\n\nNothing in this section shall be construed to require the Department of Labor and Industry to conduct any investigations or enforcement actions.D\n\nAs used in subdivision A 2 of this section, &#8220;terms and conditions of employment&#8221; shall not include any long term care, life or disability insurance policy.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":235548,"text":"No employer shall:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":235549,"text":"Request, require, solicit or administer a genetic test, as defined in &#xA7; 38.2-508.4, to any person as a condition of employment; or","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":235550,"text":"Refuse to hire, fail to promote, discharge or otherwise adversely affect any terms or conditions of employment of any employee or prospective employee solely on the basis of a genetic characteristic, as defined in &#xA7; 38.2-508.4, or the results of a genetic test, regardless of how the employer obtained such information or results. Nothing in this section shall preclude the use of information related to a criminal investigation.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"B"},"3":{"id":235551,"text":"The employee may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction over the employer who took adverse action against the employee in violation of this section. Any such action shall be brought within 180 days from the date of the adverse action. The court may, in its discretion, award actual or punitive damages, including back pay with interest at the judgment rate as provided in &#xA7; 6.2-302, or injunctive relief.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"C"},"4":{"id":235552,"text":"Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the Department of Labor and Industry to conduct any investigations or enforcement actions.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"5":{"id":235553,"text":"As used in subdivision A 2 of this section, &#8220;terms and conditions of employment&#8221; shall not include any long term care, life or disability insurance policy.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13640,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12777,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:27","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:27","permalink":{"id":219807,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13640,"identifier":"1","token":"40.1\/3\/1","url":"\/40.1\/3\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12777,"edition_id":1,"name":"Protection of Employees","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12776,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":219805,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12777,"identifier":"3","token":"40.1\/3","url":"\/40.1\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12776,"edition_id":1,"name":"Labor and Employment","identifier":"40.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":219723,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12776,"identifier":"40.1","token":"40.1","url":"\/40.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":77584,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-22","catch_line":"Safety and Health Codes Commission continued as Safety and Health Codes Board","url":"\/40.1-22\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-22","metadata":false},{"id":67414,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-22.1","catch_line":"Governor authorized to enter certain agreements","url":"\/40.1-22.1\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-22.1","metadata":false},{"id":64288,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-23","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/40.1-23\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-23","metadata":false},{"id":66063,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-26","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/40.1-26\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-26","metadata":false},{"id":56917,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-27","catch_line":"Preventing employment by others of former employee","url":"\/40.1-27\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-27","metadata":false},{"id":54740,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-27.1","catch_line":"Discharge of employee for absence due to work-related injury prohibited","url":"\/40.1-27.1\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-27.1","metadata":false},{"id":74658,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-27.2","catch_line":"Preference for veterans and spouses","url":"\/40.1-27.2\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-27.2","metadata":false},{"id":82455,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-27.3","catch_line":"Retaliatory action against employee prohibited","url":"\/40.1-27.3\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-27.3","metadata":false},{"id":78662,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-27.4","catch_line":"Discipline for employee's medicinal use of cannabis oil prohibited","url":"\/40.1-27.4\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-27.4","metadata":false},{"id":70077,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28","catch_line":"Unlawful to require payment for medical examination as condition of employment","url":"\/40.1-28\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28","metadata":false},{"id":68891,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.01","catch_line":"Nondisclosure or confidentiality agreement; provisions regarding sexual assault or sexual harassment; condition of employment","url":"\/40.1-28.01\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.01","metadata":false},{"id":60284,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/40.1-28.1\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.1","metadata":false},{"id":63131,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.5","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/40.1-28.5\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.5","metadata":false},{"id":79328,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.6","catch_line":"Equal pay irrespective of sex","url":"\/40.1-28.6\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.6","metadata":false},{"id":68884,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.7","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/40.1-28.7\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.7","metadata":false},{"id":64716,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.7:1","catch_line":"Genetic testing or genetic characteristics as a condition of employment","url":"\/40.1-28.7_1\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.7_1","metadata":false},{"id":74612,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.7:10","catch_line":"Prohibited use of employee's social security number; civil penalty","url":"\/40.1-28.7_10\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.7_10","metadata":false},{"id":63600,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.7:11","catch_line":"Veterans benefits and services poster","url":"\/40.1-28.7_11\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.7_11","metadata":false},{"id":81572,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.7:2","catch_line":"Employers to allow crime victims leave to attend criminal proceedings","url":"\/40.1-28.7_2\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.7_2","metadata":false},{"id":55131,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.7:3","catch_line":"Earned income tax credit; employer notice to employee","url":"\/40.1-28.7_3\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.7_3","metadata":false},{"id":54612,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.7:4","catch_line":"Release of employee's personal identifying information","url":"\/40.1-28.7_4\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.7_4","metadata":false},{"id":79093,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.7:5","catch_line":"Social media accounts of current and prospective employees","url":"\/40.1-28.7_5\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.7_5","metadata":false},{"id":80547,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.7:6","catch_line":"Employers to allow leave for volunteer members of Civil Air Patrol; civil remedy","url":"\/40.1-28.7_6\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.7_6","metadata":false},{"id":81771,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.7:7","catch_line":"Misclassification of workers","url":"\/40.1-28.7_7\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.7_7","metadata":false},{"id":64853,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.7:8","catch_line":"Covenants not to compete prohibited; exceptions; civil penalty","url":"\/40.1-28.7_8\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.7_8","metadata":false},{"id":58507,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.7:9","catch_line":"Limiting employees' sharing wage information with other persons prohibited; civil penalty","url":"\/40.1-28.7_9\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.7_9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":68884,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.7","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/40.1-28.7\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.7","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":74612,"structure_id":13640,"section_number":"40.1-28.7:10","catch_line":"Prohibited use of employee's social security number; civil penalty","url":"\/40.1-28.7_10\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.7_10","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/40.1-28.7:1\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 2002. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?021+ful+CHAP0565\">565<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?021+ful+CHAP0659\">659<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":61622,"section_number":"38.2-508.4","catch_line":"Genetic information privacy","order_by":null,"url":"\/38.2-508.4\/"},{"id":70402,"section_number":"6.2-302","catch_line":"Judgment rate of interest","order_by":null,"url":"\/6.2-302\/"}],"permalink":{"id":219869,"object_type":"law","relational_id":64716,"identifier":"40.1-28.7:1","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.7_1","url":"\/40.1-28.7_1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/40.1-28.7_1\/","token":"40.1\/3\/1\/40.1-28.7_1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Genetic testing or genetic characteristics as a condition of employment","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 40.1-28.7:1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> No <span class=\"dictionary\">employer<\/span> shall: <a id=\"paragraph-235548\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/40.1-28.7_1\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A1\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> Request, require, solicit or administer a genetic test, as defined in &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Genetic information privacy\" href=\"\/38.2-508.4\/\">38.2-508.4<\/a>, to any person as a condition of employment; or <a id=\"paragraph-235549\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/40.1-28.7_1\/#A1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A2\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> Refuse to hire, fail to promote, discharge or otherwise adversely affect any terms or conditions of employment of any <span class=\"dictionary\">employee<\/span> or prospective <span class=\"dictionary\">employee<\/span> solely on the basis of a genetic characteristic, as defined in &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Genetic information privacy\" href=\"\/38.2-508.4\/\">38.2-508.4<\/a>, or the results of a genetic test, regardless of how the <span class=\"dictionary\">employer<\/span> obtained such information or results. Nothing in this section shall preclude the use of information related to a criminal investigation. <a id=\"paragraph-235550\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/40.1-28.7_1\/#A2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> The <span class=\"dictionary\">employee<\/span> may bring an action in a <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> of competent <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span> over the <span class=\"dictionary\">employer<\/span> who took adverse action against the <span class=\"dictionary\">employee<\/span> in violation of this section. Any such action shall be brought within 180 days from the date of the adverse action. The <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> may, in its discretion, award actual or punitive <span class=\"dictionary\">damages<\/span>, including back pay with interest at the <span class=\"dictionary\">judgment<\/span> rate as provided in &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Judgment rate of interest\" href=\"\/6.2-302\/\">6.2-302<\/a>, or injunctive relief. <a id=\"paragraph-235551\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/40.1-28.7_1\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"C\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">C.<\/span> Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Labor and Industry to conduct any investigations or enforcement actions. <a id=\"paragraph-235552\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/40.1-28.7_1\/#C\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"D\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">D.<\/span> As used in subdivision A 2 of this section, &#8220;terms and conditions of employment&#8221; shall not include any long term care, life or disability insurance policy. <a id=\"paragraph-235553\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/40.1-28.7_1\/#D\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nGENETIC TESTING OR GENETIC CHARACTERISTICS AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT (\u00a7\n40.1-28.7:1)\n\nA. No employer shall:\n\n   1. Request, require, solicit or administer a genetic test, as defined in\n   &#xA7; 38.2-508.4, to any person as a condition of employment; or\n\n   2. Refuse to hire, fail to promote, discharge or otherwise adversely affect\n   any terms or conditions of employment of any employee or prospective employee\n   solely on the basis of a genetic characteristic, as defined in &#xA7;\n   38.2-508.4, or the results of a genetic test, regardless of how the employer\n   obtained such information or results. Nothing in this section shall preclude\n   the use of information related to a criminal investigation.\n\nB. The employee may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction over\nthe employer who took adverse action against the employee in violation of this\nsection. Any such action shall be brought within 180 days from the date of the\nadverse action. The court may, in its discretion, award actual or punitive\ndamages, including back pay with interest at the judgment rate as provided in\n&#xA7; 6.2-302, or injunctive relief.\n\nC. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the Department of Labor\nand Industry to conduct any investigations or enforcement actions.\n\nD. As used in subdivision A 2 of this section, &#8220;terms and conditions of\nemployment&#8221; shall not include any long term care, life or disability\ninsurance policy.\n\nHISTORY: 2002, cc. 565, 659.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}