{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/59.1-601.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/59.1-601.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/59.1-601.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/59.1-601.html"}],"law_id":61312,"edition_id":1,"section_id":61312,"structure_id":14495,"section_number":"59.1-601","catch_line":"Enforcement; civil penalty","history":"2023, c. 526.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Attorney General shall have exclusive authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter.B\n\nWhenever the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that any person has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in any violation of this chapter, the Attorney General is empowered to issue a civil investigative demand. The provisions of § 59.1-9.10 shall apply mutatis mutandis to civil investigative demands issued pursuant to this subsection.C\n\nNotwithstanding any contrary provision of law, the Attorney General may cause an action to be brought in the appropriate circuit court in the name of the Commonwealth to enjoin any violation of this chapter. The circuit court having jurisdiction may enjoin such violation notwithstanding the existence of an adequate remedy at law. In any action brought pursuant to this subsection, it shall not be necessary that damages be proved.D\n\nAny person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $1,000 plus reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court costs, as determined by the court. Any person who willfully violates the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount not less than $1,000 and not more than $10,000 plus reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court costs, as determined by the court. Such civil penalties shall be paid into the Literary Fund.E\n\nEach violation of this chapter shall constitute a separate violation and shall be subject to any civil penalties imposed under this section.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":224006,"text":"The Attorney General shall have exclusive authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":224007,"text":"Whenever the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that any person has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in any violation of this chapter, the Attorney General is empowered to issue a civil investigative demand. The provisions of § 59.1-9.10 shall apply mutatis mutandis to civil investigative demands issued pursuant to this subsection.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":224008,"text":"Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, the Attorney General may cause an action to be brought in the appropriate circuit court in the name of the Commonwealth to enjoin any violation of this chapter. The circuit court having jurisdiction may enjoin such violation notwithstanding the existence of an adequate remedy at law. In any action brought pursuant to this subsection, it shall not be necessary that damages be proved.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":224009,"text":"Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $1,000 plus reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court costs, as determined by the court. Any person who willfully violates the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount not less than $1,000 and not more than $10,000 plus reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court costs, as determined by the court. Such civil penalties shall be paid into the Literary Fund.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":224010,"text":"Each violation of this chapter shall constitute a separate violation and shall be subject to any civil penalties imposed under this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14495,"edition_id":1,"name":"Genetic Data Privacy","identifier":"56","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12809,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:21","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:21","permalink":{"id":262825,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14495,"identifier":"56","token":"59.1\/56","url":"\/59.1\/56\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12809,"edition_id":1,"name":"Trade and Commerce","identifier":"59.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":259521,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12809,"identifier":"59.1","token":"59.1","url":"\/59.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":63239,"structure_id":14495,"section_number":"59.1-593","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/59.1-593\/","token":"59.1\/56\/59.1-593","metadata":false},{"id":58499,"structure_id":14495,"section_number":"59.1-594","catch_line":"Exclusions","url":"\/59.1-594\/","token":"59.1\/56\/59.1-594","metadata":false},{"id":79801,"structure_id":14495,"section_number":"59.1-595","catch_line":"Information to be made available to consumers","url":"\/59.1-595\/","token":"59.1\/56\/59.1-595","metadata":false},{"id":71838,"structure_id":14495,"section_number":"59.1-596","catch_line":"Express consent required; revocation of express consent","url":"\/59.1-596\/","token":"59.1\/56\/59.1-596","metadata":false},{"id":56619,"structure_id":14495,"section_number":"59.1-597","catch_line":"Other requirements applicable to direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies","url":"\/59.1-597\/","token":"59.1\/56\/59.1-597","metadata":false},{"id":78669,"structure_id":14495,"section_number":"59.1-598","catch_line":"Contracts with service providers","url":"\/59.1-598\/","token":"59.1\/56\/59.1-598","metadata":false},{"id":56035,"structure_id":14495,"section_number":"59.1-599","catch_line":"Certain disclosures of genetic data prohibited","url":"\/59.1-599\/","token":"59.1\/56\/59.1-599","metadata":false},{"id":55900,"structure_id":14495,"section_number":"59.1-600","catch_line":"Discrimination prohibited","url":"\/59.1-600\/","token":"59.1\/56\/59.1-600","metadata":false},{"id":61312,"structure_id":14495,"section_number":"59.1-601","catch_line":"Enforcement; civil penalty","url":"\/59.1-601\/","token":"59.1\/56\/59.1-601","metadata":false},{"id":68507,"structure_id":14495,"section_number":"59.1-602","catch_line":"Limitations","url":"\/59.1-602\/","token":"59.1\/56\/59.1-602","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":55900,"structure_id":14495,"section_number":"59.1-600","catch_line":"Discrimination prohibited","url":"\/59.1-600\/","token":"59.1\/56\/59.1-600","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":68507,"structure_id":14495,"section_number":"59.1-602","catch_line":"Limitations","url":"\/59.1-602\/","token":"59.1\/56\/59.1-602","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/59.1-601\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2023. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 526<\/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":84942,"section_number":"59.1-9.10","catch_line":"Investigation by Attorney General of suspected violations; civil investigative demand to witnesses; access to business records, etc","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-9.10\/"}],"permalink":{"id":262859,"object_type":"law","relational_id":61312,"identifier":"59.1-601","token":"59.1\/56\/59.1-601","url":"\/59.1-601\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/59.1-601\/","token":"59.1\/56\/59.1-601","dublin_core":{"Title":"Enforcement; civil penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 59.1-601","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Attorney General<\/span> shall have exclusive authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Whenever the Attorney General<\/span> has reasonable cause to believe that any person has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in any violation of this chapter, the Attorney General<\/span> is empowered to issue<\/span> a civil investigative demand. The provisions of § 59.1-9.10<\/a> shall apply mutatis mutandis<\/span> to civil investigative demands issued pursuant to this subsection. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law<\/span>, the Attorney General<\/span> may cause an action to be brought in the appropriate circuit<\/span> court<\/span> in the name of the Commonwealth to enjoin any violation of this chapter. The circuit<\/span> court<\/span> having jurisdiction<\/span> may enjoin such violation notwithstanding the existence of an adequate remedy at law<\/span>. In any action brought pursuant to this subsection, it shall not be necessary that damages<\/span> be proved. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty<\/span> in an amount not to exceed $1,000 plus reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court<\/span> costs, as determined by the court<\/span>. Any person who willfully violates the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty<\/span> in an amount not less than $1,000 and not more than $10,000 plus reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court<\/span> costs, as determined by the court<\/span>. Such civil penalties shall be paid into the Literary Fund. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Each violation of this chapter shall constitute a separate violation and shall be subject to any civil penalties imposed under this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nENFORCEMENT; CIVIL PENALTY (\u00a7 59.1-601)\n\nA. The Attorney General shall have exclusive authority to enforce the provisions\nof this chapter.\n\nB. Whenever the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that any person\nhas engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in any violation of this\nchapter, the Attorney General is empowered to issue a civil investigative\ndemand. The provisions of § 59.1-9.10 shall apply mutatis mutandis to civil\ninvestigative demands issued pursuant to this subsection.\n\nC. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, the Attorney General may cause\nan action to be brought in the appropriate circuit court in the name of the\nCommonwealth to enjoin any violation of this chapter. The circuit court having\njurisdiction may enjoin such violation notwithstanding the existence of an\nadequate remedy at law. In any action brought pursuant to this subsection, it\nshall not be necessary that damages be proved.\n\nD. Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a\ncivil penalty in an amount not to exceed $1,000 plus reasonable attorney fees,\nexpenses, and court costs, as determined by the court. Any person who willfully\nviolates the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty in\nan amount not less than $1,000 and not more than $10,000 plus reasonable\nattorney fees, expenses, and court costs, as determined by the court. Such civil\npenalties shall be paid into the Literary Fund.\n\nE. Each violation of this chapter shall constitute a separate violation and\nshall be subject to any civil penalties imposed under this section.\n\nHISTORY: 2023, c. 526.","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}}