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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>81798</law_id><section_number>15.2-1505.3</section_number><catch_line>Localities prohibited from inquiring about arrests, charges, or convictions on employment applications; exceptions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Powers of Local Government</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="15">Local Government Personnel, Qualification for Office, Bonds, Dual Office Holding and Certain Local Government Officers</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions for Certain Officers and Employees</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> As used in this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">conviction</span>&#x201D; means any adjudication that an individual committed a <span class="dictionary">crime</span>, any <span class="dictionary">finding</span> of guilt after a criminal <span class="dictionary">trial</span> by a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of competent <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>, or any <span class="dictionary">plea</span> of guilty or <span class="dictionary">nolo contendere</span> to a criminal charge. <a id="paragraph-293093" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1505.3/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> No <span class="dictionary">locality</span> shall request a prospective employee to complete an application for employment that includes a question inquiring whether the prospective employee has ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of any <span class="dictionary">crime</span>. This prohibition shall not apply to (i) <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency positions or positions related to <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agencies, (ii) positions for employment by the local school board, (iii) <span class="dictionary">sensitive positions</span>, or (iv) any employment-related applications or questionnaires provided during or after a staff interview. For purposes of this subsection, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">sensitive positions</span>&#x201D; shall include those positions: <a id="paragraph-293094" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1505.3/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of citizens or the protection of critical infrastructure; <a id="paragraph-293095" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1505.3/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> That have access to sensitive information, including access to federal tax information in approved exchange agreements with the Internal Revenue Service or Social Security Administration; and <a id="paragraph-293096" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1505.3/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> That are otherwise required by state or federal <span class="dictionary">law</span> to be designated as sensitive. <a id="paragraph-293097" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1505.3/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> No <span class="dictionary">locality</span> shall inquire whether a prospective employee has ever been arrested for, or charged with, or convicted of any <span class="dictionary">crime</span> unless the inquiry takes place during or after a staff interview of the prospective employee. <a id="paragraph-293098" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1505.3/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Nothing in this section shall prevent a <span class="dictionary">locality</span> from considering information received during or after a staff interview pertaining to a prospective employee having been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of any <span class="dictionary">crime</span>. <a id="paragraph-293099" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1505.3/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2020, c. 422.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
