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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>61027</law_id><section_number>19.2-392.15</section_number><catch_line>(Effective July 1, 2026) Prohibited practices by employers, educational institutions, agencies, etc., of state and local governments; penalty</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="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="23.2">Sealing of Criminal History Record Information and Court Records</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Except as provided in subsection B, agencies, officials, and employees of state and local governments, private employers that are not subject to federal <span class="dictionary">laws</span> or regulations in the hiring process, and educational institutions shall not, in any application, interview, or otherwise, require an applicant for employment or admission to disclose information concerning any <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>, charge, or <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> against him that has been <span class="dictionary">sealed</span>. An applicant need not, in answer to any question concerning any <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>, charge, or <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>, include a reference to or information concerning <span class="dictionary">arrests</span>, charges, or <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> that has been <span class="dictionary">sealed</span>. <a id="paragraph-223110" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.15/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The provisions of subsection A shall not apply if: <a id="paragraph-223111" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.15/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The person is applying for full-time employment or part-time employment with, or to be a volunteer with, the State Police or a police department or sheriff&#x2019;s office that is a part of or administered by the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof; <a id="paragraph-223112" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.15/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> This Code requires the employer to make such an inquiry; <a id="paragraph-223113" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.15/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Federal <span class="dictionary">law</span> requires the employer to make such an inquiry; <a id="paragraph-223114" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.15/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The position, or access to the premises in or upon which any part of the duties of such position is performed or is to be performed, is subject to any requirement imposed in the interest of the national security of the United States under any security program in effect pursuant to or administered under any <span class="dictionary">contract</span> with, or <span class="dictionary">statute</span> or regulation of, the United States or any Executive <span class="dictionary">Order</span> of the President; or <a id="paragraph-223115" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.15/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The rules and regulations adopted pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Dissemination of criminal history record information; Board to adopt regulations and procedures" href="/9.1-128/">9.1-128</a> and procedures adopted pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of criminal history record information" href="/9.1-134/">9.1-134</a> allow the employer to access such <span class="dictionary">sealed</span> records. <a id="paragraph-223116" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.15/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Agencies, officials, and employees of state and local governments shall not, in any application, interview, or otherwise, require an applicant for a license, permit, registration, or governmental service to disclose information concerning any <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>, charge, or <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> against him that has been <span class="dictionary">sealed</span>. An applicant need not, in answer to any question concerning any <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>, charge, or <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>, include a reference to or information concerning <span class="dictionary">arrests</span>, charges, or <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> that has been <span class="dictionary">sealed</span>. Such an application may not be denied solely because of the applicant&#x2019;s refusal to disclose information concerning any <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>, charge, or <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> against him that has been <span class="dictionary">sealed</span>. <a id="paragraph-223117" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.15/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> No person, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/36-96.1_1/">36-96.1:1</a>, shall, in any application for the sale or rental of a dwelling, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/36-96.1_1/">36-96.1:1</a>, require an applicant to disclose information concerning any <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>, charge, or <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> against him that has been <span class="dictionary">sealed</span>. An applicant need not, in answer to any question concerning any <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>, charge, or <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>, include a reference to or information concerning <span class="dictionary">arrests</span>, charges, or <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> that has been <span class="dictionary">sealed</span>. Such an application may not be denied solely because of the applicant&#x2019;s refusal to disclose information concerning any <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>, charge, or <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> against him that has been <span class="dictionary">sealed</span>. <a id="paragraph-223118" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.15/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> No insurance company, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/38.2-100/">38.2-100</a>, shall, in any application for insurance, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/38.2-100/">38.2-100</a>, require an applicant to disclose information concerning any <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>, charge, or <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> against him that has been <span class="dictionary">sealed</span>. An applicant need not, in answer to any question concerning any <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>, charge, or <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>, include a reference to or information concerning <span class="dictionary">arrests</span>, charges, or <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> that has been <span class="dictionary">sealed</span>. Such an application may not be denied solely because of the applicant&#x2019;s refusal to disclose information concerning any <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>, charge, or <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> against him that has been <span class="dictionary">sealed</span>. <a id="paragraph-223119" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.15/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> If any entity or person listed under subsections A, C, D, or E includes a question about a prior <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>, charge, or <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> in an application for one or more of the purposes set forth in such subsections, such application shall include, or such entity or person shall provide, a notice to the applicant that information concerning an <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>, charge, or <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> that has been <span class="dictionary">sealed</span> does not have to be disclosed in the application. Such notice need not be included on any application for one or more of the purposes set forth in subsection B. <a id="paragraph-223120" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.15/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> A person who willfully violates this section is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> for each violation. <a id="paragraph-223121" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.15/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 524, 542; 2025, cc. 634 and 671, cl. 7.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
