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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>77912</law_id><section_number>2.2-3705.3</section_number><catch_line>(Effective July 1, 2026) Exclusions to application of chapter; records relating to administrative investigations</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>2.2-3711</reference><reference>22.1-253.13:3</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="2.2">Administration of Government</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Administration of State Government</unit><unit label="part" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="B">Transaction of Public Business</unit><unit label="chapter" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="37">Virginia Freedom of Information Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The following information contained in a public record is excluded from the mandatory disclosure provisions of this chapter but may be disclosed by the custodian in his discretion, except where such disclosure is prohibited by <span class="dictionary">law</span>. Redaction of information excluded under this section from a public record shall be conducted in accordance with &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Records containing both excluded and nonexcluded information; duty to redact" href="/2.2-3704.01/">2.2-3704.01</a>.</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Information relating to investigations of applicants for licenses and permits, and of all licensees and permittees, made by or submitted to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, the Virginia Lottery pursuant to Chapter 40 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title" href="/58.1-4000/">58.1-4000</a> et seq.) and Chapter 41 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/58.1-4100/">58.1-4100</a> et seq.) of Title 58.1, the Virginia Racing Commission, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services relating to investigations and applications pursuant to Article 1.1:1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="State control of charitable gaming" href="/18.2-340.15/">18.2-340.15</a> et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2, or the Private Security Services Unit of the Department of Criminal Justice Services. <a id="paragraph-279362" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3705.3/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Records of active investigations being conducted by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority or by the Department of Health Professions or any health regulatory board in the Commonwealth pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disclosure of official records" href="/54.1-108/">54.1-108</a>. <a id="paragraph-279363" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3705.3/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Investigator notes, and other correspondence and information, furnished in confidence with respect to an active investigation of individual employment discrimination complaints made to the Department of Human Resource Management, to such personnel of any local <span class="dictionary">public body</span>, including local school boards, as are responsible for conducting such investigations in confidence, or to any public institution of higher education. However, nothing in this subdivision shall prevent the disclosure of information taken from inactive reports in a form that does not reveal the identity of charging parties, persons supplying the information, or other individuals involved in the investigation. <a id="paragraph-279364" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3705.3/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Records of active investigations being conducted by the Department of Medical Assistance Services pursuant to Chapter 10 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Department of Medical Assistance Services" href="/32.1-323/">32.1-323</a> et seq.) of Title 32.1. <a id="paragraph-279365" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3705.3/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Investigative notes and other correspondence and information furnished in confidence with respect to an investigation or conciliation process involving an alleged unlawful discriminatory practice under the Virginia Human Rights Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; declaration of policy" href="/2.2-3900/">2.2-3900</a> et seq.) or under any local <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> adopted in accordance with the authority specified in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Powers of local commissions" href="/2.2-524/">2.2-524</a>, or adopted pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Human rights ordinances and commissions" href="/15.2-965/">15.2-965</a>, or adopted prior to July 1, 1987, in accordance with applicable <span class="dictionary">law</span>, relating to local human rights or human relations commissions. However, nothing in this subdivision shall prevent the distribution of information taken from inactive reports in a form that does not reveal the identity of the parties involved or other persons supplying information. <a id="paragraph-279366" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3705.3/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Information relating to studies and investigations by the Virginia Lottery of (i) lottery agents, (ii) lottery vendors, (iii) lottery <span class="dictionary">crimes</span> under &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Price of tickets or shares; who may sell; penalty" href="/58.1-4014/">58.1-4014</a> through <a class="law" title="Prohibited actions; penalty" href="/58.1-4018/">58.1-4018</a>, (iv) defects in the <span class="dictionary">law</span> or regulations that cause abuses in the administration and operation of the lottery and any evasions of such provisions, or (v) the use of the lottery as a subterfuge for organized <span class="dictionary">crime</span> and illegal gambling where such information has not been publicly released, published or copyrighted. All studies and investigations referred to under clauses (iii), (iv), and (v) shall be open to inspection and copying upon completion of the study or investigation. <a id="paragraph-279367" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3705.3/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Investigative notes, correspondence and information furnished in confidence, and records otherwise exempted by this chapter or any Virginia <span class="dictionary">statute</span>, provided to or produced by or for (i) the Auditor of Public Accounts; (ii) the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission; (iii) an appropriate authority as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/2.2-3010/">2.2-3010</a> with respect to an <span class="dictionary">allegation</span> of wrongdoing or abuse under the <span class="dictionary">Fraud</span> and Abuse Whistle Blower Protection Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Policy" href="/2.2-3009/">2.2-3009</a> et seq.); (iv) the Office of the State Inspector General with respect to an investigation initiated through the <span class="dictionary">Fraud</span>, Waste and Abuse Hotline or an investigation initiated pursuant to Chapter 3.2 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/2.2-307/">2.2-307</a> et seq.); (v) internal auditors appointed by the head of a <span class="dictionary">state agency</span> or by any public institution of higher education; (vi) the committee or the auditor with respect to an investigation or audit conducted pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Committee for legislative audit and review" href="/15.2-825/">15.2-825</a>; (vii) the auditors, appointed by the local governing body of any county, city, or town or a school board, who by charter, <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, or <span class="dictionary">statute</span> have responsibility for conducting an investigation of any officer, department, or program of such body; or (viii) the Behavioral Health Commission. Information contained in completed investigations shall be disclosed in a form that does not reveal the identity of the complainants or persons supplying information to investigators. Unless disclosure is excluded by this subdivision, the information disclosed shall include the agency involved, the identity of the person who is the subject of the complaint, the nature of the complaint, and the actions taken to resolve the complaint. If an investigation does not lead to corrective action, the identity of the person who is the subject of the complaint may be released only with the consent of the subject person. Local governing bodies shall adopt guidelines to govern the disclosure required by this subdivision. <a id="paragraph-279368" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3705.3/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> The names and <span class="dictionary">personal contact information</span> of complainants furnished in confidence with respect to an investigation of individual zoning enforcement complaints or complaints relating to the Uniform Statewide Building Code (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/36-97/">36-97</a> et seq.) or the Statewide Fire Prevention Code (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title" href="/27-94/">27-94</a> et seq.) made to a local governing body. As used in this subdivision, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">personal contact information</span>&#x201D; includes the complainant&#x2019;s home or business (i) address, (ii) email address, or (iii) telephone number or comparable number assigned to any other <span class="dictionary">electronic communication</span> device. <a id="paragraph-279369" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3705.3/#8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="9"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> Records of active investigations being conducted by the Department of Criminal Justice Services pursuant to Article 4 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/9.1-138/">9.1-138</a> et seq.), Article 4.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/9.1-150.1/">9.1-150.1</a> et seq.), Article 11 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/9.1-185/">9.1-185</a> et seq.), and Article 12 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/9.1-186/">9.1-186</a> et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1. <a id="paragraph-279370" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3705.3/#9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="10"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> Information furnished to or prepared by the Board of Education pursuant to subsection F of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Standard 3. Accreditation, other standards, assessments, and releases from state regulations" href="/22.1-253.13_3/">22.1-253.13:3</a> in connection with the review or investigation of any alleged breach in security, unauthorized alteration, or improper administration of tests by local school board employees responsible for the distribution or administration of the tests. However, this section shall not prohibit the disclosure of such information to (i) a local school board or division superintendent for the purpose of permitting such board or superintendent to consider or to take personnel action with regard to an employee or (ii) any requester, after the conclusion of a review or investigation, in a form that (a) does not reveal the identity of any person making a complaint or supplying information to the Board on a confidential basis and (b) does not compromise the security of any test mandated by the Board. <a id="paragraph-279371" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3705.3/#10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="11"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> Information contained in (i) an application for licensure or renewal of a license for teachers and other school personnel, including <span class="dictionary">transcripts</span> or other documents submitted in support of an application, and (ii) an active investigation conducted by or for the Board of Education related to the denial, suspension, cancellation, <span class="dictionary">revocation</span>, or reinstatement of teacher and other school personnel licenses including investigator notes and other correspondence and information, furnished in confidence with respect to such investigation. However, this subdivision shall not prohibit the disclosure of such (a) application information to the applicant at his own expense or (b) investigation information to a local school board or division superintendent for the purpose of permitting such board or superintendent to consider or to take personnel action with regard to an employee. Information contained in completed investigations shall be disclosed in a form that does not reveal the identity of any complainant or person supplying information to investigators. The completed investigation information disclosed shall include information regarding the school or facility involved, the identity of the person who was the subject of the complaint, the nature of the complaint, and the actions taken to resolve the complaint. If an investigation fails to support a complaint or does not lead to corrective action, the identity of the person who was the subject of the complaint may be released only with the consent of the subject person. No personally identifiable information regarding a current or former student shall be released except as permitted by state or federal <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-279372" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3705.3/#11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="12"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> Information provided in confidence and related to an investigation by the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> under Article 1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/3.2-4200/">3.2-4200</a> et seq.) or Article 3 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/3.2-4204/">3.2-4204</a> et seq.) of Chapter 42 of Title 3.2, Article 10 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/18.2-246.6/">18.2-246.6</a> et seq.) of Chapter 6 or Chapter 13 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title" href="/18.2-512/">18.2-512</a> et seq.) of Title 18.2, or Article 1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/58.1-1000/">58.1-1000</a>) of Chapter 10 of Title 58.1. However, information related to an investigation that has been inactive for more than six months shall, upon request, be disclosed provided such disclosure is not otherwise prohibited by <span class="dictionary">law</span> and does not reveal the identity of charging parties, complainants, persons supplying information, witnesses, or other individuals involved in the investigation. <a id="paragraph-279373" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3705.3/#12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="13"><p><span class="prefix-number">13.</span> Records of active investigations being conducted by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services pursuant to Chapter 4 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Rights of individuals receiving services" href="/37.2-400/">37.2-400</a> et seq.) of Title 37.2. <a id="paragraph-279374" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3705.3/#13"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1999, cc. 485, 518, 703, 726, 793, 849, 852, 867, 868, 881, &#xA7; 2.1-342.01; 2000, cc. 66, 237, 382, 400, 430, 583, 589, 592, 594, 618, 632, 657, 720, 932, 933, 947, 1006, 1064; 2001, cc. 288, 518, 844, &#xA7; 2.2-3705; 2002, cc. 87, 155, 242, 393, 478, 481, 499, 522, 571, 572, 633, 655, 715, 798, 830; 2003, cc. 274, 307, 327, 332, 358, 704, 801, 884, 891, 893, 897, 968; 2004, cc. 605, 690, 766; 2005, c. 601; 2006, cc. 25, 95; 2008, cc. 387, 668, 689, 758; 2009, cc. 237, 326, 340; 2011, cc. 798, 871; 2012, cc. 476, 507, 803, 835; 2013, cc. 571, 572, 690, 717, 723; 2014, cc. 225, 414, 609, 788; 2015, cc. 38, 730; 2016, cc. 272, 620, 716; 2017, c. 778; 2020, c. 48; 2022, cc. 589, 590; 2023, cc. 668, 669; 2024, cc. 64, 732; 2025, c. 675.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
