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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>58445</law_id><section_number>2.2-3806</section_number><catch_line>Rights of data subjects</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>2.2-3815</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="38">Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">agency</span> maintaining <span class="dictionary">personal information</span> shall: <a id="paragraph-214199" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3806/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Inform an individual who is asked to supply <span class="dictionary">personal information</span> about himself whether he is legally required, or may refuse, to supply the information requested, and also of any specific consequences that are known to the <span class="dictionary">agency</span> of providing or not providing the information. <a id="paragraph-214200" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3806/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Give notice to a <span class="dictionary">data subject</span> of the possible dissemination of part or all of this information to another <span class="dictionary">agency</span>, nongovernmental organization or system not having regular access authority, and indicate the use for which it is intended, and the specific consequences for the individual, which are known to the <span class="dictionary">agency</span>, of providing or not providing the information. However documented permission for dissemination in the hands of the other <span class="dictionary">agency</span> or organization shall satisfy the requirement of this subdivision. The notice may be given on applications or other data collection forms prepared by <span class="dictionary">data subjects</span>. <a id="paragraph-214201" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3806/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Upon request and proper identification of any <span class="dictionary">data subject</span>, or of his authorized agent, grant the <span class="dictionary">data subject</span> or agent the right to inspect, in a form comprehensible to him:
				a. All <span class="dictionary">personal information</span> about that <span class="dictionary">data subject</span> except as provided in subdivision 1 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Exclusions to application of chapter; exclusions of general application to public bodies" href="/2.2-3705.1/">2.2-3705.1</a>, subdivision A 1 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Exclusions to application of chapter; educational records and certain records of educational institutions" href="/2.2-3705.4/">2.2-3705.4</a>, and subdivision 1 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Exclusions to application of chapter; health and social services records" href="/2.2-3705.5/">2.2-3705.5</a>.
				b. The nature of the sources of the information.
				c. The names of recipients, other than those with regular access authority, of <span class="dictionary">personal information</span> about the <span class="dictionary">data subject</span> including the identity of all persons and organizations involved and their relationship to the system when not having regular access authority, except that if the recipient has obtained the information as part of an ongoing criminal investigation such that disclosure of the investigation would jeopardize <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement action, then no disclosure of such access shall be made to the <span class="dictionary">data subject</span>. <a id="paragraph-214202" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3806/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Comply with the following minimum conditions of disclosure to <span class="dictionary">data subjects</span>:
				a. An <span class="dictionary">agency</span> shall make disclosures to <span class="dictionary">data subjects</span> required under this chapter, during normal business hours, in accordance with the procedures set forth in subsections B and C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Public records to be open to inspection; procedure for requesting records and responding to request; charges; transfer of records for storage, etc" href="/2.2-3704/">2.2-3704</a> for responding to requests under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; policy" href="/2.2-3700/">2.2-3700</a> et seq.) or within a time period as may be mutually agreed upon by the <span class="dictionary">agency</span> and the <span class="dictionary">data subject</span>.
				b. The disclosures to <span class="dictionary">data subjects</span> required under this chapter shall be made (i) in person, if he appears in person and furnishes proper identification, or (ii) by mail, if he has made a written request, with proper identification. Copies of the documents containing the <span class="dictionary">personal information</span> sought by a <span class="dictionary">data subject</span> shall be furnished to him or his representative at reasonable charges for document search and duplication in accordance with subsection F of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Public records to be open to inspection; procedure for requesting records and responding to request; charges; transfer of records for storage, etc" href="/2.2-3704/">2.2-3704</a>.
				c. The <span class="dictionary">data subject</span> shall be permitted to be accompanied by a person of his choosing, who shall furnish reasonable identification. An <span class="dictionary">agency</span> may require the <span class="dictionary">data subject</span> to furnish a written statement granting the <span class="dictionary">agency</span> permission to discuss the individual&#x2019;s file in such person&#x2019;s presence. <a id="paragraph-214203" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3806/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">data subject</span> gives notice that he wishes to challenge, correct, or explain information about him in the <span class="dictionary">information system</span>, the following minimum procedures shall be followed:
				a. The <span class="dictionary">agency</span> maintaining the <span class="dictionary">information system</span> shall investigate, and record the current status of that <span class="dictionary">personal information</span>.
				b. If, after such investigation, the information is found to be incomplete, inaccurate, not pertinent, not timely, or not necessary to be retained, it shall be promptly corrected or purged.
				c. If the investigation does not resolve the dispute, the <span class="dictionary">data subject</span> may file a statement of not more than 200 words setting forth his position.
				d. Whenever a statement of dispute is filed, the <span class="dictionary">agency</span> maintaining the <span class="dictionary">information system</span> shall supply any previous recipient with a copy of the statement and, in any subsequent dissemination or use of the information in question, clearly note that it is disputed and supply the statement of the <span class="dictionary">data subject</span> along with the information.
				e. The <span class="dictionary">agency</span> maintaining the <span class="dictionary">information system</span> shall clearly and conspicuously disclose to the <span class="dictionary">data subject</span> his rights to make such a request.
				f. Following any correction or purging of <span class="dictionary">personal information</span> the <span class="dictionary">agency</span> shall furnish to past recipients notification that the item has been purged or corrected whose receipt shall be acknowledged. <a id="paragraph-214204" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3806/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require an <span class="dictionary">agency</span> to <span class="dictionary">disseminate</span> any recommendation or letter of reference from or to a third <span class="dictionary">party</span> that is a part of the personnel file of any <span class="dictionary">data subject</span> nor to <span class="dictionary">disseminate</span> any <span class="dictionary">test or examination</span> used, administered or prepared by any public body for purposes of evaluation of (i) any student or any student&#x2019;s performance, (ii) any seeker&#x2019;s qualifications or aptitude for employment, retention, or promotion, or (iii) qualifications for any license or certificate issued by any public body.
			As used in this subsection, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">test or examination</span>&#x201D; includes (i) any scoring key for any such <span class="dictionary">test or examination</span> and (ii) any other document that would jeopardize the security of the <span class="dictionary">test or examination</span>. Nothing contained in this subsection shall prohibit the release of test scores or results as provided by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, or to limit access to individual records as provided by <span class="dictionary">law</span>; however, the subject of the employment tests shall be entitled to review and inspect all documents relative to his performance on those employment tests.
			When, in the reasonable <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> of the public body, any such <span class="dictionary">test or examination</span> no longer has any potential for future use, and the security of future tests or examinations will not be jeopardized, the <span class="dictionary">test or examination</span> shall be made available to the public. Minimum competency tests administered to public school children shall be made available to the public contemporaneously with statewide release of the scores of those taking such tests, but in no event shall such tests be made available to the public later than six months after the administration of such tests. <a id="paragraph-214205" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3806/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Neither any provision of this chapter nor any provision of the Freedom of Information Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; policy" href="/2.2-3700/">2.2-3700</a> et seq.) shall be construed to deny public access to records of the position, job classification, official salary or rate of pay of, and to records of the allowances or reimbursements for expenses paid to any public officer, official or employee at any level of state, local or regional government in the Commonwealth. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to records of the official salaries or rates of pay of public employees whose annual rate of pay is $10,000 or less. <a id="paragraph-214206" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3806/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Nothing in this section or in this chapter shall be construed to require an <span class="dictionary">agency</span> to <span class="dictionary">disseminate</span> information derived from tax returns prohibited from release pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Secrecy of information; penalties" href="/58.1-3/">58.1-3</a>. <a id="paragraph-214207" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3806/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1976, c. 597, &#xA7; 2.1-382; 1978, c. 810; 1979, cc. 683, 688, 689; 1983, c. 372; 1995, c. 400; 2001, c. 844; 2004, c. 690; 2007, c. 232; 2017, c. 778.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
