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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>65867</law_id><section_number>2.2-440</section_number><catch_line>Procedures; training; notification of safety concerns.</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="2.2">Administration of Government</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">Organization of State Government</unit><unit label="part" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="A">Office of the Governor</unit><unit label="chapter" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="4.4">Office of the Children's Ombudsman</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Ombudsman</span> shall establish procedures for the <span class="dictionary">Office</span> for budget, expenditures, and employment. Subject to annual appropriations, the <span class="dictionary">Ombudsman</span> shall employ sufficient personnel to carry out the duties and powers prescribed by this chapter. <a id="paragraph-239376" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-440/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Ombudsman</span> shall establish procedures for receiving and processing complaints from <span class="dictionary">complainants</span> and individuals not meeting the definition of <span class="dictionary">complainant</span>, conducting investigations, holding informal <span class="dictionary">hearings</span>, and reporting <span class="dictionary">findings</span> and recommendations resulting from investigations. <a id="paragraph-239377" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-440/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Personnel employed by the <span class="dictionary">Office</span> shall receive mandatory training in domestic violence and in handling complaints alleging that a child is an <span class="dictionary">abused or neglected child</span>. <a id="paragraph-239378" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-440/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Ombudsman</span> shall notify a <span class="dictionary">child-serving agency</span> of any immediate safety concerns regarding a child or children who are part of an active or open child protective services or <span class="dictionary">foster care</span> case. This notification shall occur as soon as possible, but not later than one business day after the <span class="dictionary">Ombudsman</span> becomes aware of the concerns. <a id="paragraph-239379" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-440/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
