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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>58073</law_id><section_number>2.2-448</section_number><catch_line>Penalty for filing complaint or cooperating in investigation prohibited</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> An official, the Department, a <span class="dictionary">local department</span>, a <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-serving agency</span>, a children&#x2019;s residential facility, or a <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> shall not penalize any person for filing a complaint or cooperating with the <span class="dictionary">Ombudsman</span> in investigating a complaint. <a id="paragraph-212716" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-448/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> An individual, the Department, a <span class="dictionary">local department</span>, a <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-serving agency</span>, a children&#x2019;s residential facility, or a <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> shall not hinder the lawful actions of the <span class="dictionary">Ombudsman</span> or employees of the <span class="dictionary">Ombudsman</span>. <a id="paragraph-212717" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-448/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A report by the <span class="dictionary">Ombudsman</span> is not subject to prior approval by a person outside of the <span class="dictionary">Office</span>. <a id="paragraph-212718" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-448/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
