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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>59383</law_id><section_number>22.1-289.038</section_number><catch_line>Child day programs and family day systems; criminal conviction and waiver</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>22.1-289.036</reference><reference>22.1-289.037</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="22.1">Education</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="14.1">Early Childhood Care and Education</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="5">Background Checks</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any person who seeks to operate, volunteer, or work at a <span class="dictionary">child day program</span> or <span class="dictionary">family day system</span> and who is disqualified because of a criminal <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> or a criminal <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> in the background check of any other adult living in a <span class="dictionary">family day home</span> regulated by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>, pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Licensed child day centers, family day homes, and family day systems; employment for compensation or use as volunteers of persons convicted of or found to have committed certain offenses prohibited; national background check required; penalty" href="/22.1-289.035/">22.1-289.035</a>, <a class="law" title="Background check upon application for licensure, registration, or approval as child day center, family day home, or family day system; penalty" href="/22.1-289.036/">22.1-289.036</a>, or <a class="law" title="Records check by unlicensed child day center; penalty" href="/22.1-289.039/">22.1-289.039</a>, may apply in writing for a <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> from the <span class="dictionary">Superintendent</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Superintendent</span> may grant a <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> if the <span class="dictionary">Superintendent</span> determines that (i) the person is of good moral character and reputation and (ii) the <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> would not adversely affect the safety and well-being of children in the person&#x2019;s care. The <span class="dictionary">Superintendent</span> shall not grant a <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> to any person who has been convicted of any barrier <span class="dictionary">crime</span> as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="National criminal background checks by businesses and organizations regarding employees or volunteers providing care to children or the elderly or disabled" href="/19.2-392.02/">19.2-392.02</a>. However, the <span class="dictionary">Superintendent</span> may grant a <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> to a <span class="dictionary">family day home</span> licensed or registered by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> if any other adult living in the home of the applicant or provider has been convicted of not more than one <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span> under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Assault and battery; penalty" href="/18.2-57/">18.2-57</a> or <a class="law" title="Assault and battery against a family or household member; penalty" href="/18.2-57.2/">18.2-57.2</a>, or any substantially similar <span class="dictionary">offense</span> under the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of another <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>, provided that (a) five years have elapsed following the <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> and (b) the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> has conducted a home study that includes, but is not limited to, (1) an assessment of the safety of children placed in the home and (2) a determination that the offender is now a person of good moral character and reputation. The <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> shall not be granted if the adult living in the home is an assistant or substitute provider or if such adult has been convicted of a <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span> under both &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Assault and battery; penalty" href="/18.2-57/">18.2-57</a> and <a class="law" title="Assault and battery against a family or household member; penalty" href="/18.2-57.2/">18.2-57.2</a>, or any substantially similar <span class="dictionary">offense</span> under the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of another <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>. Any <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> granted under this section shall be available for inspection by the public. The <span class="dictionary">child day program</span> or <span class="dictionary">family day system</span> shall notify in writing every <span class="dictionary">parent</span> and guardian of the children in its care of any <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> granted for its operators, employees, or volunteers. <a id="paragraph-217637" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-289.038/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this section. <a id="paragraph-217638" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-289.038/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2020, cc. 860, 861.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
