<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>62723</law_id><section_number>22.1-296.1</section_number><catch_line>Data on convictions for certain crimes and child abuse and neglect required; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>22.1-212.13</reference><reference>22.1-212.26</reference><reference>22.1-349</reference><reference>22.1-349.9</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="15">Teachers, Officers and Employees</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Terms of Employment Generally</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> As a condition of employment for all of its public school employees, whether full-time or part-time, permanent, or temporary, every <span class="dictionary">school board</span> shall require on its application for employment certification of whether the applicant has been convicted of any violent <span class="dictionary">felony</span> set forth in the definition of barrier <span class="dictionary">crime</span> in subsection A of &#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>; any <span class="dictionary">offense</span> involving the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or <span class="dictionary">rape</span> of a child, or the solicitation of any such <span class="dictionary">offense</span>; or any <span class="dictionary">crime</span> of <span class="dictionary">moral turpitude</span>. Any individual making a materially false statement regarding any such <span class="dictionary">offense</span> is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> and, in the case of a teacher, upon <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>, the <span class="dictionary">fact</span> of such <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> is grounds for the Board to revoke his license to teach. <a id="paragraph-228688" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-296.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> No <span class="dictionary">school board</span> shall employ any individual who has been convicted of any: <a id="paragraph-228689" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-296.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> <span class="dictionary">Offense</span> involving the sexual molestation of, physical or sexual abuse, or <span class="dictionary">rape</span> of a child, or the solicitation of any such <span class="dictionary">offense</span>. <a id="paragraph-228690" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-296.1/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Violent <span class="dictionary">felony</span> or <span class="dictionary">crime</span> of <span class="dictionary">moral turpitude</span> set forth in the definition of barrier <span class="dictionary">crime</span> in subsection A of &#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>, provided, however, that any <span class="dictionary">school board</span> may employ such an individual if (i) such <span class="dictionary">felony</span> <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> does not involve the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or <span class="dictionary">rape</span> of a child, or the solicitation of any such <span class="dictionary">offense</span>; (ii) such an individual (a) has had his civil rights restored by the Governor; (b) has completed all terms of supervision and has been released from supervision for more than 20 years; (c) is, in the <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> of the <span class="dictionary">school board</span>, of upstanding character; and (d) has demonstrated commitment to public or <span class="dictionary">community service</span> and rehabilitation after completing all terms of supervision; and (iii) the <span class="dictionary">school board</span> certifies in writing that such an individual meets the requirements set forth in this subsection. <a id="paragraph-228691" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-296.1/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">school board</span> may employ any individual who has been convicted of any <span class="dictionary">felony</span> or <span class="dictionary">crime</span> of <span class="dictionary">moral turpitude</span> that is not set forth in the definition of barrier <span class="dictionary">crime</span> in subsection A of &#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> and does not involve the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or <span class="dictionary">rape</span> of a child, or the solicitation of any such <span class="dictionary">offense</span>, provided that in the case of a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>, such individual has had his civil rights restored by the Governor. <a id="paragraph-228692" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-296.1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Every <span class="dictionary">school board</span> shall also require on its application for employment, as a condition of employment requiring direct contact with students, whether full-time or part-time, permanent, or temporary, certification that the applicant has not been the subject of a founded case of child abuse and neglect. Any person making a materially false statement regarding a <span class="dictionary">finding</span> of child abuse and neglect is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> and upon <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>, the <span class="dictionary">fact</span> of such <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> is grounds for the Board to revoke such person&#x2019;s license to teach. <a id="paragraph-228693" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-296.1/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> As a condition of awarding a <span class="dictionary">contract</span> for the provision of services that require the contractor or his employees to have direct contact with students on school property during regular school hours or during school-sponsored activities, the <span class="dictionary">school board</span> shall require the contractor to provide certification of whether any individual who will provide such services has been convicted of any violent <span class="dictionary">felony</span> set forth in the definition of barrier <span class="dictionary">crime</span> in subsection A of &#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>; any <span class="dictionary">offense</span> involving the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or <span class="dictionary">rape</span> of a child, or the solicitation of any such <span class="dictionary">offense</span>; or any <span class="dictionary">crime</span> of <span class="dictionary">moral turpitude</span>.
			Any individual making a materially false statement regarding any such <span class="dictionary">offense</span> is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> and, upon <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>, the <span class="dictionary">fact</span> of such <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> is grounds for the <span class="dictionary">revocation</span> of the <span class="dictionary">contract</span> to provide such services and, when relevant, the <span class="dictionary">revocation</span> of any license required to provide such services. <span class="dictionary">School boards</span> shall not be liable for materially false statements regarding the certifications required by this subsection.
			This subsection shall not apply to a contractor or his employees providing services to a school division in an emergency or exceptional situation, such as when student health or safety is endangered or when repairs are needed on an urgent basis to ensure that school facilities are safe and habitable, when it is reasonably anticipated that the contractor or his employees will have no direct contact with students. <a id="paragraph-228694" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-296.1/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> No <span class="dictionary">school board</span> shall award a <span class="dictionary">contract</span> for the provision of services that require the contractor or his employees to have direct contact with students on school property during regular school hours or during school-sponsored activities when any individual who provides such services has been convicted of any: <a id="paragraph-228695" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-296.1/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> <span class="dictionary">Offense</span> involving the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or <span class="dictionary">rape</span> of a child, or the solicitation of any such <span class="dictionary">offense</span>. <a id="paragraph-228696" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-296.1/#F1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Violent <span class="dictionary">felony</span> or <span class="dictionary">crime</span> of <span class="dictionary">moral turpitude</span> set forth in the definition of barrier <span class="dictionary">crime</span> in subsection A of &#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>, provided, however, that any <span class="dictionary">school board</span> may award a <span class="dictionary">contract</span> for the provision of such services if (i) such <span class="dictionary">felony</span> <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> does not involve the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or <span class="dictionary">rape</span> of a child, or the solicitation of any such <span class="dictionary">offense</span>; (ii) such an individual (a) has had his civil rights restored by the Governor; (b) has completed all terms of supervision and has been released from supervision for more than 20 years; (c) is, in the <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> of the <span class="dictionary">school board</span>, of upstanding character; and (d) has demonstrated commitment to public or <span class="dictionary">community service</span> and rehabilitation after completing all terms of supervision; and (iii) the <span class="dictionary">school board</span> certifies in writing that such an individual meets the requirements set forth in this subsection. <a id="paragraph-228697" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-296.1/#F2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">school board</span> may award a <span class="dictionary">contract</span> for the provision of services that require the contractor or his employees to have direct contact with students on school property during regular school hours or during school-sponsored activities when any individual who provides such services has been convicted of any <span class="dictionary">felony</span> or <span class="dictionary">crime</span> of <span class="dictionary">moral turpitude</span> that is not set forth in the definition of barrier <span class="dictionary">crime</span> in subsection A of &#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> and does not involve the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or <span class="dictionary">rape</span> of a child, or the solicitation of any such <span class="dictionary">offense</span>, provided that in the case of a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>, such individual has had his civil rights restored by the Governor. <a id="paragraph-228698" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-296.1/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="H"><p><span class="prefix-number">H.</span> For the purposes of this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">school board</span>&#x201D; includes the Board of Visitors of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind, which, for the purpose of receiving criminal history record information pertaining to an application for employment from the Central Criminal Records Exchange, shall be a governmental entity. <a id="paragraph-228699" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-296.1/#H"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1985, c. 487; 1987, c. 359; 1996, c. 960; 1997, c. 103; 2003, c. 723; 2006, c. 790; 2007, cc. 245, 431; 2008, c. 555; 2020, c. 877; 2023, cc. 670, 703; 2025, c. 642.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
