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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>74559</law_id><section_number>37.2-712</section_number><catch_line>Collection and dissemination of information concerning religious preferences and affiliations</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="37.2">Behavioral Health and Developmental Services</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Behavioral Health and Developmental Services</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="7">State Facilities</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Notwithstanding any provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span> to the contrary, any <span class="dictionary">state</span> <span class="dictionary">facility</span> may collect and disseminate information concerning the religious preferences and affiliations of <span class="dictionary">individuals</span> receiving services, provided that no <span class="dictionary">individual</span> may be required to indicate his religious preference or affiliation and that no dissemination of the information shall be made except to categories of persons as to whom the <span class="dictionary">individual</span> or his guardian or other legally authorized representative or other fiduciary has given his authorization that dissemination may be made. <a id="paragraph-267936" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/37.2-712/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> No authorization given pursuant to this section shall be construed to allow any <span class="dictionary">state</span> <span class="dictionary">facility</span> to disseminate to federal government authorities information concerning the religious preferences and affiliations of <span class="dictionary">individuals</span> receiving services for the purpose of compiling a list, registry, or database of <span class="dictionary">individuals</span> based on religious affiliation, national origin, or ethnicity, unless such dissemination is specifically required by <span class="dictionary">state</span> or federal <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-267937" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/37.2-712/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1977, c. 506, &#xA7; 37.1-84.1:1; 2005, c. 716; 2012, cc. 476, 507; 2019, c. 774.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
