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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>64716</law_id><section_number>40.1-28.7:1</section_number><catch_line>Genetic testing or genetic characteristics as a condition of employment</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="40.1">Labor and Employment</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="3">Protection of Employees</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> No <span class="dictionary">employer</span> shall: <a id="paragraph-235548" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-28.7_1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Request, require, solicit or administer a genetic test, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Genetic information privacy" href="/38.2-508.4/">38.2-508.4</a>, to any person as a condition of employment; or <a id="paragraph-235549" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-28.7_1/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Refuse to hire, fail to promote, discharge or otherwise adversely affect any terms or conditions of employment of any <span class="dictionary">employee</span> or prospective <span class="dictionary">employee</span> solely on the basis of a genetic characteristic, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Genetic information privacy" href="/38.2-508.4/">38.2-508.4</a>, or the results of a genetic test, regardless of how the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> obtained such information or results. Nothing in this section shall preclude the use of information related to a criminal investigation. <a id="paragraph-235550" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-28.7_1/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">employee</span> may bring an action in a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of competent <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> who took adverse action against the <span class="dictionary">employee</span> in violation of this section. Any such action shall be brought within 180 days from the date of the adverse action. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may, in its discretion, award actual or punitive <span class="dictionary">damages</span>, including back pay with interest at the <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> rate as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Judgment rate of interest" href="/6.2-302/">6.2-302</a>, or injunctive relief. <a id="paragraph-235551" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-28.7_1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Labor and Industry to conduct any investigations or enforcement actions. <a id="paragraph-235552" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-28.7_1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> As used in subdivision A 2 of this section, &#x201C;terms and conditions of employment&#x201D; shall not include any long term care, life or disability insurance policy. <a id="paragraph-235553" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-28.7_1/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2002, cc. 565, 659.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
