                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

 ISSUANCE OF PERMIT; BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS (§ 27-97.2)

A. The State Fire Marshal or other issuing authority shall consider all permit
applications for manufacturing, storage, handling, use or sales of explosives
and applications for certification as a blaster or as a fireworks operator or
pyrotechnician, and may grant a valid permit or certification to applicants who
meet the criteria established in the Statewide Fire Prevention Code. The State
Fire Marshal shall require a background investigation, to include a national
criminal history record information check, of all individual applicants and all
designated persons representing an applicant that is not an individual, for a
permit to manufacture, store, handle, use or sell explosives, and for any
applicant for certification as a blaster or as a fireworks operator or
pyrotechnician. Each such applicant shall submit his fingerprints to the State
Fire Marshal on a form provided by the State Fire Marshal and provide personal
descriptive information to be forwarded along with the applicant&#8217;s
fingerprints through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the Federal Bureau
of Investigation for the purpose of obtaining a national criminal history record
check regarding such applicant. Any firm or company manufacturing, storing,
using, or selling explosives shall provide to the enforcement agency, the State
Fire Marshal or other issuing authority the name of a representative responsible
for (i) ensuring compliance with state law and regulations relating to blasting
agents and explosives and (ii) applying for permits. The State Fire Marshal or
other issuing authority shall deny any application for a permit or for
certification as a blaster or as a fireworks operator or pyrotechnician if the
applicant or designated person representing an applicant has been convicted of
any felony, whether such conviction occurred under the laws of the Commonwealth,
or any other state, the District of Columbia, the United States or any territory
thereof, unless his civil rights have been restored by the Governor or other
appropriate authority. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the
manufacturing, storage, handling, use or sales of permissible fireworks or in
connection with any fireworks display conducted by a volunteer fire department
provided one member of the volunteer fire department holds a valid
certification.

B. No permit under this section shall be required of any person holding a
certification or permit issued pursuant to the provisions of Title 45.2.

HISTORY: 2000, cc. 951, 1065; 2007, cc. 647, 741; 2010, cc. 587, 643.