                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION CONCERNING RELIGIOUS PREFERENCES AND
AFFILIATIONS (§ 37.2-712)

A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any state facility may
collect and disseminate information concerning the religious preferences and
affiliations of individuals receiving services, provided that no individual 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 individual or his guardian or other legally authorized
representative or other fiduciary has given his authorization that dissemination
may be made.

B. No authorization given pursuant to this section shall be construed to allow
any state facility to disseminate to federal government authorities information
concerning the religious preferences and affiliations of individuals receiving
services for the purpose of compiling a list, registry, or database of
individuals based on religious affiliation, national origin, or ethnicity,
unless such dissemination is specifically required by state or federal law.

HISTORY: 1977, c. 506, § 37.1-84.1:1; 2005, c. 716; 2012, cc. 476, 507; 2019,
c. 774.