                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

LICENSURE OF GROUP HOMES AND RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES FOR CHILDREN (§ 63.2-1737)

A. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subtitle, the Department shall
cooperate with other state departments in fulfilling their respective licensing
and certification responsibilities of children&#8217;s residential facilities.
The Board shall adopt regulations establishing the Department as the single
licensing agency for the regulation of children&#8217;s residential facilities,
including group homes, which provide social services programs, with the
exception of educational programs licensed by the Department of Education and
facilities regulated by the Department of Juvenile Justice. Notwithstanding any
other provisions of this chapter, licenses issued to children&#8217;s
residential facilities may be issued for periods of up to 36 successive months.

B. The Board&#8217;s regulations for the regulation of children&#8217;s
residential facilities shall address the services required to be provided in
such facilities as it may deem appropriate to ensure the health and safety of
the children. In addition, the Board&#8217;s regulations shall include, but
shall not be limited to (i) specifications for the structure and accommodations
of such facilities according to the needs of the children; (ii) rules concerning
allowable activities, local government- and facility-imposed curfews, and study,
recreational, and bedtime hours; and (iii) a requirement that each facility have
a community liaison who shall be responsible for facilitating cooperative
relationships with the neighbors, the school system, local law enforcement,
local government officials, and the community at large.

C. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, any facility licensed
by the Commissioner as a child-caring institution as of January 1, 1987, and
that receives no public funds shall be licensed under minimum standards for
licensed child-caring institutions as adopted by the Board and in effect on
January 1, 1987. Effective January 1, 1987, all children&#8217;s residential
facilities shall be licensed under the regulations for children&#8217;s
residential facilities.

D. In addition to the requirements set forth in subsection B, the Board&#8217;s
regulations shall require, as a condition of initial licensure or, if
appropriate, license renewal, that the applicant shall (i) be personally
interviewed by Department personnel to determine the qualifications of the owner
or operator before granting an initial license; (ii) provide evidence of having
relevant prior experience before any initial license is granted; (iii) provide,
as a condition of initial license or renewal licensure, evidence of staff
participation in training on appropriate siting of the residential facilities
for children, good neighbor policies, community relations, and shaken baby
syndrome and its effects; and (iv) be required to screen residents prior to
admission to exclude individuals with behavioral issues, such as histories of
violence, that cannot be managed in the relevant residential facility.

E. In addition, the Department shall:

   1. Notify relevant local governments and placing and funding agencies,
   including the Office of Children&#8217;s Services, of multiple health and
   safety or human rights violations in residential facilities for which the
   Department serves as lead licensure agency when such violations result in the
   lowering of the licensure status of the facility to provisional;

   2. Post on the Department&#8217;s website information concerning the
   application for initial licensure of or renewal, denial, or provisional
   licensure of any residential facility for children located in the locality;

   3. Require all licensees to self-report lawsuits against or settlements with
   residential facility operators relating to the health and safety or human
   rights of residents and any criminal charges that may have been made relating
   to the health and safety or human rights of residents;

   4. Require proof of contractual agreements or staff expertise to provide
   educational services, counseling services, psychological services, medical
   services, or any other services needed to serve the residents in accordance
   with the facility&#8217;s operational plan;

   5. Disseminate to local governments, or post on the Department&#8217;s
   website, an accurate (updated weekly or monthly as necessary) list of licensed
   and operating group homes and other residential facilities for children by
   locality with information on services and identification of the lead licensure
   agency; and

   6. Modify the term of the license at any time during the term of the license
   based on a change in compliance.

HISTORY: 1979, c. 218, § 63.1-196.4; 1984, c. 55; 1987, c. 578; 1992, c. 666;
2002, c. 747; 2005, cc. 358, 471; 2006, cc. 168, 781; 2008, c. 873; 2010, c.
551; 2015, c. 366; 2018, c. 274; 2019, c. 449.