8VAC20-770-40. Identifying who is covered by this chapter.
A. This chapter applies to:
1. Licensed family day homes;
2. Licensed family day systems;
3. Family day homes approved by family day systems;
4. Voluntarily registered family day homes;
5. Religious exempt child day centers; and
6. Licensed child day centers.
B. Except as provided in 8VAC20-770-50 A, no person with a disqualifying background who has not been granted a waiver according to 8VAC20-770-90 may operate or volunteer or work at a facility governed by this chapter.
C. Background checks are required at the time of initial application.
1. These background checks are required at the time of initial application for licensure, registration, or approval:
Who | What | When |
a. Any applicant | Sworn statement or affirmation, search of central registry, and criminal history record check | Upon application for licensure or registration as a child day program or family day system |
b. Any agent at the time of application who is or will be involved in the day-to-day operations of the child day program or who is or will be alone with, in control of, or supervising one or more of the children | Same | Same |
c. Any other adult living in the home of an applicant for licensure or registration as a family day home, or any existing employee or volunteer | Same | Upon application for licensure or registration as a family day home |
d. Operator of family day home requesting approval by family day system | Sworn statement or affirmation, search of central registry, and criminal history record check | Upon request for approval by family day system |
e. Any other adult residing in the family day home requesting approval and any employee or volunteer of a family day home | Same | Upon request by operator for approval by family day system |
2. These background checks are required at the time of initial application for religious exemption status:
Who | What | When |
Any person who will be expected to be alone with one or more children enrolled in a religious exempt child day center except a parent-volunteer, as defined in this chapter, or a parent or guardian who may be left alone with his or her own child | Documentary evidence of sworn statement or affirmation, search of the central registry, and criminal history record check | With the written request for religious exemption status |
D. Background checks are required after the initial licensure, registration, approval, or receipt of religious exemption status.
1. These background checks are required after initial licensure, registration, or approval:
Who | What | When |
a. New person designated as applicant, licensee, registrant, family day home operator approved by a family day system, or agent who is or will be involved in the day-to-day operations of the facility or who is or will be alone with, in control of, or supervising one or more of the children | Sworn statement or affirmation | Whenever an applicant, licensee, approved family day home operator, or registrant changes |
Search of central registry and criminal history record check | Before the end of 30 days after the change | |
b. Any employee of a licensed, registered, and approved facility who is involved in the day-to-day operations or who is alone with, in control of, or supervising one or more children | Sworn statement or affirmation | Prior to first day of employment at the facility |
Search of central registry and criminal history record check | Before 30 days of employment at the facility ends | |
c. Any applicant, licensee, family day home operator approved by a family day system, agent, employee, volunteer, and person living in the family day home who is required to have background checks | Sworn statement or affirmation, search of central registry and criminal history record check | Before three years since the dates of the last sworn statement or affirmation, most recent central registry finding and most recent criminal history record check report |
d. Voluntary registration provider, provider assistant, substitute provider, if any, and any adult residing in the home | Sworn statement or affirmation, search of central registry and criminal history record check | 90 days before the date of application for renewal of the current certificate of registration (The application for renewal must be received by the contracting organization no later than 45 days before the expiration of the current certificate of registration.) |
e. Volunteer at licensed, registered, or approved facility who will be alone with any child in the performance of duties, excluding a parent-volunteer for children attending a licensed, registered, or approved program | Sworn statement or affirmation | Prior to first day of service at the facility |
Search of central registry and criminal history record check | Before 30 days of service at the facility elapses |
2. These background checks are required after receipt of the initial religious exemption status letter.
Annually, prior to the expiration date in the current exemption letter, the religious exempt child day center must file with the department documentary evidence that the center is in compliance with the following:
Who | What | When |
Prospective employee, volunteer, or any other person who is expected to be alone with one or more children enrolled in the religious exempt child day center except a parent-volunteer, or a parent or guardian who may be left alone with his or her own child | Sworn statement or affirmation | Before employment or commencement of service at the facility |
Search of central registry and criminal history record check, as requested by the individual | Within 30 days of employment or commencement of service |
3. Background checks are required for independent contract employees and employees hired by a contract agency.
If a licensed, registered, or approved facility uses independent contract employees or contract employees hired by a contract agency who will be involved in the day-to-day operations of the facility or who will be alone with, in control of, or supervising one or more children, the facility must:
a. Obtain background checks according to the above requirements for employees, or view the original required background checks maintained by the contract employee or contract agency;
b. Accept all satisfactory background checks dated less than six months before independent contract employees or contract employees hired by contract agencies begin providing services at facilities;
c. Make copies, and keep them at the licensed, registered, or approved facilities. Staff must write on the copies of the criminal record reports that they are photocopies of originals that facility staff verified; and
d. Provide a sworn statement or affirmation, search of central registry and criminal history record check before three years since the dates of the last sworn statement or affirmation, most recent central registry finding and most recent criminal history record check report.
4. A person 18 years of age and older must have background checks:
Who | What | When |
A Person living in: The home of an applicant* or The home of a licensed or registered family day home provider | Sworn statement or affirmation | When person age 18 years or older begins residing in the home or when a person in the home becomes 18 years old |
Search of central registry and criminal history record check, as requested by the individual | Within 30 days of a person 18 years of age or older beginning to reside in the home or a person in the home becoming 18 years old | |
*Note: This does not apply to applicants for family day systems, child day centers, or to religious exempt child day centers. | ||
5. A person 14 years of age and older must have a search of the central registry and make the information available for regulatory purposes:
Who | What | When |
Person living in: An applicant's home, Home of a licensed or registered family day home provider, | Child protective services central registry check | Within 30 days of a 14-year-old beginning to reside in the home or a person in the home becoming 14 years old |
6. A facility must not accept a required criminal history record report or a central registry finding from an applicant, licensee, registrant, or other person required to obtain background checks that is dated more than 90 days prior to the date of employment, volunteering, residing in the home.
7. Exception: See provisions for contracting agencies in subdivision 3 of this subsection.
8. The department must not accept a required criminal history record report or a central registry finding from an applicant, licensee, registrant, or person who signs the statement of intent to operate a religious exempt center that is dated more than 90 days prior to date of licensure, registration, approval or exemption, or from the date when the person designated as the applicant or licensee changes.
9. The background checks remain valid at the facility if no more than 12 consecutive months have passed from when a person (i) began a leave of absence from that facility; (ii) was terminated from employment at that facility; or (iii) was transferred to a facility owned and operated by the same employer or entity, unless there is a criminal conviction or a founded complaint of child abuse and neglect during that period.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.