2025 SESSION

INTRODUCED

25102149D

SENATE BILL NO. 913

Offered January 8, 2025

Prefiled January 5, 2025

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 2.2-4311.3, relating to Virginia Public Procurement Act; procurement of imported goods; forced and child labor prohibition.

—————

Patron—Stanley

—————

Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

—————

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 2.2-4311.3 as follows:

§ 2.2-4311.3. Procurement of imported goods; forced and child labor prohibition.

A. For the purposes of this section:

"Forced labor" means:

1. Any work or service that is obtained by (i) any force, fraud, or coercion, including by threat of serious harm to, or physical restraint against, an individual; (ii) a scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause an individual to believe that if the individual did not perform the labor or service, that individual, or another individual, would suffer serious harm or physical restraint; or (iii) any abuse or threatened abuse of law or the legal process;

2. Any work or service that is imposed on the basis of a protected characteristic;

3. Any work or service that is not offered or provided voluntarily by the individual; or

4. Any work or service that is produced through oppressive child labor.

"Oppressive child labor" means a condition of employment under which an individual who is under 16 years of age is employed in an occupation that is hazardous for the employment of children and is consistent with U.S. Executive Order 13126.

B. In the awarding of contracts, no public body shall enter into a contract with a business providing a product on the list of products produced by forced or indentured child labor maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs without a third-party certification provided to the Commonwealth. The Department of General Services shall develop regulations to recognize such third-party certifications.

2. That the Department of General Services shall promulgate regulations, in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.), as required by the provisions of this act by October 1, 2025.