2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26102271D

HOUSE BILL NO. 530

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 13, 2026

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 5 of Chapter 27 of Title 54.1 a section numbered 54.1-2729.03, relating to Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact; criminal background check.

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Patrons—Thornton, Clark, Cole, N.T., Guzman and Henson; Senators: Jones and Marsden

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Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 5 of Chapter 27 of Title 54.1 a section numbered 54.1-2729.03 as follows:

§ 54.1-2729.03. Criminal background check.

The Board shall require each applicant for compact-eligible licensure to complete a criminal background check pursuant to the requirements of the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact as set out in § 54.1-2729.02. Each applicant shall submit fingerprints and provide personal descriptive information to be forwarded along with his fingerprints through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information regarding the applicant. The cost of fingerprinting and the criminal history record search shall be paid by the applicant.

The Central Criminal Records Exchange shall forward the results of the state and federal criminal history record search to the Board, which shall be a governmental entity. If an applicant is denied licensure because of information appearing on his criminal history record and the applicant disputes the information upon which the denial was based, the Central Criminal Records Exchange shall, upon written request, furnish to the applicant the procedures for obtaining a copy of the criminal history record from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Criminal Records Exchange. Such information shall not be disseminated except as provided in this section.