A. A valid report or complaint means the local department has evaluated the information and allegations of the report or complaint and determined that the local department shall conduct an investigation, family assessment, or human trafficking assessment because the following elements are present:
1. The alleged victim child or children are under 18 years of age at the time of the complaint or report;
2. The alleged abuser is the alleged victim child's parent or other caretaker or, for purposes of abuse or neglect described in subdivision 4 of the definition of "abused or neglected child" in § 63.2-100, an intimate partner of such parent or caretaker;
3. The local department receiving the complaint or report has jurisdiction; and
4. The circumstances described allege suspected child abuse or neglect.
B. A valid report or complaint regarding a child who has been identified as a victim of sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking as defined in the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C § 7102 et seq.) and in the federal Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-22) may be established regardless of who the alleged abuser is or whether the alleged abuser has been identified.
C. Nothing in this section shall relieve any person specified in § 63.2-1509 from making a report required by that section, regardless of the identity of the person suspected to have caused such abuse or neglect.
D. If the local department receiving the complaint or report does not have jurisdiction, and the local department that has jurisdiction to investigate such complaint or report is located in the Commonwealth, the local department that received the report or complaint shall forward the complaint or report to the appropriate local department.
1975, c. 341, § 63.1-248.2; 1981, c. 123; 1986, c. 308; 1990, c. 760; 1995, c. 520; 2000, c. 500; 2002, c. 747; 2019, cc. 381, 687; 2022, c. 366.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 63.2 - Welfare (Social Services)
Chapter 15 - Child Abuse and Neglect
§ 63.2-1502. Establishment of Child-Protective Services Unit; duties
§ 63.2-1503. Local departments to establish child-protective services; duties
§ 63.2-1504. Child-protective services differential response system
§ 63.2-1505. Investigations by local departments
§ 63.2-1506. Family assessments by local departments
§ 63.2-1506.1. Human trafficking assessments by local departments
§ 63.2-1507. Cooperation by state entities
§ 63.2-1508. Valid report or complaint
§ 63.2-1510. Complaints by others of certain injuries to children
§ 63.2-1511. Complaints of abuse and neglect against school personnel; interagency agreement
§ 63.2-1512. Immunity of person making report, etc., from liability
§ 63.2-1513. Knowingly making false reports; penalties
§ 63.2-1515. Central registry; disclosure of information
§ 63.2-1516. Tape recording child abuse investigations
§ 63.2-1516.01. Investigation procedures involving person who is the subject of complaint
§ 63.2-1517. Authority to take child into custody
§ 63.2-1518. Authority to talk to child or sibling
§ 63.2-1519. Physician-patient and spousal privileges inapplicable
§ 63.2-1520. Photographs and X-rays of child; use as evidence
§ 63.2-1521. Testimony by child using two-way closed-circuit television
§ 63.2-1522. Admission of evidence of sexual acts with children
§ 63.2-1523. Use of videotaped statements of complaining witnesses as evidence
§ 63.2-1524. Court may order certain examinations
§ 63.2-1525. Prima facie evidence for removal of child custody
§ 63.2-1526. Appeals of certain actions of local departments
§ 63.2-1527. Board oversight duties; Out-of-Family Investigations Advisory Committee
§ 63.2-1530. Virginia Child Protection Accountability System