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SB 243

Adult protective services; creates adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation central registry.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Head

SB 243 creates a statewide registry of substantiated adult abuse and exploitation cases to help protective agencies and service providers identify at-risk individuals and prevent repeat perpetrators.

Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB243)
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Bill Summary · SB 243

Legislative bill overview

SB 243 establishes a centralized registry in Virginia to track substantiated cases of adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The registry would compile reports from adult protective services investigations, creating a searchable database of perpetrators similar to existing child abuse registries in many states.

Why is this important

Vulnerable adults—including seniors and individuals with disabilities—could be better protected if service providers, facilities, and agencies can identify individuals with histories of abuse or exploitation. A centralized system could prevent perpetrators from moving between facilities or jurisdictions without detection, addressing a documented gap in adult protection infrastructure.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy and due process concerns: Registry inclusion based on substantiated (rather than convicted) findings raises questions about the rights of accused individuals to challenge their designation and long-term reputational consequences
  • Implementation costs and burden: Creating and maintaining the registry requires ongoing funding, training, and administrative resources; the fiscal impact statement should clarify who bears these costs
  • Scope and access limitations: Determining which entities can access the registry (nursing homes, home care agencies, healthcare providers, etc.) and what triggers access is critical to balancing protection with privacy

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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