Update on Sex Offender Registry Requirements

VHCA (6/29/2007)

VHCA has received some inquiries concerning registering for electronic notification from the Virginia Sex Offender Registry, and we called the Virginia State Police with the questions. 

If you submitted your registration for electronic notification and got a message that says you would get a “unique Community Notification number,” that is incorrect.  The State Police have stopped sending Community Notification numbers.  They said they will remove any reference to Community Notification numbers on their website. Once you register, you should begin to receive electronic notification when a registered sex offender moves into your area.

On your resident and admissions package sex offender registry notification, take out any reference to getting information by mail.  The State Police said that they do not want to receive requests by mail.  (Mail requests would have to be made on a special form and require a fee.) VHCA sent out a resident notification template which stated that sex offender information may be “obtained either electronically or by mail.”   We have removed the reference to mail from the template on our website.

The new law requiring nursing homes and assisted living facilities to notify current and potential residents of the existence of Virginia's Sex Offender Registry goes into effect on July 1, 2007.  According to Carrie Eddy at the Health Department’s Office of Licensure and Certification, the current Resident Rights poster does not need to be updated for nursing facilities in order to comply with any requirements related to the law. We are waiting for guidance from the Department of Social Services’ Division of Licensing regarding obligations of assisted living facilities for notifying residents of their rights and will publish that information once it becomes available.

You can find the VHCA/VCAL Advisory Convicted Sex Offenders: New Responsibilities for Long Term Care Facilities (written by Jeannie Adams and Michelle Hogan) on VHCA's website.