Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-110. Pertaining to Lobsters (amending 4VAC20-110-15, 4VAC20-110-20, 4VAC20-110-30, 4VAC20-110-40).

Statutory Authority: § 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: September 1, 2012.

Agency Contact: Jane Warren, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, telephone (757) 247-2248, FAX (757) 247-2002, or email betty.warren@mrc.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments establish season and minimum size restrictions for lobsters harvested and landed in Virginia and require mandatory V-notching of berried (egg bearing) females.

4VAC20-110-15. Definitions.

"Berried female" means a female lobster bearing eggs attached to the abdominal appendages.

"Carapace" means the unsegmented body shell of the American lobster.

"Carapace length" means the straight line measurement from the rear of the eye socket parallel to the center line of the carapace to the posterior edge of the carapace.

"Ghost panel" means a panel, or other mechanism, designed to allow for the escapement of lobster after a period of time if the trap has been abandoned or lost.

"Land" or "landing" means to (i) enter port with finfish, shellfish, crustaceans, or other marine seafood on board any boat or vessel; (ii) begin offloading finfish, shellfish, crustaceans, or other marine seafood; or (iii) offload finfish, shellfish, crustaceans, or other marine seafood.

"Lobster" means any crustacean of the species Homarus americanus.

"V-notched female lobster" means any female lobster bearing a V-shaped notch (i.e., a straight-sided triangular cut without setal hairs, at least 1/4 inch in depth and not greater than 1/2 inch in depth and tapering to a sharp point) in the flipper next to the right of the center flipper as viewed from the rear of the female lobster. V-notched female lobster also means any female that is mutilated in a manner that could hide, obscure, or obliterate such a mark.

4VAC20-110-20. Minimum and maximum size limit.

It shall be unlawful for any person to possess for a period longer than is necessary for immediate measurement any lobster less than 3-3/8 3-17/32 inches in carapace length or any female lobster greater than 5-1/2 5-1/4 inches in carapace length, except for scientific purposes and with the express written consent of the Commissioner of Marine Resources.

4VAC20-110-30. Possession prohibitions.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess for a period longer than is necessary for immediate determination of the presence of eggs, any berried female egg-bearing lobster, except for scientific purposes and with the express written consent of the Commissioner of Marine Resources.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess for a period longer than is necessary for immediate determination of unnatural removal of eggs, a lobster that has been scrubbed or has in any manner other than natural hatching had the eggs removed therefrom.

C. It shall be unlawful to possess a V-notched female lobster. The prohibition on possession of a V-notched female lobster applies to all persons, including but not limited to fishermen, dealers, shippers, and restaurants.

D. It shall be unlawful to possess a lobster that has an outer shell that has been speared.

E. It shall be unlawful to land lobster from February 1 through March 31.

4VAC20-110-40. Marking of lobsters.

It shall be unlawful for any person to notch, cut, scrape, pierce, or in any like manner provide for the marking of lobster, except for scientific purposes and with the express written consent of the Commissioner of Marine Resources. Any berried female harvested in or from Virginia waters shall be V-notched before being returned to the sea immediately.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-252. Pertaining to the Taking of Striped Bass (amending 4VAC20-252-20, 4VAC20-252-30, 4VAC20-252-50).

Statutory Authority: § 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: September 1, 2012.

Agency Contact: Jane Warren, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, telephone (757) 247-2248, FAX (757) 247-2002, or email betty.warren@mrc.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments authorize the recreational harvest of striped bass by spear fishing.

4VAC20-252-20. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Chesapeake area" means the area that includes the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and the Potomac River tributaries.

"Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries" means all tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries within Virginia, westward of the shoreward boundary of the Territorial Sea, excluding the coastal area and the Potomac River tributaries as defined by this section.

"Coastal area" means the area that includes Virginia's portion of the Territorial Sea, plus all of the creeks, bays, inlets, and tributaries on the seaside of Accomack County, Northampton County (including areas east of the causeway from Fisherman Island to the mainland), and the City of Virginia Beach (including federal areas and state parks, fronting on the Atlantic Ocean and east and south of the point where the shoreward boundary of the Territorial Sea joins the mainland at Cape Henry).

"Commission" means the Marine Resources Commission.

"Commercial fishing" or "fishing commercially" or "commercial fishery" means fishing by any person where the catch is for sale, barter, trade, or any commercial purpose, or is intended for sale, barter, trade, or any commercial purpose.

"Potomac River tributaries" means all the tributaries of the Potomac River that are within Virginia's jurisdiction beginning with, and including, Flag Pond thence upstream to the District of Columbia boundary.

"Recreational fishing" or "fishing recreationally" or "recreational fishery" means fishing by any person, whether licensed or exempted from licensing, where the catch is not for sale, barter, trade, or any commercial purpose, or is not intended for sale, barter, trade, or any commercial purpose.

"Share" means a percentage of the striped bass commercial harvest quota.

"Spawning reaches" means sections within the spawning rivers as follows:

1. James River from a line connecting Dancing Point and New Sunken Meadow Creek upstream to a line connecting City Point and Packs Point.

2. Pamunkey River from the Route 33 Bridge at West Point upstream to a line connecting Liberty Hall and the opposite shore.

3. Mattaponi River from the Route 33 Bridge at West Point upstream to the Route 360 bridge at Aylett.

4. Rappahannock River from the Route 360 Bridge at Tappahannock upstream to the Route 1 Falmouth Bridge.

"Spear" or "spearing" means to fish while the person is fully submerged under the water's surface with a mechanically aided device designed to accelerate a barbed spear.

"Striped bass" means any fish of the species Morone saxatilis, including any hybrid of the species Morone saxatilis.

4VAC20-252-30. General prohibitions and requirements.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess any striped bass taken from the tidal waters of Virginia, including Virginia's portion of the Territorial Sea, except in accord with the provisions of Title 28.2 of the Code of Virginia and in accord with the provisions of this chapter.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess any striped bass taken from the tidal waters of Virginia, including Virginia's portion of the Territorial Sea, during a time, from an area, and with a gear type when there is no open season set forth in this chapter for such time, area, and gear type.

C. Except for those persons permitted in accordance with 4VAC20-252-170, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess any striped bass less than 18 inches total length at any time.

D. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess any striped bass that measures less than the minimum size or more than the maximum size applicable to the open season when fishing occurs, except as described in 4VAC20-252-115.

E. Total length measurement of striped bass shall be in a straight line from tip of nose to tip of tail.

F. It shall be unlawful for any person while aboard any boat or vessel or while fishing from shore or pier to alter any striped bass or to possess any altered striped bass such that its total length cannot be determined.

G. It shall be unlawful for any person to spear or gaff, or attempt to spear or gaff any striped bass at any time.

H. It shall be unlawful for any person to use a commercial hook and line within 300 feet of any bridge, bridge-tunnel, jetty, or pier during Thanksgiving Day and the following day or during any open recreational striped bass season in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, except during the period midnight Sunday through 6 a.m. Friday.

I. Unless specified differently in other regulations, it shall be unlawful to place, set, or fish any gill net within 300 feet of any bridge, bridge-tunnel, jetty, or pier during any open recreational striped bass season in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, except during the period midnight Sunday through midnight Wednesday.

J. During the period April 1 through May 31, inclusive, it shall be unlawful for any person to set or fish any anchored gill net or staked gill net, for any purpose, within the spawning reaches of the James, Pamunkey, Mattaponi, and Rappahannock Rivers. Drift or float gill nets may be set and fished within the spawning reaches of these rivers during this period, provided that the person setting and fishing the net remains with the net during the time it is fishing and all striped bass that are caught shall be returned to the water immediately.

K. Holding any permit issued by the commission to fish for striped bass, recreationally or commercially, shall authorize any commission personnel or their designees to inspect, measure, weigh, or take biological samples from any striped bass in possession of the permit holder.

L. Nothing in this chapter shall preclude any person, who is legally eligible to fish, from possessing any striped bass tagged with a Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) fluorescent green tag. Possession of these VIMS-tagged striped bass shall not count towards the personal recreational possession limit, and permitted commercial striped bass individual transferable quota (ITQ) holders shall not be required to apply a tamper evident, numbered tag provided by the commission, in order to possess any striped bass tagged with a VIMS-inscribed green fluorescent tag. It shall be unlawful for any person to retain any of these VIMS-tagged striped bass for a period of time that is longer than necessary to provide the VIMS-tagged striped bass to a VIMS representative. Under no circumstance shall any VIMS-tagged striped bass be stored for future use or sale or delivered to any person who is not a VIMS representative.

4VAC20-252-50. Concerning recreational fishing: general.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to take or to, catch, or attempt to take or catch any striped bass with by any gear or method other than hook and line, rod and reel, or hand line, or spearing.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to possess any striped bass while fishing in an area where or at a time when there is no open recreational striped bass season, except as described in 4VAC20-252-115. Striped bass caught contrary to this provision shall be returned to the water immediately.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to possess land and retain any striped bass in excess of the possession limit applicable for the area and season being fished within the 24-hour period of 12 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. Striped bass taken in excess of the possession limit shall be returned to the water immediately.

When fishing from a boat or vessel where the entire catch is held in a common hold or container, the possession limit shall be for the boat or vessel and shall be equal to the number of persons on board legally eligible to fish multiplied by the applicable personal possession limit. The captain or operator of the boat or vessel shall be responsible for any boat or vessel possession limit.

D. It shall be unlawful to combine possession limits when there is more than one area or season open at the same time.

E. It shall be unlawful for any person while actively fishing pursuant to a recreational fishery to possess any striped bass that are smaller than the minimum size limit or larger than the maximum size limit for the area and season then open and being fished, except as described in 4VAC20-252-115. Any striped bass caught that does not meet the applicable size limit shall be returned to the water immediately.

F. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, trade or barter any striped bass taken by hook and line, rod and reel, or hand line, or spearing provided, however, this provision shall not apply to persons possessing a commercial hook-and-line license and a striped bass permit and meeting the other requirements of this chapter.

G. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to transfer any striped bass to another person, while on the water or while fishing from a pier or shore.

H. It shall be unlawful for the captain of any charter boat or charter vessel to take hook-and-line, rod-and-reel, or hand line, or spear fishermen for hire unless the captain has obtained a permit from the commission and is the holder of a Coast Guard charter license.

I. Charter boat captains shall report to the commission, on forms provided by the commission, all daily quantities of striped bass caught and harvested, and daily fishing hours for themselves or their customers, respectively. The written report shall be forwarded to the commission no later than 15 days following the last day of any open season. In addition, charter boat captains engaging in the Bay and Coastal Spring Trophy-size Striped Bass Recreational Fishery and the Potomac River Tributaries Spring Striped Bass Recreational Fishery shall provide the report required by 4VAC20-252-60 and 4VAC20-252-70, respectively. Failure to provide these reports is a violation of this chapter.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-560. Pertaining to Shellfish Management Areas (amending 4VAC20-560-20 through 4VAC20-560-50).

Statutory Authority: § 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: September 1, 2012.

Agency Contact: Jane Warren, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, telephone (757) 247-2248, FAX (757) 247-2002, or email betty.warren@mrc.virginia.gov.

Summary:

This action removes the York River Shellfish Management Area as a location for the harvest of hard clams using patent tongs and deletes expired provisions concerning the Newport News Shellfish Management Area.

4VAC20-560-20. Shellfish management areas.

A. The York River Shellfish Management Area shall consist of all public grounds located inshore of a line beginning at the entrance to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science boat basin at Gloucester Point, running northwesterly to Buoy No. 30, thence northwesterly to Buoy No. 32, thence northwesterly to Buoy No. 34, then northwesterly to Pages Rock Buoy, thence northwesterly and ending at Clay Bank Wharf.

B. A. The Poquoson River Shellfish Management Area shall consist of all public grounds bounded by a line beginning at Hunts Point Survey Taylor and running northwesterly to Survey Station Spit,; thence northeasterly to Survey Station Cabin North,; thence east to Survey Station Cabin South,; thence southeasterly following the general shoreline (not to include any creeks or canals) to the flag pole near Survey Station 80 at York Point,; thence 175 degrees to Day Marker No. 14 and returning to Hunts Point Survey Taylor.

C. B. The Back River Shellfish Management Area shall consist of all current public clamming grounds bounded by a line from corner 3 on Shell Plant 115 through corner 17, a daymarker, on Shell Plant 115, 237.42 feet to a point being the point of beginning; thence southeasterly to corner number 1 Public Clamming Ground (PCG#12); thence southeasterly to corner number 3A Public Clamming Ground (PCG#12); thence northeasterly to corner number 3 Public Clamming Ground (PCG#12); thence northwesterly to corner number 2 Public Clamming Ground (PCG#12); thence southwesterly to the POB. Also, for a period of one year, throughout 1994, Shell Plant 115 will also be included in the Back River Shellfish Management Area.

D. C. The James River Broodstock Management Area is located inside Public Ground No. 1, Warwick County, south of the James River Bridge, further described as follows: Beginning at a corner number 611 (State Plane Coordinates North 249766.12 East 2596017.56); thence Grid Azimuth 308-39-51, 1074.35' to a corner number 613 (State Plane Coordinates North 250437.32 East 2595178.68); thence Grid Azimuth 28-15-00, 366.30' to a corner number 614 (State Plane Coordinates North 250759.99 East 2595352.06); thence Grid Azimuth 132-36-45, 1114.51' to a corner number 612 (State Plane Coordinates North 250005.43 East 2596172.28); thence Grid Azimuth 212-53-03, 284.97' to a corner number 611, being the point of beginning, containing 8.04 acres.

E. D. The York River Broodstock Management Area shall consist of the area under any portion of the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge, in addition to the area within 300 feet of the eastern, or downstream, side of the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge and the area within 300 feet of the western, or upstream, side of the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge.

F. E. The Newport News Shellfish Management Area shall consist of all current public clamming grounds bounded by a line beginning at the intersection of the James River Bridge and Public Ground No. 1, Warwick County, downstream side; thence east southeasterly along the boundary to corner #5, Public Ground No. 1, Warwick County; thence southeast along the boundary to a corner (249,066.55/2,595,681.74); thence northeast along the boundary to the intersection of a line between the James River Bridge and the northwest corner of Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company shipyard near station "HELO," said line being perpendicular to the James River Bridge; thence southeast along the defined line to the northwest corner of the shipyard; thence downstream to the offshore end of the floating drydock; thence to the offshore end of shipyard pier #6 just south of "Stack"; thence to the offshore end of pier #2 (F R Priv); thence to FI Y "A" off the end of the pier just south of 23rd Street; thence to the offshore end of pier #9 (2 F Y siren); thence to the offshore end of the old coal pier downstream of pier #9; thence to navigational aid FI G "13"; thence to the northeast corner of the Fan Building on the south island of the Monitor Merrimac Bridge Tunnel; thence southerly along the downstream side of the Monitor Merrimac Bridge Tunnel to the first overhead light structure on the bridge tunnel north of the small boat channel hump; thence northwesterly to corner #3, lease #10091 (Hazelwood); thence northwesterly along the boundary to corner #2, lease #10091 (Hazelwood); thence southwesterly to corner #1, Public Ground No. 2, Nansemond County; thence northwesterly along the boundary to corner #6, at the intersection of Public Ground No. 2, Nansemond County, and Public Ground No. 6, Isle of Wight County; thence north northwesterly along the boundary to corner #614, Public Ground No. 6, Isle of Wight County; thence north northwesterly along the boundary to corner #2, Public Ground No. 6, Isle of Wight County; thence northwesterly along the boundary to the intersection of the James River Bridge and Public Ground No. 6, Isle of Wight County; thence northeasterly along the downstream side of the James River Bridge to the intersection with Public Ground No. 1, Warwick County, at the point of beginning.

G. F. The Back River Reef Broodstock Management Area shall consist of the area within a 2000' radius of the center buoy, with a position of 37° 08' 12" north, 76° 13' 54" west.

H. G. The Middle Ground Light Broodstock Management Area shall consist of the area within a 1000' radius of the navigational light, with a position of 36° 56.7' north, 76° 23.5' west.

I. H. The York Spit Reef Broodstock Management Area shall consist of the area contained within the defined latitudes and longitudes: northwest corner 37° 14' 75" N—076° 14' 20" W, northeast corner 37° 14' 75" N—076° 13' 30" W, southwest corner 37° 14' 05" N—076° 14' 20" W, southeast corner 37° 14' 05" N—076° 13' 30" W.

4VAC20-560-30. Permits required.

Each boat or vessel engaged in the harvesting of clams by patent tong from the York River Shellfish Management Area, the Poquoson River Shellfish Management Area, or the Back River Shellfish Management Area shall first obtain a permit specific to the management area to be worked from any Marine Patrol Officer, and this permit shall be on board the vessel at all times and available for inspection. The permit shall state the name and port of the vessel, the registration or documentation number of the vessel, the name and address of the owner of the vessel and the name of the captain of the vessel. Any change to any of the above information shall require the vessel owner or captain to obtain a new permit. These permits shall be in addition to all other licenses or permits required by law.

4VAC20-560-40. Patent tong season.

A. The lawful season for the harvest of clams by patent tong from the York River Shellfish Management Area shall be August 15 through November 30.

B. A. The lawful season for the harvest of clams by patent tong from the Poquoson River Shellfish Management Area shall be March 15 through May 1.

C. B. The lawful season for the harvest of clams by patent tong from the Back River Shellfish Management Area shall be January 1 through March 31.

D. C. It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest clams by patent tong from either the York River, Poquoson River, Shellfish Management Area or Back River Shellfish Management Area except as provided in subsections A, and B, and C of this section.

E. Except as provided in subsection G of this section, the D. The lawful season for the harvest of clams by patent tong from the Newport News Shellfish Management Area shall be December 1 through April 30, except that if the catch of clams per tong-hour for the previous season is less than 174 clams per tong-hour, the lawful season shall be December 1 through March 31.

F. Except as provided in subsection G of this section, it E. It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest clams by patent tong from the Newport News Shellfish Management Area from May 1 through November 30, except that if the catch of clams per tong-hour for the previous season is less than 174 clams per tong-hour, it shall be unlawful for any person to harvest clams by patent tong from the Newport News Shellfish Management Area from April 1 through November 30.

G. The lawful season for the harvest of clams by patent tong from the Newport News Shellfish Management Area shall be January 1, 2010, through June 30, 2010, and December 1, 2010, through December 31, 2010. It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest clams by patent tong from the Newport News Shellfish Management Area from July 1, 2010, through November 30, 2010.

4VAC20-560-50. Time of day and harvest restrictions.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest clams by patent tong from either the York River or Poquoson River Shellfish Management Area before sunrise or after 2 p.m.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest clams by patent tong from the Back River Shellfish Management Area before sunrise or after 4 p.m.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest clams by patent tong from either the York River, Poquoson River Shellfish Management Area, Newport News Shellfish Management Area, or Back River Shellfish Management Area on Saturday or Sunday.

D. It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest any shellfish from the James River Broodstock Management Area, Back River Reef Broodstock Management Area, Middle Ground Light Broodstock Management Area, York Spit Reef Broodstock Management Area, or York River Broodstock Management Area at any time.

E. It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest clams by patent tong from the Newport News Shellfish Management Area before sunrise or after 2 p.m.

F. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess any amount of hard clams from the Newport News Shellfish Management Area that consists of more than 2.0% by number of clams, which can be passed through a 1-3/8 inch inside diameter culling ring. The 2.0% allowance shall be measured by the marine patrol officer from each container or pile of clams.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC25-35. Certification Requirements for Mineral Miners.

4VAC25-130. Coal Surface Mining Reclamation Regulations.

Agency Contact: Michael Skiffington, Program Support Manager, Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, 1100 Bank Street, 8th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 692-3212, or email michael.skiffington@dmme.virginia.gov.

FORMS (4VAC25-35)

Application for Certification Examination, DMM-BMME-1 (rev. 8/12).

Verification of Work Experience Form-Mineral Mining, DMM-BMME-2 (rev. 8/12).

Application for Renewal-Mineral Mining, DMM-BMME-3 (rev. 8/12).

FORMS (4VAC25-130)

Anniversary Report Form, DMLR-PT-028 (rev. 9/11).

Ground Water Monitoring Report, DMLR-PT-101 (rev. 11/99).

Application for Exemption Determination (Extraction of Coal Incidental to the Extraction of Other Minerals), DMLR-211 (rev. 3/09).

Consent for Right of Entry-Exploratory, DMLR-AML-122 (rev. 3/10).

Consent for Right of Entry-Construction, DMLR-AML-123 (rev. 3/10).

Final Inspection – Abandoned Mine Lands – DMLR-AML-171 (rev. 2/07).

License for Performance-Acid Mine Drainage Investigations and Monitoring (Abandoned Mine Land Program), DMLR-AML-175c (11/96).

License for Performance-Acid Mine Drainage Reclamation and Construction (Abandoned Mine Land Program), DMLR-AML-176c (rev. 12/96).

Consent for Right of Entry-Ingress/Egress, DMLR-AML-177 (rev. 3/98).

Public Notice of Intent to Enter to Conduct Reclamation Activities, DMLR-AML-301 (rev. 3/10).

Landowner Contact – Abandoned Mine Land Program, DMLR-AML-302 (rev. 3/10).

Lien Waiver –Real Estate Appraisal – Abandoned Mine Land Program, DMLR-AML-305 (rev. 3/10).

Estates to be Appraised – Abandoned Mine Land Program, DMLR-AML-309 (rev. 3/10).

Lien Waiver – Realty Analysis – Abandoned Mine Land Program, DMLR-AML-311 (rev. 3/10).

Application for Recertification: DMLR Endorsement/Blaster's Certification, DMLR-BCME-03 (rev. 3/09).

Application for DMLR Endorsement: Blaster's Certification (Coal Surface Mining Operation), DMLR-BCME-04 (rev. 3/09).

Geology and Hydrology Information Part A through E, DMLR-CP-186 (rev. 3/86).

Notice of Temporary Cessation, DMLR-ENF-220 (rev. 3/09).

Lands Unsuitable Petition, DMLR-OA-131 (rev. 12/85).

Chapter 19-Statement for Third Party-Certificate of Deposit, DMLR-PS-093 (rev. 12/85).

Application for Performance Bond Release, DMLR-PT-212 (rev. 3/09)

Example-Waiver (300 Feet from Dwelling), DMLR-PT-223 (rev. 2/96).

Analysis, Premining vs Postmining Productivity Comparison (Hayland/Pasture Land Use), DMLR-PT-012 (rev. 3/09).

Surety Bond, DMLR-PT-013 (rev. 8/07).

Surety Bond-Federal Lands, DMLR-PT-013A (rev. 3/09).

Surety Bond Rider, DMLR-PT-013B (rev. 8/07).

Map Legend, DMLR-PT-017 (rev. 3/09).

Certificate of Deposit, DMLR-PT-026 (rev. 8/07).

Form Letter From Banks Issuing a CD as Performance Bond for Mining on Federal Lands, DMLR-PT-026A (rev. 8/07).

Operator's Seeding Report, DMLR-PT-011 (rev. 3/09).

Request for Relinquishment, DMLR-PT-027 (rev. 6/09).

Water Supply Inventory List, DMLR-PT-030 (rev. 3/09).

Application for Permit for Coal Surface Mining and Reclamation Operations and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), DMLR-PT-034 (rev. 2/99).

Request for DMLR Permit Data, DMLR-PT-034info (rev. 3/10).

Certification - Application for Permit: Coal Surface Mining and Reclamation Operations, DMLR-PT-034D (rev. 3/09).

Coal Exploration Notice, DMLR-PT-051 (rev. 7/10).

Well Construction Data Sheet, DMLR-WCD-034D (rev. 5/04).

Sediment Basin Design Data Sheet, DMLR-PT-086 (rev. 3/09).

Impoundment Construction and Annual Certification, DMLR-PT-092 (rev. 3/09).

Road Construction Certification, DMLR-PT-098 (rev. 3/09).

Ground Water Monitoring Report, DMLR-PT-101 (rev. 3/09).

Rainfall Monitoring Report, DMLR-PT-102 (rev. 8/98).

Pre-Blast Survey, DMLR-PT-104 (rev. 3/09).

Excess Spoil Fills and Refuse Embankments Construction Certification, DMLR-PT-105 (rev. 3/09).

Stage-Area Storage Computations, DMLR-PT-111 (rev. 3/09).

Discharge Monitoring Report, DMLR-PT-119 (rev. 3/09).

Water Monitoring Report-Electronic File/Printout Certification, DMLR-PT-119C (rev. 3/09).

Coal Surface Mining Reclamation Fund Application, DMLR-PT-162 (rev. 3/09).

Conditions-Coal Surface Mining Reclamation Fund, DMLR-PT-167 (rev. 3/09).

Coal Surface Mining Reclamation Fund Tax Reporting Form, DMLR-PT-178 (rev. 3/09).

Surface Water Monitoring Report, DMLR-PT-210 (rev. 3/09).

Application For Performance Bond Release, DMLR-PT-212 (rev. 3/09).

Public Notice: Application for Transfer, Assignment, or Sale of Permit Rights under Chapter 19 of Title 45.1 of the Code of Virginia, DMLR-PT-219 (rev. 3/09).

Public Notice: Application for Bond Reduction Under Chapter 19 of Title 45.1 of the Code of Virginia, Phase I, DMLR-PT-225 (rev. 3/09).

Public Notice: Application for Bond Reduction Under Chapter 19 of Title 45.1 of the Code of Virginia, Phase II, DMLR-PT-226 (rev. 3/09).

Public Notice: Application for Bond Reduction Under Chapter 19 of Title 45.1 of the Code of Virginia, Phase III, DMLR-PT-227 (rev. 3/09).

Public Notice: Application for Bond Reduction Under Chapter 19 of Title 45.1 of the Code of Virginia, Incremental Bond Reduction, DMLR-PT-228 (rev. 8/09).

Verification of Public Display of Application, DMLR-PT-236 (8/01).

Affidavit (Permit Application Information: Ownership and Control Information and Violation History Information), DMLR-PT-240 (rev. 3/09).

Stream Channel Diversion(s) Certification, DMLR-PT-233 (rev. 3/09).

Quarterly Acid-Base Monitoring Report, DMLR-PT-239 (rev. 3/09).

Affidavit (No Legal Change in a Company's Identity), DMLR-PT-250 (rev. 3/09).

Affidavit (Reclamation Fee Payment), DMLR-PT-244 (rev. 3/09).

Application-National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit-Short Form C, DMLR-PT-128 (rev. 3/09).

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Application Instructions, DMLR-PT-128A (rev. 3/09).

Impoundment Inspection Report, DMLR-PT-251 (rev. 3/09).

Surface Water Baseline Data Summary, DMLR-TS-114 (rev. 4/82).

Diversion Design Computation Sheet, DMLR-TS-120 (rev. 12/85).

Sediment Channel Design Data Sheet, DMLR-TS-127 (rev. 12/85).

Virginia Stream Survey, DMLR-TS-217 (rev. 1/87).

Line Transect-Forest Land Count, DMLR-PT-224 (rev. 3/09).

Applicant Violator System (AVS) Ownership & Control Information, DMLR-AML-003 (rev. 4/97).

Application for Coal Exploration Permit and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit, DMLR-PT-062 (formerly DMLR-PS-062) (rev. 3/09).

Application-National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Application Instructions, DMLR-PT-128 (rev. 9/97).

Written Findings, DMLR-PT-237 (rev. 1/98).

Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit, DMLR-PT-255 (rev. 10/11).

Confirmation of Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit, DMLR-PT-255A (eff. 8/03).

Affidavit DMLR-AML-312 (eff. 7/98).

Indemnity Agreement - Self Bond, DMLR-PT-221 (eff. 12/07).

Permittee Consent to Service by Electronic Mail, DMLR-PT-265 (rev. 3/09).

Title of Regulation: 4VAC25-35. Certification Requirements for Mineral Miners.

4VAC25-130. Coal Surface Mining Reclamation Regulations.

Agency Contact: Michael Skiffington, Program Support Manager, Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, 1100 Bank Street, 8th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 692-3212, or email michael.skiffington@dmme.virginia.gov.

FORMS (4VAC25-35)

Application for Certification Examination, DMM-BMME-1 (rev. 8/12).

Verification of Work Experience Form-Mineral Mining, DMM-BMME-2 (rev. 8/12).

Application for Renewal-Mineral Mining, DMM-BMME-3 (rev. 8/12).

FORMS (4VAC25-130)

Anniversary Report Form, DMLR-PT-028 (rev. 9/11).

Ground Water Monitoring Report, DMLR-PT-101 (rev. 11/99).

Application for Exemption Determination (Extraction of Coal Incidental to the Extraction of Other Minerals), DMLR-211 (rev. 3/09).

Consent for Right of Entry-Exploratory, DMLR-AML-122 (rev. 3/10).

Consent for Right of Entry-Construction, DMLR-AML-123 (rev. 3/10).

Final Inspection – Abandoned Mine Lands – DMLR-AML-171 (rev. 2/07).

License for Performance-Acid Mine Drainage Investigations and Monitoring (Abandoned Mine Land Program), DMLR-AML-175c (11/96).

License for Performance-Acid Mine Drainage Reclamation and Construction (Abandoned Mine Land Program), DMLR-AML-176c (rev. 12/96).

Consent for Right of Entry-Ingress/Egress, DMLR-AML-177 (rev. 3/98).

Public Notice of Intent to Enter to Conduct Reclamation Activities, DMLR-AML-301 (rev. 3/10).

Landowner Contact – Abandoned Mine Land Program, DMLR-AML-302 (rev. 3/10).

Lien Waiver –Real Estate Appraisal – Abandoned Mine Land Program, DMLR-AML-305 (rev. 3/10).

Estates to be Appraised – Abandoned Mine Land Program, DMLR-AML-309 (rev. 3/10).

Lien Waiver – Realty Analysis – Abandoned Mine Land Program, DMLR-AML-311 (rev. 3/10).

Application for Recertification: DMLR Endorsement/Blaster's Certification, DMLR-BCME-03 (rev. 3/09).

Application for DMLR Endorsement: Blaster's Certification (Coal Surface Mining Operation), DMLR-BCME-04 (rev. 3/09).

Geology and Hydrology Information Part A through E, DMLR-CP-186 (rev. 3/86).

Notice of Temporary Cessation, DMLR-ENF-220 (rev. 3/09).

Lands Unsuitable Petition, DMLR-OA-131 (rev. 12/85).

Chapter 19-Statement for Third Party-Certificate of Deposit, DMLR-PS-093 (rev. 12/85).

Application for Performance Bond Release, DMLR-PT-212 (rev. 3/09)

Example-Waiver (300 Feet from Dwelling), DMLR-PT-223 (rev. 2/96).

Analysis, Premining vs Postmining Productivity Comparison (Hayland/Pasture Land Use), DMLR-PT-012 (rev. 3/09).

Surety Bond, DMLR-PT-013 (rev. 8/07).

Surety Bond-Federal Lands, DMLR-PT-013A (rev. 3/09).

Surety Bond Rider, DMLR-PT-013B (rev. 8/07).

Map Legend, DMLR-PT-017 (rev. 3/09).

Certificate of Deposit, DMLR-PT-026 (rev. 8/07).

Form Letter From Banks Issuing a CD as Performance Bond for Mining on Federal Lands, DMLR-PT-026A (rev. 8/07).

Operator's Seeding Report, DMLR-PT-011 (rev. 3/09).

Request for Relinquishment, DMLR-PT-027 (rev. 6/09).

Water Supply Inventory List, DMLR-PT-030 (rev. 3/09).

Application for Permit for Coal Surface Mining and Reclamation Operations and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), DMLR-PT-034 (rev. 2/99).

Request for DMLR Permit Data, DMLR-PT-034info (rev. 3/10).

Certification - Application for Permit: Coal Surface Mining and Reclamation Operations, DMLR-PT-034D (rev. 3/09).

Coal Exploration Notice, DMLR-PT-051 (rev. 7/10).

Well Construction Data Sheet, DMLR-WCD-034D (rev. 5/04).

Sediment Basin Design Data Sheet, DMLR-PT-086 (rev. 3/09).

Impoundment Construction and Annual Certification, DMLR-PT-092 (rev. 3/09).

Road Construction Certification, DMLR-PT-098 (rev. 3/09).

Ground Water Monitoring Report, DMLR-PT-101 (rev. 3/09).

Rainfall Monitoring Report, DMLR-PT-102 (rev. 8/98).

Pre-Blast Survey, DMLR-PT-104 (rev. 3/09).

Excess Spoil Fills and Refuse Embankments Construction Certification, DMLR-PT-105 (rev. 3/09).

Stage-Area Storage Computations, DMLR-PT-111 (rev. 3/09).

Discharge Monitoring Report, DMLR-PT-119 (rev. 3/09).

Water Monitoring Report-Electronic File/Printout Certification, DMLR-PT-119C (rev. 3/09).

Coal Surface Mining Reclamation Fund Application, DMLR-PT-162 (rev. 3/09).

Conditions-Coal Surface Mining Reclamation Fund, DMLR-PT-167 (rev. 3/09).

Coal Surface Mining Reclamation Fund Tax Reporting Form, DMLR-PT-178 (rev. 3/09).

Surface Water Monitoring Report, DMLR-PT-210 (rev. 3/09).

Application For Performance Bond Release, DMLR-PT-212 (rev. 3/09).

Public Notice: Application for Transfer, Assignment, or Sale of Permit Rights under Chapter 19 of Title 45.1 of the Code of Virginia, DMLR-PT-219 (rev. 3/09).

Public Notice: Application for Bond Reduction Under Chapter 19 of Title 45.1 of the Code of Virginia, Phase I, DMLR-PT-225 (rev. 3/09).

Public Notice: Application for Bond Reduction Under Chapter 19 of Title 45.1 of the Code of Virginia, Phase II, DMLR-PT-226 (rev. 3/09).

Public Notice: Application for Bond Reduction Under Chapter 19 of Title 45.1 of the Code of Virginia, Phase III, DMLR-PT-227 (rev. 3/09).

Public Notice: Application for Bond Reduction Under Chapter 19 of Title 45.1 of the Code of Virginia, Incremental Bond Reduction, DMLR-PT-228 (rev. 8/09).

Verification of Public Display of Application, DMLR-PT-236 (8/01).

Affidavit (Permit Application Information: Ownership and Control Information and Violation History Information), DMLR-PT-240 (rev. 3/09).

Stream Channel Diversion(s) Certification, DMLR-PT-233 (rev. 3/09).

Quarterly Acid-Base Monitoring Report, DMLR-PT-239 (rev. 3/09).

Affidavit (No Legal Change in a Company's Identity), DMLR-PT-250 (rev. 3/09).

Affidavit (Reclamation Fee Payment), DMLR-PT-244 (rev. 3/09).

Application-National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit-Short Form C, DMLR-PT-128 (rev. 3/09).

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Application Instructions, DMLR-PT-128A (rev. 3/09).

Impoundment Inspection Report, DMLR-PT-251 (rev. 3/09).

Surface Water Baseline Data Summary, DMLR-TS-114 (rev. 4/82).

Diversion Design Computation Sheet, DMLR-TS-120 (rev. 12/85).

Sediment Channel Design Data Sheet, DMLR-TS-127 (rev. 12/85).

Virginia Stream Survey, DMLR-TS-217 (rev. 1/87).

Line Transect-Forest Land Count, DMLR-PT-224 (rev. 3/09).

Applicant Violator System (AVS) Ownership & Control Information, DMLR-AML-003 (rev. 4/97).

Application for Coal Exploration Permit and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit, DMLR-PT-062 (formerly DMLR-PS-062) (rev. 3/09).

Application-National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Application Instructions, DMLR-PT-128 (rev. 9/97).

Written Findings, DMLR-PT-237 (rev. 1/98).

Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit, DMLR-PT-255 (rev. 10/11).

Confirmation of Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit, DMLR-PT-255A (eff. 8/03).

Affidavit DMLR-AML-312 (eff. 7/98).

Indemnity Agreement - Self Bond, DMLR-PT-221 (eff. 12/07).

Permittee Consent to Service by Electronic Mail, DMLR-PT-265 (rev. 3/09).

Title of Regulation: 4VAC25-170. Geothermal Energy Regulations (amending 4VAC25-170-10 through 4VAC25-170-80).

Statutory Authority: § 45.1-179.7 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: October 24, 2012.

Agency Contact: Michael Skiffington, Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, 1100 Bank Street, 8th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219-3402, telephone (804) 692-3212, FAX (804) 692-3237, TTY (800) 828-1120, or email mike.skiffington@dmme.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments (i) make a technical amendment to the definition of "geothermal resource" to clarify that the regulation applies to nonresidential use only and (ii) bring consistency to data submission requirements for the Division of Gas and Oil by requiring applicants to use the Virginia Coordinate System of 1983.

Since publication of the proposed regulation, minor changes to ensure consistency with other department regulations have been made. No substantive changes have been made since publication of the proposed regulation.

Summary of Public Comments and Agency's Response: No public comments were received by the promulgating agency.

4VAC25-170-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Bottom hole temperature" means the highest temperature measured in the well or bore hole. It is normally attained directly adjacent to the producing zone, and commonly at or near the bottom of the borehole.

[ "Board" means the Virginia Gas and Oil Board. ]

"Casing" means all pipe set in wells.

"Commissioner" means the Director of the Virginia Department of Mines mineral and Energy.

"Conservation" means the preservation of geothermal resources from loss, waste, or harm.

"Correlative rights" means the mutual right of each overlying owner in a geothermal area to produce without waste a just and equitable share of the geothermal resources. Just and equitable shares shall be apportioned according to a ratio of the overlying acreage in a tract to the total acreage included in the geothermal area.

"Department" means the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.

[ "Departmental representative" means the Virginia Gas and Oil Inspector division director or a designated representative. ]

"Designated agent" means that person appointed by the owner or operator of any geothermal resource well to represent him.

[ "Director" means the Director of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy or his authorized agent.

"Division director" means the Director of the Division of Gas and Oil, also known as the Gas and Oil Inspector as defined in the Virginia Gas and Oil Act of 1990, Chapter 22.1 (§ 45.1-361.1 et seq.) of Title 45.1 of the Code of Virginia or his authorized agent. ]

"Drilling log" means the written record progressively describing all strata, water, minerals, geothermal resources, pressures, rate of fill-up, fresh and salt water-bearing horizons and depths, caving strata, casing records and such other information as is usually recorded in the normal procedure of drilling. The term shall also include the downhole geophysical survey records or logs, if any are made.

"Exploratory well" means an existing well or a well drilled solely for temperature observation purposes preliminary to filing an application for a production or injection well permit.

"Geothermal area" means the general land area which that is underlaid or reasonably appears to be underlaid by geothermal resources in a single reservoir, pool, or other source or interrelated sources, as such area or areas may be from time to time designated by the department.

"Geothermal energy" means the usable energy produced or which that can be produced from geothermal resources.

"Geothermal reservoir" means the rock, strata, or fractures within the earth from which natural or injected geothermal fluids are obtained.

"Geothermal resource" means the natural heat of the earth at temperatures 70°F or above with volumetric rates of 100 gallons per minute or greater and the energy, in whatever form, present in, associated with, or created by, or which that may be extracted from, that natural heat. This definition does not include ground heat or groundwater resources at lower temperatures and rates that may be used in association with heat pump installations.

"Geothermal waste" means any loss or escape of geothermal energy, including, but not limited to:

1. Underground loss resulting from the inefficient, excessive, or improper use or dissipation of geothermal energy; or the locating, spacing, construction, equipping, operating, or producing of any well in a manner which that results, or tends to result, in reducing the quantity of geothermal energy to be recovered from any geothermal area in Virginia; provided, however, that unavoidable dissipation of geothermal energy resulting from oil and gas exploration and production shall not be construed to be geothermal waste.

2. The inefficient above-ground transportation and storage of geothermal energy; and the locating, spacing, equipping, operating, or producing of any well or injection well in a manner causing or tending to cause, unnecessary or excessive surface loss or destruction of geothermal energy;

3. The escape into the open air of steam or hot water in excess of what is reasonably necessary in the efficient development or production of a well.

"Geothermal well" means any well drilled for the discovery or production of geothermal resources, any well reasonably presumed to contain geothermal resources, or any special well, converted producing well, or reactivated or converted abandoned well employed for reinjecting geothermal resources.

"Injection well" means a well drilled or converted for the specific use of injecting waste geothermal fluids back into a geothermal production zone for disposal, reservoir pressure maintenance, or augmentation of reservoir fluids.

"Inspector" means the Virginia Gas and Oil Inspector or such other public officer, employee, or other authority as may in emergencies be acting in the stead, or by law be assigned the duties of, the Virginia Gas and Oil Inspector under § 45.1-361.1 of the Code of Virginia.

"Monitoring well" means a well used to measure the effects of geothermal production on the quantity and quality of a potable groundwater aquifer.

"Operator" means any person drilling, maintaining, operating, producing, or in control of any well, and shall include owner when any well is operated or has been operated or is about to be operated by or under the direction of the owner.

"Owner" means the overlying property owner or lessee who has the right to drill into, produce, and appropriate from any geothermal area.

"Permit" means a document issued by the department pursuant to this chapter for the construction and operation of any geothermal exploration, production, or injection well.

"Person" means any individual natural person, general or limited partnership, joint venture, association, cooperative organization, corporation whether domestic or foreign, agency or subdivision of this or any other state or the federal government, any municipal or quasi-municipal entity whether or not it is incorporated, receiver, trustee, guardian, executor, administrator, fiduciary, or representative of any kind.

"Production casing" means the main casing string which protects the sidewalls of the well against collapse and conducts geothermal fluid to the surface.

"Production record" means written accounts of a geothermal well's volumetric rate, pressure and temperature, and geothermal fluid quality.

"Sequential utilization" means application of the geothermal resource to a use with the highest heat need and the subsequent channeling of the resource to other uses with lower temperature requirements before injection or disposal of the geothermal fluid.

"Surface casing" (water protection string) means pipe designed to protect the freshwater sands.

"Unitized drilling operation" means the management of separately owned tracts overlying a geothermal area as a single drilling unit.

4VAC25-170-20. Resource conservation.

A. In order to foster geothermal utilization, prevent waste, protect correlative rights, safeguard the natural environment, and promote geothermal resource conservation and management, the department may designate geothermal areas, require well spacing and unitization, and allow sequential utilization on a case-by-case basis.

B. Wells shall be classified as to the geothermal area from which they produce, and geothermal areas shall be determined, designated, and named by the department in accordance with the definition provided in 4VAC25-170-10 [ of this chapter ]. In designating geothermal areas, factors to be considered shall include but not be limited to common usage and geographic names; the surface topography and property lines of the land underlain by geothermal energy; the plan of well spacing being employed or proposed for the area; the depth at which resources have been found; and the nature and character of the producing formation or formations. In the event any person is dissatisfied with any such classification or determination, an application may be made to the department for reclassification or redetermination.

C. Information provided the inspector [ division ] director in the notice of intent to proceed shall be used by the department to determine spacing between production wells and between production and injection wells. The department may also conduct independent investigations as deemed necessary to determine appropriate well spacing and utilization.

When two or more separately owned tracts of land lie within a geothermal area, the department may require unitized operations under supervision of the inspector [ division ] director [ or his departmental representative ]. Unitized drilling operations shall be operated according to the principle of correlative rights.

D. Persons desirous of engaging in sequential utilization shall file a formal request with the department which that shall contain the following items:

1. A statement of the uses to be made of the geothermal resource.

2. Evidence that sequential utilization will not cause heat drawdown in the geothermal aquifer, cause land subsidence, hinder observation of the geothermal resource, or contaminate potable water supplies.

3. Requests for sequential utilization shall be reviewed and acted upon by the department within 45 days of receipt.

4VAC25-170-30. Bonds, permits and fees.

A. 1. Before any person shall engage in drilling for geothermal resources or construction of a geothermal well in Virginia, such person shall file with the inspector [ division ] director a completion bond with a surety company licensed to do business in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the amount of $10,000 for each exploratory and injection well, and $25,000 for each production well. Blanket bonds of $100,000 may be granted at the discretion of the inspector [ division ] director.

2. The return of such bonds shall be conditioned on the following requirements:

a. Compliance with all statutes, rules, and regulations relating to geothermal regulations and the permit.

b. Plugging and abandoning the well as approved by the inspector [ division ] director in accordance with 4VAC25-170-80 of this chapter.

3. A land stabilization bond of $1,000 per acre of land disturbed shall be required. Such bond will be released once drilling is completed and the land is reclaimed in accordance with 4VAC25-170-40 of this chapter.

4. Liability under any bond may not be terminated without written approval of the inspector [ division ] director.

B. Each exploration, production, and injection well permit application shall be accompanied by payment of a $75 application fee.

1. Applications will not be reviewed until the operator or designated agent submits proof of compliance with all pertinent local ordinances.

Before commencement of exploratory drilling operations on any tract of land, the operator or designated agent shall file an exploration permit application with the department. An accurate map of the proposed wells on an appropriate scale showing adjoining property lines and the proposed locations, latitude and longitude using the Virginia Coordinate System of 1983 (Chapter 17 (§ 55-287 et seq.) of Title 55 of the Code of Virginia), and the depths and surface elevations shall be filed with the application. The application also shall include an inventory of local water resources in the area of proposed development.

2. Before commencement of production or injection well drilling, an application to produce and inject geothermal fluids shall be filed in the form of a notice of intent to proceed in accordance with the provisions of 4VAC25-170-40 of this chapter.

3. New permit applications must be submitted if, either prior to or during drilling, the operator desires to change the location of a proposed well. If the new location is within the boundaries established by the permit or within an unitized drilling operation, the application may be made orally and the inspector [ division ] director may orally authorize the commencement or continuance of drilling operations. Within 10 days after obtaining oral authorization, the operator shall file a new application to drill at the new location. A permit may be issued and the old permit cancelled without payment of additional fee. If the new location is located outside the unitized drilling unit covered by the first permit, no drilling shall be commenced or continued until the new permit is issued.

4. All applications, requests, maps, reports, records, and other data (including report forms) required by or submitted to the department shall be signed by the owner, operator, or designated agent submitting such materials.

5. The department will act on all permit applications within 30 days of receipt of an application or as soon thereafter as practical.

4VAC25-170-40. Notification of intent to proceed.

The notification of intent to proceed with geothermal production as required by 4VAC25-170-30 of this chapter must be accompanied by (i) an operations plan, (ii) a geothermal fluid analysis, and (iii) a proposal for injection of spent fluids.

1. The operations plan shall become part of the terms and conditions of any permit which that is issued, and the provisions of this plan shall be carried out where applicable in the drilling, production, and abandonment phase of the operation. The department may require any changes in the operations plan necessary to promote geothermal and water resource conservation and management, prevent waste, protect potable groundwater drinking supplies, or protect the environment, including a requirement for injection or unitization. The operations plan shall include the following information:

a. An accurate plat or map, on a scale not smaller than 400 feet to the inch, showing the proposed location, latitude, longitude using the Virginia Coordinate System of 1983 (Chapter 17 (§ 55-287 et seq.) of Title 55 of the Code of Virginia), and surface elevation of the production and injection wells as determined by survey, the courses and distances of such locations from two permanent points or landmarks on said tract, the well numbers, the name of the owner, the boundaries and acreage of the tract on which the wells are to be drilled, the location of water wells, surface bodies of water, actual or proposed access roads, other production and injection wells on adjoining tracts, the names of the owners of all adjoining tracts and of any other tract within 500 feet of the proposed location, and any building, highway, railroad, stream, oil or gas well, mine openings or workings, or quarry within 500 feet of the proposed location. The location must be surveyed and the plat certified by a registered surveyor and bear his certificate number.

b. A summary geologic report of the area, including depth to proposed reservoir; type of reservoir; anticipated thickness of reservoir; anticipated temperature of the geothermal resource; anticipated porosity, permeability and pressure; geologic structures; and description of overlying formations and aquifers.

c. The method of meeting the guidelines of the Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations as adopted by the Virginia [ Soil and Water Conservation Board Department of Conservation and Recreation ] pursuant to §§ 10.1-561 to 10.1-564 of the Code of Virginia.

d. The method of disposing of all drilling muds and fluids, and all cement and other drilling materials from the well site; the proposed method of preventing such muds, fluids, drillings, or materials from seeping into springs, water wells, and surface waters during drilling operations.

e. The method of construction and maintenance of access roads, materials to be used, method to maintain the natural drainage area, and method of directing surface water runoff from disturbed areas around undisturbed areas.

f. The method of removing any rubbish or debris during the drilling, production, and abandonment phases of the project. All waste shall be handled in a manner which that prevents fire hazards or the pollution of surface streams and groundwater.

g. The primary and alternative method of spent geothermal fluid disposal. All disposal methods shall be in accordance with state and federal laws for the protection of land and water resources.

h. The methods of monitoring fluid quality, fluid temperature, and volumetric rate of production and injection wells.

i. The method of monitoring potable drinking water aquifers close to production and injection zones.

j. The method of monitoring for land subsidence.

k. The method of plugging and abandoning wells and a plan for reclaiming production and injection well sites.

l. The method of cleaning scale and corrosion in geothermal casing.

m. A description of measures which that will be used to minimize any adverse environmental impact of the proposed activities on the area's natural resources, aquatic life, or wildlife.

2. Geothermal fluid analysis.

a. A geothermal fluid analysis shall be submitted with the operations plan, and annually thereafter.

b. Acceptable chemical parameters and sampling methods are set forth in 4VAC25-170-70 B of this chapter.

3. Proposal for injection of geothermal fluids.

a. Geothermal fluid shall be injected into the same geothermal area from which it was withdrawn in the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Plans for injection wells in this area shall include information on:

(1) Existing reservoir conditions.

(2) Method of injection.

(3) Source of injection fluid.

(4) Estimate of expected daily volume in gallons per minute per day.

(5) Geologic zones or formations affected.

(6) Chemical analyses of fluid to be injected.

(7) Treatment of spent geothermal fluids prior to injection.

b. Exemptions to the injection rule for geothermal fluid shall be approved by the department. Such requests shall be accompanied by a detailed statement of the proposed alternative method of geothermal fluid disposal; the effects of not injecting on such reservoir characteristics as pressure, temperature, and subsidence; and a copy of the operator's or designated agent's no-discharge permit.

4VAC25-170-50. Well construction and maintenance.

A. Every person drilling for geothermal resources in Virginia, or operating, owning, controlling or in possession of any well as defined herein, shall paint or stencil, and post and keep posted in a conspicuous place on or near the well a sign showing the name of the person, firm, company, corporation, or association drilling, owning, or controlling the well, the company or operator's well number, and the well identification number thereof. Well identification numbers will be assigned approved permits according to the USGS groundwater site inventory system. The lettering on such sign shall be kept in a legible condition at all times.

B. The inspector [ division ] director shall receive notice prior to the commencement of well work concerning the identification number of the well and the date and time that well work is scheduled to begin. Telephone notice will fulfill this requirement.

C. 1. Drilling-fluid materials sufficient to ensure well control shall be maintained in the field area and be readily accessible for use during drilling operations.

2. All drilling muds shall be used in a fashion designed to protect freshwater-bearing sands, horizons, and aquifers from contamination during well construction.

3. Drilling muds shall be removed from the drilling site after the well is completed and disposed of in the method approved in the operations plan.

4. Operations shall be conducted with due care to minimizing the loss of reservoir permeability.

D. All wells must be drilled with due diligence to maintain a reasonably vertical well bore. Deviation tests must be recorded in the drilling log for every 1000 feet drilled.

E. 1. A well may deviate intentionally from the vertical with written permission by the inspector [ division ] director. Such permission shall not be granted without notice to adjoining landowners, except for side-tracking mechanical difficulties.

2. When a well has been intentionally deviated from the vertical, a directional survey of the well bore must be filed with the department within 30 days after completion of the well.

3. The department shall have the right to make, or to require the operator to make, a directional survey of any well, at the request of an adjoining operator or landowner prior to the completion of the well and at the expense of said adjoining operator or landowner. In addition, if the department has reason to believe that the well has deviated beyond the boundaries of the property on which the well is located, the department also shall have the right to make, or to require the operator to make, a directional survey of the well at the expense of the operator.

F. 1. Valves approved by the inspector [ division ] director shall be installed and maintained on every completed well so that pressure measurements may be obtained at any time.

2. Blow-out preventers during drilling shall be required when the working pressure on the wellhead connection is greater than 1000 psi.

G. 1. Geothermal production wells shall be designed to ensure the efficient production and elimination of waste or escape of the resource.

2. All freshwater-bearing sands, horizons, and aquifers shall be fully protected from contamination during the production of geothermal fluids.

3. a. Surface casing shall extend from a point 12 inches above the surface to a point at least 50 feet below the deepest known groundwater aquifer or horizon.

b. The operator, owner, or designated agent shall use new casing. Only casing which that meets American Petroleum Institute specifications, as found in API 5AC, Restricted Yield Strength Casing and Tubing, March, 1982, API 5A, Casing Tubing, and Drill Pipe, March, 1982, and API 5AX, High-Strength Casing, Tubing, and Drill Pipe, March, 1982, (and all subsequent revisions thereto), shall be used in geothermal production wells.

c. Cement introduced into a well for the purpose of cementing the casing or for the purpose of creating a permanent bridge during plugging operations shall be placed in the well by means of a method approved by the inspector [ division ] director. In addition:

(1) Each surface string shall be cemented upward from the bottom of the casing.

(2) Cement shall be allowed to stand for 24 hours or until comprehensive strength equals 500 psi before drilling.

d. The department may modify casing requirements when special conditions demand it.

4. a. The owner, operator, or designated agent shall use new casing. Only production casing which that meets American Petroleum Institute specifications, as found in API 5AC, Restricted Yield Strength Casing and Tubing, March, 1982, API 5A, Casing Tubing, and Drill Pipe, March, 1982, and API 5AX, High-Strength Casing, Tubing, and Drill Pipe, March, 1982, (and all subsequent revisions thereto), shall be used in geothermal production wells.

b. Each well shall be cemented with a quantity of cement sufficient to fill the annular space from the production zone to the surface. The production casing shall be cemented to exclude, isolate, or segregate overlapping and to prevent the movement of fluids into freshwater zones.

c. Cement shall be allowed to stand for 24 hours or until compressive strength equals 500 psi before drilling.

d. Cement introduced into a well for the purpose of cementing the casing or for the purpose of creating a permanent bridge during plugging operations shall be placed in the well by means of a method approved by the inspector [ division ] director.

e. The department may modify casing requirements when special conditions demand it.

f. The inspector [ division ] director may require additional well tests if production or monitoring records indicate a leak in the production casing. When tests confirm the presence of a production casing leak, the inspector [ division ] director may require whatever actions are necessary to protect other strings and freshwater horizons.

H. 1. The owner, operator, or designated agent shall use new casing. Only casing which that meets American Petroleum Institute specifications, as found in API 5AC, Restricted Yield Strength Casing and Tubing, March, 1982, API 5A, Casing Tubing, and Drill Pipe, March, 1982, and API 5AX, High-Strength Casing, Tubing, and Drill Pipe, March, 1982, (and all subsequent revisions thereto), shall be used in geothermal injection wells.

2. The casing program shall be designed so that no contamination will be caused to freshwater strata. Injection shall be done through production casing adequately sealed and cemented to allow for monitoring of the annulus between the injection string and the last intermediate string or water protection string, as the case may be. Injection pressure shall be monitored and regulated to minimize the possibility of fracturing the confining strata.

3. Production casing shall be cemented through the entire freshwater zone.

4. The rate of injection of geothermal fluid shall not exceed the production rate.

5. Adequate and proper wellhead equipment shall be installed and maintained in good working order on every injection well not abandoned and plugged, so that pressure measurements may be obtained at any time.

I. 1. The inspector [ division ] director or a departmental representative shall have access to geothermal well sites during business hours.

2. The state geologist or his designated representative shall have access to any drilling site for the purpose of examining whole cores or cuttings as may be appropriate.

J. At least ten 10 days prior to any chemical cleaning of production casing, the operator shall notify the inspector [ division ] director in writing of the type and amount of chemical to be used and obtain approval for its use.

K. The well operator, or his designated agent, shall file a completion report within 60 days after well work is completed. The completion report shall be accompanied by copies of any drilling logs required under 4VAC25-170-40 of this chapter.

4VAC25-170-60. Records, logs and general requirements.

A. 1. During the drilling and production phases of every well, the owner, operator, or designated agent responsible for the conduct of drilling operations shall keep at the well an accurate record of the well's operations as outlined in subsection C of this section. These records shall be accessible to the inspector [ division ] director at all reasonable hours.

2. The refusal of the well operator or designated agent to furnish upon request such logs or records or to give information regarding the well to the department shall constitute sufficient cause to require the cessation or shutting down of all drilling or other operations at the well site until the request is honored.

3. Drilling logs supplied to the department will be kept in confidence in accordance with § 40.1-11 of the Code of Virginia.

4. Copies of all drilling logs and productions records required by this chapter shall be [ sent electronically or ] mailed to:

Virginia Gas and Oil Inspector [ Division ] Director Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy Division of Gas and Oil P.O. Box 1416 159 Abingdon, VA 24212 Lebanon, VA 24266

5. Samples representative of all strata penetrated in each well shall be collected and furnished to the Commonwealth. Such samples shall be in the form of rock cuttings collected so as to represent the strata encountered in successive intervals no greater than 10 feet. If coring is done, however, the samples to be furnished shall consist, at a minimum, of one-quarter segments of core obtained. All samples shall be handled as follows:

a. Rock cuttings shall be dried and properly packaged in a manner that will protect the individual samples, each of which shall be identified by the well name, identification number, and interval penetrated.

b. Samples of core shall be boxed according to standard practice and identified as to well name and identification number and interval penetrated.

c. All samples shall be shipped or mailed, charges prepaid, to:

Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy Division of Mineral Resources Fontaine Research Park 900 Natural Resources Drive P.O. Box 3667 Charlottesville, VA 22903

B. Each well operator, owner, or designated agent, within 30 days after the completion of any well, shall furnish to the inspector [ division ] director a copy of the drilling log. Drilling logs shall list activities in chronological order and include the following information:

1. The well's location and identification number.

2. A record of casings set in wells.

3. Formations encountered.

4. Deviation tests for every one thousand feet drilled.

5. Cementing procedures.

6. A copy of the downhole geophysical logs.

C. The owner, operator, or designated agent of any production or injection well shall keep or cause to be kept a careful and accurate production record. The following information shall be reported to the inspector [ division ] director on a monthly basis for the first six months and quarterly thereafter, or as required by permit, unless otherwise stated:

1. Pressure measurements as monitored by valves on production and injection wells.

2. The volumetric rate of production or injection measured in terms of the average flow of geothermal fluids in gallons per minute per day of operation.

3. Temperature measurements of the geothermal fluid being produced or injected, including the maximum temperature measured in the bore-hole and its corresponding depth, and the temperature of the fluid as measured at the discharge point at the beginning and conclusion of a timed production test.

4. Hydraulic head as measured by the piezometric method.

4VAC25-170-70. Groundwater monitoring.

A. 1. Groundwater shall be monitored through special monitoring wells or existing water wells in the area of impact, as determined by the department.

2. Monitoring shall be performed and reported to the inspector [ division ] director daily on both water quality and piezometric head for the first 30 days of geothermal production. Thereafter, quarterly tests for piezometric head and for water quality shall be reported to the inspector [ division ] director.

3. The monitoring of groundwater shall meet the following conditions:

a. A minimum of one monitoring well per production or injection well is required. Monitoring wells shall monitor those significant potable aquifers through which the well passes as required by the department.

b. The monitoring wells shall be located within the first 50% of the projected cone of depression for the geothermal production well.

c. The well(s) shall be constructed to measure variations in piezometric head and water quality. Groundwater shall be chemically analyzed for the following parameters: mineral content (alkalinity, chloride, dissolved solids, fluoride, calcium, sodium, potassium, carbonate, bicarbonate, sulfate, nitrate, boron, and silica); metal content (cadmium, arsenic, mercury, copper, iron, nickel, magnesium, manganese, and zinc); and general parameters (pH, conductivity, dissolved solids, and hardness).

d. The department may require additional analyses if levels of the above parameters indicate their necessity to protect groundwater supplies.

B. 1. Chemical analyses of geothermal fluids shall be filed with the inspector [ division ] director on an annual basis.

2. Samples for the chemical fluid analysis shall be taken from fluid as measured at the discharge point of the production well at the conclusion of a two-hour production test.

3. The production fluid shall be chemically analyzed for the following parameters: mineral content (alkalinity, chloride, dissolved solids, fluoride, calcium, sodium, potassium, carbonate, bicarbonate, sulfate, nitrate, boron, and silica); metal content (cadmium, arsenic, mercury, copper, iron, nickel, magnesium, manganese, and zinc); gas analyses (hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and gross alpha); and general parameters (pH, conductivity, and dissolved solids).

4. The department may require additional analyses if levels of the above parameters indicate follow-up tests are necessary.

C. 1. Subsidence shall be monitored by the annual surveys of a certified surveyor from vertical benchmarks located above the projected cone of depression, as well as points outside its boundaries. The surveys shall be filled with the inspector [ division ] director by the operator or designated agent.

2. The department may order micro-earthquake monitoring, if surveys indicate the occurrence of subsidence.

D. 1. The operator, owner, or designated agent shall maintain records of any monitoring activity required in his permit or by this chapter. All records of monitoring samples shall include:

a. The well identification number.

b. The date the sample was collected.

c. Time of sampling.

d. Exact place of sampling.

e. Person or firm performing analysis.

f. Date analysis of the sample was performed.

g. The analytical method or methods used.

h. Flow-point at which sample was taken.

i. The results of such analysis.

2. The operator, owner, or designated agent shall retain for a period of five years any records of monitoring activities and results, including all original strip chart recordings of continuous monitoring installations. The period of retention will automatically be extended during the course of any litigation regarding the discharge of contaminants by the permittee until such time as the litigation has ceased or when requested by the inspector [ division ] director. This requirement shall apply during the five-year period following abandonment of a well.

4VAC25-170-80. Abandonment and plugging of wells.

A. Notification of intent to abandon any exploration, production, or injection well must be received by the inspector [ division ] director during working hours at least one day before the beginning of plugging operations. When notification of intent to abandon an exploratory, production, or injection well is received, the inspector [ division ] director may send a departmental representative to the location specified and at the time stated to witness the plugging of the well.

B. 1. Any drilling well completed as a dry hole from which the rig is to be removed shall be cemented unless authorization to the contrary has been given by the inspector [ division ] director.

2. The bottom of the hole shall be filled to, or a bridge shall be placed at the top of, each producing formation open to the well bore. Additionally, a cement plug not less than 50 feet in length shall be placed immediately above each producing formation.

3. A continuous cement plug shall be placed through all freshwater-bearing aquifers and shall extend at least 50 feet above and 50 feet below said aquifers.

4. A plug not less than 20 feet in length shall be placed at or near the surface of the ground in each hole.

5. The interval between plugs shall be filled with a nonporous medium.

6. The method of placing cement in the holes shall be by any method approved by the inspector [ division ] director in advance of placement.

7. The exact location of each abandoned well shall be marked by a piece of pipe not less than four inches in diameter securely set in concrete and extending at least four feet above the general ground level. A permanent sign of durable construction shall be welded or otherwise permanently attached to the pipe, and shall contain the well identification information required by 4VAC25-170-50.

8. When drilling operations have been suspended for 60 days, the well shall be plugged and abandoned unless written permission for temporary abandonment has been obtained from the inspector [ division ] director.

9. Within 20 days after the plugging of any well, the responsible operator, owner, or designated agent who plugged or caused the well to be plugged shall file a notice with the department indicating the manner in which the well was plugged.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC50-20. Impounding Structure Regulations (amending 4VAC50-20-30, 4VAC50-20-40, 4VAC50-20-52, 4VAC50-20-54, 4VAC50-20-177, 4VAC50-20-200, 4VAC50-20-340; adding 4VAC50-20-45, 4VAC50-20-101, 4VAC50-20-102, 4VAC50-20-103, 4VAC50-20-104, 4VAC50-20-195, 4VAC50-20-375, 4VAC50-20-395).

Statutory Authority: § 10.1-605 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information: No public hearings are scheduled.

Public Comment Deadline: October 24, 2012.

Effective Date: November 8, 2012.

Agency Contact: David C. Dowling, Policy and Planning Director, Department of Conservation and Recreation, 203 Governor Street, Suite 302, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 786-2291, FAX (804) 786-6141, or email david.dowling@dcr.virginia.gov.

Basis: The Virginia Dam Safety Act (§ 10.1-604 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) ensures public safety through the proper and safe design, construction, operation, and maintenance of impounding structures in the Commonwealth. This is accomplished through the effective administration of the Virginia Dam Safety Program. Authority for the program rests with the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board and it is administered on behalf of the board by the Department of Conservation and Recreation's Division of Dam Safety and Floodplain Management. The program focuses on enhancing public safety through bringing all impounding structures of regulated size under Regular Operation and Maintenance Certificates. Pursuant to § 10.1-605, the board is directed to promulgate regulations for impounding structures. Further, the board reserves the sole right to promulgate regulations.

The three items that the board directed the department and the regulatory advisory panel to consider in the regulatory action were as follows:

1. Develop regulations (considering existing guidance) that consider the impact of downstream limited-use or private roadways with low traffic volume and low public safety risk on the determination of the hazard potential classification of an impounding structure;

2. Develop regulations that provide a method to conduct a simplified dam break inundation zone analysis; and

3. Develop regulations that set out the necessary requirements to obtain a general permit for a low hazard impounding structure.

These actions were predicated on the following legislation and information that was closely considered in the development of the regulations:

Item 1:

• Chapter 270 of the 2010 Virginia Acts of Assembly (HB438 - Delegate David J. Toscano) amended § 10.1-605 C of the Code of Virginia to direct that "[t]he Board shall consider the impact of limited-use or private roadways with low traffic volume and low public safety risk that are downstream from or across an impounding structure in the determination of the hazard potential classification of an impounding structure."

• Chapter 41 of the 2010 Virginia Acts of Assembly (SB244 - Senator John C. Watkins) resulted in the codification of § 10.1-605.2 of the Code of Virginia that stipulates "[t]hat the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board shall, in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.), adopt regulations that consider the impact of downstream limited-use or private roadways with low traffic volume and low public safety risk on the determination of the hazard potential classification of an impounding structure under the Dam Safety Act (§ 10.1-604 et seq.)."

• During 2010, in partial response to these legislative directives, the Director of the Department approved on November 30, 2010, a "Guidance Document on Roadways On or Below Impounding Structures." The guidance was strongly considered in the construct of the regulations.

Item 2:

• Chapter 637 of the 2011 Virginia Acts of Assembly (SB1060 - Senator Ryan T. McDougle) created § 10.1-604.1 titled "Determination of hazard potential class" with a subsection C that specifies that "[t]he Board may adopt regulations in accordance with § 10.1-605 to establish a simplified methodology for dam break inundation zone analysis."

Item 3:

• Chapter 637 of the 2011 Virginia Acts of Assembly (SB1060 - Senator Ryan T. McDougle) created § 10.1-605.3 titled "General permit for certain impounding structures" with a subsection A that specifies that "[t]he Board shall develop a general permit for the regulation of low hazard potential impounding structures in accordance with § 10.1-605."

Purpose: The changes being advanced by this regulatory action are largely in response to requirements placed in the Code of Virginia during the last several General Assembly Sessions that directed the board to:

1. Adopt regulations that consider the impact of downstream limited-use or private roadways with low traffic volume and low public safety risk on the determination of the hazard potential classification of an impounding structure under the Dam Safety Act (§ 10.1-604 et seq.).

2. Adopt regulations in accordance with § 10.1-605 to establish a simplified methodology for dam break inundation zone analysis.

3. Develop a general permit for the regulation of low hazard potential impounding structures in accordance with § 10.1-605.

Accordingly, the provisions of the regulations being advanced will result in reduced and streamlined compliance requirements that will provide less costly services for mapping, provide additional mechanisms through which a hazard potential classification and related spillway design flood may be reduced through new provisions including low volume roadway and expanded incremental damage analysis considerations, as well as provide for a streamlined general permit process for the regulation of low hazard potential impounding structures. The provisions of this regulatory action are intended to provide true economic and regulatory relief for all low hazard potential dam owners and additional opportunities for regulatory relief for high and significant hazard potential dam owners while remaining mindful of the Commonwealth's public safety obligations.

Rationale for Using Fast-Track Process: This rulemaking is expected to be noncontroversial as the majority of the provisions included in these regulations largely incorporate requirements set out in the Code where limited discretion is offered and are being advanced to provide true economic and regulatory relief to those regulated. Where limited latitude was available in developing regulatory provisions, there was general consensus regarding the language included from a regulatory advisory panel composed of private, local, and state dam owners and engineers that was assembled to provide sound recommendations to the department and board regarding these regulatory improvements.

Substance: The key substantive changes included in this regulatory action involve the following:

1. Amending the hazard potential classification section (4VAC50-20-40) to:

a. Exclude roadways with an annual average daily traffic volume of 400 vehicles or less from consideration as major roadways or secondary roadways that traditionally lead to hazard classifications of high or significant respectively.

b. Establish that the department may be requested by a dam owner in specified situations to conduct a simplified dam break inundation zone analysis to determine whether the impounding structure has a low hazard potential classification.

c. Specify that if the department finds that an impounding structure appears to have a low hazard potential classification that the owner may be eligible for general permit coverage.

d. Specify that an incremental damage analysis may be utilized as part of hazard potential classification by the owners engineer.

2. Establishing a new section (4VAC50-20-45) on low volume roadways that tracks the guidance previously approved by the director and specifically:

a. Sets out the analysis methods by which a determination may be made whether a road is impacted by a dam failure.

b. Specifies that an incremental damage analysis may be utilized to refine what roadways should be considered impacted.

c. Establishes that an impounding structure may qualify for low hazard potential classification based on annual average daily traffic (AADT) volume if other downstream factors do not exist that would otherwise raise the hazard classification.

d. Establishes accepted methodologies for determining a road's AADT.

e. Sets an AADT volume of 400 vehicles or less as the number where a roadway may be considered "limited use" and how an impounding structure may qualify for low hazard potential classification.

f. Requires that the Emergency Preparedness Plan consider these "limited use" roadways regarding proper notifications during emergency conditions.

3. Amending the incremental damage analysis section (4VAC50-20-52) to establish processes by which the potential hazard potential classification of an impounding structure may be lowered based on the results of an incremental damage analysis.

4. Amending the dam break inundation zone mapping section (4VAC50-20-54) to:

a. Clarify that the department may complete for a dam owner a simplified dam break inundation zone map and analysis in accordance with this section.

b. Specify that Emergency Action and Emergency Preparedness Plans shall include maps for the sunny day dam failure and a probable maximum flood with a dam failure.

c. Specify the general deliverables and administrative processes associated with the department conducting a simplified dam break inundation zone analysis.

5. Establishing a new section (4VAC50-20-101) on general permit requirements for low hazard potential impounding structures that specifies that the owner shall be subject to the following requirements:

a. The dam has a spillway design able to safely pass a 100-year flood.

b. The owner shall develop and maintain an emergency preparedness plan.

c. The owner shall perform an annual inspection and maintain such records and make them available to the department upon request.

d. The owner shall ensure that the impounding structure is properly maintained and operated and shall have operation and maintenance plans and schedules available to the department for inspection upon request.

e. The owner shall file a dam break inundation zone map with the department and the locality or localities.

f. The owner shall notify the specified authorities in the event of a failure or imminent failure of the impounding structure.

6. Establishing a new section (4VAC50-20-102) regarding registering for coverage under the general permit for low hazard potential impounding structures that specifies that the owner shall submit a complete and accurate registration statement and sets out the eight components of that submittal.

Issues: The regulations being advanced provide advantages (reduced and streamlined compliance requirements) to those impounding structure owners regulated under the Virginia Dam Safety Act and its attendant regulations by providing less costly services for mapping, providing additional mechanisms through which a hazard potential classification and related spillway design flood may be reduced through new provisions including low volume roadway and expanded incremental damage analysis considerations, as well as providing for a streamlined general permit process for the regulation of low hazard potential impounding structures. The provisions of this regulatory action are intended to provide true economic and regulatory relief for all low hazard potential dam owners and additional opportunities for regulatory relief for high and significant hazard potential dam owners while remaining mindful of the Commonwealth's public safety obligations. Downstream residents and property owners below regulated dams should not be disadvantaged or their safety affected by these actions as they largely provide for streamlined processes, provide for less costly services, and reduce dam standards only where risks are low and reasonable to do such.

Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis:

Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. The Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board (Board) proposes changes to these regulations in response to requirements placed in the Code of Virginia during the last several General Assembly Sessions that directed the Board to: 1) adopt regulations that consider the impact of downstream limited-use or private roadways with low traffic volume and low public safety risk on the determination of the hazard potential classification of an impounding structure under the Dam Safety Act ( § 10.1-604 et seq.), 2) adopt regulations in accordance with § 10.1-605 to establish a simplified methodology for dam break inundation zone analysis, and 3) develop a general permit for the regulation of low hazard potential impounding structures in accordance with § 10.1-605.

The proposed regulations contain provisions that address these Code requirements and offer a balance between public safety and the reduced risks associated with low hazard impounding structures. The key elements of the proposed amendments to these regulations include: 1) provisions to allow for the use of incremental damage analyses to modify hazard potential classifications, 2) the use of an annual average daily traffic (AADT) volume of 400 vehicles or less as the number where a roadway may be considered "limited use" and processes by which such an impounding structure may qualify for low hazard potential classification, 3) the implementation of a streamlined general permit process with reduced requirements, and 4) the ability for the Department to assist specified dam owners by conducting simplified dam break inundation zone analyses for them.

Result of Analysis. The benefits likely exceed the costs for all proposed changes.

Estimated Economic Impact. Overall, public and private dam owners will be positively affected as some will benefit from reduced dam safety compliance costs associated with proposed mechanisms through which hazard potential classification may be reduced. Proposed new provisions including low volume roadway and expanded incremental damage analysis considerations. The Department of Conservation and Recreation does not believe that the safety of downstream residents and property owners will be negatively affected by the proposed amendments as they largely provide for streamlined processes, provide for less costly services, and reduce required dam standards only where risks are low.

Businesses and Entities Affected. The proposed changes affect regulated public and private dam owners that are subject to these regulations as well as downstream residents and property owners who would be potentially affected upon a dam failure. Approximately 1600 dams across the Commonwealth could be affected by this regulatory action. Of these dams, as of December 2011, slightly over 220 were classified as high hazard, almost 400 as significant hazard, and over 940 as low hazard. The low hazard dam owners will benefit the most from the proposed new provisions of these regulations. A number of these dam owners may be small businesses.

Localities Particularly Affected. Dams exist throughout the Commonwealth. The proposal to classify some impounding structures as low hazard due partially to low traffic volume would likely affect less densely populated localities more than relatively congested portions of Virginia.

Projected Impact on Employment. The proposal amendments are unlikely to significantly affect employment.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. The proposed amendments will likely reduce dam safety compliance costs and consequently somewhat increase the net value of private property that includes impounding structures.

Small Businesses: Costs and Other Effects. The proposed amendments will likely reduce dam safety compliance costs for some small businesses that own dams.

Small Businesses: Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. The proposed amendments do not adversely impact small businesses.

Real Estate Development Costs. The proposed amendments will potentially reduce development costs for qualifying properties that include impounding structures.

Legal Mandate. The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) has analyzed the economic impact of this proposed regulation in accordance with § 2.2-4007.04 of the Administrative Process Act and Executive Order Number 14 (10). Section 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include, but need not be limited to, the projected number of businesses or other entities to whom the regulation would apply, the identity of any localities and types of businesses or other entities particularly affected, the projected number of persons and employment positions to be affected, the projected costs to affected businesses or entities to implement or comply with the regulation, and the impact on the use and value of private property. Further, if the proposed regulation has adverse effect on small businesses, § 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include (i) an identification and estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the regulation; (ii) the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs required for small businesses to comply with the regulation, including the type of professional skills necessary for preparing required reports and other documents; (iii) a statement of the probable effect of the regulation on affected small businesses; and (iv) a description of any less intrusive or less costly alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the regulation. The analysis presented above represents DPB's best estimate of these economic impacts.

Agency's Response to Economic Impact Analysis: The Department of Conservation and Recreation concurs with the economic impact analysis prepared by the Department of Planning and Budget regarding the Impounding Structure Regulations (4VAC50-20).

Summary:

The amendments address the Code of Virginia requirements of the board to (i) adopt regulations that consider the impact of downstream limited-use or private roadways with low traffic volume and low public safety risk on the determination of the hazard potential classification of an impounding structure under the Dam Safety Act (§ 10.1-604 et seq.); (ii) adopt regulations in accordance with § 10.1-605 to establish a simplified methodology for dam break inundation zone analysis; and (iii) develop a general permit for the regulation of low hazard potential impounding structures in accordance with § 10.1-605.

The key elements of the regulations include:

1. Provisions to allow for the use of incremental damage analyses to modify hazard potential classifications;

2. The use of an annual average daily traffic (AADT) volume of 400 vehicles or less as the number where a roadway may be considered limited use and processes by which such an impounding structure may qualify for low hazard potential classification;

3. The implementation of a streamlined general permit process with reduced requirements for low hazard dams; and

4. The ability for the department to assist specified dam owners by conducting simplified dam break inundation zone analyses for them.

4VAC50-20-30. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Acre-foot" means a unit of volume equal to 43,560 cubic feet or 325,853 gallons (equivalent to one foot of depth over one acre of area).

"Agricultural purpose" means the production of an agricultural commodity as defined in § 3.1-249.27 § 3.2-3900 of the Code of Virginia that requires the use of impounded waters.

"Agricultural purpose dams" means impounding structures which are less than 25 feet in height or which create a maximum impoundment smaller than 100 acre-feet, and operated primarily for agricultural purposes.

"Alteration" means changes to an impounding structure that could alter or affect its structural integrity. Alterations include, but are not limited to, changing the height or otherwise enlarging the dam, increasing normal pool or principal spillway elevation or physical dimensions, changing the elevation or physical dimensions of the emergency spillway, conducting necessary structural repairs or structural maintenance, or removing the impounding structure. Structural maintenance does not include routine maintenance.

"Alteration permit" means a permit required for any alteration to an impounding structure.

"Annual average daily traffic" or "AADT" means the total volume of vehicle traffic of a highway or road for a year divided by 365 days and is a measure used in transportation planning and transportation engineering of how busy a road is.

"Board" means the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board.

"Conditional Operation and Maintenance Certificate" means a certificate required for impounding structures with deficiencies.

"Construction" means the construction of a new impounding structure.

"Construction permit" means a permit required for the construction of a new impounding structure.

"Dam break inundation zone" means the area downstream of a dam that would be inundated or otherwise directly affected by the failure of a dam.

"Department" means the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

"Design flood" means the calculated volume of runoff and the resulting peak discharge utilized in the evaluation, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the impounding structure.

"Director" means the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation or his designee.

"Drill" means a type of emergency action plan exercise that tests, develops, or maintains skills in an emergency response procedure. During a drill, participants perform an in-house exercise to verify telephone numbers and other means of communication along with the owner's response. A drill is considered a necessary part of ongoing training.

"Emergency Action Plan or EAP" means a formal document that recognizes potential impounding structure emergency conditions and specifies preplanned actions to be followed to minimize loss of life and property damage. The EAP specifies actions the owner must take to minimize or alleviate emergency conditions at the impounding structure. It contains procedures and information to assist the owner in issuing early warning and notification messages to responsible emergency management authorities. It shall also contain dam break inundation zone maps as required to show emergency management authorities the critical areas for action in case of emergency.

"Emergency Action Plan Exercise" means an activity designed to promote emergency preparedness; test or evaluate EAPs, procedures, or facilities; train personnel in emergency management duties; and demonstrate operational capability. In response to a simulated event, exercises should consist of the performance of duties, tasks, or operations very similar to the way they would be performed in a real emergency. An exercise may include but not be limited to drills and tabletop exercises.

"Emergency Preparedness Plan" means a formal document prepared for Low Hazard impounding structures that provides maps and procedures for notifying owners of downstream property that may be impacted by an emergency situation at an impounding structure.

"Existing impounding structure" means any impounding structure in existence or under a construction permit prior to July 1, 2010.

"Freeboard" means the vertical distance between the maximum water surface elevation associated with the spillway design flood and the top of the impounding structure.

"Height" means the hydraulic height of an impounding structure. If the impounding structure spans a stream or watercourse, height means the vertical distance from the natural bed of the stream or watercourse measured at the downstream toe of the impounding structure to the top of the impounding structure. If the impounding structure does not span a stream or watercourse, height means the vertical distance from the lowest elevation of the downstream limit of the barrier to the top of the impounding structure.

"Impounding structure" or "dam" means a man-made structure, whether a dam across a watercourse or structure outside a watercourse, used or to be used to retain or store waters or other materials. The term includes: (i) all dams that are 25 feet or greater in height and that create an impoundment capacity of 15 acre-feet or greater, and (ii) all dams that are six feet or greater in height and that create an impoundment capacity of 50 acre-feet or greater. The term "impounding structure" shall not include: (a) dams licensed by the State Corporation Commission that are subject to a safety inspection program; (b) dams owned or licensed by the United States government; (c) dams operated primarily for agricultural purposes which are less than 25 feet in height or which create a maximum impoundment capacity smaller than 100 acre-feet; (d) water or silt retaining dams approved pursuant to § 45.1-222 or § 45.1-225.1 of the Code of Virginia; or (e) obstructions in a canal used to raise or lower water.

"Impoundment" means a body of water or other materials the storage of which is caused by any impounding structure.

"Life of the impounding structure" and "life of the project" mean that period of time for which the impounding structure is designed and planned to perform effectively, including the time required to remove the structure when it is no longer capable of functioning as planned and designed.

"Maximum impounding capacity" means the volume of water or other materials in acre-feet that is capable of being impounded at the top of the impounding structure.

"New construction" means any impounding structure issued a construction permit or otherwise constructed on or after July 1, 2010.

"Normal or typical water surface elevation" means the water surface elevation at the crest of the lowest ungated outlet from the impoundment or the elevation of the normal pool of the impoundment if different than the water surface elevation at the crest of the lowest ungated outlet. For calculating sunny day failures for flood control impounding structures, stormwater detention impounding structures, and related facilities designed to hold back volumes of water for slow release, the normal or typical water surface elevation shall be measured at the crest of the auxiliary or emergency spillway.

"Operation and Maintenance Certificate" means a certificate required for the operation and maintenance of all impounding structures.

"Owner" means the owner of the land on which an impounding structure is situated, the holder of an easement permitting the construction of an impounding structure and any person or entity agreeing to maintain an impounding structure. The term "owner" may include the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions, including but not limited to sanitation district commissions and authorities, any public or private institutions, corporations, associations, firms or companies organized or existing under the laws of this Commonwealth or any other state or country, as well as any person or group of persons acting individually or as a group.

"Planned land use" means land use that has been approved by a locality or included in a master land use plan by a locality, such as in a locality's comprehensive land use plan.

"Spillway" means a structure to provide for the controlled release of flows from the impounding structure into a downstream area.

"Stage I Condition" means a flood watch or heavy continuous rain or excessive flow of water from ice or snow melt.

"Stage II Condition" means a flood watch or emergency spillway activation or impounding structure overtopping where a failure may be possible.

"Stage III Condition" means an emergency spillway activation or impounding structure overtopping where imminent failure is probable.

"Sunny day dam failure" means the failure of an impounding structure with the initial water level at the normal reservoir level, usually at the lowest ungated principal spillway elevation or the typical operating water level.

"Tabletop Exercise" means a type of emergency action plan exercise that involves a meeting of the impounding structure owner and the state and local emergency management officials in a conference room environment. The format is usually informal with minimum stress involved. The exercise begins with the description of a simulated event and proceeds with discussions by the participants to evaluate the EAP and response procedures and to resolve concerns regarding coordination and responsibilities.

"Top of the impounding structure" means the lowest point of the nonoverflow section of the impounding structure.

"Watercourse" means a natural channel having a well-defined bed and banks and in which water normally flows.

4VAC50-20-40. Hazard potential classifications of impounding structures.

A. Impounding structures shall be classified in one of three hazard classifications as defined in subsection B of this section and Table 1.

B. For the purpose of this chapter, hazards pertain to potential loss of human life or damage to the property of others downstream from the impounding structure in event of failure or faulty operation of the impounding structure or appurtenant facilities. Hazard potential classifications of impounding structures are as follows:

1. High Hazard Potential is defined where an impounding structure failure will cause probable loss of life or serious economic damage. "Probable loss of life" means that impacts will occur that are likely to cause a loss of human life, including but not limited to impacts to residences, businesses, other occupied structures, or major roadways. Economic damage may occur to, but not be limited to, building(s), industrial or commercial facilities, public utilities, major roadways, railroads, personal property, and agricultural interests. "Major roadways" include, but are not limited to, interstates, primary highways, high-volume urban streets, or other high-volume roadways, except those having an AADT volume of 400 vehicles or less in accordance with 4VAC50-20-45.

2. Significant Hazard Potential is defined where an impounding structure failure may cause the loss of life or appreciable economic damage. "May cause loss of life" means that impacts will occur that could cause a loss of human life, including but not limited to impacts to facilities that are frequently utilized by humans other than residences, businesses, or other occupied structures, or to secondary roadways. Economic damage may occur to, but not be limited to, building(s), industrial or commercial facilities, public utilities, secondary roadways, railroads, personal property, and agricultural interests. "Secondary roadways" include, but are not limited to, secondary highways, low-volume urban streets, service roads, or other low-volume roadways, except those having an AADT volume of 400 vehicles or less in accordance with 4VAC50-20-45.

3. Low Hazard Potential is defined where an impounding structure failure would result in no expected loss of life and would cause no more than minimal economic damage. "No expected loss of life" means no loss of human life is anticipated.

C. The hazard potential classification shall be proposed by the owner and shall be subject to approval by the board. To support the appropriate hazard potential classification, dam break analysis shall be conducted by the owner's engineer or the department in accordance with one of the following alternatives and utilizing procedures set out in 4VAC50-20-54. Present and planned land-use for which a development plan has been officially approved by the locality in the dam break inundation zones downstream from the impounding structure shall be considered in determining the classification.

1. The owner of an impounding structure that does not currently hold a regular or conditional certificate from the board, or the owner of an impounding structure that is already under certificate but the owner believes that a condition has changed downstream of the impounding structure that may reduce its hazard potential classification, may request in writing that the department conduct a simplified dam break inundation zone analysis to determine whether the impounding structure has a low hazard potential classification. The owner shall pay a fee to the department in accordance with 4VAC50-20-395 for conducting each requested analysis. The department shall address requests in the order received and shall strive to complete analysis within 90 days; or

2. The owner may propose a hazard potential classification that shall be subject to approval by the board. To support the proposed hazard potential classification, an analysis shall be conducted by the owner's engineer and submitted to the department. The hazard potential classification shall be certified by the owner.

D. Findings of the analysis conducted pursuant to subsection C of this section shall result in one of the following actions:

1. For findings by the department resulting from analyses conducted in accordance with subdivision C 1 of this section:

a. If the department finds that the impounding structure appears to have a low hazard potential classification, the owner may be eligible for general permit coverage in accordance with 4VAC50-20-103.

b. If the department finds that the impounding structure appears to have a high or significant hazard potential classification, the owner's engineer shall provide further analysis in accordance with the procedures set out in 4VAC50-20-54 and this chapter. The owner may be eligible for grant assistance from the Dam Safety, Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Fund in accordance with Article 1.2 (§ 10.1-603.16 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 10.1 of the Code of Virginia.

2. For findings by the owner's engineer resulting from analyses conducted in accordance with subdivision C 2 of this section:

a. If the engineer finds that the impounding structure has a low hazard potential classification, the owner may be eligible for general permit coverage in accordance with 4VAC50-20-103; or

b. If the engineer finds that the impounding structure appears to have a high or significant hazard potential classification, then the owner shall comply with the applicable certification requirements set out in this chapter.

E. An incremental damage analysis in accordance with 4VAC50-20-52 may be utilized as part of a hazard potential classification by the owner's engineer.

F. Impounding structures shall be subject to reclassification by the board as necessary.

4VAC50-20-45. Hazard potential classifications based on low volume roadways.

A. All impacted public and private roadways downstream or across an impounding structure shall be considered in determining hazard potential classification. To determine whether a road is impacted by a dam failure, one of the following methodologies shall be utilized:

1. Section IV, Part D of the United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation's ACER Technical Memorandum No. 11, 1988;

2. An approach to determining impacts to roadways found in any document that is on the list of acceptable references set out in 4VAC50-20-320. The owner's engineer shall reference the methodology utilized in their submittal to the department; or

3. An approach to determine any roadway that would be overtopped, at any depth, by a dam failure under any flood or nonflood condition, including but not limited to probable maximum flood, spillway design flood, or flood from sunny day dam failure, as determined using analysis procedures set out in 4VAC50-20-54.

In all cases, an owner may use an incremental damage analysis conducted in accordance with 4VAC50-20-52 to further refine what roads should be considered impacted.

B. In certain cases, an impounding structure may qualify for a low hazard potential classification in spite of a potential impact to a downstream public or private roadway. If a roadway is found to be impacted in accordance with subsection A of this section, and other factors such as downstream residences, businesses, or other concerns as set forth in this chapter that would raise the hazard potential classification do not exist, such classification may be adjusted in accordance with this section dependent on vehicle traffic volume, based on AADT.

C. For the purposes of determining AADT volume, one of the following techniques may be utilized using data obtained within the last year except as otherwise set out in subdivision 1 of this subsection:

1. The AADT volumes available in the most recent published Daily Traffic Volume Estimates from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for the road segment nearest the impounding structure may be utilized. This information is available from VDOT at http://www.virginiadot.org/info/ct-TrafficCounts.asp;

2. Data developed by a local government may be utilized where the locality conducts its own traffic counts;

3. Where AADT volumes are not available from VDOT or a locality, an Average Daily Traffic trip rate that meets the standards set forth in the Institute for Traffic Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation information report, 8th Edition, 2008 (available for ordering online at http://www.ite.org/emodules/scriptcontent/orders/ProductDetail.cfm?pc=IR-016F) may be utilized if practicable; or

4. In all cases, average daily traffic volumes may also be established by a traffic count that meets VDOT standards and is conducted or overseen by the owner's engineer or otherwise approved by the department's regional engineer.

D. Where it can be demonstrated that a public or private roadway has limited usage and that the hazard potential classification is being determined based solely upon impacts to roadways, the roadway may be considered to be "limited use" and the impounding structure may be considered a low hazard potential impounding structure despite the presence of the roadway. Such roadways, located either across or below an impounding structure, are those that result in an AADT volume of 400 vehicles or less.

Where a downstream analysis finds that multiple limited use roadways may be impacted by an impounding structure failure, the traffic volumes of those limited use roadways, determined in accordance with subsection B of this section, shall be combined for the purposes of determining the impounding structure's hazard potential classification unless it can be demonstrated that the traffic using each of the roadways is composed of substantially the same vehicle trips, such that the combined number of individual vehicle trips utilizing all of the roadways would result in an AADT of 400 or less.

E. Although a roadway may be considered to have a "limited use" in accordance with subsection D of this section, the Emergency Preparedness Plan for the low hazard impounding structure shall clearly outline a reliable and timely approach for notification of the proper local emergency services by the dam owner regarding the hazards of continued use of the road during an emergency condition.

4VAC50-20-52. Incremental damage analysis.

A. When appropriate, the spillway design flood requirement may be reduced by the board in accordance with this section. The proposed potential hazard classification for an impounding structure may be lowered based on the results of an incremental damage analysis utilizing one of the following methodologies:

1. Section III of the United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation's ACER Technical Memorandum No. 11, 1988. An impact shall be deemed to occur where there are one or more lives in jeopardy as a result of a dam failure; or

2. An approach to determining hazard classification found in any document that is on the list of acceptable references set out in 4VAC50-20-320. The owner's engineer shall reference the methodology utilized in the submittal to the department.

B. The owner's engineer may proceed with an incremental damage analysis. The proposed spillway design flood for the impounding structure may be lowered based on the results of an incremental damage analysis. Once the owner's engineer has determined the required spillway design flood through application of Table 1, further analysis may be performed to evaluate the limiting flood condition for incremental damages. Site-specific conditions should be recognized and considered. This analysis may be used to lower the spillway design flood. In no situation shall the allowable reduced level be less than the level at which the incremental increase in water surface elevation downstream due to failure of an impounding structure is no longer considered to present an additional downstream threat. This engineering analysis will need to present water surface elevations at each structure that may be impacted downstream of the dam. An additional downstream threat to persons or property is presumed to exist when water depths exceed two feet or when the product of water depth (in feet) and flow velocity (in feet per second) is greater than seven.

C. The spillway design flood shall also not be reduced below the minimum threshold values as determined by Table 1.

D. C. The proposed potential hazard classification for the impounding structure and the required spillway design flood shall be subject to reclassification by the board as necessary to reflect the incremental damage assessment, changed conditions at the impounding structure, and changed conditions in the dam break inundation zone.

4VAC50-20-54. Dam break inundation zone mapping.

A. Dam break inundation zone maps and analyses shall be provided to the department, except as provided for in 4VAC50-20-51, to meet the requirements set out in Hazard Potential Classifications of Impounding Structures (4VAC50-20-40) 4VAC50-20-40, Emergency Action Plan for High and Significant Potential Hazard Impounding Structures (4VAC50-20-175) 4VAC50-20-175, and Emergency Preparedness for Low Hazard Potential Impounding Structures (4VAC50-20-177) 4VAC50-20-177, as applicable. In accordance with subsection G of this section, a simplified dam break inundation zone map and analysis may be completed by the department and shall be provided to the impounding structure's owner to assist such owner in complying with the requirements of this chapter. All analyses shall be completed in accordance with 4VAC50-20-20 D.

B. The location of the end of the inundation mapping should be indicated where the water surface elevation of the dam break inundation zone and the water surface elevation of the spillway design flood during an impounding structure nonfailure event converge to within one foot of each other. The inundation maps shall be supplemented with water surface profiles showing the peak water surface elevation prior to failure and the peak water surface elevation after failure.

C. All inundation zone map(s), except those utilized in meeting the requirements of Emergency Preparedness for Low Hazard Potential Impounding Structures (4VAC50-20-177), shall be signed and sealed by a licensed professional engineer.

D. Present and planned land-use for which a development plan has been officially approved by the locality in the dam break inundation zones downstream from the impounding structure shall be considered in determining the classification.

E. For determining the hazard potential classification, an analysis including, but not limited to, those hazards created by flood and nonflood dam failures shall be considered. At a minimum, of the following shall be provided to the department:

1. A sunny day dam break analysis utilizing the volume retained at the normal or typical water surface elevation of the impounding structure;

2. A dam break analysis utilizing the spillway design flood with a dam failure;

3. An analysis utilizing the spillway design flood without a dam failure; and

4. For the purposes of future growth planning, a A dam break analysis utilizing the probable maximum flood with a dam failure.

E. To meet the requirements of Emergency Preparedness set out in 4VAC50-20-177, all Low Hazard Potential impounding structures shall provide a simple map, acceptable to the department, demonstrating the general inundation that would result from a dam failure. Such maps do not require preparation by a professional licensed engineer, however, it is preferred that the maps be prepared by a licensed professional engineer.

F. To meet the Emergency Action Plan requirements set out in 4VAC50-20-175 and the Emergency Preparedness Plan requirements set out in 4VAC50-20-177, all owners of High and Significant Hazard Potential impounding structures shall provide dam break inundation zone map(s) representing the impacts that would occur with both a sunny day dam failure and a spillway design flood probable maximum flood with a dam failure.

1. The map(s) shall be developed at a scale sufficient to graphically display downstream inhabited areas and structures, roads, public utilities that may be affected, and other pertinent structures within the identified inundation area. In coordination with the local organization for emergency management, a list of downstream inundation zone property owners and occupants, including telephone numbers may be plotted on the map or may be provided with the map for reference during an emergency.

2. Each map shall include the following statement: "The information contained in this map is prepared for use in notification of downstream property owners by emergency management personnel."

Should the department prepare a dam break inundation zone map and analysis in response to a request received pursuant to 4VAC50-20-40 C, the owner shall utilize this map to prepare a plan in accordance with this subsection.

G. Upon receipt of a written request in accordance with 4VAC50-20-40 C and receipt of a payment in accordance with 4VAC50-20-395, the department shall conduct a simplified dam break inundation zone analysis. In conducting the analysis, a model acceptable to the department shall be utilized. The analysis shall result in maps produced as Geographic Information System shape files for viewing and analyzing and shall meet the other analysis criteria of this section.

Upon completion of the analysis, the department shall issue a letter to the owner communicating the results of the analysis including the dam break inundation zone map, stipulating the department's finding regarding hazard potential classification based on the information available to the department, and explaining what the owner needs to do procedurally with this information to be compliant with the requirements of the Dam Safety Act (§ 10.1-604 et seq.) and this chapter.

4VAC50-20-101. General permit requirements for low hazard potential impounding structures.

Any impounding structure owner whose registration statement is approved by the board will receive the following permit and shall comply with the requirements in it. If the failure of a low hazard potential impounding structure is not expected to cause loss of human life or economic damage to any property except property owned by the owner, the owner may follow the special criteria established for certain low hazard impounding structures in accordance with 4VAC50-20-51 in lieu of coverage under the general permit.

General Permit No.: Dam Safety 1
Effective Date: (Date of Issuance of Coverage)
Expiration Date: (6 years following Date of Issuance of Coverage)
GENERAL PERMIT FOR OPERATION OF A LOW HAZARD POTENTIAL IMPOUNDING STRUCTURE

In compliance with the provisions of the Dam Safety Act and attendant regulations, owners of an impounding structure covered by this permit are authorized to operate and maintain a low hazard potential impounding structure. The owner shall be subject to the following requirements as set forth herein.

1. The spillway design of the owner's impounding structure shall be able to safely pass a 100-year flood. When appropriate, the spillway design flood requirement may be further reduced to the 50-year flood in accordance with an incremental damage analysis conducted by the owner's engineer.

2. The owner shall develop and maintain an emergency preparedness plan in accordance with 4VAC50-20-177. The owner shall update and resubmit the emergency preparedness plan immediately upon becoming aware of necessary changes to keep the plan workable.

3. The owner shall perform an annual inspection of the impounding structure. The owner shall maintain such records and make them available to the department upon request. The department also shall conduct inspections as necessary in accordance with 4VAC50-20-180.

4. The owner shall ensure that the impounding structure is properly and safely maintained and operated and shall have the following documents available for inspection upon request of the department:

a. An operating plan and schedule including narrative on the operation of control gates and spillways and the impoundment drain;

b. For earthen embankment impounding structures, a maintenance plan and schedule for the embankment, principal spillway, emergency spillway, low-level outlet, impoundment area, downstream channel, and staff gages; and

c. For concrete impounding structures, a maintenance plan and schedule for the upstream face, downstream face, crest of dam, galleries, tunnels, abutments, spillways, gates and outlets, and staff gages.

Impounding structure owners shall not permit growth of trees and other woody vegetation and shall remove any such vegetation from the slopes and crest of embankments and the emergency spillway area, and within a distance of 25 feet from the toe of the embankment and abutments of the dam.

5. The owner shall file a dam break inundation zone map developed in accordance with 4VAC50-20-54 with the department and with the offices with plat and plan approval authority or zoning responsibilities as designated by the locality for each locality in which the dam break inundation zone resides.

6. The owner shall notify the department immediately of any change in circumstances that would cause the impounding structure to no longer qualify for coverage under the general permit. In the event of a failure or an imminent failure of the impounding structure, the owner shall immediately notify the local emergency services coordinator, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, and the department. The department shall take actions in accordance with § 10.1-608 or 10.1-609 of the Code of Virginia, depending on the degree of hazard and the imminence of failure caused by the unsafe condition.

4VAC50-20-102. Registering for coverage under the general permit for low hazard potential impounding structures.

A. Pursuant to § 10.1-605.3, an impounding structure owner may seek general permit coverage from the board for a low hazard potential impounding structure in lieu of obtaining a Low Hazard Potential Regular Operation and Maintenance Certificate in accordance with 4VAC50-20-105 or a Conditional Operation and Maintenance Certificate for Low Hazard Potential impounding structures in accordance with 4VAC50-20-150.

B. An owner shall submit a complete and accurate registration statement in accordance with the requirements of this section prior to the issuance of coverage under the general permit. A complete registration statement shall include the following:

1. The name and address of the owner;

2. The location of the impounding structure;

3. The height of the impounding structure;

4. The volume of water impounded;

5. An Emergency Preparedness Plan prepared in accordance with 4VAC50-20-101;

6. The applicable fee for the processing of registration statements as set out in 4VAC50-20-375;

7. A dam break inundation zone map completed in accordance with 4VAC50-20-54 and evidence that such map has been filed with the offices with plat and plan approval authority or zoning responsibilities as designated by the locality for each locality in which the dam break inundation zone resides; and

8. A certification from the owner that the impounding structure (i) is classified as low hazard pursuant to a determination by the department or the owner's professional engineer in accordance with § 10.1-604.1 and this chapter; (ii) is, to the best of his knowledge, properly and safely constructed and currently has no observable deficiencies; and (iii) shall be maintained and operated in accordance with the provisions of the general permit.

4VAC50-20-103. Transitioning from regular or conditional certificates to general permit coverage for low hazard potential impounding structures.

A. Holders of a regular certificate to operate a low hazard potential impounding structure shall be eligible for general permit coverage upon the expiration of their regular certificate. In lieu of a regular certificate renewal, registration coverage materials pursuant to 4VAC50-20-102 shall be submitted to the department 90 days prior to the expiration of the regular certificate.

B. Holders of a conditional certificate to operate a low hazard potential impounding structure shall be eligible for general permit coverage upon satisfying the registration requirements for a general permit pursuant to 4VAC50-20-102.

4VAC50-20-104. Maintaining general permit coverage for low hazard potential impounding structures.

Provided that an impounding structure's hazard potential classification does not change, an owner's coverage under the general permit shall be for a six-year term after which time the owner shall reapply for coverage by filing a new registration statement and paying the necessary fee. No inspection of the impounding structure by a licensed professional engineer shall be required if the owner certifies at the time of general permit coverage renewal that conditions at the impounding structure and downstream are unchanged. If such certification is made, the owner is not required to submit an updated dam break inundation zone map.

4VAC50-20-177. Emergency Preparedness Plan for Low Hazard impounding structures.

Low Hazard impounding structures shall provide information for emergency preparedness to the department, the local organization for emergency management and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. A form for the submission is available from the department (Emergency Preparedness Plan for Low Hazard Virginia Regulated Impounding Structures). The information shall include, but not be limited, to the following:

1. Name of and location information for the impounding structure, inventory number, including city or county, and latitude, and longitude;

2. Owner's name, mailing address, Name of owner and operator and associated contact information including residential and business telephone numbers, and other means of communication. Contact information shall provide for 24-hour telephone contact capability;

3. Impounding structure operator's name, mailing address, residential and business telephone numbers, and other means of communication. Contact information shall provide for 24-hour telephone contact capability Contact information for relevant emergency responders including the following:

a. Local dispatch center or centers governing the impounding structure's dam break inundation zone; and

b. City or county emergency services coordinator's name or names;

4. Rainfall and staff gage observer's name, mailing address, residential and business telephone numbers, and other means of communication. Contact information shall provide for 24-hour telephone contact capability Procedures for notifying downstream property owners or occupants potentially impacted by the impounding structure's failure;

5. Contact information for alternate operator and alternate rainfall and staff gage observer, if applicable; A dam break inundation zone map completed in accordance with 4VAC50-20-54 and evidence that:

a. Such map has been filed with the offices with plat and plan approval authority or zoning responsibilities as designated by the locality for each locality in which the dam break inundation zone resides; and

b. Required copies of such plan have been submitted to the local organization for emergency management and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management; and

6. Contact information for the local dispatch center nearest impounding structure including address and 24-hour telephone number;

7. City or county emergency services coordinator's name, mailing address, residential and business telephone numbers, and other means of communication;

8. A procedure and the responsible parties for notifying to the extent possible any known local occupants, owners, or lessees of downstream properties potentially impacted by the impounding structure's failure;

9. A discussion of the procedures for timely and reliable detection, evaluation, and classification of emergency situations considered to be relevant to the project setting and impounding features. Each relevant emergency situation is to be documented to provide an appropriate course of action based on the urgency of the situation;

10. A simple dam break inundation map acceptable to the director, demonstrating the general inundation that would result from an impounding structure failure. Such maps required pursuant to this section do not require preparation by a professional licensed engineer; however, maps prepared by a licensed professional engineer are preferred;

11. Identification of public roads downstream noting the highway number and distance below the impounding structure. If roads exist, contact information for the resident Virginia Department of Transportation engineer or city or county engineer including address and 24-hour telephone numbers;

12. Amount of rainfall that will initiate a Stage II Condition in inches per six hours, inches per 12 hours, and inches per 24 hours and a Stage III Condition in inches per six hours, inches per 12 hours, and inches per 24 hours;

13. Amount of flow in the emergency spillway that will initiate a Stage II Condition in feet (depth of flow) and a Stage III Condition in feet (depth of flow);

14. Staff gage location and description; the frequency of observations by the rainfall or staff gage observer under a Stage I Condition, and Stage II Condition, and a Stage III Condition; and a clear description of an access route and means of travel during flood conditions to the impounding structure;

15. Evacuation procedures including notification, monitoring, evacuation, and reporting processes and responsibilities;

16. Evidence that the required copies of such plan have been submitted to the local organization for emergency management and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management; and

17. 6. Certification of the accuracy of the plan by the owner.

4VAC50-20-195. Judicial review.

Any owner aggrieved by a decision of the director, department, or board regarding the owner's impounding structure shall have the right to judicial review of the final decision pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).

4VAC50-20-200. Enforcement.

The provisions of this chapter may be enforced by the board, the director, or both in any manner consistent with the provisions of the Dam Safety Act (§ 10.1-604 et seq. of the Code of Virginia). Failure to comply with the provisions of the general permit issued in accordance with 4VAC50-20-103 may result in enforcement actions, including penalties assessed in accordance with §§ 10.1-613.1 and 10.1-613.2.

Part VI
Fees

4VAC50-20-340. Authority to establish fees.

Under § 10.1-613.5 of the Code of Virginia, the board is authorized to establish and collect application fees to be used for the administration of the dam safety program, administrative review, certifications, and the repair and maintenance of impounding structures including actions taken in accordance with §§ 10.1-608, 10.1-609, and 10.1-613 of the Code of Virginia. The fees will be deposited into the Dam Safety, Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Administrative Fund.

4VAC50-20-375. Fee for coverage under the general permit for low hazard impounding structures.

The fee for processing registration statements from impounding structure owners seeking to obtain coverage under the general permit for low hazard impounding structures shall be $300.

4VAC50-20-395. Simplified dam break inundation zone analysis fee.

Pursuant to authority provided in § 10.1-604.1 A 1 and in accordance with 4VAC50-20-40 C, when the department receives a request from the owner of a dam to conduct a simplified dam break inundation zone analysis, the owner shall submit a fee of $2,000 prior to the department conducting such analysis. The fee shall be submitted in accordance with 4VAC50-20-350 B and C as applicable. The fee shall be deposited into the Dam Safety Administrative Fund to be used to cover the partial cost of such analysis. Once the analysis has commenced, no analysis fee remitted to the department shall be subject to refund.

If the department attains additional efficiencies in its analysis process, the department is authorized to reduce this fee to a level commensurate with the costs.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (4VAC50-20)

ACER Technical Memorandum No. 11, Downstream Hazard Classification Guidelines, December 1988, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation.

Trip Generation, 8th Ed., 2008, Institute of Transportation Engineers, 1627 Eye Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20006.

Title of Regulation: 6VAC20-171. Regulations Relating to Private Security Services (amending 6VAC20-171-10, 6VAC20-171-20, 6VAC20-171-30, 6VAC20-171-50, 6VAC20-171-60, 6VAC20-171-70, 6VAC20-171-80, 6VAC20-171-90, 6VAC20-171-100, 6VAC20-171-110, 6VAC20-171-120, 6VAC20-171-130, 6VAC20-171-160, 6VAC20-171-170, 6VAC20-171-180, 6VAC20-171-190, 6VAC20-171-200, 6VAC20-171-215, 6VAC20-171-220, 6VAC20-171-230, 6VAC20-171-240, 6VAC20-171-250, 6VAC20-171-260, 6VAC20-171-270, 6VAC20-171-280, 6VAC20-171-290, 6VAC20-171-300, 6VAC20-171-310, 6VAC20-171-320, 6VAC20-171-350, 6VAC20-171-360, 6VAC20-171-365, 6VAC20-171-370, 6VAC20-171-380, 6VAC20-171-390, 6VAC20-171-400, 6VAC20-171-420, 6VAC20-171-445, 6VAC20-171-500, 6VAC20-171-550, 6VAC20-171-560; adding 6VAC20-171-71, 6VAC20-171-72, 6VAC20-171-111, 6VAC20-171-115, 6VAC20-171-116, 6VAC20-171-117, 6VAC20-171-135, 6VAC20-171-305, 6VAC20-171-308, 6VAC20-171-375, 6VAC20-171-376, 6VAC20-171-395; repealing 6VAC20-171-245, 6VAC20-171-430, 6VAC20-171-440).

Statutory Authority: § 9.1-141 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information:

December 6, 2012 - 9 a.m. - House Room D, General Assembly Building, 910 Capitol Street, Richmond, VA

Public Comment Deadline: October 24, 2012.

Agency Contact: Lisa McGee, Regulatory Manager, Department of Criminal Justice Services, P.O. Box 1300, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 371-2419, FAX (804) 786-6344, or email lisa.mcgee@dcjs.virginia.gov.

Basis: The legal authority to review, amend, or revise regulations relating to private security services is found in § 9.1-141 of the Code of Virginia.

Purpose: The purpose of this regulatory action is a comprehensive review and amendment of existing regulations. This review and recommended amendments are based on legislative actions that require development of regulations for locksmiths as well as further development of regulations relating to detective canine handlers. In addition to recent legislative actions, a comprehensive review will amend and revise the rules mandating and prescribing standards, requirements, and procedures that serve to protect the citizens of the Commonwealth from unqualified, unscrupulous, and incompetent persons engaging in the activities of private security services.

This regulatory action is essential to protect the health, safety, and welfare of citizens who utilize the various categories of private security services by establishing the regulatory requirements for locksmiths and detector canine handlers. These regulations ensure they have a criminal background check, meet minimum training standards, and are held to prescribed standards of conduct. Knowing that locksmiths and detector canine handlers have met these regulatory requirements increases the public trust and brings credibility to the industry. The revised firearms training requirements directly increases the level of competence for individuals who utilize firearms in a private security defined field. The additional training should have a direct impact in the reduction of accidental discharges of firearms.

Substance: While all areas of the regulations will be subject to this comprehensive review, the substance of this review is to include a permanent regulatory scheme for locksmiths and detector canine handlers, examiners, and teams operating within the Commonwealth. This review will focus on reevaluating the existing licensure, registration, certification, and training requirements; procedures; fees; administrative requirements; and standards of conduct.

6VAC20-171-10 – Definitions: Definitions have been inserted or amended in regard to the regulatory program established for locksmiths and detector canine handlers and examiners in accordance with § 9.1-138 et seq. of the Code of Virginia. Other amendments to the definitions are based on terminology related to firearms training and variances in methods of conducting training.

6VAC20-171-20 – Fees. Amendments to the fee structure include an option for businesses to obtain a one-year or two-year initial license, an increase in the firearms endorsement fee, an additional category fee for training schools and instructors, and a separation of certification applications fees and required regulatory compliance training fees. The electronic roster submittal fee has been deleted and instructor training development fees have been removed from the regulation. There is also a new manual processing service fee for applications not submitted by available electronic methods. Other amendments involve a restructuring of the fee schedule for clarity.

6VAC20-171-30 – Fingerprint processing. Amendments are included to reflect the current criminal history records search process utilized by the department.

6VAC20-171-50 – Initial business license application. The amendments incorporate the new categories of locksmith and detector canine business as well as clarify what constitutes a legal entity change thus requiring a new license.

6VAC20-171-70 – Compliance agent. This section has been amended to clarify the application process and requirements for a compliance agent. Two new sections have been inserted (6VAC20-171-71 – Compliance Agent Certification Renewal Requirements and 6VAC20-171-72 – Compliance Agent Regulatory Compliance Training Requirements). The amendments do not make any major changes to the requirements but provide clarity for the process and make the process inclusive in one article of the regulations compared to being spread throughout the document.

6VAC20-171-80 to 6VAC20-171-90 – Training school certification. The proposed regulations establish the categories of training in which schools will be required to submit a category of training fee depending on the number of training categories provided by the training school. Language is included to clarify what constitutes a legal entity change.

6VAC20-171-100 to 6VAC20-171-111 – Instructor Certification. Amendments include a new category of training fee, range qualification requirements for firearms instructors, and new training requirements to include regulatory compliance training and continuing education. Inserting a new section 6VAC20-171-111 provides clarity and makes the process inclusive in one article of the regulations.

6VAC20-171-115 to 6VAC20-171-117 – Detector Canine Handler Examiner Certification. The new sections establish the initial, renewal, and training requirements for certification.

6VAC20-171-120 to 6VAC20-171-130 – Private Security Services Registration. The amendments include the new categories of registration for locksmiths and detector canine handlers and include the requirement of a photo submission by the applicant.

6VAC20-171-135 – Firearms endorsements. This new section clarifies the process of obtaining a firearms endorsement and makes the process inclusive within one article of the regulations. It also establishes a timeframe in which retraining must be taken.

6VAC20-171-180 – Reinstatement. Amendments to the reinstatement procedures have been inserted that allow a company to continue to operate during the reinstatement period and establish continued authority by the department.

6VAC20-171-190 – Renewal extension. Amendments include a broader description of emergency temporary assignments to include purposes of natural disaster, homeland security, or document threat. Language has been inserted that allows the department to waive the requirement of submittal prior to expiration with justification and establishes the timeframe for which an exemption may be issued.

6VAC20-171-200 – Denial, probation, suspension and revocation. This section includes an amendment in which the last known employing business or training school will be notified if an employee of the company is subject to disciplinary action by the department.

6VAC171-220 to 6VAC20-171-280 – Administrative requirements and standards of conduct. Amendments reflect new administrative requirements and standards of conduct for businesses, compliance agents, training schools, training school directors, and instructors. These amendments include the removal of a provision that a business license or training school certification is null and void due to a lapse of insurance and inserts a clause that each day of uninsured activity would be construed as an individual violation. New provisions have been inserted for reporting requirements upon termination of a compliance agent or training school director. Administrative requirements to maintain (i) a use of force policy, (ii) records for employees carrying intermediate weapons, and (iii) records in regard to detector canine handler teams have been added for businesses.

Additional standards of conduct have been included to prohibit acting as an ostensible licensee for undisclosed persons; providing false or misleading information; refusing to cooperate with an investigation; or for providing materially incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or untrue information to the department.

A provision has been added to establish standards of conduct pertaining to authorized access to the department's licensing database, and additional reporting requirements have been added for training schools and school personnel regarding range qualification failures.

Other minor amendments ensure concise language for clarity and consistency.

6VAC20-171-305 – Online service training programs. This new section establishes the requirements for a school to offer online in-service training sessions.

6VAC20-171-308 – Detector canine handler examiners. This new section establishes the administrative requirements and standards of conduct for detector canine handler examiners.

6VAC20-171-310 through 6VAC20-171-320 – Registered personnel administrative requirements and standards of conduct. The proposed regulations add a requirement that personnel who carry or have access to a patrol rifle while on duty must have written authorization from their employer and include additional standards of conduct to prohibit providing false or misleading information or providing materially incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or untrue information to the department.

6VAC20-171-350 – Entry-level training. The entry-level training has been restructured to include specific courses and hours for clarity. In addition, the minimum course and hour requirements for locksmiths and detector canine handlers have been added. The compulsory minimum training standards for armed security officers has increased from 40 hours to 50 hours due to an increase in firearms training hours and the hours for shotgun entry-level training have increased from two to three hours. Entry-level training was amended to include The Seven Signs of Terrorism to the minimum training standards. This is a direct result of a recommendation from the Commonwealth Preparedness Panel in order to strengthen the support role of private security practitioners in the Commonwealth's Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resiliency Strategic Plan.

The course content has been amended to reflect minor changes to the content for armed security officer classroom training, and the hour requirements for each individual section of a course has been removed. The proposed regulations reflect the course content for locksmiths and detector canine handler examiners and all training provisions for compliance agents has been deleted and added to 6VAC20-171-70 through 6VAC20-171-72.

6VAC20-171-360 – In-service training. The amendments include in-service training requirements for locksmiths and detector canine handlers and combines the course content and minimum hour requirements within one section.

6VAC20-171-365 through 6VAC20-171-400 – Firearms training. The entry-level firearms training compulsory minimum training standards have been amended. An enhanced firearms training for armed security officers/couriers and personal protection specialists has been inserted (6VAC20-171-375) and reflects an increase of eight hours of training compared to the entry-level firearms training for all other armed registered categories. The entry-level handgun range qualification has been moved to a new section for clarity purposes (6VAC20-171-376) and a new course of fire has been inserted.

The advanced firearms training compulsory minimum training standards for personal protection specialists have been amended. The topics have been amended to address concealed carry laws and use of force. The hours are reduced due to the removal of duplicate training objectives already addressed in the basic firearms training requirements, which is a prerequisite for the advanced handgun training.

The shotgun minimum training standards and course of fire have been amended, which increases the classroom training by two hours.

A new section has been created to address entry-level patrol rifle training (6VAC20-171-395) and includes the classroom training and course of fire.

Amendments to firearms retraining increases the classroom hours to four hours for all armed registered personnel with the exception of personal protection specialists who must complete advanced firearms retraining. This is a new requirement for the armed security officers.

6VAC20-171-430-440 – Entry-level security canine handler training. This section has been repealed and the provisions are now included in the entry-level and in-service training sections for registered personnel under 6VAC20-171-350 and 6VAC20-171-360.

6VAC20-171-500 – Disciplinary action; sanctions; publication of records. An additional sanction - the use of conditional agreements - has been added to the list of sanctions that the department may impose for a violation or noncompliance.

Issues: The primary advantage of implementing the new provisions presented in the reproposed regulation is to provide necessary public protection tasked through existing statutes. Advantages to the public and the Commonwealth are to secure the public safety and welfare against incompetent, unqualified, unscrupulous, or unfit persons engaging in activities of private security services in the Commonwealth. The goal of these amended regulations is to ensure that (i) eligible individuals in the private security services industry receive compulsory minimum training and abide by established standards of conduct and (ii) individuals with certain criminal history records, or who are in violation of rules established for public safety, are prohibited from performing private security services.

The establishment of these regulations does not pose any disadvantages to the public or the Commonwealth.

Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis:

Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. Pursuant to requirements for periodic review, the Board of Criminal Justice Services (Board) proposes to amend its Regulations Relating to Private Security Services. Amongst the substantive changes in this regulatory action, the Board proposes to replace emergency regulations that govern locksmiths (pursuant to Chapter 638 of the 2008 Acts of the Assembly) and add new regulations for detector canine handlers and detector canine handler examiners (pursuant to Chapter 470 of the 2004 Acts of the Assembly). The Board also proposes to:

• Rewrite firearms endorsement requirements to include three levels of handgun training and increase training requirements for security officers/couriers to include 10 more hours of firearms training,

• Increase the hours of training needed for a shotgun endorsement from two to three,

• Increase the hours needed for renewal of other types of firearms endorsement from two to four,

• Add new requirements for patrol rifle training,

• Allow businesses that are applying for initial licensure to choose to be licensed for one or two years before they must renew,

• Add a $5 manual processing fee for applications not submitted through available electronic means,

• Increase the firearms endorsement fee from $10 to $15 per year,

• Charge training schools a $50 fee for each training category rather than the flat $500 fee they currently pay for approval of training materials and charge instructors $10 per category for each addition certification category,

• Decrease fees for initial compliance agent certification and compliance agent certification renewal and

• Require instructors and examiners to complete regulatory compliance entry level and in-service training (fees added for these categories).

Result of Analysis. The benefits likely exceed the costs for some of these proposed changes. The costs likely exceed the benefits for at least one of these proposed changes. For several other regulatory changes, there is insufficient information to ascertain whether benefits outweigh costs. All benefits and costs are discussed below.

Estimated Economic Impact. Pursuant to Chapter 638 of the 2008 Acts of the Assembly, the Board promulgated emergency regulations for registration of locksmiths in July 2008. The Board now proposes permanent regulation to replace the emergency regulations that expired on December 30, 2009.

Under these proposed regulations, locksmiths will have to complete 20 hours of initial training (2 hours of training on applicable Virginia law and 18 hours on subject matter training), pass an exam, and pay a $25 initial registration fee for a registration that is valid for two years. Fees for initial training range between $200 and $325, depending on which private training school is offering it. Every biennium, registered locksmiths will have to complete four hours of continuing education and pay a $20 fee to renew their registration. Fees for continuing education range between $89 and $125. As provided by Chapter 638, locksmiths who have actively and continuously provided locksmith services for two or more years prior to July 1, 2008 are exempt from the initial training requirements.

In order to get an initial business license, locksmith businesses will have to 1) provide fingerprints for each principal owner and supervisor of the applying business ($50 per fingerprint card), 2) show evidence of a surety bond of at least $100,000 or a liability insurance policy with minimum coverages of $100,000 and $300,000, 3) complete an irrevocable consent form for the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to serve as service agent for all actions filed in any court in the Commonwealth, 4) designate an employee as a compliance agent who will make sure the business complies with applicable laws and regulations and 5) pay a fee of either $550 for an initial license valid for one year or $800 for an initial license valid for two years. This fee covers business licensure for one category; each additional category adds $50 to the cost of the business license. Businesses will have to pay $500 for renewal of licensure at the time their initial license expires.

DCJS reports that the legislature recently required registration of locksmiths in order to protect the public from incompetent or unqualified persons who were in the locksmith trade. To the extent that regulation achieves this goal, the public will benefit from locksmiths being required to register. Locksmiths who choose to become registered will benefit from a likely decrease in the number of individuals who practice this trade in direct competition with them. It is not entirely clear that these benefits outweigh the costs, both direct and indirect, that will be accrued by licensed locksmith businesses and registered locksmiths. Direct costs include fees for licensure and/or registration and fees for classes. Indirect costs include the value of time spent attending classes and studying for and taking exams. In particular, the costs of business licensure may prove too onerous for some single proprietor locksmiths. The number of individuals who work as locksmiths is very likely to fall on account of licensure requirements.

Currently, these regulations do not include provisions for registration of detector canine handlers and certification of detector canine handler examiners. Pursuant to Chapter 470 of the 2004 Acts of the Assembly, the Board now proposes to add provisions that will govern registration, certification, and licensure for these groups.

The Board proposes to require detector canine handlers to complete 160 hours of initial training (2 hours of training on applicable Virginia law and 158 hours on subject matter training), pass an exam, and pay a $25 for initial registration. DCJS reports that this training will cost approximately $1,000 per 40 hour week of training. Detector canine handlers who have already completed training that would be equivalent to that required by the Board will be able to pay an entry level partial-training exemption fee of $25 and the initial registration fee in order to gain their registration. DCJS staff believes that most individuals who would seek registration already have national certification that is at least equivalent to the initial training required in these proposed regulations.

These training requirements seem to be approximately equivalent to what is required for police detector canine handlers. Given the nature of the relationship that must be fostered between a canine and its handler, and the repetition of exercises that is necessary to teach an animal to reliably perform a task, the benefits of requiring training before registration likely outweigh the costs of that training (and registration).

If detector canine handlers are business proprietors rather than employees of a business, they will need to meet the Board's requirements for business licensure (see explanation of locksmith business licensure above) and must complete regulatory compliance agent certification training ($50 initial certification fee). These individuals will have to renew their licenses at the end of the initial licensure term ($500 fee) and will have to complete compliance agent in-service (continuing education) every two years ($25 fee).

Under the Board's proposal, detector canine handler examiners must 1) be at least 18 years old, 2) have a high school diploma or GED, 3) have a minimum of five years of experience as a detector canine handler and a minimum of two years experience as a detector canine trainer, 4) be certified as a detector canine handler examiner by a Board recognized national certification organization, a division of the United States military or other formal entity or by a certified DCJS private security services detector canine handler examiner, 5) pass an exam, 6) provide fingerprints to DCJS ($50 fee) and 7) pay the initial certification fee of $50 in order to get a certification that is valid for two years. Within 12 months of initial certification, examiners will have to satisfactorily complete regulatory compliance training ($75 fee). In order to renew certification, these examiners must either have maintained certification under these regulations or complete 16 hours of continuing education before they recertify every two years (application fee $25) and complete regulatory compliance in-service training ($50 fee). No costs for continuing education are available but, given the number of hours required for those who have not maintained their certification, these costs will likely be more than several hundred dollars.

To the extent that requiring detector canine handler examiners to be certified improves the quality of the services they offer, the public will benefit from these regulatory changes. There is insufficient information to gauge whether these benefits outweigh the costs listed above.

Nothing in these proposed regulations would explicitly prohibit examiners from forming a business rather than working for another business or training school. There does appears to be an oblique assumption, in the regulations' Administrative Requirements and Behavior Standards, that examiners will be working for a business or training school licensed by the Board. These regulations as currently proposed would appear not to require examiner businesses to be licensed by the Board.

Current regulations include provision for two levels of firearms training in order to gain a firearms endorsement. All registrants, except for personal protection specialists, must currently complete entry-level handgun training (14 hours training). Personal protection specialists must currently complete both entry-level handgun training and advanced handgun training (24 hours training) in order to gain a firearms endorsement. An endorsement that allows the registrant to use a shotgun requires two extra hours of training. There currently is no specifically required training for patrol rifles.

The Board proposes to modify these firearms training requirements so that handgun training is separated into three classes. All registrants but armed security officers, armed couriers, and personal protection specialists who are seeking a firearms endorsement must complete fundamental handgun training (14 hours training). Armed security officers and armed couriers who are seeking a firearms endorsement have to complete basic handgun training (24 hours training). Personal protection specialists must complete both basic and advanced handgun training (14 hours training). The Board proposes to increase the training required to carry a shotgun from two to three hours and increase the hours needed annually to renew other firearms endorsements from two to four. The Board also proposes to add a 16 hour training requirement for patrol rifles.

These changes will increase the hours of handgun training needed by armed security officers and armed couriers for firearms endorsement by ten but will leave the hours of handgun training needed for other registrants unchanged. Any individuals who will seek an initial shotgun endorsement in the future will have to complete three hours of training rather than the currently required two hours. Individuals seeking to renew any other category of firearms endorsement will see the hours of training needed double from two to four hours. Any individuals who have been able to carry patrol rifles under current endorsement requirements will now have to pay for, and complete, 16 extra hours of training.

Estimates found online for firearms training indicate that training for each category of firearm will likely cost between $100 and $200 (but will likely be less for the additional two hours of retraining per category that will be required). Registrants will incur direct costs for additional training as well as indirect costs for the time spent on training. DCJS staff reports that the Board believes additional training for armed security officers and armed couriers is needed to ensure the safety of the public that these individuals work around. There is insufficient information to ascertain whether the benefits of additional public safety outweighs the costs of the 10 extra training hours required.

The Board proposes to require 16 hours of training for the additional patrol rifle endorsement (as compared to the three hours of training required for the additional shotgun endorsement). It also proposes to require a higher accuracy for range qualification than is required for either handguns or shotguns (85% versus 75%-79% and 70% respectively). The differential 13 hours of classroom training would likely only be justified if there was little or no carryover value from entry-level handgun training to patrol rifle training that could be assumed to exist for the required shotgun training (or if patrol rifles are much harder weapons to learn and operate). Although Board staff reports that experts on the Board believe the additional hours of training are necessary, there does not appear to be any quantifiable evidence that would support requiring more than five times as much training for patrol rifles. Although the Board has relaxed the range standard for patrol rifles from the initially proposed 100% accuracy, this standard still exceeds the standard imposed by surveyed local police departments (which ranged between 70% and 80%). Because the Board is imposing much more stringent standards for patrol rifles than other weapons, costs likely outweigh benefits for these proposed changes.

Currently, private security firms pay $800 for a business license that is valid for two years and $500 for renewal of that license every two years, thereafter. The Board proposes to allow firms the option of getting an initial license for $550 that will be valid for a year or paying $800 for a two year license. The biennial license renewal fee would remain $500. While the average annual cost over time would be the same no matter which initial license is chosen, firms will benefit from the ability to defer costs. The proposed change will give firms greater flexibility to plan expenses.

The Board proposes to add a $5 fee for applications that are not submitted through available electronic means and to increase the firearms endorsement fee from $10 to $15. The manual processing service fee is being proposed to encourage applicants to use Board resources that are less costly and more efficient. Since the fee will only apply if there are available electronic submission means, regulated entities are unlikely to incur this cost unless they feel that they benefit from doing so.

Currently, training schools pay a fee of $800 fee for initial licensure and a fee of $500 for electronic roster submittal authorization. The Board proposes to eliminate the electronic roster submittal authorization and instead charge training schools a $50 fee for each category of training offered past the first one (which is included in the licensure fee). There are nine categories of training so training schools would incur costs of only $400 if they taught all categories. Training schools will save between $100 and $500 on account of this proposed regulatory change.

Similarly, the Board proposes to cut the fees for instructor certification and compliance agent certification in half and implement an instructor certification category fee of $10. Initial instructor certification will decrease from $100 to $50 and instructor certification renewal will decrease from $50 to $25. Instructors will pay a $10 fee for each training category past the first for which certification is sought. Initial compliance agent certification will also decrease from $100 to $50 and compliance agent renewal will decrease from $50 to $25 but training will no longer be included in these fees. Compliance agent certification and training are being separated because private firms can now offer DCJS training online. Compliance agents will get a net benefit from this change only if training costs do not exceed what they will be saving in certification fees. This proposed change will likely save most instructors money.

Businesses and Entities Affected. These proposed changes will affect all entities that are subject to the Regulations Relating to Private Security Services. DCJS reports that these entities include 2,000 private security services businesses, 41,000 individual registrants (9,750 of which have firearms endorsements), 2,416 compliance officers, 488 instructors and 128 private security services training schools.

Localities Particularly Affected. No locality will be particularly affected by this proposed regulatory action.

Projected Impact on Employment. The number of locksmiths practicing in the Commonwealth will likely be smaller on account of the costs imposed by these proposed regulations.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. The value of locksmith businesses will likely decrease on account of these proposed regulations.

Small Businesses: Costs and Other Effects. Small business locksmiths, detector canine handlers, and detector canine handler examiners will incur costs for initial registration, registration renewal, Board business licensure and business licensure renewal as listed above. Armed security officers and armed couriers will incur costs for completing 10 extra hours of firearms training, and two extra hours of firearms retraining (for each category of firearm). Instructors and detector canine handler examiners will incur costs for regulatory compliance training.

Small Businesses: Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. Instead of requiring instructors and examiners to complete a regulatory compliance course and then pass a test, the Board might allow these entities to just take the test. The Board might also allow these entities to attest on their applications that they have read and understand relevant regulations and laws, as is allowed by several other regulatory boards in the Commonwealth. The Board also might consider alternate, less expensive, requirements for private security businesses where the registrant is the only employee.

Real Estate Development Costs. This regulatory action will likely have no effect on real estate development costs in the Commonwealth.

Legal Mandate. The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) has analyzed the economic impact of this proposed regulation in accordance with § 2.2-4007.04 of the Administrative Process Act and Executive Order Number 14 (10). Section 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include, but need not be limited to, the projected number of businesses or other entities to whom the regulation would apply, the identity of any localities and types of businesses or other entities particularly affected, the projected number of persons and employment positions to be affected, the projected costs to affected businesses or entities to implement or comply with the regulation, and the impact on the use and value of private property. Further, if the proposed regulation has adverse effect on small businesses, § 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include (i) an identification and estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the regulation; (ii) the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs required for small businesses to comply with the regulation, including the type of professional skills necessary for preparing required reports and other documents; (iii) a statement of the probable effect of the regulation on affected small businesses; and (iv) a description of any less intrusive or less costly alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the regulation. The analysis presented above represents DPB's best estimate of these economic impacts.

Agency's Response to Economic Impact Analysis: The Department of Criminal Justice Services concurs generally with the economic impact analysis of the Department of Planning and Budget.

Summary:

The reproposed regulation establishes a licensure, registration, and certification process for locksmiths pursuant to Chapter 638 of the 2008 Acts of Assembly and for detector canine handlers and detector canine handler examiners pursuant to Chapter 470 of the 2004 Acts of Assembly. The regulation establishes a regulatory fee structure; compulsory minimum entry-level training standards, including firearms training and qualifications; standards of conduct; and administration of the regulatory system.

Additionally, amendments (i) rewrite firearms endorsement requirements to include three levels of handgun training and increase training requirements for security officers/couriers to include 10 more hours of firearms training, (ii) increase the hours of training needed for a shotgun endorsement from two to three, (iii) increase the hours needed for renewal of other types of firearms endorsement from two to four, (iv) add new requirements for patrol rifle training, (v) allow businesses that are applying for initial licensure to choose to be licensed for one or two years before they must renew, (vi) add a $5.00 manual processing fee for applications not submitted through available electronic means, (vii) increase the firearms endorsement fee from $10 to $15 per year, (viii) charge training schools a $50 fee for each training category rather than the flat $500 fee they currently pay for approval of training materials and charge instructors $10 per category for each addition certification category, (ix) decrease fees for initial compliance agent certification and compliance agent certification renewal, and (x) require instructors and examiners to complete regulatory compliance entry level and in-service training (fees added for these categories).

Part I
Definitions

6VAC20-171-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Administrative Process Act" means Chapter 40 (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) of Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia.

"Alarm respondent" means a natural person who responds to the signal of an alarm for the purpose of detecting an intrusion of the home, business or property of the end user.

"Armed" means a private security registrant who carries or has immediate access to a firearm in the performance of his duties.

"Armed security officer" means a natural person employed to (i) safeguard and protect persons and property or (ii) deter theft, loss, or concealment of any tangible or intangible personal property on the premises he is contracted to protect, and who carries or has access to a firearm in the performance of his duties.

"Armored car personnel" means persons who transport or offer to transport under armed security from one place to another money, negotiable instruments or other valuables in a specially equipped motor vehicle with a high degree of security and certainty of delivery.

"Assistant [ training ] school director" means a certified instructor designated by a private security training school director to submit training school session notifications and training rosters and perform administrative duties in lieu of the director.

"Board" means the Criminal Justice Services Board or any successor board or agency.

"Business advertising material" means display advertisements in telephone directories, letterhead, business cards, local newspaper advertising and contracts.

"Central station dispatcher" means a natural person who monitors burglar alarm signal devices, burglar alarms or any other electrical, mechanical or electronic device used to prevent or detect burglary, theft, shoplifting, pilferage or similar losses; used to prevent or detect intrusion; or used primarily to summon aid for other emergencies.

"Certification" means a the method of regulation indicating that qualified persons have met the minimum requirements as private security services training schools, private security services instructors, or compliance agents, or certified detector canine handler examiners.

"Certified training school" means a training school that is certified by the department for the specific purpose of training private security services business personnel in at least one category of the compulsory minimum training standards.

"Class" means a block of instruction no less than 50 minutes in length on a particular subject.

"Classroom training" means instruction conducted by an instructor in person to students in an organized manner utilizing a lesson plan.

"Combat loading" means tactical loading of shotgun while maintaining coverage of threat area.

"Compliance agent" means a natural person who is an owner of, or employed by, a licensed private security services business. The compliance agent shall assure the compliance of the private security services business with all applicable requirements as provided in § 9.1-139 of the Code of Virginia.

"Courier" means any armed person who transports or offers to transport from one place to another documents or other papers, negotiable or nonnegotiable instruments, or other small items of value that require expeditious service.

[ "Cruiser safe" means the chamber is empty, the action of the shotgun is closed and locked, and magazine tube is loaded. ]

"Date of hire" means the date any employee of a private security services business or training school performs services regulated or required to be regulated by the department.

"Department" or "DCJS" means the Department of Criminal Justice Services or any successor agency.

"Detector canine" means any dog that detects drugs or explosives.

"Detector canine handler" means any individual who uses a detector canine in the performance of private security services.

"Detector canine handler examiner" means any individual who examines the proficiency and reliability of detector canines and detector canine handlers in the detection of drugs or explosives.

"Detector canine team" means the detector canine handler and his detector canine performing private security duties.

"Director" means the chief administrative officer of the department.

"Electronic roster submittal" means the authority given to the training director or assistant training director of a private security training school, after they have submitted an application and the required nonrefundable fee, to submit a training school roster to the department electronically through the department's online system.

"Electronic images" [ mean means ] an acceptable method of maintaining required documentation [ for private security services licensed businesses and certified training schools ] through the scanning, storage, and maintenance of verifiable electronic copies of original documentation.

"Electronic security business" means any person who engages in the business of or undertakes to (i) install, service, maintain, design or consult in the design of any electronic security equipment to an end user; (ii) respond to or cause a response to electronic security equipment for an end user; or (iii) have access to confidential information concerning the design, extent, status, password, contact list, or location of an end user's electronic security equipment.

"Electronic security employee" means a natural person who is employed by an electronic security business in any capacity which may give him access to information concerning the design, extent, status, password, contact list, or location of an end user's electronic security equipment.

"Electronic security equipment" means electronic or mechanical alarm signaling devices, including burglar alarms or holdup alarms or cameras used to detect intrusion, concealment or theft to safeguard and protect persons and property. This shall not include tags, labels, and other devices that are attached or affixed to items offered for sale, library books, and other protected articles as part of an electronic article surveillance and theft detection and deterrence system.

"Electronic security sales representative" means a natural person who sells electronic security equipment on behalf of an electronic security business to the end user.

"Electronic security technician" means a natural person who installs, services, maintains or repairs electronic security equipment.

"Electronic security technician's assistant" means a natural person who works as a laborer under the supervision of the electronic security technician in the course of his normal duties, but who may not make connections to any electronic security equipment.

"Employed" means an employer/employee relationship where the employee is providing work in exchange for compensation and the employer directly controls the employee's conduct and pays taxes on behalf of the employee. The term "employed" shall not be construed to include independent contractors.

"Employee" means a natural person employed by a licensee to perform private security services that are regulated by the department.

"End user" means any person who purchases or leases electronic security equipment for use in that person's home or business.

"Engaging in the business of providing or undertaking to provide private security services" means any person who solicits business within the Commonwealth of Virginia through advertising, business cards, submission of bids, contracting, public notice for private security services, directly or indirectly, or by any other means.

[ "Entry-level training" means the compulsory initial training for registered categories and basic or intermediate firearms training standards adopted by the board for private security services business personnel who are either new registrants or failed to timely complete in-service within the prescribed time period. ]

"Firearms endorsement" means a method of regulation that identifies an individual registered as a private security registrant and has successfully completed the annual firearms training and has met the requirements as set forth in this chapter.

"Firearms training verification" means verification of successful completion of either initial or retraining requirements for handgun, or shotgun, or patrol rifle training, or both.

"Firm" means a business entity, regardless of method of organization, applying for a an initial or renewal private security services business license or for the renewal or reinstatement of same private security services training school certification.

"Incident" means an event that exceeds the normal extent of one's duties.

"In-service training requirement" means the compulsory in-service training standards adopted by the Criminal Justice Services Board for private security services business personnel.

"Intermediate weapon" means a tool not fundamentally designed to cause deadly force with conventional use. This would exclude all metal ammunition firearms or edged weapons. These weapons include but are not limited to baton/collapsible baton, chemical irritants, electronic restraining devices, projectiles, and other less-lethal weapons as defined by the department.

"Job-related training" means training specifically related to the daily job functions of a given category of registration or certification as defined in this chapter. [ Certifiable job-related training may include a maximum of one hour of instruction dedicated to the review of regulations. ]

"Key cutting" means making duplicate keys from an existing key and includes no other locksmith services.

"License number" means the official number issued to a private security services business licensed by the department.

"Licensed firm" means a business entity, regardless of method of organization, which holds a valid private security services business license issued by the department.

"Licensee" means a licensed private security services business.

"Locksmith security equipment" means mechanical, electrical or electro-mechanical locking devices for the control of ingress or egress that do not primarily detect intrusion, concealment and theft.

"Locksmith" means any individual that performs locksmith services, or advertises or represents to the general public that the individual is a locksmith even if the specific term locksmith is substituted with any other term by which a reasonable person could construe that the individual possesses special skills relating to locks or locking devices, including use of the words lock technician, lockman, safe technician, safeman, boxman, unlocking technician, lock installer, lock opener, physical security technician, or similar descriptions.

"Locksmith services" mean selling; servicing; rebuilding; repairing; rekeying; repining; changing the combination to an electronic or mechanical locking device; programming either keys to a device or the device to accept electronic controlled keys; originating keys for locks or copying keys; adjusting or installing locks or deadbolts, mechanical or electronic locking devices, egress control devices, safes, and vaults; or opening, defeating or bypassing locks or latching mechanisms in a manner other than intended by the manufacturer with or without compensation for the general public or on property not his own nor under his own control or authority.

[ "Network administrator" means an individual designated by a certified training school that provides online training who serves as the technical contact between the department and the certified training school. ]

"Official documentation" means personnel records; DD214; copies of business licenses indicating ownership; law-enforcement transcripts; certificates of training completion; a signed letter provided directly by a current or previous employer detailing dates of employment and job duties; college transcripts; letters of commendation; private security services registrations, certifications or licenses from other states; and other employment, training, or experience verification documents. A resume is not considered official documentation.

"On duty" means the time during which private security services business personnel receive or are entitled to receive compensation for employment for which a registration or certification is required.

"On-line training" means training approved by the department and offered via the Internet or an Intranet for the purpose of remote access on-demand or long distance training that meets all requirements for compulsory minimum training standards.

[ "Open breach loading" means a method of loading or reloading an empty shotgun with the bolt open. ]

"Performance of his duties" means on duty in the context of this chapter.

"Person" means any individual, group of individuals, firm, company, corporation, partnership, business, trust, association, or other legal entity.

"Personal protection specialist" means any natural person who engages in the duties of providing close protection from bodily harm to any person.

"Physical address" means the location of the building that houses a private security services business or training school, or the location where the individual principals of a business reside. A post office box is not a physical address.

"Principal" means any sole proprietor, individual listed as an officer or director with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, board member of the association, or partner of a licensed firm or applicant for licensure.

"Private investigator" means any natural person who engages in the business of, or accepts employment to make, investigations to obtain information on (i) crimes or civil wrongs; (ii) the location, disposition, or recovery of stolen property; (iii) the cause of accidents, fires, damages, or injuries to persons or to property; or (iv) evidence to be used before any court, board, officer, or investigative committee.

"Private security services business" means any person engaged in the business of providing, or who undertakes to provide, armored car personnel, security officers, personal protection specialists, private investigators, couriers, security canine handlers, security canine teams, detector canine handlers, detector canine teams, alarm respondents, locksmiths, central station dispatchers, electronic security employees, electronic security sales representatives or electronic security technicians and their assistants to another person under contract, express or implied.

"Private security services business personnel" means each employee of a private security services business who is employed as an unarmed security officer, armed security officer/courier, armored car personnel, security canine handler, detector canine handler, private investigator, personal protection specialist, alarm respondent, locksmith, central station dispatcher, electronic security employee, electronic security sales representative, electronic security technician or electronic security technician's assistant.

"Private security services instructor" means any natural person certified by the department to provide mandated instruction in private security subjects for a certified private security services training school.

"Private security services registrant" means any qualified individual who has met the requirements under Article 6 (6VAC20-171-120 et seq.) of Part III of this chapter to perform the duties of alarm respondent, locksmith, armored car personnel, central station dispatcher, courier, electronic security sales representative, electronic security technician, electronic security technician's assistant, personal protection specialist, private investigator, security canine handler, detector canine handler, unarmed security officer or armed security officer.

"Private security services training school" means any person certified by the department to provide instruction in private security subjects for the training of private security services business personnel in accordance with this chapter.

"Reciprocity" means the relation existing between Virginia and any other state, commonwealth or providence as established by agreements approved by the board.

"Recognition" means the relation of accepting various application requirements between Virginia and any other state, commonwealth or providence as established by agreements approved by the board.

"Registration" means a method of regulation which identifies individuals as having met the minimum requirements for a particular registration category as set forth in this chapter.

"Registration category" means any one of the following categories: (i) unarmed security officer and armed security officer/courier, (ii) security canine handler, (iii) armored car personnel, (iv) private investigator, (v) personal protection specialist, (vi) alarm respondent, (vii) central station dispatcher, (viii) electronic security sales representative, or (ix) electronic security technician, or (x) electronic security technician's assistant, (xi) detector canine handler or (xii) locksmith.

[ "Related field" means any field with training requirements, job duties, and experience similar to those of the private security services field in which the applicant wishes to be licensed, certified, or registered. This includes, but is not limited to, law enforcement and certain categories of the military. ]

"Security canine" means a dog that has attended, completed, and been certified as a security canine by a certified security canine handler instructor in accordance with approved department procedures and certification guidelines. "Security canine" shall not include detector dogs.

"Security canine handler" means any natural person who utilizes his security canine in the performance of private security duties.

"Security canine team" means the security canine handler and his security canine performing private security duties.

"Session" means a group of classes comprising the total hours of mandated compulsory minimum training standards in any of the following categories: unarmed security officer, armed security officer/courier, personal protection specialist, armored car personnel, security canine handler, private investigator, alarm respondent, locksmith, central station dispatcher, electronic security sales representative, electronic security technician, electronic security technician's assistant or compliance agent of licensure, registration, or certification in accordance with this article and in accordance with §§ 9.1-150.2, 9.1-185.2 and 9.1-186.2 of the Code of Virginia.

"Supervisor" means any natural person who directly or indirectly supervises registered or certified private security services business personnel.

"This chapter" means the Regulations Relating to Private Security Services (6VAC20-171) as part of the Virginia Administrative Code.

"Training certification" means verification of the successful completion of any training requirement established in this chapter.

"Training requirement" means any entry level, in-service, or firearms retraining standard established in this chapter.

"Training school director" means a natural person designated by a principal of a certified private security services training school to assure the compliance of the private security services training school with all applicable requirements as provided in the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

"Unarmed security officer" means a natural person who performs the function of observation, detection, reporting, or notification of appropriate authorities or designated agents regarding persons or property on the premises he is contracted to protect, and who does not carry or have access to a firearm in the performance of his duties.

"Uniform" means any clothing with a badge, patch or lettering which clearly identifies persons to any observer as private security services business personnel, not law-enforcement officers.

Part II
Application Fees

6VAC20-171-20. Fees.

A. Schedule of fees. The fees listed below reflect the costs of handling, issuance, and production associated with administering and processing applications for licensing, registration, certification and other administrative requests for services relating to private security services.

	CATEGORIES		FEES
	CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS CHECK
	Fingerprint Processing Application		$50
	LICENSE
	Initial business license		$800
		1 Year License	$550
		2 Year License	$800
	Business license renewal (2 Year License)		$500
	Business license category fee		$50
	CERTIFICATIONS
	Initial compliance agent certification (includes training)		$100 $50
	Compliance agent certification renewal (includes training)		$50 $25
	Initial registration		$25
	Registration renewal		$20
	Firearms endorsement (annual)		$10
	Initial training school		$800
	Training school renewal		$500
	Training school category fee		$50
	Training school electronic roster submittal authorization		$500
	Initial instructor certification		$100 $50
	Instructor certification renewal		$50 $25
	Instructor certification category fee		$10
	Initial Detector Canine Handler Examiner certification		$50
	Detector Canine Handler Examiner Certification renewal		$25
	Initial certification		$25
	Certification renewal		$20
	REGISTRATION
	Initial registration		$25
	Registration renewal		$20
	Additional registration category form		$20
	Replacement photo identification		$20
	TRAINING RELATED
	Firearm Endorsement		[ $30 $15 ]
	Application for Entry-level partial-training exemption		$25
	In Service Training Alternative Credit Evaluation		$25
	Regulatory Compliance entry-level training		$75
	Regulatory Compliance In-service training		$50
	Fingerprint card processing		$50
	Additional registration category form		$20
	Replacement photo identification letter		$15
	[ Training completion roster form		$30 ]
	General instructor development course		$300
	General instructor in service training		$50
	Firearms instructor development course		$300
	Firearms instructor in service training		$50
	Technical assistant training		$50

B. Reinstatement fee.

1. The department shall collect a reinstatement fee for registration, license, or certification renewal applications not received on or before the expiration date of the expiring registration, license, or certification pursuant to 6VAC 20-171-180.

2. The reinstatement fee shall be 50% above and beyond the renewal fee of the registration, license, certification, or any other credential issued by the department wherein a fee is established and renewal is required.

C. Dishonor of fee payment due to nonsufficient insufficient funds.

1. The department may suspend the registration, license, certification, or authority it has granted any person, licensee or registrant who submits a check or similar instrument for payment of a fee required by statute or regulation which is not honored by the financial institution upon which the check or similar instrument is drawn.

2. The suspension shall become effective upon receipt of written notice of the dishonored payment. Upon notification of the suspension, the person, registrant or licensee may request that the suspended registration, license, certification, or authority be reinstated, provided payment of the dishonored amount plus any penalties or fees required under the statute or regulation [ accompany accompanies ] the request. Suspension under this provision shall be exempt from the Administrative Process Act.

D. Manual processing service fee. The department shall collect a [ $20 $5.00 ] service fee for any applications under this chapter that are submitted to the department by other means than the available electronic methods established by the department.

Part III
Applications Procedures and Requirements

Article 1
Criminal History Records Search

6VAC20-171-30. Fingerprint processing.

A. On or before the first date of hire, each person applying for licensure as a private security services business, including principals, supervisors, and electronic security employees; certification as a private security services training school; certification as a compliance agent, detector canine handler examiner or instructor; or a private security registration or private security certification shall submit to the department:

1. Two One completed fingerprint cards card provided by the department or another electronic method approved by the department;

2. A fingerprint processing application;

3. The applicable, nonrefundable fee; and

4. All criminal history conviction information on a form provided by the department.

B. The department shall submit those fingerprints to the Virginia State Police for the purpose of conducting a Virginia Criminal History Records search and a National Criminal Records search to determine whether the individual or individuals have a record of conviction.

C. Fingerprints cards found to be unclassifiable will be returned to the applicant. Action on the application will be suspended suspend all action on the application pending the resubmittal resubmission of a classifiable fingerprint cards card. The applicant shall be so notified in writing and shall must submit a new fingerprint cards and the applicable, nonrefundable fee to the department card within 30 days of notification before the processing of his application shall resume. However, no such fee may be required if the rejected fingerprint cards are included and attached to the new fingerprint cards when resubmitted and the department is not assessed additional processing fees. If a fingerprint card is not submitted within the 30 days, the initial fingerprint application process will be required to include applicable application fees.

D. If the applicant is denied by DCJS, the department will notify the applicant by letter regarding the reasons for the denial. The compliance agent will also be notified in writing by DCJS that the applicant has been denied.

E. Fingerprint applications will be [ only ] active for 120 days from [ the date of ] submittal. Application for licenses, registrations, and certifications must be submitted within that 120-day period or initial fingerprint submittal will be required.

Article 2
Private Security Services Business License

6VAC20-171-50. Initial business license application.

A. Prior to the issuance of a business license, the applicant shall meet or exceed the requirements of licensing and application submittal to the department as set forth in this section.

B. Each person seeking a license as a private security services business shall file a completed application provided by the department including:

1. For each principal and supervisor of the applying business, their fingerprints pursuant to 6VAC20-171-30; for each electronic security employee of an electronic security services business, their fingerprints pursuant to 6VAC20-171-30;

2. Documentation verifying that the applicant has secured a surety bond in the amount of $100,000 executed by a surety company authorized to do business in Virginia, or a certificate of insurance reflecting the department as a certificate holder, showing a policy of comprehensive general liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $100,000 [ per individual occurrence ] and $300,000 [ general aggregate ] issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in Virginia;

3. For each nonresident applicant for a license, on a form provided by the department, a completed irrevocable consent for the department to serve as service agent for all actions filed in any court in this Commonwealth;

4. For each applicant for a license as a private security services business except sole proprietor or partnership, on a form provided by the department [ shall submit on the license application, ] the identification number issued by the Virginia State Corporation Commission for verification that the entity is authorized to conduct business in the Commonwealth;

5. A physical address in Virginia where records required to be maintained by the Code of Virginia and this chapter are kept and available for inspection by the department. A post office box is not a physical address;

6. 5. On the license application, designation of at least one individual as compliance agent who is not designated as compliance agent for any other licensee, and who is certified or eligible for certification pursuant to 6VAC20-171-70;

7. 6. The applicable, nonrefundable license application fee; and

8. 7. Designation on the license application of the type of private security business license the applicant is seeking. The initial business license fee includes one category. A separate fee will be charged for each additional category. The separate categories are identified as follows: security officers/couriers (armed and unarmed), private investigators, electronic security personnel, armored car personnel, personal protection specialists, locksmiths, detector canine handlers and security canine handlers. Alarm respondents crossover into both the security officer and electronic security category; therefore, if an applicant is licensed in either of these categories, he can provide these services without purchasing an additional category fee.

C. Upon completion of the initial license application requirements, the department may issue an initial license for a period not to exceed 24 months.

D. The department may issue a letter of temporary licensure to businesses seeking licensure under § 9.1-139 of the Code of Virginia for not more than 120 days while awaiting the results of the state and national fingerprint search conducted on the principals and compliance agent of the business, provided the applicant has met the necessary conditions and requirements.

E. A new license is required whenever there is any change in the ownership or type of organization of the licensed entity that results in the creation of a new legal entity. Such changes include but are not limited to:

1. Death of a sole proprietor;

2. Death or withdrawal of a general partner in a general partnership or the managing partner in a limited partnership; and

3. Formation or dissolution of a corporation, a limited liability company, or an association or any other business entity recognized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

F. Each license shall be issued to the legal business entity named on the application, whether it [ be is ] a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity, and shall be valid only for the legal entity named on the license. No license shall be assigned or otherwise transferred to another legal entity, with the exception of a sole proprietorship or partnership that incorporates to form a new corporate entity where the initial licensee remains as a principal in the newly formed corporation. This exception shall not apply to any existing corporation that purchases the business or assets of an existing sole proprietorship.

G. Each licensee shall comply with all applicable administrative requirements and standards of conduct and shall not engage in any acts prohibited by applicable sections of the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

H. Each licensee shall be a United States citizen or legal resident alien of the United States.

6VAC20-171-60. Renewal license application.

A. Applications for license renewal should be received by the department at least 30 days prior to expiration. The department will provide a renewal notification to the last known mailing address of the licensee. However, if a renewal notification is not received by the licensee, it is the responsibility of the licensee to ensure renewal requirements are filed with the department. License renewal applications must be received by the department and all license requirements must be completed prior to the expiration date or shall be subject to all applicable, nonrefundable renewal fees plus reinstatement fees. Outstanding fees or monetary penalties owed to DCJS must be paid prior to issuance of said renewal.

B. Licenses will be renewed for a period not to exceed 24 months.

C. The department may renew a license when the following are received by the department:

1. A properly completed renewal application;

2. Documentation verifying that the applicant has secured and maintained a surety bond in the amount of $100,000 executed by a surety company authorized to do business in Virginia, or a certificate of insurance reflecting the department as a certificate holder, showing a policy of comprehensive general liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $100,000 [ per individual occurrence ] and $300,000 [ general aggregate ] issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in Virginia;

3. Fingerprint records for any new or additional principals submitted to the department within 30 days of their hire date pursuant to 6VAC20-171-30 provided, however, that any change in the ownership or type of organization of the licensed entity has not resulted in the creation of a new legal entity pursuant to 6VAC-20-171-50;

4. On the application, designation of at least one compliance agent who has satisfactorily completed all applicable training requirements;

5. The applicable, nonrefundable license renewal fee and applicable category of service fees; [ and ]

6. On the first day of employment, each new and additional supervisor's fingerprints submitted to the department pursuant to § 9.1-139 H of the Code of Virginia. [ ; and ]

[ 7. A completed business license self audit form issued by the department. ]

D. Each principal and compliance agent listed on the business applying for a license renewal application shall be in good standing in every jurisdiction where licensed, registered or certified in a private security services or related field. This subsection shall not apply to any probationary periods during which the individual is eligible to operate under the license, registration or certification.

E. Any renewal application received after the expiration date of a license shall be subject to the requirements set forth by the reinstatement provisions of this chapter.

F. On the renewal application the licensee must designate the type of private security business license he wishes to renew. The fee will be based upon the category or categories selected on the renewal application pursuant to 6VAC20-171-20.

Article 3
Compliance Agent Certification

6VAC20-171-70. Compliance agent training and certification requirements.

A. Each person applying for certification as compliance agent shall meet the minimum requirements for eligibility:

1. Be a minimum of 18 years of age;

2. Have (i) three years of managerial or supervisory experience in a private security services business, a federal, state, or local law-enforcement agency, or in a related field or (ii) five years experience in a private security services business, with a federal, state or local law-enforcement agency, or in a related field; and

3. Be a United States citizen or legal resident alien of the United States.

B. Each person applying for certification as compliance agent shall file with the department:

1. A properly completed application provided by the department;

2. Fingerprint cards card pursuant to 6VAC20-171-30;

3. Official documentation verifying that the individual has (i) three years of managerial or supervisory experience in a private security services business, a federal, state, or local law-enforcement agency, or in a related field or (ii) five years experience in a private security services business, with a federal, state or local law-enforcement agency, or in a related field; and

4. The applicable, nonrefundable application fee.

C. Following review of all application requirements, the department shall assign the applicant to an entry level compliance agent training session provided by the department, at which the applicant must successfully complete the applicable entry level compliance agent training requirements pursuant to this chapter and achieve a passing score of 80% on the compliance agent examination. The department may issue a certification for a period not to exceed 24 months when the following are received by the department:

1. A properly completed application provided by the department;

2. The applicable, nonrefundable certification fee;

3. Verification of eligibility pursuant to § 9.1-139 A of the Code of Virginia; and

4. Verification of satisfactory completion of department regulatory compliance entry-level training requirements pursuant to 6VAC20-171-72 of this chapter.

D. Following completion of the entry level training requirements, the compliance agent must complete in-service training pursuant to the compulsory minimum training standards set forth by this chapter.

E. D. Each compliance agent shall comply with all applicable administrative requirements and standards of conduct and shall not engage in any acts prohibited by applicable sections of the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

6VAC20-171-71. Compliance agent certification renewal requirements.

A. Applications for certification renewal should be received by the department at least 30 days prior to expiration. The department will provide a renewal notification to the last known mailing address or email address provided by the certified compliance agent. However, if a renewal notification is not received by the compliance agent, it is the responsibility of the compliance agent to ensure renewal requirements are filed with the department. Certification renewal applications received by the department after the expiration date shall be subject to all applicable, nonrefundable renewal fees plus reinstatement fees.

B. Each person applying for compliance agent certification renewal shall meet the minimum requirements for eligibility as follows:

1. Successfully apply on an application provided by the department, and complete the in-service regulatory compliance agent classroom training session provided by the department, or successfully complete an approved online in-service training session pursuant to 6VAC20-171-72. Training must be completed within the 12 months immediately preceding the expiration date of the current certification pursuant to the certification training standards in 6VAC20-171-72; and

2. Be in good standing in every jurisdiction where licensed, registered, or certified in private security services or related field. This subdivision shall not apply to any probationary periods during which the individual is eligible to operate under the license, registration, or certification.

C. The department may renew a certification for a period not to exceed 24 months.

D. The department may renew a certification when the following are received by the department:

1. A properly completed renewal application provided by the department;

2. The applicable, nonrefundable certification renewal fee; and

3. Verification of satisfactory completion of department regulatory compliance agent in-service training pursuant to 6VAC20-171-72.

E. Any renewal application received after the expiration date of a certification shall be subject to the requirements set forth by the reinstatement provisions of this chapter.

6VAC20-171-72. Compliance agent regulatory compliance training requirements.

A. Each eligible person applying to attend a regulatory compliance entry-level or in-service training session provided by the department shall file with the department:

1. A properly completed application provided by the department; and

2. The applicable, nonrefundable application fee.

Upon receipt of the training enrollment application the department will assign the applicant to a training session provided by the department. Applicants for initial certification as a compliance agent must achieve a minimum passing score of 80% on the entry-level regulatory compliance training examination.

B. Department entry-level regulatory compliance training must be completed within 12 months of approval of application for an initial compliance agent certification.

C. Each person certified by the department to act as a compliance agent shall complete the department in-service regulatory compliance training within the last 12-month period of certification.

Article 4
Private Security Services Training School Certification

6VAC20-171-80. Initial training school application.

A. Prior to the issuance of a training school certification, the applicant shall meet or exceed the requirements of certification and application submittal to the department as set forth in this section.

B. Each person seeking certification as a private security services training school shall file a completed application provided by the department to include:

1. For each principal of the applying training school, their fingerprints pursuant to 6VAC20-171-30;

2. Documentation verifying that the applicant has secured a surety bond in the amount of $100,000 executed by a surety company authorized to do business in Virginia, or a certificate of insurance reflecting the department as a certificate holder, showing a policy of comprehensive general liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $100,000 [ per individual occurrence ] and $300,000 [ general aggregate ] issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in Virginia;

3. For each nonresident applicant for a training school, on a form provided by the department, a completed irrevocable consent for the department to serve as service agent for all actions filed in any court in this Commonwealth;

4. For each applicant for certification as a private security services training school except sole proprietor and partnership, on a form certification application provided by the department, the identification number issued by the Virginia State Corporation Commission for verification that the entity is authorized to conduct business in the Commonwealth;

5. A physical location in Virginia where records required to be maintained by the Code of Virginia and this chapter are kept and available for inspection by the department. A post office box is not a physical location;

6. 5. On the training school certification application, designation of at least one individual as training director who is not designated as training director for any other training school, and who is certified as an instructor pursuant to Article 5 (6VAC20-171-100 et seq.) of this part. A maximum of four individuals may be designated as an assistant [ training ] school director;

7. 6. A copy of the curriculum in course outline format for each category of training to be offered, including the hours of instruction with initial and in-service courses on separate documents;

8. 7. A copy of the training school regulations;

9. [ 8. A copy of the training completion certificate to be used by the training school; ]

10. [ 9. 8. ] A copy of the range regulations to include the assigned DCJS range identification number if firearms training will be offered; [ and ]

11. [ 10. The applicable, nonrefundable training school certification application fee.

11. 9. ] On the certification application, selection of the category of training the applicant is seeking to provide. The initial training school certification [ application ] fee includes one category. A separate fee will be charged for each additional category of training. The separate categories are identified as follows: (i) security officers/couriers/alarm respondent (armed and unarmed) to include arrest authority [ and firearms training ], (ii) private investigators, (iii) locksmiths, electronic security personnel to include central station dispatchers, (iv) armored car personnel, (v) personal protection specialists, (vi) detector canine handlers, security canine handlers, (vii) special conservators of the peace pursuant to § 9.1-150 of the Code of Virginia, [ and ] (viii) bail bondsmen pursuant to § 9.1-185 of the Code of Virginia, bail enforcement agents pursuant to § 9.1-186 of the Code of Virginia [ ., and (ix) firearms;

10. The applicable, nonrefundable category fee; and

11. The applicable, nonrefundable training school certification application fee. ]

C. When the department has received and processed a completed application and accompanying material, the department shall may inspect the training facilities to ensure conformity with department policy, including an inspection of the firearms range, if applicable, to ensure conformity with the minimum requirements set forth by this chapter.

D. Upon completion of the initial training school application requirements, the department may issue an initial certification for a period not to exceed 24 months.

E. The department may issue a letter of temporary certification to training schools for not more than 120 days while awaiting the results of the state and national fingerprint search conducted on the principals and training director of the business, provided the applicant has met the necessary conditions and requirements.

F. A new certification is required whenever there is any change in the ownership or type of organization of the certified entity that results in the creation of a new legal entity. Such changes include but are not limited to:

1. Death of a sole proprietor;

2. Death or withdrawal of a general partner in a general partnership or the managing partner in a limited partnership; and

3. Formation or dissolution of a corporation, a limited liability company, or an association or any other business entity recognized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

G. Each certification shall be issued to the legal entity named on the application, whether it [ be is ] a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity, and shall be valid only for the legal entity named on the certification. No certification shall be assigned or otherwise transferred to another legal entity, with the exception of a sole proprietorship or partnership that incorporates to form a new corporate entity where the initial licensee remains as a principal in the newly formed corporation. This exception shall not apply to any existing corporation that purchases the training school or assets of an existing sole proprietorship.

H. Each certified training school shall comply with all applicable administrative requirements and standards of conduct and shall not engage in any acts prohibited by applicable sections of the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

6VAC20-171-90. Renewal training school application.

A. Applications for certification renewal should be received by the department at least 30 days prior to expiration. The department will provide a renewal notification to the last known mailing address of or email address provided by the certified training school. However, if a renewal notification is not received by the training school, it is the responsibility of the training school to ensure renewal requirements are filed with the department. Certification renewal applications received by the department after the expiration date shall be subject to all applicable, nonrefundable renewal fees plus reinstatement fees. Outstanding fees or monetary penalties owed to DCJS must be paid prior to issuance of said renewal.

B. Upon completion of the renewal training school application requirements, the department may issue a renewal certification for a period not to exceed 24 months.

C. The department may renew a certification when the following are received by the department:

1. A properly completed renewal application;

2. Documentation verifying that the applicant has secured and maintained a surety bond in the amount of $100,000 executed by a surety company authorized to do business in Virginia, or a certificate of insurance reflecting the department as a certificate holder, showing a policy of comprehensive general liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $100,000 [ per individual occurrence ] and $300,000 [ general aggregate ] issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in Virginia;

3. On the application, designation of at least one certified instructor as training director who has satisfactorily completed all applicable training requirements; [ and ]

4. Fingerprints for each new and additional principal pursuant to § 9.1-139 H of the Code of Virginia [ .; ]

5. The applicable, nonrefundable certification renewal fee [ .and category fees; ]

6. Any documentation required pursuant to 6VAC20-171-80 for any new categories of training [ ; and

7. A completed training school certification self audit form issued by the department ].

D. Each principal and instructor listed on the license training school applying for a certification renewal application shall be in good standing in every jurisdiction where licensed, registered or certified in private security services or related field. This subsection shall not apply to any probationary periods during which the individual is eligible to operate under the license, registration or certification.

E. Any renewal application received after the expiration date of a certification shall be subject to the requirements set forth by the reinstatement provisions of this chapter pursuant to 6VAC20-171-180.

Article 5
Private Security Services Instructor Certification

6VAC20-171-100. Initial instructor application.

A. Each person applying for certification as an instructor shall meet the following minimum requirements for eligibility:

1. Be a minimum of 18 years of age;

2. Have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED);

3. Have either (i) successfully completed a DCJS instructor development course within the three years immediately preceding the date of the application or submitted a waiver application for an instructor development course that meets or exceeds standards established by the department; or (ii) successfully completed an approved DCJS instructor development program longer than three years prior to the date of application, and provided documented instruction during the three years immediately preceding or provided documented instruction in a related field at an institution of higher learning;

4. Have a minimum of (i) three years management or supervisory experience with a private security services business or with any federal, military police, state, county or municipal law-enforcement agency, or in a related field; or (ii) five years general experience in a private security services business, with a federal, state or local law-enforcement agency, or in a related field; or (iii) one year experience as an instructor or teacher at an accredited educational institution or agency in the subject matter for which certification is requested, or in a related field; and

5. Have previous training and a minimum of two years work experience for those subjects in which certification is requested; and

5. 6. Be a United State States citizen or legal resident alien of the United States.

B. Each person applying for certification as an instructor shall file with the department:

1. A properly completed application provided by the department;

2. Fingerprint cards card pursuant to 6VAC20-171-30;

3. Official documentation verifying that the applicant meets the minimum eligibility requirements pursuant to this section;

4. Official documentation verifying previous instructor experience, training, work experience and education for those subjects in which certification is requested. The department will evaluate qualifications based upon the justification provided;

[ 4. On the certification application, selection of the category of training the applicant is seeking to provide. The initial instructor certification fee includes one category. A separate fee will be charged for each additional category of training. The separate categories are identified as follows: (i) security officers/couriers/alarm respondent (armed and unarmed) to include arrest authority, (ii) private investigators, (iii) locksmiths, electronic security personnel to include central station dispatchers, (iv) armored car personnel, (v) personal protection specialists, (vi) detector canine handlers, security canine handlers, (vii) special conservators of the peace pursuant to § 9.1-150 of the Code of Virginia, (viii) bail bondsmen pursuant to § 9.1-185 of the Code of Virginia, bail enforcement agents pursuant to § 9.1-186 of the Code of Virginia, and (ix) firearms; ]

[ 5. 4. ] The [ applicable, ] nonrefundable [ instructor certification ] application fee [ and category fee or fees if applicable ]; and

[ 6. 5. ] Evidence of status as a United States citizen or legal resident alien of the United States.

C. Following review of all application requirements, the department shall verify eligibility and authorize the applicant to submit a regulatory compliance training enrollment application for an entry-level instructor regulatory compliance classroom training session provided by the department, or approve the applicant for taking the approved online training session pursuant to 6VAC20-171-111, at which the applicant must successfully complete the applicable entry-level regulatory compliance training requirements pursuant to this chapter and achieve a passing score of 80% on the regulatory compliance examination.

C. D. In addition to the instructor qualification requirements described in subsections A and B through C of this section, each applicant for certification as a firearms instructor shall submit to the department:

1. Official documentation that the applicant has successfully completed a DCJS firearms instructor school or a waiver application with supporting documentation demonstrating completion of a firearms instructor school specifically designed for law-enforcement or private security personnel that meets or exceeds standards established by the department within the three years immediately preceding the date of the instructor application.

2. Official documentation in the form of a signed, dated range sheet [ identifying the type, caliber, and action, along ] with the qualification score and course of fire that the applicant has successfully qualified, with a minimum range qualification of 85%, with each of the following:

a. A revolver;

b. A semi-automatic handgun; and

c. A shotgun.

3. Firearms instructors applying to provide patrol rifle training in accordance with 6VAC20-171-395 must submit official documentation in the form of a signed, dated range sheet that the applicant has successfully qualified, with a minimum range qualification of 85%, with a patrol rifle.

4. Range qualifications must have been completed within the 12 months immediately preceding the instructor application date and have been completed at a Virginia criminal justice agency, training academy, correctional facility, or [ a department approved range utilized by a ] certified private security training school. The qualifications must be documented by another instructor certified as a law-enforcement firearms instructor or private security services firearms instructor.

3. 5. The firearms instructor training must have been completed within the three years immediately preceding the date of the instructor application; or in the event that the school completion occurred prior to three years, the applicant shall have provided firearms instruction during the three years immediately preceding the date of the instructor application.

D. E. Upon completion of the initial instructor application requirements, the department may issue an initial certification for a period not to exceed 24 months.

E. F. The department may issue a letter of temporary certification to instructors for not more than 120 days while awaiting the results of the state and national fingerprint search provided the applicant has met the necessary conditions and requirements.

F. G. Each certification shall be issued to the individual named on the application and shall be valid only for use by that individual. No certification shall be assigned or otherwise transferred to another individual.

G. H. Each instructor shall comply with all applicable administrative requirements and standards of conduct and shall not engage in any acts prohibited by applicable sections of the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

6VAC20-171-110. Renewal instructor application.

A. Applications for certification renewal should be received by the department at least 30 days prior to expiration. The department will provide a renewal notification to the last known mailing address of or email address provided by the certified instructor. However, if a renewal notification is not received by the instructor, it is the responsibility of the instructor to ensure renewal requirements are filed with the department. Certification renewal applications received by the department after the expiration date shall be subject to all applicable, nonrefundable renewal fees plus reinstatement fees.

B. Each person applying for instructor certification renewal shall meet the minimum requirements for eligibility as follows:

1. Successfully complete the in-service training regulatory compliance classroom [ or online ] training session provided by the department [ , or successfully complete an approved online in-service training session pursuant to 6VAC20-171-11 ] within the 12 months immediately preceding the expiration date of the current certification pursuant to the compulsory minimum training standards in 6VAC20-171-360; and;

2. Successfully complete a minimum of 4 hours of continuing education in instructor development. Training must be completed within the 12 months immediately preceding the expiration date of the current certification; [ and ]

[ 3. Successfully complete a minimum of 2 hours of professional development for topics related to each category of instructor certification during the certification period; and ]

2. [ 4. 3. ] Be in good standing in every jurisdiction where licensed, registered or certified in a private security services or related field. This subdivision shall not apply to any probationary periods during which the individual is eligible to operate under the license, registration or certification.

C. The department may renew a certification for a period not to exceed 24 months.

D. The department may renew a certification when the following are received by the department:

1. A properly completed renewal application provided by the department; and

2. The applicable, nonrefundable certification renewal fee. [ and applicable category fees ];

[ 3. Any documentation required pursuant to 6VAC20-171-100 for any new categories of training; ]

[ 3. 4. ] Verification of satisfactory completion of regulatory compliance in-service training provided by the department;

[ 4. 5. ] Verification of satisfactory completion of instructor development continuing education requirements;

[ 5. Verification of 2 hours of professional development training in each category of certification taken during the certification period; and ]

6. For firearms instructors, official documentation in the form of a signed, dated range sheet [ identifying the type, caliber, and action, ] along with the qualification score and course of fire, with a minimum range qualification of 85%, with each of the following:

a. A revolver;

b. A semi-automatic handgun; and

c. A shotgun.

7. Firearms instructors applying to provide patrol rifle training in accordance with 6VAC20-171-395 must submit official documentation in the form of a signed, dated range sheet that the applicant has successfully qualified, with a minimum range qualification of 85%, with a patrol rifle.

8. Range qualifications must have been completed within the 12 months immediately preceding the instructor application date and have been completed at a Virginia criminal justice agency, training academy, correctional facility, [ or a department approved range utilized by a ] certified private security training school. The qualifications must be documented by another instructor certified as a law-enforcement firearms instructor or private security services firearms instructor.

E. Any instructor renewal application received by the department shall meet all renewal requirements prior to the expiration date of a certification or shall be subject to the requirements set forth by the reinstatement provisions [ of this chapter pursuant to 6VAC20-171-180 ].

6VAC20-171-111. Instructor regulatory compliance training requirements.

A. Each eligible person applying to attend a regulatory compliance entry-level or in-service training session provided by the department shall file with the department:

1. A properly completed application provided by the department; and

2. The applicable, nonrefundable application fee.

Upon receipt of the training enrollment application the department will assign the applicant to a regulatory compliance training session provided by the department. Applicants for initial certification as an instructor must achieve a minimum passing score of 80% on the entry-level regulatory compliance examination.

B. Department entry-level regulatory compliance training must be completed within 12 months of approval of application for an initial instructor certification.

6VAC20-171-115. Initial detector canine handler examiner certification.

A. Each person applying for certification as a detector canine handler examiner shall meet the following minimum requirements for eligibility:

1. Be a minimum of 18 years of age;

2. Have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED);

3. Have a minimum of five years experience as a detector canine handler and a minimum of two years experience as a detector canine trainer;

4. Have an active certification as a detector canine handler examiner or equivalent credential from a department approved national organization, unit of the United States military, or other formal entity; or be sponsored by a certified DCJS private security services detector canine handler examiner;

5. Successfully pass a written examination and performance evaluations according to department guidelines; and

6. Be a United States citizen or legal resident alien of the United States.

B. Each person applying for certification as a detector canine handler examiner shall file with the department:

1. A properly completed application provided by the department;

2. Fingerprint card pursuant to 6VAC20-171-30;

3. Official documentation according to subdivisions A 3 and 4 of this section; and

4. The applicable, nonrefundable application fee.

C. Following review of all application requirements, the department shall verify eligibility and authorize the applicant to submit a regulatory compliance training enrollment application pursuant to 6VAC20-171-117 for an entry-level classroom training session provided by the department, or approve the applicant for taking the approved online training session pursuant to 6VAC20-171-117, at which the applicant must successfully complete the applicable entry-level regulatory compliance training requirements pursuant to this chapter and achieve a passing score of 80% on the examination.

D. Upon completion of the initial detector canine handler examiner application requirements, the department may issue an initial certification for a period not to exceed 24 months.

E. The department may issue a letter of temporary certification to detector canine handler examiners for not more than 120 days while awaiting the results of the state and national fingerprint search provided the applicant has met the necessary conditions and requirements.

F. Each certification shall be issued to the individual named on the application and shall be valid only for use by that individual. No certification shall be assigned or otherwise transferred to another individual.

G. Each detector canine handler examiner shall comply with all applicable administrative requirements and standards of conduct and shall not engage in any acts prohibited by applicable sections of the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

6VAC20-171-116. Renewal detector canine handler examiner certification.

A. Applications for certification renewal should be received by the department at least 30 days prior to expiration. The department will provide a renewal notification to the last known mailing address of the certified examiner. However, if a renewal notification is not received by the examiner, it is the responsibility of the examiner to ensure renewal requirements are filed with the department. Certification renewal applications received by the department after the expiration date shall be subject to all applicable, nonrefundable renewal fees plus reinstatement fees.

B. Each person applying for examiner certification renewal shall meet the minimum requirements for eligibility as follows:

1. Have maintained certification as a detector canine handler examiner or equivalent credential according to 6VAC20-171-115 A 4 [ or and ] demonstrate the completion of a minimum of 16 hours of continuing education during the previous certification period;

[ 2. Successfully complete the in-service regulatory compliance classroom or online training session provided by the department within the 12 months immediately preceding the expiration date of the current certification; ] and

[ 3. ] Be in good standing in every jurisdiction where licensed, registered, or certified. This subdivision shall not apply to any probationary periods during which the individual is eligible to operate under the license, registration, or certification.

C. The department may renew a certification for a period not to exceed 24 months.

D. The department may renew a certification when the following are received by the department:

1. A properly completed renewal application provided by the department;

2. The applicable, nonrefundable certification renewal fee; and

3. Official documentation according to subsection B [ 1 ] of this section.

E. Any examiner renewal application received by the department shall meet all renewal requirements prior to the expiration date of a certification or shall be subject to the requirements set forth by the reinstatement provisions of this chapter.

6VAC20-171-117. Detector canine handler examiner regulatory compliance training enrollment.

A. Each eligible person applying to attend a regulatory compliance entry-level [ or in-service ] training session provided by the department shall file with the department:

1. A properly completed application provided by the department; and

2. The applicable, nonrefundable application fee.

Upon receipt of the training enrollment application the department will assign the applicant to a regulatory compliance examiner training session provided by the department, at which the applicant must successfully complete the applicable training requirements. Applicants for initial certification as an examiner must achieve a minimum passing score of 80% on the entry-level examination.

B. Department entry-level regulatory compliance training must be completed within 12 months of approval of application for an initial examiner certification.

Article 6
Private Security Services Registration

6VAC20-171-120. Initial registration application.

A. Individuals required to be registered, pursuant to § 9.1-139 C of the Code of Virginia, in the categories of armored car personnel, courier, unarmed security officer, armed security officer, security canine handler, explosives detector canine handler, narcotics detector canine handler, private investigator, personal protection specialist, alarm respondent, locksmith, central station dispatcher, electronic security sales representative, electronic security technician, or electronic security technician's assistant shall meet all registration requirements in this section. Prior to the issuance of a registration, the applicant shall meet or exceed the requirements of registration and application submittal to the department as set forth in this section. Individuals who carry or have access to a firearm while on duty must have a valid registration with a firearm endorsement pursuant to 6VAC20-171-140. If carrying a handgun concealed, the individual must also have a valid concealed handgun permit and the written permission of his employer pursuant to § 18.2-308 of the Code of Virginia.

B. Each person applying for registration shall meet the minimum requirements for eligibility as follows:

1. Be a minimum of 18 years of age;

2. Successfully complete all initial training requirements for each registration category requested, including firearms endorsement if applicable, requested pursuant to the compulsory minimum training standards in 6VAC20-171-360 6VAC20-171-350; [ and ]

3. Be a United States citizen or legal resident alien of the United States [ .; and

4. Have a digital photo taken by a certified private security services training school or other site approved by the department. ]

C. Each person applying for registration shall file with the department:

1. A properly completed application provided by the department;

2. On the application, his mailing address;

3. Fingerprint cards card pursuant to 6VAC20-171-30; and

[ 4. A photo taken by a certified private security services training school or other site approved by the department; and ]

[ 5. 4. ] The applicable, nonrefundable application fee.

D. Each person seeking or required to seek registration as unarmed security officer, alarm respondent, locksmith, central station dispatcher, electronic security sales representative, electronic security technician, or electronic security technician's assistant may be employed for a period not to exceed 90 consecutive days in any categories listed above while completing the compulsory minimum training standards, provided:

1. Fingerprint cards Fingerprints have been submitted pursuant to 6VAC20-171-30;

2. The individual is not employed in excess of 120 days without having been issued a registration from the department; and

3. The individual did not fail to timely complete the required training with previous employer(s).

E. Upon completion of the initial registration application requirements, the department may issue an initial registration letter for a period not to exceed 24 months. This registration letter shall be submitted by the applicant to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles or other specified entity for a state-issued photo identification card.

F. The department may issue a letter of temporary registration [ valid ] for not more than 120 days while awaiting the results of the state and national fingerprint search, provided the applicant has met the necessary conditions and requirements.

G. Each registration shall be issued to the individual named on the application and shall be valid only for use by that individual. No registration shall be assigned or otherwise transferred to another individual.

H. Each registered individual shall comply with all applicable administrative requirements and standards of conduct and shall not engage in any acts prohibited by applicable sections of the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

6VAC20-171-130. Renewal registration application.

A. Applications for registration renewal shall meet all renewal requirements and should be received by the department at least 30 days prior to expiration. The department will provide a renewal notification to the last known mailing address of or email address provided by the registered individual. However, if a renewal notification is not received by the individual, it is the responsibility of the individual to ensure renewal requirements are filed with the department. Registration renewal applications received by the department after the expiration date shall be subject to all applicable, nonrefundable renewal fees plus reinstatement fees.

B. Each person applying for registration renewal shall meet the minimum requirements for eligibility as follows:

1. Successfully complete the in-service training, and firearms retraining if applicable, pursuant to the compulsory minimum training standards set forth by this chapter; [ and ]

2. Be in good standing in every jurisdiction where licensed, registered or certified. This subdivision shall not apply to any probationary periods during which the individual is eligible to operate under the license, registration or certification [ .; and ]

[ 3. Upon the request of the department, have a new digital photo taken by a certified private security services training school or other site approved by the department. ]

C. The department may renew a registration when the following are received by the department:

1. A properly completed renewal application provided by the department;

2. For individuals applying for renewal with the category of armored car personnel, fingerprint cards card submitted pursuant to 6VAC20-171-30;

3. The applicable, nonrefundable registration renewal fee; and

4. For individuals with firearms endorsements, evidence of completion of annual firearms retraining in accordance with 6VAC20-171-400. Part V, Article 2 (6VAC20-171-365 et seq.) of this chapter [ ; and. ]

[ 5. Upon the request of the department, a new photo taken by a certified private security services training school or other site approved by the department. ]

D. Upon completion of the renewal registration application requirements, the department may issue a registration letter for a period not to exceed 24 months. This registration letter shall be submitted by the applicant to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles or other specified entity for a state-issued photo identification card.

E. Any renewal application received by the department shall meet all renewal requirements prior to the expiration date of a registration or shall be subject to the requirements set forth by the reinstatement provisions of this chapter pursuant to 6VAC20-171-180.

6VAC20-171-135. Firearms endorsement.

A. [ Firearms training A firearms ] endorsement is required for all private security services business personnel who carry or have [ immediate ] access to a firearm while on duty. Each person who carries or has [ immediate ] access to firearms while on duty shall qualify with each type of action and caliber of firearm to which he has access.

B. Each person applying for a firearms endorsement shall meet the minimum requirements for eligibility as follows:

1. Must be registered in a regulated category.

2. Must complete [ entry-level ] handgun, and if applicable, shotgun and patrol rifle training as described in Part V, Article 2 [ 6VAC20-171-365 ] et seq.) of this chapter.

C. All armed private security services business personnel with the exception of personal protection specialist must satisfactorily complete firearms retraining prescribed in 6VAC20-171-400.

D. All armed personal protection specialist must satisfactorily complete firearms retraining prescribed in 6VAC20-171-420.

E. Firearms endorsements are issued for a period not to exceed 12 months. Individuals must complete firearms retraining within the [ 120 90 ] days prior to the expiration of their current firearm endorsement or will be required to complete entry-level training requirements prior to applying for an active endorsement.

[ Article 7
Additional Categories/Replacement Identification

6VAC20-171-160. Additional category application.

A. Individuals may apply for multiple registration or certification categories during the initial application process by completing the applicable training requirements for each category.

B. Registered or certified individuals seeking to add categories to a current registration or certification must:

1. Successfully complete all initial training requirements for each additional registration or certification category requested pursuant to the compulsory minimum training standards in Part V (6VAC20-171-350 et seq.) of this chapter;

2. Submit a properly completed application provided by the department; and

3. Submit the applicable, nonrefundable application fee.

C. Individuals may avoid paying a separate fee for additional registration or certification categories when the categories are requested on the application for renewal. ]

6VAC20-171-170. Replacement state issued photo identification [ letter card ].

Registered [ or certified ] individuals seeking a replacement state issued photo identification letter card shall submit to the department:

1. A properly completed application provided by the department; and

2. The applicable, nonrefundable application fee.

Article 8
Reinstatement and Renewal Extension

6VAC20-171-180. Reinstatement.

A. Any business license, training school, instructor, compliance agent, detector canine handler examiner certification, instructor certification or registration not renewed on or before the expiration date shall become null and void. Pursuant to the Code of Virginia, all such persons must currently be licensed, registered or certified with the department to provide private security services.

B. A renewal application must be received by the department within 60 days following the expiration date of the license, certification or registration in order to be reinstated by the department providing all renewal requirements have been met. Prior to reinstatement the following shall be submitted to the department:

1. The appropriate renewal application and completion of renewal requirements including required training pursuant to this chapter; and

2. The applicable, nonrefundable reinstatement fee pursuant to this chapter and in accordance with 6VAC20-171-20 B.

The department shall not reinstate renewal applications received after the 60-day reinstatement period has expired. It is unlawful to operate without a valid registration, certification, or license including during reinstatement period.

The department shall not reinstate business licenses or training school certifications that have become null and void due to not maintaining required insurance or surety bond coverage.

C. No license, registration or certification shall be renewed or reinstated when all renewal application requirements are received by the department more than 60 days following the expiration date of the license. After that date, the applicant shall meet all initial application requirements, including applicable training requirements.

D. Following submittal of all reinstatement requirements, the department will process and may approve any application for reinstatement pursuant to the renewal process for the application.

E. When a license, certification, or registration is reinstated, the applicant shall continue to have the same DCJS number and shall be assigned an expiration date two years from the previous expiration date of the license, certification, or registration.

F. An applicant who reinstates shall be regarded as having been continuously licensed, certified, or registered without interruption. Therefore, the applicant shall remain under the disciplinary authority of the department during this entire period and may be held accountable for his activities during this period.

G. A person who fails to reinstate his license, certification, or registration shall be regarded as unlicensed, uncertified, or unregistered from the expiration date of the license, certification, or registration forward.

H. Nothing in this chapter shall divest the department of its authority to discipline a person for a violation of the law or regulations during the period of time for which the person was licensed, certified, or registered.

[ I. Firearms endorsements are not eligible for reinstatement. If renewal requirements are not met pursuant to 6VAC20-171-135, the applicant shall meet all initial application requirements, including applicable initial firearms training requirements. ]

6VAC20-171-190. Renewal extension.

A. An extension of the time period to meet renewal requirements may be approved only under specific circumstances which do not allow private security personnel, businesses, or training schools to complete the required procedures within the prescribed time period. The following are the only circumstances for which extensions may be granted:

1. Extended illness;

2. Extended injury;

3. Military or foreign service; or

4. Any emergency temporary assignment of private security personnel for purposes of (i) natural disaster, (ii) homeland security or (iii) documented threat, by the private security services business or training school for which he is employed.

B. A request for extension shall:

1. Be submitted in writing, dated and signed by the individual or principal of a licensed entity prior to the expiration date of the time limit required for completion of the requirements. This requirement may be waived by the department based on an evaluation of the justification for waiver.

2. Indicate the projected date the person, business, or training school will be able to comply with the requirements; and

3. Include a copy of the physician's record of the injury or illness, or a copy of the government orders or documentation of emergency temporary assignment.

C. No extension will be approved for registrations, certifications, or business licenses that have expired.

D. C. Applications for additional extensions may be approved upon written request of the person, business, or training school.

D. The total time for renewal extension, including additional extensions, shall not exceed 12 months beyond the original expiration date. If renewal requirements are not met during the period of extension, the individual must complete all initial training requirements to include applicable entry-level training.

E. The private security services person, business, or training school shall be nonoperational during the period of extension [ unless otherwise issued a temporary exemption and has been authorized by the department pursuant to § 9.1-139 of the Code of Virginia ].

Article 9
Application Sanctions; Exemptions, Recognition/Reciprocity

6VAC20-171-200. Denial, probation, suspension and revocation.

A. The department may deny a license, registration or certification in which any person or principal of an applying business has been convicted in any jurisdiction of any felony or of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, assault and battery, damage to real or personal property, controlled substances or imitation controlled substances as defined in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia, prohibited sexual behavior as described in Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia, or firearms. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for the purposes of this chapter. The record of a conviction, authenticated in such form as to be admissible in evidence under the laws of the jurisdiction where convicted, shall be admissible as prima facie evidence of such conviction.

B. The department may deny a license, registration or certification in which any person or principal of an applying business or training school has not maintained good standing in every jurisdiction where licensed, registered or certified in a private security services or related field; or has had his license, registration or certification denied upon initial application, suspended, revoked, surrendered, or not renewed; or has otherwise been disciplined in connection with a disciplinary action prior to applying for licensing, registration or certification in Virginia.

C. Any false or misleading statement on any state application or supporting documentation is grounds for denial or revocation and may be subject to criminal prosecution.

D. The department may deny licensure to a firm, certification, or registration for other just cause.

E. A licensee, training school, compliance agent, instructor, detector canine handler examiner, or registered individual shall be subject to disciplinary action for violations or noncompliance with the Code of Virginia or this chapter. Disciplinary action shall be in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Administrative Process Act. The disciplinary action may include but is not limited to a letter of censure, fine, probation, suspension or revocation.

F. If a registrant or certified person is subject to disciplinary action for violations or noncompliance with the Code of Virginia or this chapter, the department will notify the last known licensed or certified private security services business or training school [ by which they were employed or affiliated ].

Part IV
Administrative Requirements/Standards of Conduct

Article 1
[ Private Security Services Businesses General Requirements ]

6VAC20-171-215. General requirements.

All private security services registered and certified personnel, licensed businesses and certified training schools are required to maintain administrative requirements and standards of conduct as determined by the Code of Virginia, department guidelines and this chapter.

[ Article 2
Private Security Services Businesses ]

6VAC20-171-220. Business administrative requirements.

A licensee shall:

1. Maintain at all times with the department its [ email address and ] physical location in Virginia where records required to be maintained by the Code of Virginia and this chapter are kept and available for inspection by the department address [ and email address if applicable ]. A post office box is not a physical location address. [ Such notification Notification of any change ] shall be in writing and received by the department no later than 10 days after the effective date of the change.

2. Maintain at all times with the department its current operating name and all fictitious names. Any name change reports shall be submitted in writing within 10 days after the occurrence of such change and accompanied by certified true copies of the documents that establish the name change.

3. Report in writing to the department any change in its ownership or principals that does not result in the creation of a new legal entity. Such written report shall be received by the department within 30 days after the occurrence of such change to include fingerprint cards pursuant to this chapter.

4. Report in writing to the department any change in the entity of the licensee that results in continued operation requiring a license. Such written report shall be received by the department within 10 days after the occurrence of such change.

5. Maintain at all times current liability coverage at least in the minimum amounts prescribed by the application requirements of this chapter. Failure of the business to do so shall result in the license becoming null and void. Each day of uninsured activity would be construed as an individual violation of this requirement.

6. Maintain at all times with the department a completed irrevocable consent for service if the licensee is not a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Licensees that move their business from the Commonwealth shall file a completed irrevocable consent for services within 15 days of the change in location.

7. Employ at all times at least one individual designated as compliance agent who is in good standing and is certified pursuant to 6VAC20-171-70 and who is not currently designated as compliance agent for another licensee. In the event there is more than one compliance agent designated for the business, designate one as the primary compliance agent and point of contact.

8. Maintain at all times and for a period of not less than three years from the date of termination of employment the following documentation concerning all regulants: documentation or electronic images of the date of hire in the regulated category, documentation that the fingerprint processing application was submitted on the date of hire, verification that the employee is a U.S. citizen or legal resident alien and is properly registered/certified and trained, current physical and mailing addresses for all regulated employees and telephone numbers if applicable.

9. Upon termination of employment of a certified compliance agent, notify the department in writing within 10 calendar days. This notification shall include the name of the individual responsible for the licensee's adherence to applicable administrative requirements and standards of conduct during the period of replacement.

10. Within 90 days of termination of employment of the sole remaining compliance agent, submit the name of a new compliance agent who is eligible for certification pursuant to this chapter and who is not currently designated for another licensee. Individuals not currently eligible may pursue certification pursuant to Part III (6VAC20-171-30 et seq.) of this chapter. [ Such This ] notification shall be in writing and signed by a principal of the business and the designated compliance agent.

11. Prominently display at all times for public inspection, in a conspicuous place where the public has access, the business license issued by the department.

12. Ensure that all individuals submit fingerprint cards pursuant to 6VAC20-171-30 as required by the Code of Virginia.

13. Inform the department in writing within 10 days of receiving knowledge of any principal, partner, officer, compliance agent or employee regulated or required to be regulated by this chapter [ being arrested for a crime in any jurisdiction, ] pleading guilty or nolo contendere or being convicted or found guilty of any felony or of a misdemeanor as outlined in § 9.1-139 K of the Code of Virginia.

14. Inform the department in writing within 10 days of receiving knowledge of any principal, licensee, subsidiary, partner, officer, compliance agent or employee regulated or required to be regulated by this chapter, having been found guilty by any court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction to have violated the private security services business statutes or regulations of that jurisdiction, there being no appeal therefrom or the time for appeal having elapsed.

15. On a form provided by the department and within 10 calendar days of receiving knowledge of the an incident, submit a report of any incident in which any registrant has discharged a firearm while on duty, excluding any training exercise.

16. In the event a complaint against the licensee is received by the department, be required to furnish documentary evidence (written agreement) of the terms agreed to between licensee and client, which shall include at a minimum the specific scope of services and fees assessed for such services. The licensee shall retain a copy for a period of not less than three years from completion of said agreement.

17. Not fail to honor the terms and conditions of a warranty or written agreement.

18. In the event a licensee sells or otherwise transfers the ownership of a monitoring agreement of an electronic security customer [ in Virginia ], notify the end user, in writing, within 30 days of the transfer of monitoring services. No licensee shall sell or otherwise transfer to an entity not licensed in Virginia.

19. Ensure that all regulated employees carry a state [ the department issued the ] photo identification [ registration ] card along with their registration or certification card, unless the card is one in the same [ issued by the department while on duty or temporary registration letter along with a photo ID while on duty ].

20. [ Ensure that all regulated employees authorized to provide private security services while completing compulsory minimum training standards pursuant to § 9.1-139 H of the Code of Virginia carry a photo ID along with an authorization form provided by the department while on duty.

21. ] Maintain a written use of force policy dictating the business' policy for using deadly force and for use of less lethal force. A statement certifying that the employee has read and understands the business' use of force policy must be signed by each employee who is permitted to carry firearms or intermediate weapons and maintained in the employee's file.

[ 21. 22. ] Maintain records for individual employees permitted to carry intermediate weapons while on duty to verify training in the use of the permitted intermediate weapons.

[ 22. 23. ] Maintain at all times and for a period of not less than three years from the date of termination, decertification or other separation, records of detector canine handler team certifications to include a photo of detector canine teams utilized to provide regulated private security services as defined in this chapter.

6VAC20-171-230. Business standards of conduct.

A licensee shall:

1. Conform to all requirements pursuant to the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

2. Ensure that all employees regulated, or required to be regulated, by this chapter conform to all application requirements, administrative requirements and standards of conduct pursuant to the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

3. Not direct any employee regulated, or required to be regulated, by this chapter to engage in any acts prohibited by the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

4. Employ individuals regulated, or required to be regulated, as follows:

a. A licensee shall employ or otherwise utilize individuals possessing a valid registration issued by the department showing the registration categories required to perform duties requiring registration pursuant to the Code of Virginia;

b. A licensee shall not allow individuals requiring registration as armored car personnel, armed security officers/couriers, armed alarm respondents with firearm endorsement, private investigators, personal protection specialists, detector canine handlers or security canine handlers to perform private security services until such time as the individual has been issued a registration by the department;

c. A licensee may employ individuals requiring registration as unarmed alarm respondent without firearm endorsement, locksmith, central station dispatcher, electronic security sales representative, electronic security technician, [ unarmed ] armored car driver, unarmed security officer or electronic security technician's assistant for a period not to exceed 90 consecutive days in any registered category listed above while completing the compulsory minimum training standards provided:

(1) The individual's fingerprint [ cards have card has ] been submitted pursuant to Article 1 (6VAC20-171-30 et seq.) of Part III of this chapter;

(2) The individual is not employed in excess of 120 days without having been issued a registration from the department; and

(3) The individual did not fail to timely complete the required training with previous employer(s).

d. A licensee shall not employ any individual carrying or having access to a firearm in the performance of his duties who has not obtained a valid registration and firearms endorsement from the department; and

e. A licensee shall maintain appropriate documentation to verify compliance with these requirements. A licensee shall maintain these documents after employment is terminated for a period of not less than three years.

5. Not contract or subcontract any private security services in the Commonwealth of Virginia to a person not [ required to be ] licensed by the department. Verification of a contractor's or subcontractor's license issued by the department shall be maintained for a period of not less than three years.

6. Ensure that the compliance agent conforms to all applicable application requirements, administrative requirements and standards of conduct pursuant to the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

7. Permit the department during regular business hours to inspect, review, or copy those documents, electronic images, business records or training records that are required to be maintained by the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

8. Not violate or aid and abet others in violating the provisions of Article 4 (§ 9.1-138 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1 of the Code of Virginia or this chapter.

9. Not commit any act or omission that results in a private security license or registration being suspended, revoked, not renewed or being otherwise disciplined in any jurisdiction.

10. [ Not have Ensure that regulated employees of the business have not ] been convicted or found guilty in any jurisdiction of the United States of any felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, assault and battery, damage to real or personal property, controlled substances or imitation controlled substances as defined in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia, prohibited sexual behavior as described in Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia, or firearms, from which no appeal is pending, the time for appeal having elapsed. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for the purpose of this chapter. The record of conviction certified or authenticated in such form as to be admissible in evidence under the laws of the jurisdiction where convicted shall be prima facie evidence of such guilt.

11. Not obtain or aid and abet others to obtain a license, license renewal, registration, registration renewal, certification, certification renewal, or firearms endorsement through any fraud or misrepresentation.

12. Include the business license number issued by the department on all business advertising materials pursuant to the Code of Virginia. Business advertising materials containing information regarding more than one licensee must contain the business license numbers of each licensee identified.

13. Not conduct a private security services business in such a manner as to endanger the public health, safety and welfare.

14. Not falsify, or aid and abet others in falsifying, training records for the purpose of obtaining a license, registration or certification.

15. Not represent as one's own a license issued to another private security services business.

16. When providing central station monitoring services, attempt to verify the legitimacy of a burglar alarm activation by calling the site of the alarm. If unable to make contact, call one additional number provided by the alarm user who has the authority to cancel the dispatch. (This shall not apply if the alarm user has provided written authorization requesting immediate or one call dispatch to both their local police department and their dealer of record). This shall not apply to duress or hold-up alarms.

17. Not perform any unlawful or negligent act resulting in loss, injury or death to any person.

18. Utilize vehicles for private security services using or displaying a an amber flashing light only as specifically authorized by § 46.2-1025.9 of the Code of Virginia.

19. Not use or display the state seal of Virginia or the seal of the Department of Criminal Justice Services, or any portion thereof, or the seal of any political subdivision of the Commonwealth, or any portion thereof, as a part of any logo, stationery, letter, training document, business card, badge, patch, insignia or other form of identification or advertisement.

20. Not provide information obtained by the firm or its employees to any person other than the client who secured the services of the licensee without the client's prior written consent. Provision of information in response to official requests from law-enforcement agencies, the courts, or the department shall not constitute a violation of this chapter. Provision of information to law-enforcement agencies pertinent to criminal activity or to planned criminal activity shall not constitute a violation of this chapter.

21. Not engage in acts of unprofessional conduct in the practice of private security services.

22. Not engage in acts of negligent or incompetent private security services.

23. Not make any misrepresentation or false promise to a private security services business client or potential private security services business client.

24. Not violate any state or local ordinances.

25. Satisfy all judgments to include binding arbitrations related to private security services not provided.

26. Not publish or cause to be published any written business material relating to private security services that contains an assertion, representation, or statement of fact that is false, deceptive or misleading.

27. Not conduct private security business under a fictitious or assumed name unless the name is on file with the Department of Criminal Justice Services. This does not apply to a private investigator conducting a "pretext," provided that the private investigator does not state that he is representing a private security business that does not exist or otherwise prohibited under federal law.

28. Not act as or be an ostensible licensee for undisclosed persons who do or will control directly or indirectly the operations of the licensee's business.

29. Not provide false or misleading information to representatives of the department.

[ 30. Not refuse to cooperate with an investigation being conducted by the department.

31. 30. ] Not provide materially incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or untrue information on [ a license application, renewal any email, ] application, or any other document filed with the department.

6VAC20-171-240. Compliance agent administrative requirements and standards of conduct.

A compliance agent shall:

1. Conform to all requirements pursuant to the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

2. Maintain at all times with the department his mailing address and email address [ if applicable ]. Written notification of any change of address shall be in writing and received by the department no later than 10 days after the effective date of the change.

3. Not violate or aid and abet others in violating the provisions of Article 4 (§ 9.1-138 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1 of the Code of Virginia or this chapter.

4. Not commit any act or omission which results in a private security license or registration being suspended, revoked, not renewed or being otherwise disciplined in any jurisdiction.

5. Not have been convicted or found guilty in any jurisdiction of the United States of any felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, assault and battery, damage to real or personal property, controlled substances or imitation controlled substances as defined in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia, prohibited sexual behavior as described in Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia, or firearms, from which no appeal is pending, the time for appeal having elapsed. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for the purpose of this chapter. The record of conviction certified or authenticated in such form as to be admissible in evidence under the laws of the jurisdiction where convicted shall be prima facie evidence of such guilt.

6. Inform the department, and the licensee for which the individual is designated as compliance agent if applicable, in writing within 10 days after [ being arrested for a crime in any jurisdiction, ] pleading guilty or nolo contendere [ or and after ] being convicted or found guilty of any felony or of a misdemeanor as outlined in § 9.1-139 K of the Code of Virginia.

7. Inform the department, and the licensee for which the individual is designated as compliance agent if applicable, in writing within 10 days after having been found guilty by any court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction to have violated the private security services business statutes or regulations of that jurisdiction, there being no appeal therefrom or the time for appeal having elapsed.

8. Not obtain a license, license renewal, registration, registration renewal, certification or certification renewal through any fraud or misrepresentation.

9. Only be designated with the department and acting as a compliance agent for one licensed entity.

10. Be designated with the department as compliance agent for a licensee and shall:

a. Ensure that the licensee and all employees regulated, or required to be regulated, by this chapter conform to all application requirements, administrative requirements and standards of conduct pursuant to the Code of Virginia and this chapter;

b. Maintain documentation for all employees or persons otherwise utilized that verifies compliance with requirements pursuant to the Code of Virginia and this chapter;

c. Notify the department in writing within 10 calendar days following termination of his employment as compliance agent for the licensee; [ and ]

d. Ensure that all regulated employees carry [ a state the department ] issued photo identification card [ . unless the card is one in the same along with their registration ] or certification [ card or temporary registration letter along with a photo ID while on duty; and

e. Ensure that all regulated employees authorized to provide private security services while completing compulsory minimum training standards pursuant to § 9.1-139 H of the Code of Virginia carry a photo ID along with an authorization form provided by the department while on duty. ]

11. Not engage in acts of unprofessional conduct in the practice of private security services.

12. Not engage in acts of negligent and/or incompetent private security services.

13. Not make any misrepresentation or false promise to a private security services business client or potential private security services business client.

14. Satisfy all judgments to include binding arbitrations related to private security services not provided.

15. Not publish or cause to be published any written business material relating to private security services that contain an assertion, representation, or statement of fact that is false, deceptive or misleading.

16. Not conduct private security business under a fictitious or assumed name unless the name is on file with the Department of Criminal Justice Services. This does not apply to a private investigator conducting a "pretext," provided that the private investigator does not state that he is representing a private security business that does not exist [ or otherwise prohibited under federal laws ].

17. Not violate any state or local ordinances related to private security services.

18. Not provide false or misleading information to representatives of the department.

[ 19. Not refuse to cooperate with an investigation being conducted by the Department.

20. 19. ] Not use access to the department's database information for any other purpose than verifying employee's application status.

[ 21. 20. ] Not allow another to use access granted to the department's database for any purpose.

[ 22. 21. ] Not provide materially incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or untrue information on [ a certification application, certification renewal any email, ] application, or any other document filed with the department.

[ 23. Not have an arrest that the prima facie evidence would indicate the propensity for harming the public. ]

Article 2
Private Security Services Training Schools

6VAC20-171-245. General requirements. (Repealed.)

All training schools are required to maintain administrative requirements and standards of conduct as determined by the Code of Virginia, department guidelines and this chapter.

Article 3
Private Security Services Training Schools

6VAC20-171-250. Administrative Training school administrative requirements.

A training school shall:

1. Maintain at all times with the department its [ email address and ] physical location in Virginia where records required to be maintained by the Code of Virginia and this chapter are kept and available for inspection by the department address [ and email address if applicable ]. A post office box is not a physical location address. [ Such notification Notification of any change ] shall be in writing and received by the department no later than 10 days after the effective date of the change.

2. Employ at all times one individual designated as training director who is currently certified as an instructor pursuant to this chapter and who is not currently designated as training director for another training school. A training school may designate a maximum of four individuals as assistant [ training ] school directors.

3. Upon termination of the services of a certified instructor, notify the department in writing within 10 calendar days. Should the instructor also be designated as the training director for the training school, this notification shall include the name of the instructor responsible for the training school's adherence to applicable administrative requirements and standards of conduct during the period of training director replacement.

4. Within 90 days of termination of employment of the sole remaining training director, submit the name of a new instructor eligible for designation pursuant to this chapter and who is not currently designated for another training school. Individuals not currently eligible may pursue certification pursuant to Part III (6VAC20-171-30 et seq.) of this chapter. Such notification shall be in writing and signed by a principal of the training school and the designated training director.

5. Notify the department in writing of any certified instructors or subject matter specialists eligible to provide instruction at the training school. The notification shall be received by the department prior to the individual conducting any training for the training school and signed by the training school director and the designated instructor or subject matter specialist.

6. Prominently display at all times, in a conspicuous place where the public has access, the training school certification issued by the department.

7. Maintain at all times current liability coverage at least in the minimum amounts prescribed by the application requirements of this chapter. Failure of the training school to do so shall result in the certification becoming null and void. Each day of uninsured activity would be construed as an individual violation of this requirement.

8. Inform the department in writing within 10 days, for any principal, partner, officer, instructor or employee regulated or required to be regulated by this chapter [ being arrested for a crime in any jurisdiction, ] pleading guilty or nolo contendere or being convicted or found guilty of any felony or of a misdemeanor as outlined in § 9.1-139 K of the Code of Virginia.

9. Inform the department in writing within 10 days, for any principal, partner, officer, instructor or employee regulated or required to be regulated by this chapter having been found guilty by any court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction to have violated the private security services business statutes or regulations of that jurisdiction, there being no appeal therefrom or the time for appeal having elapsed.

10. Report in writing to the department any change in its ownership or principals that does not result in the creation of a new legal entity. Such written report shall be received by the department within 10 days after the occurrence of such change to include fingerprint cards submitted pursuant to 6VAC20-171-30.

11. Maintain at all times with the department its current operating name and fictitious names. Any name change reports shall be submitted in writing within 10 days after the occurrence of such change and accompanied by certified true copies of the documents that establish the name change.

12. Report in writing to the department any change in the entity of the training school that results in continued operation requiring a certification. Such written report shall be received by the department within 10 days after the occurrence of such change.

13. Maintain written authorization from the department for any subject matter specialists being used to provide instruction.

14. Develop lesson plans for each training curriculum and subject being offered in accordance with the topical outlines submitted to the department to include hours of instruction.

15. Maintain comprehensive and current lesson plans for each entry level training curriculum and subject being offered.

16. Maintain comprehensive and current lesson plans for each in-service training curriculum and subject being offered.

17. Maintain comprehensive and current lesson plans for each firearms training curriculum and subject being offered.

18. Date all lesson plans and handout material, including the initial date of development and subsequent revisions.

19. Ensure that current copies of the following requirements are provided to and maintained with the department, including:

a. A list of all training locations used by the training school, excluding hotel/motel facilities;

b. A list of all firing range names and locations;

c. A list of all subject matter specialists currently employed, or otherwise utilized; and

d. Copies of current topical outlines for all lesson plans and curriculums. The lesson plans and subsequent course outlines shall include (i) specific reference to the course content involving the Code of Virginia and this chapter and (ii) the hours of instruction.

20. Ensure that range qualification for all firearms training is completed pursuant to this chapter except with written authorization from the department.

21. On a form provided by the department and within 10 calendar days of the an incident, submit a report of any incident in which any instructor, student or employee has discharged a firearm while on duty, excluding any training exercise.

22. Not act as or be a certified training school for undisclosed persons who directly or indirectly control the operation of the training school.

23. Inform the department and compliance agent of the employing business if applicable, in a format prescribed by the department within seven days of any person regulated under this chapter who fails to requalify with a minimum passing score on the range.

6VAC20-171-260. Training school standards of conduct.

A training school shall:

1. Conform to all requirements pursuant to the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

2. Ensure that the owners, principals, training director and all instructors employed by the training school conform to all applicable application requirements, administrative requirements and standards of conduct pursuant to the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

3. Utilize only certified instructors, or other individuals eligible to provide instruction pursuant to this chapter in the conduct of private security training sessions.

4. Maintain current files that include copies or electronic images of attendance records, a master final examination, pass/fail recording of examination and firearms qualification scores, training completion rosters, and training completion forms for each student for three years from the date of the training session in which the individual student was enrolled.

5. Permit the department during regular business hours to inspect, review, or copy those documents, electronic images, business records or training records that are required to be maintained by the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

6. Permit the department to inspect and observe any training session. Certified training schools that conduct training sessions not located within Virginia may be required to pay the expenses of inspection and review.

7. Include the training school certification number issued by the department on all business advertising materials pursuant to the Code of Virginia.

8. Not violate or aid and abet others in violating the provisions of Article 4 (§ 9.1-138 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1 of the Code of Virginia or this chapter.

9. Not commit any act or omission that results in a private security license or registration being suspended, revoked, not renewed or being otherwise disciplined in any jurisdiction.

10. Ensure that the owner, principals, training director and all instructors employed by the training school have not been convicted or found guilty in any jurisdiction of the United States of any felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, assault and battery, damage to real or personal property, controlled substances or imitation controlled substances as defined in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia, prohibited sexual behavior as described in Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia, or firearms, from which no appeal is pending, the time for appeal having elapsed. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for the purpose of this chapter. The record of conviction certified or authenticated in such form as to be admissible in evidence under the laws of the jurisdiction where convicted shall be prima facie evidence of such guilt.

11. Not obtain or aid and abet others to obtain a license, license renewal, registration, registration renewal, certification or certification renewal through any fraud or misrepresentation.

12. Conduct [ entry level entry-level ] and in-service training sessions separately. In-service subjects and curriculums may not be incorporated or included as a part of the entry-level subjects and curriculums [ unless otherwise authorized by the department ].

13. Not conduct a private security services training school in such a manner as to endanger the public health, safety and welfare.

14. Not falsify, or aid and abet others in falsifying, training records for the purpose of obtaining a license, registration, certification, or certification as a compliance agent, training school, school director or instructor.

15. Not represent as one's own a certification issued to another private security services training school.

16. Not perform any unlawful or negligent act resulting in loss, injury or death to any person.

17. Not use or display the state seal of Virginia, or any portion thereof, as a part of any logo, stationery, business card, badge, patch, insignia or other form of identification or advertisement.

18. Not use or display the state seal of the Department of Criminal Justice Services, or any portion thereof, or the seal of any political subdivision [ of the Commonwealth ], or any portion thereof, as a part of the training school's logo, stationery, letter, training document, business card, badge, patch, insignia or other form of identification or advertisement.

19. Not engage in acts of unprofessional conduct in the practice of private security services.

20. Not engage in acts of negligent or incompetent private security services.

21. Not make any misrepresentation or false promise to a private security services business client or potential private security services business client.

22. Not violate any state or local ordinances related to private security services.

23. Satisfy all judgments to include binding arbitrations related to private security services not provided.

24. Not publish or cause to be published any written business material relating to private security services that contains an assertion, representation, or statement of fact that is false, deceptive or misleading.

25. Not provide false or misleading information to representatives of the department.

[ 26. Not refuse to cooperate with an investigation being conducted by the department.

27. 26. ] Not act as or be an ostensible certified training school for undisclosed persons who do or will control directly or indirectly the operations of the training school.

[ 28. 27. ] Not provide materially incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or untrue information on [ a certification application, renewal any email, ] application, or any other document filed with the department.

6VAC20-171-270. Private security services training Training school director administrative requirements and standards of conduct.

A training school director shall:

1. Ensure that the certified training school and all employees regulated, or required to be regulated, by this chapter conform to all application requirements, administrative requirements and standards of conduct pursuant to the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

2. Conform to all application requirements, administrative requirements and standards of conduct as a certified instructor pursuant to the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

3. Maintain documentation for all employees or persons otherwise utilized that verifies compliance with requirements pursuant to the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

4. Notify the department in writing within 10 calendar days following termination of his employment as training director for the certified training school.

5. Not engage in acts of unprofessional conduct in the practice of private security services.

6. Not engage in act of negligent or incompetent private security services.

7. Not make any misrepresentation or false promise to a private security services business client or potential private security services business client.

8. Not violate any state or local ordinances relating to private security services.

9. Satisfy all judgments to include binding arbitrations relating to private security services not provided.

10. Not publish or cause to be published any written business material relating to private security services that contains an assertion, representation, or statement of fact that is false, deceptive or misleading.

11. Use access to the department's database information only for the purpose of verifying employed instructors' or students' application status.

12. Not allow another to use access granted to the department's database for any purpose.

13. Inform the department and compliance agent of the employing business if applicable, in a format prescribed by the department within seven days of any person regulated under this chapter who fails to requalify with a minimum passing score on the range.

6VAC20-171-280. Private security services instructor administrative requirements and standards of conduct.

An instructor shall:

1. Conform to all requirements pursuant to the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

2. Maintain at all times with the department his [ email address and ] mailing address [ and email address if applicable ]. Written notification of any address change shall be in writing and received by the department no later than 10 days after the effective date of the change.

3. Not have been convicted or found guilty in any jurisdiction of the United States of any felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, assault and battery, damage to real or personal property, controlled substances or imitation controlled substances as defined in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia, prohibited sexual behavior as described in Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia, or firearms, from which no appeal is pending, the time for appeal having elapsed. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for the purpose of this chapter. The record of conviction certified or authenticated in such form as to be admissible in evidence under the laws of the jurisdiction where convicted shall be prima facie evidence of such guilt.

4. Inform the department, and the training school for which the individual is designated as an instructor if applicable, in writing within 10 days after [ being arrested for a crime in any jurisdiction ] pleading guilty or nolo contendere [ or and after ] being convicted or found guilty of any felony or of a misdemeanor as outlined in § 9.1-139 K of the Code of Virginia.

5. Inform the department, and the training school for which the individual is designated as instructor, if applicable, in writing within 10 days after having been found guilty by any court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction to have violated the private security services business statutes or regulations of that jurisdiction, there being no appeal therefrom or the time for appeal having elapsed.

6. Not violate or aid and abet others in violating the provisions of Article 4 (§ 9.1-138 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1 of the Code of Virginia or this chapter.

7. Not commit any act or omission that results in a private security license or registration being suspended, revoked, not renewed or being otherwise disciplined in any jurisdiction.

8. Not obtain a license, license renewal, registration, registration renewal, certification or certification renewal through any fraud or misrepresentation.

9. Conduct training sessions pursuant to requirements established in this chapter.

10. Notify the department within 10 calendar days following termination of his employment as instructor for the training school.

11. Not engage in acts of unprofessional conduct in the practice of private security services.

12. Not engage in acts of negligent or incompetent private security services.

13. Not make any misrepresentation or false promise to a private security services business client or potential private security services business client.

14. Not violate any state or local ordinances relating to private security services.

15. [ Maintain documentation of successful completion of a minimum of two hours of professional development for topics related to each category of instructor certification as established in 6VAC20-171-100 B 6 during each certification period or successful completion of compulsory in-service training by another private security services certified instructor if also registered in the same categories.

16. ] Not publish or cause to be published any material relating to private security services that contain an assertion, representation, or statement of fact that is false, deceptive, or misleading.

[ 16. 17. ] Not provide false or misleading information to representatives of the department.

[ 17. Not refuse to cooperate with an investigation being conducted by the department. ]

18. Not provide materially incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or untrue information [ in a certification application, renewal on any email, ] application, or any other document filed with the department.

[ 19. Not have an arrest that the prima facie evidence would indicate the propensity for harming the public.

20. 19. ] Transport, carry, and utilize firearms while on duty only in a manner that does not endanger the public health, safety, and welfare.

[ 21. 20. ] Report in writing to the training school director within 24 hours of any person regulated under this chapter who fails to requalify with a minimum passing score on the range.

[ 22. 21. ] Provide any person who fails to requalify with a minimum passing score on the range with a failure to requalify notice provided by the department.

6VAC20-171-290. Instruction exceptions Instructor alternatives.

A. Subject matter specialist.

1. Training schools may employ or otherwise utilize individuals as subject matter specialists to provide instruction in specific areas of a training curriculum. During the approved portions of training, a certified instructor is not required to be present.

2. The training school shall obtain written authorization from the department prior to any subject matter specialist providing instruction. Written authorization may be requested by submitting on a form provided by the department:

a. A written request for authorization specifically outlining the requested subject matter; and

b. Documentation that supports the individual's credentials for instructing in the proposed subject matter.

3. The department may issue a written authorization for a period not to exceed 24 months.

B. Guest lecturer. Training schools may employ or otherwise utilize individuals as guest lecturer in specific areas of a training curriculum. A certified instructor is required to be present during all portions of training conducted by a guest lecturer.

6VAC20-171-300. Private security services training session.

A. Training sessions will be conducted in accordance with requirements established in this chapter. Adherence to the administrative requirements, attendance and standards of conduct are the responsibility of the training school, training school director and instructor of the training session.

B. Administrative requirements.

1. In a manner approved by the department, a notification to conduct a training session shall be submitted to the department. [ All notifications shall be received by the department, or postmarked if mailed, no less than seven calendar days prior to the beginning of each training session to include the date, time, instructors and location of the training session. The department may allow a session to be conducted with less than seven calendar days of notification with prior approval. Session notifications require no fee from the training school. A notification to conduct a training session shall be deemed to be in compliance unless the training school director is notified by the department to the contrary.

2. Notification of any changes to the dates, times, location or cancellation of a future training session must be submitted to the department in writing and received by the department at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled starting time of the class. In the event that a session must be cancelled on the scheduled date, the department must be notified immediately followed by a cancellation in writing as soon as practical. ]

[ 2. All current training material to include course 3. Course ] outline and training objectives must be approved by the department prior to offering a course of instruction for enrollment.

[ 3. 4. ] On a form provided by the department, the The training school director shall issue an original training completion form and training certificate [ provided by the department ] to each student who satisfactorily completes a training session no later than five business days following the training completion date. [ The training completion form shall include the following:

a. A unique training completion number;

b. The name, a unique identification number, and address of the individual;

c. The name of the particular course that the individual completed;

d. The dates of course completion/test passage;

e. An expiration date. Training completion forms shall expire 12 months from the date of course completion;

f. The name, address, telephone number, and training school certification number; and

g. The name, signature, and DCJS identification number of the school director and primary instructor. ]

[ 4. 5. ] In a manner approved by the department, the training school director shall submit an original training completion roster to the department affirming each student's successful completion of the session. [ The training completion roster shall be received by the department within seven calendar days, or postmarked if mailed, no later than five business days following the training completion date ]. The training completion roster for each session [ and must be accompanied by the applicable, nonrefundable processing fee. ]

[ 5. 6. ] A written examination shall be administered at the conclusion of each entry level training session. The examination shall be based on the applicable learning objectives. The student must attain a minimum grade of 80% for compliance agent entry-level training or 70% for all other entry-level training examinations and [ pass ] any applicable practical exercises, to satisfactorily complete the training session.

[ 6. 7. ] Firearms classroom training shall be separately tested and graded. Individuals must achieve a minimum score of 70% on the firearms classroom training examination.

[ 7. 8. ] Failure to achieve a minimum score of 70% on the firearms classroom written examination will exclude the individual from the firearms range training.

8. 9. ] To successfully complete the handgun or shotgun firearms range training, the individual must achieve a minimum qualification score of 75% of the scoring value of the target.

9. To successfully complete the private investigator entry level training session, the individual must:

a. Successfully complete each of the four graded practical exercises required; and

b. Pass the written examination with a minimum score of 70%.

10. To successfully complete the personal protection specialist entry level training session, the individual must:

a. Complete each of the five graded practical exercises required under protective detail operations pursuant to 6VAC20-171-350 E 6 (the practical exercises must be successfully completed prior to the written examination); and

b. Pass the written examination with a minimum score of 70%.

11. The unarmed security officer must:

a. Complete the required training; and

b. Successfully pass the written examination with a minimum score of 70%.

[ 9. 10. ] To successfully complete the advanced firearms range training, the individual must achieve a minimum qualification score of 92% of the scoring value of the target.

[ 10. 11. ] To successfully complete the patrol rifle firearms range training, the individual must achieve a minimum qualification score of 85% of the scoring value of the target.

C. Attendance.

1. Private security services business personnel enrolled in an approved training session are required to be present for the hours required for each training session unless they have been granted a partial exemption to training from the department.

2. Tardiness and absenteeism will not be permitted. Individuals violating these provisions will be required to make up any training missed. Such All training must be completed within 60 days after the completion of the training session or at the next available session offered by the training school the 12 months prior to application of a registration or certification. Individuals not completing the required training within this period are required to complete the entire training session.

3. Individuals that who do not successfully complete the compulsory minimum training standards of the training session shall not be reported to the department except where required pursuant to this chapter issued a training completion form or training certificate.

4. Each individual attending an approved training session shall comply with the regulations promulgated by the board and any other rules within the authority of the training school. If the training school director or instructor considers a violation of the rules detrimental to the training of other students or to involve cheating on examinations, the training school director or instructor may expel the individual from the school. Notification of such action shall immediately be reported to the employing firms and the department.

D. Standards of conduct.

1. The training school, training school director and instructor shall at all times conform to the application requirements, administrative requirements and standards of conduct established for certification as a training school and instructor.

2. Training sessions will be conducted by certified instructors or other individuals authorized to provide instruction pursuant to this chapter and [ they ] must be present for all periods of instruction [ unless otherwise authorized by the department ].

3. Training sessions will be conducted utilizing lesson plans developed including at a minimum the compulsory minimum training standards established pursuant to this chapter.

4. Instruction shall be provided in no less than 50-minute classes.

5. Training sessions may shall not exceed nine hours of classroom instruction per day. Range qualification and practical exercises shall not be considered classroom instruction; however, total training, including the maximum allotment of nine hours classroom instruction and applicable range qualification and practical exercises, shall not exceed 12 hours per day. This does not include time allotted for breaks, meals and testing.

6. All audio-visual training aids must be accompanied by a period of instruction where the instructor reviews the content of the presentation and the students are provided the opportunity to ask questions regarding the content.

7. A training session must adhere to the minimum compulsory training standards and must be presented in its entirety. Training school directors may require additional hours of instruction, testing or evaluation procedures.

8. A training session must provide accurate and current information to the students.

9. Mandated training conducted not in accordance with the Code of Virginia and this chapter is null and void.

10. A duplicate set of instructor course materials, including all student materials, shall be made available to any department inspector during the training session, if requested.

11. [ Certifiable in-service training may include a maximum of one hour of instruction dedicated to the review of regulations unless otherwise authorized by the department.

12. ] There will be no live ammunition permitted in the classroom.

Article 3
Private Security Services Registered Personnel

6VAC20-171-305. General requirements On-line in-service training programs.

All registered personnel are required to maintain administrative requirements and standards of conduct as determined by the Code of Virginia, department guidelines and this chapter.

On-line training programs may only be offered for compulsory minimum in-service training requirements. On-line training programs shall meet the following requirements:

1. All on-line schools shall maintain a private security services training school certification in good standing and meet all of the administrative requirements and standards of conduct specified in this chapter.

2. All current on-line training material to include complete course content and performance objectives of mandated compulsory training requirements must be approved by the department prior to offering a course of instruction for enrollment.

3. Students enrolled in an on-line training program shall successfully complete all course material within 30 days of the first log-on to the training school website or prior to the registration or certification expiration date or final reinstatement date, whichever comes first.

4. Training schools offering on-line courses that accept credit card payments shall subscribe to an e-commerce solution service to protect the security and integrity of the monetary transaction.

5. The training software programs used by a certified training school shall allow the department auditing access to the training system. Such auditing access shall be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

6. The training software program shall be capable of generating a unique electronic notification of training completion for each student completing the course requirements and each course of instruction on a 24-hour a day basis.

7. The training of completion shall include the following:

a. A unique training completion number;

b. The name, a unique identification number, and address of the individual;

c. The name of the particular course that the individual completed;

d. Dates of course completion/test passage;

e. Name, address, telephone number, and license number of the training school; and

f. Name, signature, and DCJS identification number of the school director and primary instructor.

8. The training software program shall be capable of generating a training certificate for each student and each course of instruction that can be printed by the student's computer and printer. This training certificate shall only be made available to the student upon successful completion of all course material.

9. The training software program shall be capable of capturing and archiving student information for a period of not less than three years.

10. Training schools offering on-line training courses will designate one individual as the network administrator for that school's network server. The network administrator will be the technical contact between the department and the training school. Upon termination of the services of the designated network administrator, a new administrator shall be designated and notification made to the department within 10 days after effective date of the change.

6VAC20-171-308. Detector canine handler examiners administrative requirements and standards of conduct.

A. Administrative requirements. An examiner shall:

1. Maintain at all times with the department his [ email address and ] mailing address [ and email address if applicable ]. Written notification of any address change shall be in writing and received by the department no later than 10 days after the effective date of the change.

2. Inform the department, and the business or training school for which the individual is employed, if applicable, in writing within 10 days after [ being arrested for a crime by any court, ] pleading guilty or nolo contendere, and after being convicted or found guilty of any felony or of a misdemeanor as outlined in § 9.1-139 K of the Code of Virginia.

3. Inform the department, and the licensed business or training school for which the individual is employed [ , if applicable or utilized ], in writing within 10 days after having been found guilty by any court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction to have violated the private security services business statutes or regulations of that jurisdiction, there being no appeal therefrom or the time for appeal having elapsed.

4. Satisfy all judgments to include binding arbitrations related to private security services not provided.

5. Notify the department within 10 calendar days following termination of his employment as an examiner for a business or training school.

6. Conduct examinations pursuant to the requirements established by the department.

7. Notify the department within 10 calendar days following termination of any certification as a detector canine handler examiner or equivalent with any national organization, unit of the United States military, or other formal entity involved with certifying, training or setting standards for detection canines.

8. Notify the department in writing within 10 calendar days of determining that a detector canine handler or detector canine fails to successfully complete the certification examination.

9. Maintain documentation and a photograph of the examined detector canine team for three years for all examinations conducted that verifies compliance with requirements pursuant to the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

10. Utilize only department-approved certification examinations for the testing and certification of detector canine teams.

B. Standards of conduct. An examiner shall:

1. Conform to all requirements pursuant to the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

2. Not have been convicted or found guilty in any jurisdiction of the United States of any felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, assault and battery, damage to real or personal property, controlled substances or imitation controlled substances as defined in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia, prohibited sexual behavior as described in Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia, or firearms, from which no appeal is pending, the time for appeal having elapsed. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for the purpose of this chapter. The record of conviction certified or authenticated in such form as to be admissible in evidence under the laws of the jurisdiction where convicted shall be prima facie evidence of such guilt.

3. Not violate or aid and abet others in violating the provisions of Article 4 (§ 9.1-138 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1 of the Code of Virginia or this chapter.

4. Not commit any act or omission that results in a private security license, registration, or certification being suspended, revoked, not renewed or being otherwise disciplined in any jurisdiction.

5. Not obtain a license, license renewal, registration, registration renewal, certification, or certification renewal through any fraud or misrepresentation.

6. Not engage in acts of unprofessional conduct in the practice of private security services.

7. Not engage in acts of negligent or incompetent private security services.

8. Not make any misrepresentation or false promise to a private security services business client or potential private security services business client.

9. Not violate any state or local ordinances relating to private security services.

10. Not publish or cause to be published any material relating to private security services that contain an assertion, representation, or statement of fact that is false, deceptive, or misleading.

11. Not provide false or misleading information to representatives of the department.

[ 12. Not refuse to cooperate with an investigation being conducted by the department.

13. Not provide materially incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or untrue information in a certification application, renewal application, or any other document filed with the department.

14. Not have an arrest that the prima facie evidence would indicate the propensity for harming the public.

12. Not provide materially incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or untrue information on any email, application, or any other document filed with the department. ]

6VAC20-171-310. Registered personnel administrative requirements.

A registered individual shall:

1. Conform to all requirements pursuant to the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

2. Maintain at all times with the department his mailing address, e-mail address and phone number, if applicable. Written notification of any change in mailing address, e-mail address or phone number shall be in writing and received by the department no later than 10 days after the effective date of the change.

3. Inform the department, and the business for which the individual is employed if applicable, in writing within 10 days after [ being arrested for a crime in any jurisdiction ] pleading guilty or nolo contendere [ or and after ] being convicted or found guilty of any felony or of a misdemeanor as outlined in § 9.1-139 K of the Code of Virginia.

4. Inform the department, and the business for which the individual is employed if applicable, in writing within 10 days after having been found guilty by any court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction to have violated the private security services business statutes or regulations of that jurisdiction, there being no appeal therefrom or the time for appeal having elapsed.

5. Inform the department, and the compliance agent of the licensee if employed by a private security services business, of any incident in which any registrant has discharged a firearm while on duty, excluding any training exercise. This report shall be made within 24 hours of the incident.

6VAC20-171-320. Registered personnel standards of conduct.

A registered individual shall:

1. Conform to all requirements pursuant to the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

2. Not violate or aid and abet others in violating the provisions of Article 4 (§ 9.1-138 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1 of the Code of Virginia or this chapter.

3. Not commit any act or omission that results in a private security license, registration or certification being suspended, revoked, not renewed or being otherwise disciplined in any jurisdiction.

4. Not have been convicted or found guilty in any jurisdiction of the United States of any felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, assault and battery, damage to real or personal property, controlled substances or imitation controlled substances as defined in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia, prohibited sexual behavior as described in Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia, or firearms, from which no appeal is pending, the time for appeal having elapsed. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for the purpose of this chapter. The record of conviction certified or authenticated in such form as to be admissible in evidence under the laws of the jurisdiction where convicted shall be prima facie evidence of such guilt.

5. Not obtain a license, license renewal, registration, registration renewal, certification or certification renewal through any fraud or misrepresentation.

6. Not solicit or contract to provide any private security services without first having obtained a private security services business license with the department.

7. [ Carry Be in possession of ] a valid registration card or valid temporary authorization registration letter at all times while on duty. Individuals requiring registration as an unarmed security officer, an alarm respondent, a locksmith, a central station dispatcher, an electronic security sales representative or an electronic security technician may be employed for not more than 90 consecutive days in any category listed above while completing the compulsory minimum training standards and may not be employed in excess of 120 days without having been issued a registration or an exception from the department [ and must carry a photo ID and authorization from their employer on a form provided by the department at all times while on duty ].

8. [ Carry Be in the possession of ] the private security state issued photo registration identification card at all times while on duty once the authorization has been approved from the department, except those individuals operating outside the Commonwealth of Virginia who shall obtain the state issued photo identification card prior to providing services when physically located in the Commonwealth.

9. Perform those duties authorized by his registration only while employed by a licensed private security services business and only for the clients of the licensee. This shall not be construed to prohibit an individual who is registered as an armed security officer from being employed by a nonlicensee as provided for in § 9.1-140 of the Code of Virginia.

10. Possess a valid firearms training endorsement if he carries or has access to firearms while on duty and then only those firearms by type of action and caliber to which he has been trained on and is qualified to carry. Carry or have access to a patrol rifle while on duty only with the expressed written authorization of the licensed private security services business employing the registrant.

11. Carry a firearm concealed while on duty only with the expressed written authorization of the licensed private security services business employing the registrant and only in compliance with § 18.2-308 of the Code of Virginia.

12. Transport, carry and utilize firearms while on duty only in a manner that does not endanger the public health, safety and welfare.

13. If authorized to make arrests, make arrests in full compliance with the law and using only the minimum force necessary to effect an arrest.

14. Engage in no conduct which shall mislead or misrepresent through word, deed or appearance suggests that a registrant is a law-enforcement officer, or other government official.

15. Display one's [ photo identification ] registration [ or temporary registration along with a photo ID ] while on duty in response to the request of a law-enforcement officer, department personnel [ , ] or client. [ Individuals providing private security services as authorized pursuant to subdivision 7 of this section who have not received their registration must display a state issued photo identification and authorization while on duty in response to the request of a law-enforcement officer, department personnel, or client. ]

16. Not perform any unlawful or negligent act resulting in a loss, injury or death to any person.

17. If a uniform is required, wear the uniform required by his employer. If wearing a uniform while employed as an armed security officer, unarmed security officer, alarm respondent or armored car personnel, that uniform must:

a. Include at least one insignia clearly identifying the name of the licensed firm employing the individual and, except armored car personnel, a name plate or tape bearing, as a minimum, the individual's last name attached on the outermost garment, except rainwear worn only to protect from inclement weather; and

b. Include no patch or other writing (i) containing the word "police" or any other word suggesting a law-enforcement officer; (ii) containing the word "officer" unless used in conjunction with the word "security"; or (iii) resembling any uniform patch or insignia of any duly constituted law-enforcement agency of this Commonwealth, its political subdivisions or of the federal government. This restriction shall not apply to individuals who are also duly sworn special police officers, to the extent that they may display words that accurately represent that distinction.

18. When providing [ central station monitoring ] services [ as a central station dispatcher ], attempt to verify the legitimacy of a burglar alarm activation by [ contacting an authorized individual at the site where an alarm signal originated before dispatching authorities calling the site of the alarm. If unable to make contact, call one additional number provided by the alarm user who has the authority to cancel the dispatch ]. This shall not apply if the alarm user has provided written authorization requesting immediate dispatch [ or one call dispatch to both their local police department and their dealer of record. ] This shall not apply to duress or hold-up alarms.

19. Act only in such a manner that does not endanger the public health, safety and welfare.

20. Not represent as one's own a registration issued to another individual.

21. Not falsify, or aid and abet others in falsifying, training records for the purpose of obtaining a license, registration, certification, or certification as a compliance agent, training school, school director or instructor.

22. Not provide information obtained by the registrant or his employing firm to any person other than the client who secured the services of the licensee without the client's prior written consent. Provision of information in response to official requests from law-enforcement agencies, the courts, or from the department shall not constitute a violation of this chapter. Provision of information to law-enforcement agencies pertinent to criminal activity or to planned criminal activity shall not constitute a violation of this chapter.

23. Not engage in acts of unprofessional conduct in the practice of private security services.

24. Not engage in acts of negligent or incompetent private security services.

25. Not make any misrepresentation or make a false promise to a private security services business client or potential private security services business client.

26. Satisfy all judgments to include binding arbitrations related to private security services not provided.

27. Not provide false or misleading information to representatives of the department.

[ 28. Not refuse to cooperate with an investigation being conducted by the department.

29. 28. ] Not provide materially incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or untrue information on a registration application, renewal application, or any other document filed with the department.

[ 30. Not have an arrest that the prima facie evidence would indicate the propensity for harming the public. ]

Part V
Compulsory Minimum Training Standards for Private Security Services Business Personnel Registrations

Article 1
Registration/Certification Registration Category Requirements

6VAC20-171-350. Entry level training.

A. Each person employed by a private security services business or applying to the department for registration as an unarmed security officer, armed security officer/courier, personal protection specialist, armored car personnel, security canine handler, explosives detector canine handler, narcotics detector canine handler, private investigator, alarm respondent, locksmith, central station dispatcher, electronic security sales representative, electronic security technician, or electronic security technician's assistant as defined by § 9.1-138 of the Code of Virginia, or for certification as a compliance agent as required by § 9.1-139 of the Code of Virginia, who has not met the compulsory minimum training standards prior to July 13, 1994, must meet the compulsory minimum training standards herein established, unless provided for otherwise in accordance with this chapter.

B. Training will be credited only if application for registration or certification is submitted to received by the department within 12 months of completion of training.

C. Hour Course and minimum hour requirement. The compulsory minimum entry level training courses and specific minimum hour requirement by category, excluding examinations, practical exercises and range qualification, shall be:

1. Unarmed security officer - 18 hours

[ a. 10E: Private Security Orientation - 2 hours

b. ] 01E: Security Officer Core Subjects - [ 16 hours 18 hours ]

2. Armed security officer/courier - 40 hours - 50 hours [ (54 hours (53 hours ] including shotgun training)

*There are 8 hours of Arrest Powers, Policies, Procedures that are included in the Armed Security Officer Training. These 8 hours are mandatory for armed security officers only.

[ a. 10E: Private Security Orientation - 2 hours

b. a. ] 01E: Security Officer Core Subjects - [ 16 hours 18 hours ]

[ c. b. ] 05E: Armed Security Officer Arrest Authority - 8 hours

[ d. c. ] 075E: [ Basic Security Officer ] Handgun - 24 hours

[ e. d. ] 08E: Entry-level Shotgun - [ 4 hours 3 hours ] (if applicable*)* To also have access to a shotgun while on duty, the additional shotgun course is required.

3. Armored car personnel - [ 26 hours (30 hours 28 hours (31 hours ] with shotgun)

[ a.10E: Private Security Orientation - 2 hours

b. a. ] 03E: Armored Car Procedures - [ 10 hours 12 hours ]

[ c. b. ] 07E: [ Fundamental Entry-level ] Handgun - [ 14 hours 16 hours ]

[ d. c. ] 08E: Entry-level Shotgun - [ 4 hours 3 hours ] (if applicable*) * To also have access to a shotgun while on duty, the additional shotgun course is required.

4. Security canine handler - 30 hours (excluding basic obedience training)

[ a. 10E: Private Security Orientation - 2 hours

b. a. ] 01E: Security Officer Core Subjects - [ 16 hours 18 hours ] (prerequisite for 04ES)

[ c. b. ] Prerequisite for 04ES - Basic Obedience Training

[ d. c. ] 04ES: Security Canine Handler - 12 hours

5. Private investigator - 60 hours

[ a. 10E: Private Security Orientation - 2 hours

b. ] 02E: Private Investigator Subjects - [ 58 hours 60 hours ]

6. Personal protection specialist - 60 hours

[ a. 10E: Private Security Orientation - 2 hours

b. a. 02E 32E ] : Personal Protection Specialist - [ 58 hours 60 hours ]

[ c. b. 075E 07E: Basic Entry-level ] Handgun - [ 24 hours 16 hours ] (prerequisite for 09E Advanced Handgun)

[ d. c. ] 09E: Advanced Handgun - 14 hours (for armed personal protection specialists)

7. Alarm respondent - 18 hours

[ a. 10E: Private Security Orientation - 2 hours

b. ] 01E: Security Officer Core Subjects - [ 16 hours 18 hours ]

8. Central station dispatcher - 8 hours

[ a. 10E: Private Security Orientation - 2 hours

b. a. ] 30E: Electronic Security Core Subjects - [ 2 hours 4 hours ]

[ c. b. ] 38E: Central Station Dispatcher - 4 hours

9. Electronic security sales representative - 8 hours

[ a. 10E: Private Security Orientation - 2 hours

b. a. ] 30E: Electronic Security Core Subjects - [ 2 hours 4 hours ]

[ c. b. ] 39E: Electronic Security Sales - 4 hours

10. Electronic security technician - 14 hours

[ a. 10E: Private Security Orientation - 2 hours

b. a. ] 30E: Electronic Security Core Subjects - [ 2 hours 4 hours ]

[ c. b. ] 35E: Electronic Security Technician - 10 hours

11. Electronic security technician's assistant - 4 hours

[ a. 10E: Private Security Orientation - 2 hours

b. ] 30E: Electronic Security Core Subjects - [ 2 hours 4 hours ]

12. Detector Canine Handler - 160 hours (excluding certification examination)

[ a. 10E: Private Security Orientation - 2 hours

b. a. ] 04ED: Detector Canine Handler - [ 158 hours 160 hours ]

[ c. b. ] Certification exam by a Certified Detector Canine Handler Examiner

13. Locksmith - 18 hours

[ a. 10E: Private Security Orientation - 2 hours

b. ] 25E: Locksmith - [ 16 hours 18 hours ]

12. Compliance agent - 6 hours

D. Course content. The compulsory minimum entry level training course content by category specific course, excluding examinations, mandated practical exercises and range qualification, shall be as provided in this subsection.

[ 1. Private Security Orientation (10E) - 2 Hours (excluding examination)

a. Introduction to private security

b. Applicable sections of the Code of Virginia and Regulations Relating to Private Security Services

c. Written comprehensive examination

This session is a requirement for all registration categories. However, an individual applying for more than one category of registration or adding an additional category shall only be required to take this training one time within 12 months of submitting application. ]

[ 1. 2. ] Security officer core subjects. (01E) - [ 16 hours 18 hours ] (excluding examination)

The entry level curriculum for unarmed security officer, armed security officer/courier, security canine handler, and alarm respondent sets forth the following areas identified as:

[ a. Orientation ] - 2 hours

(1) Virginia law and regulations [ Applicable sections of the Code of Virginia and Regulations Relating to Private Security Services ]

[ (2) Code of ethics ]

(3) General duties and responsibilities

[ (4) The Seven Signs of Terrorism ]

[ b. a. ] Law - 4 hours

[ c. b. ] Security patrol, access control and communications - 2 hours

[ d. c. ] Documentation - 4 hours

[ e. d. ] Emergency procedures - 4 hours

[ f. e. ] Confrontation management - 2 hours

[ f. g. ] Use of force

[ g. h. ] Written comprehensive examination

Total hours (excluding exam) - 18 16 hours

2. Armed security officer/courier. [ 3. 2. ] Armed Security Officer Arrest Authority (05E) - 8 hours (excluding examination)

a. Arrest powers, policies and procedures

b. Written comprehensive examination

a. Security officer core subjects - 18 16 hours

b. Entry level handgun training (refer to Article 2 (6VAC20-171-365 et seq.) of this part) - 14 hours (includes dry fire, and judgmental shooting and low level light shooting familiarization)

c. Arrest powers, policies, procedures - 8 hours

d. Entry level shotgun training, if applicable (refer to Article 2 (6VAC20-171-365 et seq.) of this part) - 2 hours

Total hours (excluding examinations, shotgun classroom instruction and range qualification) - 40 hours

[ 3. 4. ] Armored car personnel. (03E) - 10 hours (excluding examination)

[ a. Administration and armored car orientation ] - 1 hour

[ The Seven Signs of Terrorism ]

[ b. Applicable sections of the Code of Virginia and Regulations Relating to Private Security Services ] DCJS regulations - 1 hour

[ c. a. ] Armored car procedures - 10 hours

[ d. b. ] Written comprehensive examination

e. Entry level handgun training (refer to Article 2 (6VAC20-171-365 et seq.) of this part) - 14 hours (includes 4 hours of range dry fire and low level lighting)

f. Entry level shotgun training, if applicable (refer to Article 2 (6VAC20-171-365 et seq.) of this part) - 2 hours

Total hours (excluding examinations, shotgun classroom instruction and range qualification) - 26 hours

[ 4. 5. ] Security canine handler. (04ES) [ 20 hours 12 hours ] (excluding examination and basic obedience training)

a. Prerequisites for security canine handler entry level (official documentation required): Successful completion of basic obedience training.

b. Demonstration of proficiency. The student must demonstrate his proficiency in the handling of a security canine to satisfy the minimum standards

c. Evaluation by a certified private security canine handler instructor and basic obedience retraining

d. Security canine handler orientation/legal authority

e. Canine patrol techniques

f. Written comprehensive examination

Complete entry level training requirements pursuant to Article 3 (6VAC20-171-430 et seq.) of this part.

[ 5. 6. ] Private investigator. (02E) - [ 58 hours 60 hours ] (excluding examination and practical exercises)

a. [ Orientation ] : applicable sections of the Code of Virginia; Administrative Code 6VAC20-171; standards [ Standards of professional conduct; and ethics - ] 6 hours

[ (1) Applicable sections of the Code of Virginia

(2) 6VAC20-171, Regulations Relating to Private Security Services

(3) Standards of professional conduct

(4) Ethics

(5) The Seven Signs of Terrorism ]

b. Law [ : basic law; legal procedures and due process; civil law; criminal law; evidence; and legal privacy requirements ] - 16 hours plus one practical exercise - one practical exercise

[ (1) Basic law

(2) Legal procedures and due process

(3) Criminal and Civil law

(4) Evidence

(5) Legal privacy requirements ]

c. General investigative skills [ , tools and techniques: surveillance; research; and interviewing ] - 16 hours plus one practical exercise - one practical exercise

[ (1) Tools and techniques

(2) Surveillance

(3) Research

(4) Interviewing ]

d. Documentation: [ Report preparations; photography; audio recording; general communication; and courtroom testimony ] - 8 hours plus one practical exercise - one practical exercise

[ (1) Report preparations

(2) Photography

(3) Audio recording

(4) General communication

(5) Courtroom testimony ]

e. Types of investigations [ : accident; insurance; background; domestic; undercover; fraud and financial; missing persons and property; and criminal ] - 14 hours plus one practical exercise - one practical exercise

[ (1) Accident

(2) Insurance

(3) Background

(4) Domestic

(5) Undercover

(6) Fraud and financial

(7) Missing persons and property

(8) Criminal ]

f. Written comprehensive examination

Total hours in classroom (excluding written examination and practical exercises) - 60 hours

[ 6. 7. ] Personal protection specialist. (32E) - [ 58 hours 60 hours ] (excluding written examination and practical exercises)

a. Administration and personal protection orientation - 3 hours

[ (1) The Seven Signs of Terrorism ]

[ b. Applicable sections of the Code of Virginia and DCJS regulations ] - 1 hour

[ c. b. ] Assessment of threat and protectee vulnerability - 8 hours

[ d. c. ] Legal authority and civil law - 8 hours

[ e. d. ] Protective detail operations - 28 hours

[ f. e. ] Emergency procedures - 12 hours

(1) [ CPR Medical procedures ]

(2) [ Emergency first aid Defensive preparedness ]

[ (3) Defensive preparedness ]

[ g. f. ] Performance evaluation - Five practical exercises

[ h. g. ] Written comprehensive examination

Total hours (excluding written examination and performance evaluation) - 60 hours

7. Alarm respondent.

Security officer core subjects - 18 hours

[ 8. 7. ] Electronic security core subjects. (30E) - [ 2 hours 4 hours ] (excluding examination) The entry level electronic security subjects curriculum for central station dispatcher, electronic security sales representative, electronic security technician and electronic security technician's assistant sets forth the following areas identified as:

[ a. Administration and orientation ] to private security - 1 hour

[ (1) Applicable sections of the Code of Virginia

(2) 6VAC20-171, Regulations Relating to Private Security Services

(3) The Seven Signs of Terrorism ]

b. Applicable sections of the Code of Virginia and DCJS regulations - 1 hour

[ c. a. b. ] Overview of electronic security - 1 hour

[ d. b. c. ] False alarm prevention - 1 hour

[ e. c. d. ] Written comprehensive examination

Total hours (excluding examination) - 4 hours

[ 9. 8. ] Central station dispatcher. (38E) - 4 hours (excluding examination)

a. Electronic security subjects - 4 hours

b. a. Central station dispatcher subjects - 4 hours

(1) Duties and responsibilities

(2) Communications skills

(3) Emergency procedures

c. b. Written comprehensive examination

Total hours (excluding examination) - 8 hours

[ 10. 9. ] Electronic security sales representative. (39E) 4 hours (excluding examination)

a. Electronic security subjects - 4 hours

b. a. Electronic security sales representative subjects - 4 hours

(1) Duties and responsibilities

(2) System design/components

(3) False alarm prevention

c. b. Written comprehensive examination

Total hours (excluding examination) - 8 hours

[ 11. 10. ] Electronic security technician. (39E) - 4 hours (excluding examination)

a. Electronic security subjects - 4 hours

b. a. Electronic security technician subjects - 10 hours

(1) Duties and responsibilities

(2) Electronics

(3) Control panels

(4) Protection devices and application

(5) Test equipment

(6) Power and grounding

(7) National electrical code

(8) Job safety

c. b. Written comprehensive examination

Total hours (excluding examination) - 14 hours

12. Compliance agent.

a. Industry overview and responsibilities

b. Regulations review

c. Business practices and ethical standards

d. Records requirements and other related issues

e. Written examination

Total hours (excluding written examination) - 6 hours

[ 12. 11. ] Detector Canine Handler (04ED) - [ 158 hours 160 hours ] to include practical exercises (excluding certification exam)

a. Introduction/orientation/administration

(1) Code of Ethics

(2) General Duties and Responsibilities

(3) Legal

[ (4) Applicable sections of the Code of Virginia and Regulations Relating to Private Security Services

(5) The Seven Signs of Terrorism ]

b. Working Canines

(1) Historical Perspective

(2) Terms and Definitions

(3) Methodology and Application

(4) Training Documentation

(5) Search Patterns

c. Basic Canine Handling (including practical exercises)

(1) Training

(2) Care and Health

(3) Emergency Medical Care

d. Detector Canine Deployment

Canine Behavior: Reading and Understanding

e. Explosive or Narcotics Familiarization (including practical exercises)

(1) Illegal Narcotics Familiarization

(2) Explosives Substance and I.E.D. Familiarization

(3) Safety

f. Written comprehensive exam

[ 13. 12. ] Locksmith (25E) - [ 16 hours 18 hours ] (excluding examination)

[ a. Code of Virginia and 6VAC20-171, Regulations Relating to Private Security Services

The Seven Signs of Terrorism ]

[ a. b. ] Orientation to Locksmithing

(1) History of locksmithing

(2) Ethics

(3) Trade resources

(4) Terminology

(5) Professional conduct

(6) Job safety

[ b. c. ] Public Safety Codes

(1) NFPA (80, 101)

(2) Overview of Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs)

(3) ADA

(4) Terminology

(5) Safety code resources

[ c. d. ] Technical Applications [ - 10 hours ]

[ (1) ] Terminology (to include definition/purpose/function)

[ (a) (2) ] Locks/types

[ (b) (3) ] Handing

[ (c) (4) ] Master keying

[ (d) (5) ] Key records and codes

[ (e) (6) ] Key blanks and keyways

[ (f) (7) ] Physical security

[ (g) (8) ] Types of client sites

[ (h) (9) ] Safes/vaults

[ (i) (10) ] Access control

[ (j) (11) ] Handling restricted keys

[ (k) (12) ] Door system components

[ (l) (13) ] Automotive

[ (m) e. ] Written comprehensive examination

6VAC20-171-360. In-service training.

A. Each person registered with the department as an armed security officer/courier, personal protection specialist, armored car personnel, security canine handler, narcotics detector canine handler, explosives detector canine handler, private investigator, alarm respondent, locksmith, central station dispatcher, electronic security sales representative, electronic security technician, unarmed security officer or electronic security technician's assistant, or certified by the department to act as a compliance agent shall complete the compulsory in-service training standard once during each 24-month period of registration or certification.

1. Compliance agent.

a. In-service training must be completed within 12 months immediately preceding the expiration date.

b. Individuals who fail to complete in-service training prior to the established expiration date may complete in-service training within 30 days after the expiration date if a completed in-service training enrollment application and a $25 delinquent training fee is received by the department.

2. Instructor. All private security instructors must complete instructor in-service training within 12 months immediately preceding the individual's expiration date.

B. Hour Course content and minimum hour requirement. The compulsory minimum in-service training content and minimum hour requirement by category, excluding examinations, practical exercises and range qualification, shall be as follows:

1. Unarmed security officer: (01I) Security Officer Core Subjects In-Service - 4 hours

[ a. Legal authority b. ] Job-related training

2. Armed security officer/courier (01I) Security Officer Core Subjects In-Service - 4 hours [ (not including range retraining) ]

[ a. Legal authority b. ] Job-related training

3. Armored car personnel (03I) Armored Car Personnel In-Service - 4 hours (not including range retraining)

[ a. Legal authority b. ] Job-related training

4. Security canine handler (04IS) Security Canine Handler In-Service - 8 hours

a. Basic obedience evaluation and retraining

b. Canine grooming, feeding, and health care

c. Apprehension techniques

d. Obedience

5. Private investigator (02I) Private Investigator In-Service - 8 hours

Job-related training

6. Personal protection specialist (32I) Personal Protection Specialist In-Service - 8 hours (not including range retraining for armed)

Job-related training

7. Alarm respondent (01I) Security Officer Core Subjects In-Service - 4 hours

[ a. Legal authority b. ] Job-related training

8. Central station dispatcher (38I) Central Station Dispatcher In-Service - 4 hours

Job-related training

9. Electronic security sales representative (39I) Electronic Sales Representative In-Service - 4 hours

Job-related training

10. Electronic security technician (35I) Electronic Technician In-Service - 4 hours

Job-related training

11. Electronic security technician's assistant (30I) Electronic Security Subjects In-Service - 2 hours

Job-related training

12. Compliance agent - 4 hours Detector canine handler (04ID) Detector Canine Handler In-Service - 8 hours (excluding certification exam)

a. Detector canine team retraining and problem solving

b. Search techniques

c. Terrorist/criminal intelligence [ update updates ] and team safety

d. Certification exam (conducted by a certified detector canine handler examiner)

13. Firearms instructor - 4 hours Locksmith (25I) Locksmith In-Service - 4 hours

Job-related training

14. General instructor - 4 hours

C. Course content. The compulsory minimum in-service training course content by category, excluding examinations, practical exercises and range qualification, shall be as follows:

1. Security officer core subjects: Unarmed security officer/armed security officer/courier/alarm respondent

a. Legal authority - 2 hours

b. Job-related training - 2 hours

Total hours - 4 hours

2. Armored car personnel

Job-related training - 4 hours

Total hours - 4 hours

3. Security canine handler (annual requirement per 6VAC20-171-440)

a. Basic obedience evaluation and retraining - 4 hours

b. Job-related training - 4 hours

Total hours - 8 hours

4. Private investigator

Job-related training - 8 hours

Total hours - 8 hours

5. Personal protection specialist

Job-related training - 8 hours

Total hours - 8 hours

6. Central station dispatcher

Job-related training - 4 hours

Total hours - 4 hours

7. Electronic security sales representative

Job-related training - 4 hours

Total hours - 4 hours

8. Electronic security technician

Job-related training - 4 hours

Total hours - 4 hours

9. Electronic security technician's assistant

Job-related training - 2 hours

Total hours - 2 hours

10. Compliance agent

a. Industry overview and responsibilities

b. Regulations review

c. Business practices and ethical standards

d. Records requirements and other related topics

Total hours - 4 hours

11. General instructor

a. Regulations review and legal issues

b. Ethical standards

c. Records requirements and other related topics

d. Techniques of instruction delivery, including practical exercises

Total hours - 4 hours

12. Firearms instructor

a. Legal issues

b. Techniques of delivery of instruction and other related topics

Total hours - 4 hours

Article 2
Firearms Training Requirements

6VAC20-171-365. General firearms training requirements.

A. Firearms training endorsement is required for all private security services business personnel who carry or have immediate access to a firearm while on duty. Each person who carries or has immediate access to firearms while on duty shall qualify with each type of action and caliber of firearm to which he has access.

B. Each person registered as armored car personnel, security canine handler, detector canine handler, private investigator, alarm respondent, locksmith, central station dispatcher, electronic security sales representative, electronic security technician, or electronic security technician's assistant must complete [ fundamental entry-level ] handgun training in order to apply for a firearms endorsement.

C. Each person applying for a registration as an armed security officer/courier must complete [ basic security officer ] handgun training in order to apply for a firearms endorsement.

D. Each person registered as a personal protection specialist must complete entry-level handgun training and advanced handgun training in order to apply for a firearms endorsement.

6VAC20-171-370. [ Entry level Fundamental ] handgun training.

A. Handgun classroom training.

1. The [ entry-level fundamental ] handgun classroom training will include but not be limited to the following:

a. The proper care and maintenance of the firearm;

b. Civil liability of the use of firearms;

c. Criminal liability of the use of firearms;

d. Firearms retention and storage;

e. Deadly force;

f. Justifiable deadly force;

g. Range safety;

h. Principles of marksmanship;

i. Practical firearms handling and safety;

j. Judgmental shooting; and

k. Low level light shooting familiarization.

a. Practical handgun handling

(1) Identification of handgun parts

(2) Draw

(3) Reholstering

(4) Ready position

(5) Loading

(6) Administrative loading

[ (7) Tactical reloading

(8) Rapid reloading

(7) (9) ] Unloading

[ (8) Administrative ]

[ (9) (10) ] Malfunctions

[ (10) (11) ] Immediate actions procedures

[ (11) Feedway clearance procedures

(12) Remedial action ]

[ (12) (13) ] Proper care and maintenance

[ (13) (14) ] Firearms retention

[ (14) (15) ] Ammunition identification and management

[ (15) (16) ] Range safety

b. Fundamentals of marksmanship

(1) Grip

(2) Stance (position)

(3) Sight alignment

(4) Sight picture

(5) Trigger control

(6) Breathing

(7) Follow through

c. Dim light/low light/reduced light practice and familiarization

[ (1) Hours of darkness ]

[ (2) (1) ] Identification of target/threat/background

[ (3) (2) ] Unaided training

[ (4) (3) ] Aided training

[ (5) (4) ] Flashlight use

[ (6) (5) ] Reloading during low light conditions

[ (7) (6) ] Malfunctions

[ (8) (7) ] Range safety

d. Use of force

[ (1) Deadly force ]

[ (2) Justifiable deadly force ]

e. [ Criminal and civil liability Liability ]

[ (1) Criminal liability ]

[ (2) Civil liability ]

f. Judgmental shooting: judgmental shooting scenarios will be conducted in the classroom/range

g. Lead exposure

Total Hours (excluding written examination) - [ 14 hours 16 hours ]

2. Written examination required.

B. Range qualification (no minimum hours). The purpose of the range qualification course is to provide practical firearms training to individuals desiring to become armed private security services business personnel.

1. Prior to the date of range training, it will be the responsibility of the school director to ensure that all students are informed of the proper attire and equipment to be worn for the firing range portion of the training. Equipment needed: handgun, belt with directional draw holster, ammunition (60 rounds)

2. Factory loaded practice or duty ammunition (60 rounds) may be used for practice or range qualification.

3. Course shall be fired double action, or double single action except for single action semi-automatic handguns.

4. All qualifications shall be conducted using a B-27 silhouette target or the FBI "Q" target. Alternate targets may be utilized with prior approval by the department.

5. With prior approval of the department, a reasonable modification of the firearms course may be approved to accommodate qualification on indoor ranges.

6. A certified firearms instructor must be present on the range directly controlling the fire line during all phases of firearms training. There shall be a minimum of one certified firearms instructor per five shooters on the line.

7. All individuals shall qualify with directional draw holsters only.

8. The range qualification of individuals shall be scored as follows:

B27 target: (use indicated K-value) 7, 8, 9, 10 X rings —value 5 points, other hits on silhouette —value 0 points: divide points scored by maximum possible score to obtain decimal and convert to percentage, e.g., 225 / 300 =.75 = 75%.

FBI Q target: all hits inside the bottle —value 5 points; hits outside the bottle —value 0 points.

9. The low light range/familiarization of individuals shall be scored as indicated above. This is strictly a familiarization course with no pass or fail grade provided.

C. Course: Virginia Private Security Course of Fire for Handguns. The course of fire shall be conducted using, at a minimum, the requirements set forth in subsection B of this section. Strong/weak hand refers to the primary hand used in firing the firearm. The opposite hand may be used for support. The course of fire shall be conducted in the following phases:

1. Phase 1; 3 yards, utilizing weaver, modified weaver, or isosceles stance, 18 rounds:

a. Load 6 rounds and holster loaded firearm.

b. On command, draw and fire 2 rounds (3 seconds), repeat.

c. Load 6 rounds and holster loaded firearm.

d. On command, draw and fire 6 rounds with strong hand.

e. Unload, reload 6 rounds and fire 6 rounds with weak hand (25 seconds).

2. Phase 2; 7 yards, utilizing weaver, modified weaver, or isosceles stance, 24 rounds:

a. Load 6 rounds and holster loaded firearm.

b. On command, draw and fire 1 round (2 seconds), repeat.

c. Load 6 rounds and holster loaded firearm.

d. On command, draw and fire 2 rounds (3 seconds), repeat.

e. Load 6 rounds and holster loaded firearm.

f. On command, draw and fire 6 rounds, reload 6 rounds, fire 6 rounds (30 seconds).

3. Phase 3; 15 yards, 70 seconds, 18 rounds:

a. Load 6 rounds and holster loaded firearm.

b. On command, assume kneeling position, draw and fire 6 rounds with strong hand.

c. Assume standing position, unload, reload and fire 6 rounds from weak-hand barricade position.

d. Unload, reload and fire 6 rounds from strong-hand barricade position (Kneeling position may be fired using barricade position.) (70 seconds).

D. Low Light Course: Virginia Private Security Low Light Familiarization Course of Fire for Handguns. The course of fire shall be conducted using, at a minimum, the requirements set forth in this subsection. Equipment needed: belt with directional draw holster, handgun, two speed loaders or three magazines, range ammunition (30 rounds). Equipment provided by instructor: A range that can simulate low light or a pair of welders goggles for each student that simulates low light. Strong/weak hand refers to the primary hand used in firing the firearm. The opposite hand may be used for support. The course of fire shall be conducted in the following phases:

1. Phase 1; 3 yards, utilizing weaver or isosceles stance, 18 rounds:

a. Load 6 rounds and come to ready.

b. On command, fire 2 rounds (3 seconds) repeat.

c. Load 6 rounds and come to ready.

d. On command, fire 6 rounds with strong hand.

e. Unload, reload 6 rounds and fire 6 rounds (30 seconds).

2. Phase 2; 7 yards, utilizing weaver or isosceles stance, 12 rounds:

a. Load 6 rounds and come to ready.

b. On command, fire 2 rounds (5 seconds), and repeat.

c. Load 6 rounds and come to ready.

d. On command, draw and fire 3 rounds (6 seconds), and repeat.

6VAC20-171-375. [ Basic Security officer ] handgun training.

Handgun classroom training.

1. The [ basic security officer ] handgun classroom training will include but not be limited to the following:

a. Practical handgun handling

(1) Identification of handgun parts

(2) Draw

(3) Reholstering

(4) Ready position

(5) Loading

(6) Administrative loading

(7) Tactical reloading

(8) Rapid reloading

(9) Unloading

[ (10) Administrative

(11) (10) ] Malfunctions

[ (12) (11) ] Immediate actions procedures

[ (13) Feedway clearance procedures

(12) Remedial action ]

[ (14) (13) ] Proper care and maintenance

[ (15) (14) ] Firearms retention

[ (16) (15) ] Ammunition identification and management

[ (17) (16) ] Range safety

b. Fundamentals of marksmanship

(1) Grip

(2) Stance (position)

(3) Sight alignment

(4) Sight picture

(5) Trigger control

(6) Breathing

(7) Follow through

c. Dim light/low light/reduced light practice and familiarization

[ (1) Hours of darkness

(2) (1) ] Identification of target/threat/background

[ (3) (2) ] Unaided training

[ (4) (3) ] Aided training

[ (5) (4) ] Flashlight use

[ (6) (5) ] Reloading during low light conditions

[ (7) (6) ] Malfunctions

[ (8) (7) ] Range safety

d. Use of force

(1) Deadly force

(2) Justifiable deadly force

e. Liability

(1) Criminal liability

(2) Civil liability

(3) Negligent discharge prevention

f. Judgmental shooting: judgmental shooting scenarios will be conducted in the classroom/range

(1) Shoot/don't shoot judgment

(2) Turn and fire drills

(3) Failure to stop drills

(4) Multiple target drills

g. Lead exposure

Total Hours (excluding written examination) —24 hours

2. Written examination required.

6VAC20-171-376. [ Handgun Entry-level and security officer handgun ] range qualification.

A. Range qualification (no minimum hours). The purpose of the range qualification course is to provide practical firearms training and qualification to individuals desiring to become armed private security services business personnel.

1. Prior to the date of range training, it will be the responsibility of the school director to ensure that all students are informed of the proper attire and equipment to be worn for the firing range portion of the training. Equipment needed: handgun, belt with directional draw holster, i.e., one that is worn on the same side of the body as the shooting hand, two speed loaders or three magazines, ammunition ( [ 48 100 ] rounds)

2. Each student will fire a minimum of [ 24 22 ] rounds of factory loaded ammunition [ for familiarization ] prior to qualification. (There is no course of fire [ and it is not scored ]; it is at the firearms instructor's discretion on how the round will be utilized.)

3. Course shall be fired double action or [ double-single double/single ] action, except for single action semi-automatic handguns.

4. All qualifications shall be conducted using a B-27 silhouette target or the FBI "Q" target. Alternate targets may be utilized with prior approval by the department.

5. With prior approval of the department, a reasonable modification of the firearms course may be approved to accommodate qualification on indoor ranges.

6. [ For those utilizing semi-automatic firearms, it is not necessary to reload after every stage so long as there are at least three tactical reloads during the course of fire.

7. ] A certified firearms instructor must be present on the range directly controlling the firing line during all phases of firearms training. There shall be a minimum of one certified firearms instructor per five shooters on the line.

[ 7. 8. ] The range qualification of individuals shall be scored as follows:

a. B27 target: (use indicated K-value) 7, 8, 9, 10 X rings —value 5 points, other hits on silhouette —value 0 points: divide points scored by maximum possible score to obtain decimal and convert to percentage, e.g., 225 ÷ 300 =.75 = 75%.

b. FBI Q target: all hits inside the bottle —value 5 points; hits outside the bottle —value 0 points.

[ 8. The 9. Although not scored, each student is required to complete the ] low light range/night time practice as outlined in [ Section subsection ] C [ of this section ] and the familiarization course of fire.

[ B. Course: Virginia private security course of fire for handguns. The course of fire shall be conducted using, at a minimum, the requirements set forth in this subsection. Strong support hand refers to the primary hand used in firing the firearm. All magazines will be loaded to maximum capacity; it will be the responsibility of the student to change magazines as required. Magazine change refers to tactical reloading/reloading refers to when the magazine is depleted. The course of fire shall be conducted in the following phases and scored as follows:

1. Rounds: 48 rounds duty ammunition or equivalent

Initial magazine loading: magazine and speed reloaders loaded to capacity.

Ammunition management: shooter is responsible for maintaining a loaded handgun, performing speed reloads/tactical reloads as necessary. Running out of ammunition during a stage is not a valid alibi.

Target: B-27 or FBI Q target

Scoring: B27 target: 7, 8, 9, 10 X rings-value 5 points, other hits on silhouette-value 0 points: divide points scored by maximum possible score to obtain decimal and convert to percentage, e.g., 190 ÷ 250 = .76 = 76%.

FBI Q target: all hits inside the bottle – value 5 points; hits outside the bottle – value 0 points.

Total possible: 250 points

Minimum score: 190 (76%) 38 hits

Firing position: all rounds will be fired from a two-handed standing position unless noted otherwise.

Reholster: all reholstering will be done on command.

Start position: handgun secured in approved holster, interview position and all spare magazines secured in duty pouches.

2. Magazines loaded to capacity. Shooter is responsible for maintaining a loaded handgun, performing speed reloads and topping off magazines as necessary. Running out of ammunition during a stage is not a valid alibi.

3. Phase 1: 3 yards, utilizing a proper stance, 18 rounds

On command, draw and fire:

a. 2 rounds (3 seconds), drop/scan and re-holster, repeat 3 times

b. 1 round (2 seconds), drop/scan and re-holster, repeat 6 times

c. 6 rounds (15 seconds), 3 rounds with the strong hand ONLY, transfer firearm the support hand and fire 3 rounds with the support hand ONLY, transfer to strong hand, drop/scan, re-holster.

4. Phase 2: 7 yards, utilizing a proper stance, 18 rounds

On command, draw and fire:

a. 1 round (2 seconds), drop/scan and reholster, repeat 6 times

b. 2 rounds (3 seconds), drop/scan and reholster, repeat 3 times

c. 6 rounds (10 seconds), drop/scan and reholster

5. Phase 3: 15 yards, kneeling position, 12 rounds

On command, draw and fire:

6 rounds kneeling strong side barricade position, reload and fire 6 rounds from the support barricade position (25 seconds) ]

C. Low light course: Virginia private security low light practice/familiarization course of fire for handguns. The course of fire shall be conducted using, at a minimum, the requirements set forth in this subsection. Equipment needed: belt with directional draw holster, flashlight, handgun, two speed loaders or three magazines, range ammunition (24 rounds). Equipment provided by instructor: A range that can simulate low light or a pair of welders goggles for each student that simulates low light. Strong/weak hand refers to the primary hand used in firing the firearm. The opposite hand may be used for support. The course of fire shall be conducted in the following phases for practice and familiarization:

1. Target: B-27 or FBI Q target

2. Scoring: B27 target: 7, 8, 9, 10 X rings--value 5 points, other hits on silhouette--value 0 points: divide points scored by maximum possible score to obtain decimal and convert to percentage, e.g., 95 ÷ 120 = .79 = 79%.

3. FBI Q target: all hits inside the bottle – value 5 points; hits outside the bottle – value 0 points.

4. Phase I; 3 yards, utilizing a proper stance, 12 rounds:

a. Load magazines to full capacity and come to ready

b. On command, fire 2 rounds (3 seconds) repeat

c. On command, fire 6 rounds

(15 Seconds)

5. Phase 2; 7 yards, utilizing proper stance, 12 rounds

a. On command, fire 2 rounds (5 seconds), and repeat

b. On command, fire 3 rounds (6 seconds), and repeat ]

D. Alternate course of fire semi-automatic handguns

1. Firearms instructors are authorized to implement a substitute handgun qualification course for semi-automatic handguns that incorporate the following elements at a minimum:

a. All classroom instruction contained in subsection A of this section;

b. The targets used are either a B-27 silhouette target or FBI Q target;

c. All firing is initiated with the firearm in a directional draw holster;

d. The alternative course of fire will incorporate a minimum of 4 magazine changes;

e. Scoring will be the same as that contained in subdivision B 1 of this section;

f. There shall not be more than 5 students on the firing line for each certified firearms instructor present;

g. Firing distances shall be 3 yards, 7 yards, and 15 yards;

h. A total of 60 rounds of ammunition will be fired by each shooter; and

i. Course will incorporate strong hand and weak hand firing position.

2. Timing of firing in each stage will be similar to that imposed in the standard course of fire; i.e., 1 shot in 2 seconds, 2 shots in 3 seconds. Firearms instructors are allowed to decrease the time limits imposed in the standard course of fire, but may not exceed them.

3. Firearms instructors desiring to develop an alternate course of fire for semi-automatic handguns must submit the proposed course in writing to the department for approval prior to that alternate course being used for qualification firing.

4. An alternative course of fire for semi-automatics approved by the department will not be used to qualify or requalify shooters armed with a revolver.

B. Course: Virginia private security course of fire for handguns. The course of fire shall be conducted using, at a minimum, the requirements set forth in this subsection. Strong/weak hand refers to the primary hand used in firing the firearm. The opposite hand may be used for support. The course of fire shall be conducted in the following phases:

1. Phase 1: 3 yards, utilizing weaver, modified weaver, or isosceles stance, 18 rounds:

a. Load 6 rounds and holster loaded firearm.

b. On command, draw and fire 2 rounds (3 seconds), repeat 2 times.

c. Load 6 rounds and holster loaded firearm.

d. On command, draw and fire 6 rounds with strong hand.

e. Unload, reload 6 rounds and fire 6 rounds with weak hand (25 seconds.)

2. Phase 2: 7 yards, utilizing weaver, modified weaver or isosceles stance, 24 rounds:

a. Load 6 rounds and holster loaded firearm.

b. On command, draw and fire 1 round (2 seconds), repeat 5 times.

c. Load 6 rounds and holster loaded firearm.

d. On command, draw and fire 2 rounds (3 seconds), repeat 2 times.

e. Load 6 rounds and holster loaded firearm.

f. On command, draw and fire 6 rounds, reload 6 rounds, fire 6 rounds (30 seconds).

3. Phase 3: 15 yards, 70 seconds, 18 rounds

a. Load 6 rounds and holster loaded firearm.

b. On command, assume kneeling position, draw and fire 6 rounds with strong hand.

c. Assume standing position, unload, reload and fire 6 rounds from weak-hand barricade position.

d. Unload, reload and fire 6 rounds from strong-hand barricade position (kneeling position may be fired using barricade position) (70 seconds).

C. Low light course: Virginia private security low light familiarization course of fire for handguns. The course of fire shall be conducted using, at a minimum, the requirements set forth in this subsection. Equipment needed: belt with directional draw holster, handgun, two speed loaders or three magazines, range ammunition (18 rounds). Equipment provided by instructor: A range that can simulate low light or a pair of welders goggles for each student that simulates low light. Strong/weak hand refers to the primary hand used in firing the firearm. The opposite hand may be used for support. The course of fire shall be conducted in the following phases:

1. Phase I; 3 yards, utilizing weaver or isosceles stance, 6 rounds:

a. Load 6 rounds and come to ready

b. On command, fire 2 rounds (3 seconds) repeat 2 times(30 seconds)

2. Phase 2; 7 yards, utilizing weaver or isosceles stance, 12 rounds

a. Load 6 rounds and come to ready

b. On command, fire 2 rounds (5 seconds), repeat 2 times

c. Load 6 rounds and come to ready

d. On command, draw and fire 3 rounds (6 seconds), and repeat. ]

6VAC20-171-380. Entry-level shotgun training.

A. Shotgun classroom training. Individual must first successfully complete entry-level [ or security officer ] handgun training. The [ entry level entry-level ] shotgun classroom instruction will emphasize but not be limited to:

1. Safe and proper use and handling of shotgun;

2. Nomenclature;

3. Positions and combat loading techniques;

4. Decision-making for the officer with the shotgun;

5. Transition from sidearm to shotgun; and

6. Shotgun retention and proper use of a sling.

Total hours —2 hours

1. Shotgun handling techniques

a. Identification of shotgun parts

b. Slings – traditional sling, single point sling, 3 point sling

c. Cruiser carry conditions

d. Cruiser safe

e. Chambering

f. Reloading

g. Transition from handgun to shotgun/shotgun to handgun (if applicable)

h. Malfunctions

(1) Immediate actions procedures

(2) [ Feedway clearance procedures Remedial action ]

i. Proper care and maintenance

j. Shotgun retention

k. Ammunition management and identification

l. Range safety

m. Dim light/low light

2. Fundamentals of shotgun marksmanship

a. Grip

b. Stance (position)

c. Sight alignment

d. Sight picture

e. Trigger control

f. Breathing

g. Follow through

3. Written examination

Total hours excluding examination [ (4 hours) (3 hours) ]

B. Range qualification (no minimum hours). The purpose of the range firing course is to provide practical shotgun training and qualification to those individuals who carry or have immediate access to a shotgun in the performance of their duties.

1. For certification, 12 gauge, double aught "00" buckshot ammunition shall be used. Five rounds.

2. Scoring —70% of available pellets must be within silhouette.

1. [ Fire a minimum of 10 prequalification Familiarization: Prior to the qualification course, all shooters are required to fire a familiarization exercise consisting of 5 ] rounds using 12 gauge, double aught "00" buckshot or rifle slug ammunition and [ 12 6 rounds minimum of ] handgun rounds. [ Prequalification will The exercise shall ] include transition [ drills ] from handgun to shotgun and shotgun to handgun. [ This exercise is not scored and the distance is at the discretion of the instructor. ]

2. Fire [ 10 5 ] rounds of shotgun rounds (buckshot and/or rifled slugs if issued) on a daylight course using B27 single/multiple targets with 70% accuracy.

[ 3. Fire 10 rounds of (buck-shot and/or rifled slugs if issued) using B27 single/multiple targets on a nighttime course with 70% accuracy.

4. Complete daylight and dim light shotgun practice and qualification courses with distance, positions, rounds, targets, and time limitations as described in subsection C of this section. ]

Title of Regulation: 9VAC20-160. Voluntary Remediation Regulations (amending 9VAC20-160-10 through 9VAC20-160-40, 9VAC20-160-60 through 9VAC20-160-120).

Statutory Authority: § 10.1-1232 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information:

November 6, 2012 - 1 p.m. - Department of Environmental Quality, 629 East Main Street, 2nd Floor Conference Room C, Richmond, VA

Public Comment Deadline: November 23, 2012.

Agency Contact: Gary E. Graham, Department of Environmental Quality, 629 East Main Street, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4103, FAX (804) 698-4510, or email gary.graham@deq.virginia.gov.

Basis: The legal basis for the Voluntary Remediation Regulations, 9VAC20-160, is the Brownfield Restoration and Land Renewal Act. Specifically, § 10.1-1232 of the Code of Virginia authorizes the Waste Management Board to promulgate regulations that facilitate voluntary cleanup of contaminated sites where remediation is not clearly mandated by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Virginia Waste Management Act, or other applicable authority. There is no corresponding federal mandate, since the regulations apply only where remediation is not otherwise required under state or federal law, or where such jurisdiction has been waived.

Purpose: The agency performed an internal review of the Voluntary Remediation Regulations and determined that there was a continued need for this regulation. Since 1996 more than 325 applications have been submitted to the Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP). Certificates of completion have been issued to over 200 participants and the current active case load exceeds 125 sites. Without this program there is a likelihood that many of these cleanups may not have occurred. Further, the regulation is not considered complex.

Section 10.1-1232 of the Code of Virginia requires the Waste Management Board to promulgate regulations that facilitate voluntary cleanup of contaminated sites where remediation is not clearly mandated by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Virginia Waste Management Act, or other applicable authority. This regulation does not overlap, duplicate, or conflict with federal or state law or regulation.

The Voluntary Remediation Regulation was last amended in 2002 and became effective as a final regulation on July 1, 2002. Based on a four-year periodic review, it was determined that the regulations needed to be updated to include current remediation levels and sampling and analysis methods; to improve reporting requirements; and to clarify eligibility, termination, and application requirements.

The amendments are intended to revise the program procedures so that sites can be processed more efficiently and reflect changes in technology.

Substance: The proposed amendments to the Voluntary Remediation Regulations include the following:

1. 9VAC20-160-10: Definitions - Definitions have been clarified and some additional ones added to clarify requirements;

2. 9VAC20-160-20: Purpose, applicability, and compliance with other regulations - Has been revised to include characterization as part of the purpose of this chapter;

3. 9VAC20-160-30: Eligibility criteria - Requirements have been added that address both the applicant and candidate sites eligibility; that allow applicants to have access to the property until the remediation is complete; that the department is notified of any change in ownership or in agent for the owner; that documentation of completed remediation is provided; that clarify when remediation has been clearly mandated; and that require written permission from off-site property owners;

4. 9VAC20-160-40: Application for participation - A requirement for a map and acreage of the property has been added to the application materials. Completeness review and notification provisions have been added;

5. 9VAC20-160-60: Registration Fee - A requirement that the initial registration fee shall be the statutory maximum has been added. Conditions for a participant seeking a partial refund have been added;

6. 9VAC20-160-70: Work to be performed - Clarifies the required components of the Voluntary Remediation Report. Requires the submittal of an assessment of any risks to off-site properties and clarifies the use of land use controls. Clarifies the reporting requirements in the case where the participant determines that no remedial action is necessary. A requirement for analysis to be performed by laboratories certified by the Virginia Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program has been added. A requirement for the submission of an annual report containing a brief summary of any actions ongoing or completed as well as any planned future actions is also included;

8. 9VAC20-160-90: Remediation levels - Clarifies carcinogenic risks, ecological risks, surface water quality standards, soil screening levels, groundwater concerns, and human health considerations;

9. 9VAC20-160-100: Termination - Clarifies the conditions under which participation in the program may be terminated. Adds a requirement that the participant must make reasonable progress towards completion of the program to remain eligible;

10. 9VAC20-160-110: Certification of satisfactory completion of remediation - Regulatory requirements have been clarified. Provides for notification when there is a change in ownership; and

11. 9VAC20-160-120: Public notice - Provides for written notice to adjacent property owners and other owners whose property has been impacted by the release being addressed under the VRP project as soon as the department accepts the site characterization report and the proposed or completed remediation and prior to the department's issuing a certificate. Also provides for the acknowledgement of the receipt of written comments and an evaluation of the comment's impact on the planned or completed action or actions.

Issues: This regulation has no negative economic impact on small businesses. The VRP provides the opportunity for reasonable cleanup goals and protects human health and the environment. These cleanups facilitate the sale and reuse of industrial and commercial properties, provide economic benefits for the buyer and seller, and reduce green space development. Communities benefit when these projects are completed. The cleanup of a site may impact surrounding properties by increasing property values, tax revenues, employment opportunities and community pride. The citizens, businesses, and local governments of the Commonwealth all derive benefits from the VRP. This regulation poses no disadvantages to the public, to the regulated community, or to the Commonwealth.

Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis:

Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. As a result of a periodic review of regulations, the Waste Management Board (Board) proposes to amend its Voluntary Remediation Regulations. The Board proposes to make many clarifying changes to the requirements of these regulations and also proposes to change the language for fees so that affected entities will pay $5,000 at the start of their remediation project and may apply for a refund of any unowed monies at the end.

Result of Analysis. The benefits likely exceed the costs for all proposed changes.

Estimated Economic Impact. DEQ's voluntary remediation program allows land owners (mostly business land owners) to voluntarily clean up polluted land that is not so polluted that clean up would be mandated under state or federal regulations. Most entities that participate in this program are in the process of trying to sell their land and would take part in the program in hopes of increasing the value and, therefore, the sale price of the affected holding. The Board last updated its Voluntary Remediation Regulations in 2002. As a result of a periodic review of these regulations, the Board now proposes to make many clarifying changes as well as one change that may have a significant economic impact of the entities that choose to participate. The clarifying changes that are being proposed for these regulations will not change the practices employed by the program and, so, should not increase costs for any affected entities. To the extent that these changes streamline processes and/or make these regulations easier to understand, affected entities will likely benefit.

Current regulations allow participating entities to pay, at the time of initial registration, a fee of one percent of the anticipated costs of their remediation projects, up to a statutory maximum of $5,000. At the end of the project, DEQ will currently bill a participant for the actual costs of administering the project, minus the amount they have already paid, up to the statutory maximum. DEQ can withhold the certificate of completion for a project until that bill is paid but has no recourse for recouping its costs if a participant drops out of the program before his project is completed or just has no interest in obtaining the certificate. As a consequence, DEQ has had some projects where participants have only paid several hundred dollars when the actual program administration costs are many thousands of dollars. DEQ reports that the average costs for administering a remediation project is approximately $40,000.

The Board proposes to amend the fees structure in these regulations so that program participants will pay the statutory maximum ($5,000) at the time of initial registration. Participants will be able to request a refund upon project completion if the actual costs of administering their projects are less than the collected fee. Some project participants, particularly participants who drop out before project completion, will likely pay a larger fee on account of this regulatory change. Because participation in this program is voluntary, these costs are likely to be outweighed by the benefits that will accrue to any entities that choose to participate. DEQ, and taxpayers, will benefit from this change as it will allow DEQ to recoup more of the costs of administering this program from the program participants (its most immediate beneficiaries).

Businesses and Entities Affected. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) reports that approximately 20 entities (individuals or businesses) per year initiate a voluntary remediation project. DEQ estimates that approximately 90% of these entities would be classified as small businesses.

Localities Particularly Affected. No locality will be particularly affected by this proposed regulatory action.

Projected Impact on Employment. This regulatory action will likely have no impact on employment in the Commonwealth.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. This regulatory action will likely have minimal effects on the use or value of private property in the Commonwealth.

Small Businesses: Costs and Other Effects. Since participation is voluntary, small businesses in the Commonwealth are unlikely to take part in DEQs voluntary remediation program unless they expect the benefits that they will accrue to outweigh the costs.

Small Businesses: Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. There are likely no other methods that DEQ could have employed that would both have allowed DEQ to guarantee it would recoup more of its costs (up to the statutory maximum) and further minimized costs for affected small businesses.

Real Estate Development Costs. This regulatory action will likely have no effect on real estate development costs in the Commonwealth.

Legal Mandate. The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) has analyzed the economic impact of this proposed regulation in accordance with § 2.2-4007.04 of the Administrative Process Act and Executive Order Number 14 (10). Section 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include, but need not be limited to, the projected number of businesses or other entities to whom the regulation would apply, the identity of any localities and types of businesses or other entities particularly affected, the projected number of persons and employment positions to be affected, the projected costs to affected businesses or entities to implement or comply with the regulation, and the impact on the use and value of private property. Further, if the proposed regulation has adverse effect on small businesses, § 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include (i) an identification and estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the regulation; (ii) the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs required for small businesses to comply with the regulation, including the type of professional skills necessary for preparing required reports and other documents; (iii) a statement of the probable effect of the regulation on affected small businesses; and (iv) a description of any less intrusive or less costly alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the regulation. The analysis presented above represents DPB's best estimate of these economic impacts.

Agency's Response to Economic Impact Analysis: The department has reviewed the economic impact analysis prepared by the Department of Planning and Budget and has no comment.

Summary:

The proposed action updates current remediation levels and sampling and analysis methods; improves reporting requirements; clarifies eligibility, termination, and application requirements; and updates program procedures to process contaminated sites more efficiently and reflect changes in technology. The action also changes the language for fees so that affected entities will pay $5,000 at the start of their remediation project and may apply for a refund of any unowed moneys at the end.

9VAC20-160-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

"Authorized agent" means any person who is authorized in writing to fulfill the requirements of this program.

"Carcinogen" means a chemical classification for the purpose of risk assessment as an agent that is known or suspected to cause cancer in humans, including but not limited to a known or likely human carcinogen or a probable or possible human carcinogen under an EPA weight-of-evidence classification system.

"Certificate" means a written certification of satisfactory completion of remediation issued by the director department pursuant to § 10.1-1232 of the Code of Virginia.

"Completion" means fulfillment of the commitment agreed to by the participant as part of this program.

"Contaminant" means any man-made or man-induced alteration of the chemical, physical or biological integrity of soils, sediments, air and surface water or groundwater including, but not limited to, such alterations caused by any hazardous substance (as defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 USC § 9601(14)), hazardous waste (as defined in 9VAC20-60), solid waste (as defined in 9VAC20-81), petroleum (as defined in Articles 9 (§ 62.1-44.34:8 et seq.) and 11 (§ 62.1-44.34:14 et seq.)) of the Virginia State Water Control Law, or natural gas.

"Cost of remediation" means all costs incurred by the participant pursuant to activities necessary for completion of voluntary remediation at the site, based on an estimate of the net present value (NPV) of the combined costs of the site investigation, report development, remedial system installation, operation and maintenance, and all other costs associated with participating in the program and addressing the contaminants of concern at the site.

"Department" means the Department of Environmental Quality of the Commonwealth of Virginia or its successor agency.

"Director" means the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality.

"Engineering controls" means physical modification to a site or facility to reduce or eliminate potential for exposure to contaminants. These include, but are not limited to, stormwater conveyance systems, pump and treat systems, slurry walls, vapor mitigation systems, liner systems, caps, monitoring systems, and leachate collection systems.

"Hazard index (HI)" means the sum of more than one hazard quotient for multiple contaminants or multiple exposure pathways or both. The HI is calculated separately for chronic, subchronic, and shorter duration exposures.

"Hazard quotient" means the ratio of a single contaminant exposure level over a specified time period to a reference dose for that contaminant derived from a similar period.

"Incremental upper-bound lifetime cancer risk level" means a conservative estimate of the incremental probability of an individual developing cancer over a lifetime. Upper-bound lifetime cancer risk level is likely to overestimate "true risk."

"Institutional controls" means legal or contractual restrictions on property use that remain effective after remediation is completed, and are used to reduce or eliminate the potential for exposure to contaminants. The term may include, but is not limited to, deed and water use restrictions.

"Land use controls" means legal or physical restrictions on the use of, or access to, a site to reduce or eliminate potential for exposure to contaminants, or prevent activities that could interfere with the effectiveness of remediation. Land use controls include but are not limited to engineering and institutional controls.

"Monitored natural attenuation" means a remediation process that closely monitors the natural or enhanced attenuation process.

"Natural attenuation" means a process through which contaminants breakdown naturally in the environment. Natural attenuation may be enhanced by the addition of nutrients, bacteria, oxygen, or other substances.

"Noncarcinogen" means a chemical classification for the purposes of risk assessment as an agent for which there is either inadequate toxicological data or is not likely to be a carcinogen based on an EPA weight-of-evidence classification system.

"Operator" means the person currently responsible for the overall operations at a site, or any person responsible for operations at a site at the time of, or following, the release.

"Owner" means any person currently owning or holding legal or equitable title or possessory interest in a property, including the Commonwealth of Virginia, or a political subdivision thereof, including title or control of a property conveyed due to bankruptcy, foreclosure, tax delinquency, abandonment, or similar means.

"Participant" means a person who has received confirmation of eligibility and has remitted payment of the registration fee.

"Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, a governmental body, a municipal corporation or any other legal entity.

"Post certificate monitoring" means monitoring of environmental or site conditions stipulated as a condition of issuance of the Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Remediation.

"Program" means the Virginia Voluntary Remediation Program.

"Property" means a parcel of land defined by the boundaries in the deed.

"Reference dose" means an estimate of a daily exposure level for the human population, including sensitive subpopulations, that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime.

"Registration fee" means the fee paid to enroll in the Voluntary Remediation Program, based on 1.0% of the total cost of remediation at a site, not to exceed the statutory maximum.

"Release" means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing of any contaminant into the environment.

"Remediation" means actions taken to cleanup, mitigate, correct, abate, minimize, eliminate, control and contain or prevent a release of a contaminant into the environment in order to protect human health and the environment, including actions to investigate, study or assess any actual or suspected release. Remediation may include, when appropriate and approved by the department, land use controls; natural attenuation; as well as, monitored natural attenuation.

"Remediation level" means the concentration of a contaminant with applicable land use controls, that is protective of human health and the environment.

"Report" means the Voluntary Remediation Report required by 9VAC20-160-70.

"Restricted use" means any use other than residential.

"Risk" means the probability that a contaminant will cause an adverse effect in exposed humans or to the environment.

"Risk assessment" means the process used to determine the risk posed by contaminants released into the environment. Elements include identification of the contaminants present in the environmental media, assessment of exposure and exposure pathways, assessment of the toxicity of the contaminants present at the site, characterization of human health risks, and characterization of the impacts or risks to the environment.

"Site" means any property or portion thereof, as agreed to and defined by the participant and the department, which contains or may contain contaminants being addressed under this program.

"Termination" means the formal discontinuation of participation in the Voluntary Remediation Program without obtaining a certification of satisfactory completion.

"Unrestricted use" means the designation of acceptable future use for a site at which the remediation levels, based on either background or standard residential exposure factors, have been attained throughout the site in all media.

9VAC20-160-20. Purpose, applicability, and compliance with other regulations.

A. The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards and procedures pertaining to the eligibility, enrollment, reporting, characterization, remediation, and termination criteria for the Virginia Voluntary Remediation Program in order to protect human health and the environment.

B. This chapter shall apply to all persons who elect to and are eligible to participate in the Virginia Voluntary Remediation Program.

C. Participation in the program does not relieve a participant from the obligation to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations related to the investigation and remediation (e.g., waste management and disposal, erosion and sedimentation controls, air emission controls, and activities that impact wetlands and other sensitive ecological habitats) undertaken by the participant pursuant to this chapter.

9VAC20-160-30. Eligibility criteria.

A. Candidate Applicants and proposed sites shall meet eligibility criteria as defined in this section.

B. Any Eligible applicants are any persons who own, operate, have a security interest in or enter into a contract for the purchase or use of an eligible site. Those who wish to voluntarily remediate that a site may apply to participate in the program. Any person who is an authorized agent of any of the parties identified in this subsection may apply to participate in the program.

1. Access: Applicants who are not the site owner must demonstrate that they have access to the property at the time of application, during the investigation, and throughout the remedial activities until the remediation is completed.

2. Change in ownership: The department shall be notified if there is a change in property ownership.

3. Change in agent: The department shall be notified if there is a change in agent for the property owner or the participant.

C. Sites are eligible for participation in the program if (i) remediation has not been clearly mandated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the department or a court pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (42 USC § 9601 et seq.), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 USC § 6901 et seq.), the Virginia Waste Management Act (§ 10.1-1400 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), the Virginia State Water Control Law (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), or other applicable statutory or common law; or (ii) jurisdiction of the statutes listed in clause (i) has been waived.

1. A site on which an eligible party has completed performed remediation of a release is potentially eligible for the program if the actions can be documented in a way which are equivalent to the requirements for prospective remediation this chapter, and provided the site meets applicable remediation levels.

2. Petroleum or oil releases not mandated for remediation under Articles 9 (§ 62.1-44.34:8 et seq.) and 11 (§ 62.1-44.34:14 et seq.) of the Virginia State Water Control Law may be eligible for participation in the program.

3. Where an applicant raises a genuine issue based on documented evidence as to the applicability of regulatory programs in subsection D of this section, the site may be eligible for the program. Such evidence may include a demonstration that:

1. a. It is not clear whether the release involved a waste material or a virgin material;

2. b. It is not clear that the release occurred after the relevant regulations became effective; or

3. c. It is not clear that the release occurred at a regulated unit.

D. For the purposes of this chapter, remediation has been clearly mandated if any of the following conditions exist, unless jurisdiction for such mandate has been waived:

1. Remediation of the release is the subject of a permit issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the department, a pending or existing closure plan, a pending or existing an administrative order, a pending or existing court order, a pending or existing consent order, or the site is on the National Priorities List;

2. The site at which the release occurred is subject to the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-60) (VHWMR), is a permitted facility, is applying for or should have applied for a permit, is under interim status or should have applied for interim status, or was previously under interim status, and is thereby subject to requirements of the VHWMR;

3. The site at which the release occurred constitutes has been determined to be an open dump or unpermitted solid waste management facility under 9VAC20-81-45 of the Solid Waste Management Regulations;

4. The director department determines that the release poses an imminent and substantial threat to human health or the environment; or

5. Remediation of the release is otherwise the subject of a response action or investigation required by local, state, or federal law or regulation.

E. The director may determine that a site under subdivision D 3 of this section may participate in the program provided that such participation complies with the substantive requirements of the applicable regulations.

9VAC20-160-40. Application for participation.

A. The application for participation in the Voluntary Remediation Program shall, at a minimum, provide the elements listed below:

1. A written notice of intent to participate in the program and an overview of the project;

2. A statement of the applicant's eligibility to participate in the program (e.g., proof of ownership, security interest, etc.).;

3. For authorized agents, a letter of authorization from an eligible party;

4. A legal description of the site map and acreage of the property and the boundaries of the site, if not the entire property;

5. The A general operational history of the site;

6. A general description of information known to or ascertainable by the applicant pertaining to (i) the nature and extent of any contamination; and (ii) past or present releases, both at the site and immediately contiguous to the site;

7. A discussion of the potential jurisdiction of other existing environmental regulatory programs, or documentation of a waiver thereof; and

8. A notarized certification by the applicant that to the best of his knowledge all the information as set forth in this subsection is true and accurate. An application signed by the applicant and the owner of the property attesting that to the best of their knowledge that all of the information as set forth in this subsection is true and accurate.

B. Within 60 days of the department's receipt of an application, the director shall review the application to verify that (i) the application is complete and (ii) the applicant and the site meet the eligibility criteria set forth in 9VAC20-160-30. The department shall review the application for completeness and notify the applicant within 15 days of the application's receipt whether the application is administratively incomplete. Within 60 days of the department's receipt of a complete application, the department shall verify whether the applicant and the site meet the eligibility criteria set forth in 9VAC20-160-30. The department reserves the right to conduct eligibility verification inspections of the candidate site during the eligibility verification review.

C. If the director department makes a tentative decision to reject the application, he it shall notify the applicant in writing that the application has been tentatively rejected and provide an explanation of the reasons for the proposed rejection. Within 30 days of the applicant's receipt of notice of rejection the applicant may (i) submit additional information to correct the inadequacies of the rejected application or (ii) accept the rejection. The director's department's tentative decision to reject an application will become a final agency action under the Virginia Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) upon receipt of an applicant's written acceptance of the director's department's decision to reject an application, or in the event an applicant fails to respond within the 30 days specified in this subsection, upon expiration of the 30 days specified day period. If within 30 days an applicant submits additional information to correct the inadequacies of an application, the review process begins shall begin again in accordance with this section.

9VAC20-160-60. Registration fee.

A. In accordance with § 10.1-1232 A 5 of the Code of Virginia, the applicant shall submit a registration fee to defray the cost of the program.

B. The initial registration fee shall be at least 1.0% of the estimated cost of the remediation at the site, not to exceed the statutory maximum. Payment shall be required after eligibility has been verified by the department and prior to technical review of submittals pursuant to 9VAC20-160-80. Payment shall be made payable to the Commonwealth of Virginia and remitted to Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 1104, Receipts Control, Richmond, VA 23218.

C. To determine the appropriate registration fee, the applicant may provide an estimate of the anticipated total cost of remediation.

Remediation costs shall be based on site investigation activities; report development; remedial system installation, operation and maintenance; and all other costs associated with participating in the program and addressing the contaminants of concern at the subject site.

Departmental concurrence with an estimate of the cost of remediation does not constitute approval of the remedial approach assumed in the cost estimate.

The participant may elect to remit the statutory maximum registration fee to the department as an alternative to providing an estimate of the total cost of remediation at the time of eligibility verification.

D. If the participant does not elect to submit the statutory maximum registration fee, the participant shall provide the department with the actual total cost of the remediation prior to issuance of a certificate. The department shall calculate any balance adjustments to be made to the initial registration fee. Any negative balance owed to the department shall be paid by the participant prior to the issuance of a certificate. Any costs to be refunded shall be remitted by the department with issuance of the certificate.

E. If the participant elected to remit the statutory maximum registration fee, the department shall refund any balance owed to the participant after receiving the actual total cost of remediation. If no remedial cost summary is provided to the department within 60 days of the participant's receipt of the certificate, the participant will have waived the right to a refund.

C. Failure to remit the required registration fee within 90 days of the date of eligibility verification shall result in the loss of eligibility status of the applicant. The applicant must reestablish his eligibility for participation in the program, unless alternate provisions are proposed and deemed acceptable to the department.

D. Upon completion of remediation and issuance of the Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Remediation, the participant is entitled to seek a partial refund of the registration fee. The refund will be reconciled as 1.0% of the final cost of remediation as compared to the initial registration fee.

1. The participant shall provide the department with a summary of the final cost of remediation within 60 days of issuance of a certificate. The department shall calculate the balance adjustment to be made to the initial registration fee and refund the difference.

2. If no summary of the final cost of remediation is provided to the department within 60 days of issuance of the certificate, the participant will have waived the right to a refund.

3. Concurrence with the summary of the final cost of remediation does not constitute department verification of the actual cost incurred.

E. Except for termination pursuant to 9VAC20-160-100 A 4, no portion of the registration fee will be refunded if participation in the program is terminated.

9VAC20-160-70. Work to be performed.

A. The Voluntary Remediation Report serves as the archive for all documentation pertaining to remedial activities at the site. Each component of the report shall be submitted by the participant to the department. As various components are received, they shall be inserted into the report. The report shall consist of the following components: a site characterization Site Characterization, a risk assessment including an assessment of risk to surrounding properties (as appropriate) Risk Assessment, a remedial action work plan Remedial Action Plan, a demonstration of completion Demonstration of Completion, and documentation of public notice. A separate report shall be submitted for each component of the Voluntary Remediation Report listed below:

1. The site characterization shall contain a delineation of Site Characterization Report shall provide an understanding of the site conditions including the identification and description of each area of concern (or source); the nature and extent of releases to all media, including the vertical and horizontal extent of the contaminants on the site, including off-site areas as applicable; and a preliminary screening of the risk or risks posed by the release.

2. The risk assessment Risk Assessment Report shall contain an evaluation of the risks to human health and the environment posed by the release, including an assessment of risk to off-site properties, a proposed set of remediation levels consistent with 9VAC20-160-90 that are protective of human health and the environment, and a recommended remediation to achieve the proposed objectives; or a demonstration that no action is necessary.

3. The remedial action work plan Remedial Action Plan Report shall propose the activities, schedule, any permits required to initiate and complete the remediation and specific design plans for implementing remediation that will achieve the remediation levels specified in the risk assessment. Control or elimination of continuing onsite source or sources of releases to the environment shall be discussed. Land use controls should be discussed as appropriate. If no remedial action is necessary, the Remedial Action Plan shall discuss the reasoning for no action. When remedial activities have occurred prior to enrolling in the Voluntary Remediation Program, this information shall be included in the Site Characterization Report. The Remedial Action Plan Report shall describe the remedial activities that occurred, to include as applicable: how releases (or sources) have been eliminated or controlled; the remediation system or systems installed; site restrictions imposed; permits required; and how remediation levels have been achieved.

4. Demonstration of completion. A Demonstration of Completion Report is required whenever remedial action has occurred as part of participation in the Voluntary Remediation Program. The Demonstration of Completion Report shall include: a detailed summary of the performance of the remediation implemented at the site, the total cost of the remediation, and confirmational sampling results demonstrating that the established site-specific remedial objectives have been achieved, or that other criteria for completion of remediation have been satisfied. As part of the demonstration of completion, the participant shall certify compliance with applicable regulations pertaining to activities performed at the site pursuant to this chapter.

a. The demonstration of completion should, when applicable, include a detailed summary of the performance of the remediation implemented at the site, the total cost of the remediation, and confirmational sampling results demonstrating that the established site-specific remedial objectives have been achieved, or that other criteria for completion of remediation have been satisfied. If the participant elected to remit the statutory maximum registration fee and is not seeking a refund of any portion of the registration fee, the total cost of remediation need not be provided.

b. As part of the demonstration of completion, the participant shall certify compliance with applicable regulations pertaining to activities performed at the site pursuant to this chapter.

5. The participant shall provide documentation Documentation of public notice is required to demonstrate that public notice has been provided in accordance with 9VAC20-160-120. Such documentation shall include copies of comments received during the public comment period, all acknowledgements of receipt of comments, as well as the participant's responses to comments, if any are made.

B. It is the participant's responsibility to ensure that the investigation and remediation activities (e.g., waste management and disposal, erosion and sedimentation controls, air emission controls, and activities that impact wetlands and other sensitive ecological habitats) comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and any appropriate regulations that are not required by state or federal law but are necessary to ensure that the activities do not result in a further release of contaminants to the environment and are protective of human health and the environment.

C. All work, to include sampling and analysis, shall be performed in accordance with Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, USEPA SW-846, revised April 1998 March 2009, or other media specific methods approved by the department and completed using appropriate quality assurance/quality control protocols. All analyses shall be performed by laboratories certified by the Virginia Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (VELAP). Laboratory certificates of analysis shall be included with applicable reports.

D. Until certificate issuance, all participants shall submit an annual report to the department containing a brief summary of any actions ongoing or completed as well as any planned future actions for the next reporting period. This report shall be submitted by July 1 using the "VRP Site Status Reporting Form." Failure to submit within 60 days may result in the site's Voluntary Remediation Program eligibility status being terminated.

9VAC20-160-80. Review of submittals.

A. Upon receipt of submittals, the The department shall review and evaluate the submittals components of the Voluntary Remediation Report submitted by the participant. The department may request additional information, including sampling data of from the site or areas adjacent to the site to verify the extent of the release, in order to render a decision and move the participant towards expeditious issuance of the certificate.

B. The director department may expedite, as appropriate, issuance of any permits required to initiate and complete a voluntary remediation. The director department shall, within 120 days of a complete submittal, expedite issuance of such permit in accordance with applicable regulations.

C. After receiving a complete and adequate report, the director department shall make a determination regarding the issuance of the certificate to the participant. The determination shall be a final agency action pursuant to the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).

9VAC20-160-90. Remediation levels.

A. The participant, with the concurrence of the department, shall consider impacts to human health and the environment in establishing remediation levels.

B. Remediation levels shall be based upon a risk assessment of the site and surrounding areas that may be impacted, reflecting the current and future use scenarios.

1. A site shall be deemed to have met the requirements for unrestricted use if the remediation levels, based on either background or standard residential exposure factors, have been attained throughout the site and in all media. Attainment of these levels will allow the site to be given an unrestricted use classification. No remediation techniques or land use controls that require ongoing management may be employed to achieve this classification.

2. For sites that do not achieve the unrestricted use classification, land use controls shall be applied. The restrictions imposed upon a site may be media-specific, may vary according to site-specific conditions, and may be applied to limit present and future use. All controls necessary to attain the restricted use classification shall be described in the certificate as provided in 9VAC20-160-110. Land use controls approved by the department for use at the site are considered remediation.

C. B. Remediation levels based on human health shall be developed after appropriate site characterization data have been gathered as provided in 9VAC20-160-70. Remediation levels may be derived from the three-tiered approach provided in this subsection. Any tier or combination of tiers may be applied to establish remediation levels for contaminants present at a given site, with consideration of site use restrictions specified in subsection B of this section.

1. Under Tier I the participant shall collect appropriate samples from background and from the area of contamination for all media of concern remediation levels are based on media backgrounds levels. These background levels shall be determined from a portion of the property or a nearby property or other areas as approved by the department that have not been impacted by the contaminants of concern.

a. Background levels shall be determined from a portion of the property or a nearby property that has not been impacted by the contaminants of concern.

b. The participant shall compare concentrations from the area of contamination against background concentrations. If the concentrations from the area of contamination exceed established background levels, the participant may consider Tier II or Tier III methodologies, as applicable. If concentrations are at or below background levels, no further assessment is necessary.

2. Tier II generic remediation levels are media-specific values, derived using unrestricted use default assumptions assuming that there will be no restrictions on the use of groundwater, surface water, and soil on the site. Use of Tier II shall be limited to the following:

a. Tier II generic groundwater remediation levels shall be based on the most beneficial use of groundwater. The most beneficial use of groundwater is for a potable water source, unless demonstrated otherwise by the participant and accepted by the department. Therefore, they shall be based on (i) federal Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) or action levels for lead and copper as established by the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 USC § 300 (f)) and the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141) or, in the absence of a MCL, (ii) tap water values derived using the methodology provided in the EPA Region III Risk-Based Concentration Table current at the time of the assessment Regional Screening Level Table, Region III, VI, and IX, United States Environmental Protection Agency, December 2009, using an acceptable individual carcinogenic risk of 1 X 10^-5 and an individual noncarcinogen hazard quotient of 0.1. For contaminants that do not have values available under clauses (i) or (ii) above, a remediation level shall be calculated using criteria set forth under Tier III remediation levels.

b. Soil Tier II soil remediation levels shall insure that migration of contaminants shall not cause the cleanup levels established for groundwater and surface water to be exceeded. Soil remediation levels shall be determined as the lower of either the ingestion or cross-media transfer values, according to the following:

(1) For ingestion, values derived using the methodology provided in the EPA Region III Risk-Based Concentration Table current at the time of assessment. Regional Screening Level Table, Region III, VI, and IX, United States Environmental Protection Agency, December 2009.

(a) For carcinogens, the soil ingestion concentration for each contaminant, reflecting an individual upper-bound lifetime cancer risk of 1 X 10^-6 10^-5.

(b) For noncarcinogens, 1/10 (i.e., Hazard Quotient = 0.1) 0.1 of the soil ingestion concentration, to account for multiple systemic toxicants at the site. For sites where there are fewer than 10 contaminants exceeding 1/10 0.1 of the soil ingestion concentration, the soil ingestion concentration may be divided by the number of contaminants such that the resulting hazard index does not exceed one 1.0.

(2) For cross-media transfer, values derived from the USEPA Soil Screening Guidance (OSWER, July 1996, Document 9355.4-23, EPA/540/R-96/018) and USEPA Supplemental Guidance for Developing Soil Screening Levels for Superfund Sites (OSWER, December 2002, Document 9355.4-24) shall be used as follows:

(a) The soil screening level for transfer to groundwater, with adjustment to a hazard quotient of 0.1 for noncarcinogens, if the value is not based on a MCL; or

(b) The soil screening level for transfer to air, with adjustment to a hazard quotient of 0.1 for noncarcinogens and a risk level of 1 X 10^-5 for carcinogens, using default residential exposure assumptions.

(3) (c) For noncarcinogens, for sites where there are fewer than 10 contaminants exceeding 1/10 0.1 of the soil screening level, the soil screening level may be divided by the number of contaminants such that the resulting hazard index does not exceed one 1.0.

(4) (3) Values derived under 9VAC20-160-90 C 2 b (1) and (2) may be adjusted to allow for updates in approved toxicity factors as necessary.

c. At sites where ecological receptors are of concern and there are complete exposure pathways, the participant shall perform a screening level ecological evaluation to show that remediation levels developed under Tier II are also protective of ecological receptors of concern.

d. For unrestricted future use, where a contaminant of concern exists for which c. Tier II remediation levels for surface water quality standards shall be based on the Virginia Water Quality Standards (WQS) have been adopted as established by the State Water Control Board for a specific use, the participant shall demonstrate that concentrations in other media will not result in concentrations that exceed the WQS in adjacent surface water bodies. (9VAC25-260), according to the following:

(1) The chronic aquatic life criteria shall be compared to the appropriate human health criteria and the lower of the two values selected as the Tier II remediation level.

(2) For contaminants that do not have a Virginia WQS, the federal Water Quality Criteria (WQC) may be used if available. The chronic federal criterion continuous concentration (CCC) for aquatic life shall be compared to the appropriate human health based criteria and the lower of the two values selected as the Tier II remediation level.

(3) If neither a Virginia WQS nor a federal WQC is available for a particular contaminant detected in surface water, the participant should perform a literature search to determine if alternative values are available. If alternative values are not available, the detected contaminants shall be evaluated through a site-specific risk assessment.

3. Tier III remediation levels are based upon a site-specific risk assessment considering site-specific assumptions about current and potential exposure scenarios for the population or populations of concern, including ecological receptors, and characteristics of the affected media and can be based upon a site-specific risk assessment. Land-use controls can be considered.

a. In developing Tier III remediation levels, and unless the participant proposes other guidance that is acceptable to the department, the participant shall use, for all media and exposure routes, the methodology specified in Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund, Volume 1, Human Health Evaluation Manual (Part A), Interim Final, USEPA, December 1989 (EPA/540/1-89/002) and (Part B, Development of Preliminary Remediation Goals) Interim, USEPA, December 1991 (Publication 9285.7-01B) with modifications as appropriate to allow for site-specific conditions. The participant may use other methodologies approved by the department.

b. For a site with carcinogenic contaminants, the remediation goal for individual carcinogenic contaminants shall be an incremental upper-bound lifetime cancer risk of 1 X 10^-6 10^-5. The remediation levels for the site shall not result in an incremental upper-bound lifetime cancer risk exceeding 1 X 10^-4considering multiple contaminants and multiple exposure pathways, unless the use of a MCL for groundwater that has been promulgated under 42 USC § 300g-1 of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141) results in a cumulative risk greater than 1 X 10^-4.

c. For noncarcinogens, the hazard index shall not exceed a combined value of 1.0.

d. In setting remediation levels, the department may consider risk assessment methodologies approved by another regulatory agency and current at the time of the Voluntary Remediation Program site characterization.

e. Groundwater cleanup levels shall be based on the most beneficial use of the groundwater. The most beneficial use of the groundwater is for a potable water source, unless demonstrated otherwise by the participant and approved by the department.

f. For sites where a screening level ecological evaluation has shown that there is a potential for ecological risks, the participant shall perform an ecological risk assessment to show that remediation levels developed under Tier III are also protective of ecological receptors of concern. If the Tier III remediation levels developed for human health are not protective of ecological receptors of concern, the remediation levels shall be adjusted accordingly.

C. The participant shall determine if ecological receptors are present at the site or in the vicinity of the site and if they are impacted by releases from the site.

1. At sites where ecological receptors are of concern and there are complete exposure pathways, the participant shall perform a screening level ecological evaluation to show that remediation levels developed under the three-tiered approach described in this section are also protective of such ecological receptors.

2. For sites where a screening level ecological evaluation has shown that there is a potential for ecological risks, the participant shall perform an ecological risk assessment to show that remediation levels developed under the three-tiered approach described in this section are also protective of ecological receptors. If the remediation levels developed for human health are not protective of ecological receptors, the remediation levels shall be adjusted accordingly.

9VAC20-160-100. Termination.

A. Participation in the program shall be terminated:

1. When evaluation of new information obtained during participation in the program results in a determination by the director department that the site is ineligible or that a participant has taken an action to render the site ineligible for participation in the program. If such a determination is made, the director department shall notify the participant that participation has been terminated and provide an explanation of the reasons for the determination. Within 30 days, the participant may submit additional information, or accept the director's department's determination.

2. Upon 30 days written notice of termination withdrawal by either party the participant.

3. Upon participant's failure to make reasonable progress towards completion of the program, as determined by the department.

4. Upon fulfillment of all program requirements and issuance of the Certification of Satisfactory Completion of Remediation as described in 9VAC20-160-110, notwithstanding any conditions of issuance specified in the Certificate.

B. The department shall be entitled to receive and use, upon request, copies of any and all information developed by or on behalf of the participant as a result of work performed pursuant to participation in the program, after application has been made to the program whether the program is satisfactorily completed or terminated.

C. No Except for termination pursuant to subsection A 4, no portion of the registration fee will be refunded if participation is terminated by any method as described in 9VAC20-160-100.

9VAC20-160-110. Certification of satisfactory completion of remediation.

A. The director department shall issue a certification of satisfactory completion of remediation when:

1. The participant has demonstrated that migration of contamination has been stabilized;

2. The participant has demonstrated that the site has met the applicable remediation levels and will continue to meet the applicable remediation levels in the future for both on site and off site receptors; and

3. All provisions of the approved remedial action plan as applicable have been completed;

4. All applicable requirements of the regulations have been completed; and

3. 5. The department concurs with accepts all work submitted, as set forth in 9VAC20-160-80 9VAC20-160-70.

B. The issuance of the certificate shall constitute immunity to an enforcement action under the Virginia Waste Management Act (§ 10.1-1400 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), the Virginia State Water Control Law (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law (§ 10.1-1300 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), or other applicable Virginia law for the release or releases addressed.

C. A site shall be deemed to have met the requirements for unrestricted use if the remediation levels, based on either background or standard residential exposure factors, have been attained throughout the site and in all media. Attainment of these levels will allow the site to be given an unrestricted use classification. No remediation techniques or land use controls that require ongoing management may be employed to achieve this classification.

D. For sites that do not achieve the unrestricted use classification, land use controls may be proffered in order to develop remediation levels based on restricted use. The restrictions imposed upon a site may be media-specific, may vary according to site-specific conditions, and may be applied to limit present and future use. All controls necessary to attain the restricted use classification shall be described in the certificate as provided in this section. Land use controls accepted by the department for use at the site are considered remediation for the purpose of this chapter.

C. E. If a use restriction is specified in the certificate, such restriction must be attached to the deed to the property with an explanation for the restriction, subject to concurrence by the director, and shall the participant shall cause the certificate to be recorded by the participant with among the land records for the site in the office of the clerk of the circuit court for the jurisdiction in which the site is located within 90 days of execution of the certificate by the department, unless specified in the certificate. The participant may also record the certificate itself. If the certificate does not include any use restriction, recordation of the certificate is at the option of the participant. The immunity accorded by the certification shall apply to the participant and shall run with the land identified as the site.

D. F. The immunity granted by issuance of the certificate shall be limited to site conditions at the time of issuance as those conditions are described in the Voluntary Remediation Report. The immunity is further conditioned upon satisfactory performance by the participant of all obligations required by the director department under the program and upon the veracity, accuracy, and completeness of the information submitted to the director department by the participant relating to the site. Specific limitations of the certificate shall be enumerated in the certificate. The immunity granted by the certificate shall be dependent upon the identification of the nature and extent of contamination as presented in the report.

E. G. The certificate shall specify the conditions for which immunity is being accorded, including, but not limited to:

1. A summary of the information that was considered;

2. Any restrictions on future use;

3. Any local land use controls on surrounding properties that were taken into account; and

4. Any required proffered land use controls including:; and

a. Engineering controls and their maintenance; and

b. Institutional controls.

5. Any post-certificate monitoring.

F. H. The certificate may be revoked by the director department at any time in the event that conditions at the site, unknown at the time of issuance of the certificate, pose a risk to human health or the environment or in the event that the certificate was based on information that was false, inaccurate, or misleading. The certificate may also be revoked for the failure to meet or maintain the conditions of the certificate. Any and all claims may be pursued by the Commonwealth for liability for failure to meet a requirement of the program, criminal liability, or liability arising from future activities at the site that may cause contamination by pollutants. By issuance of the certificate the director department does not waive sovereign immunity. Failure to implement and maintain land use controls may result in revocation of the certificate.

G. I. The certificate is not and shall not be interpreted to be a permit or a modification of an existing permit or administrative order issued pursuant to state law, nor shall it in any way relieve the participant of its obligation to comply with any other federal or state law, regulation or administrative order. Any new permit or administrative order, or modification of an existing permit or administrative order, must be accomplished in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

J. Change in ownership: For properties that received a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion and are subject to use restrictions, the new property owner shall register with the department within 60 days of the acquisition.

9VAC20-160-120. Public notice.

A. The participant shall give public notice of either the proposed voluntary remediation or the completed voluntary remediation. The notice shall be made after the department concurs with accepts the site characterization report and the proposed or completed remediation, and shall occur prior to the department's issuing a certificate. Such notice shall be paid for by the participant.

B. The participant shall:

1. Provide written notice to the local government in which the facility is located;

2. Provide written notice to all adjacent property owners and other owners whose property has been impacted by the release being addressed under the VRP project; and

3. Publish a notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected by the voluntary action.

B. C. A comment period of at least 30 days must follow issuance of the notices pursuant to this section. The department, at its discretion, may increase the duration of the comment period. The contents of each public notice required pursuant to 9VAC20-160-120 A shall include:

1. The name and address of the participant and the location of the proposed voluntary remediation;

2. A brief description of the remediation, the general nature of the release, any remediation, and any proposed land use controls;

3. The address and telephone number of a specific person familiar with the remediation from whom information regarding the voluntary remediation may be obtained; and

4. A brief description of how to submit comments.

D. The participant shall send all commenters a letter acknowledging receipt of written comments and providing responses to the same.

C. E. The participant shall provide to the department a:

1. A signed statement that he has sent a written notice to all adjacent property owners and the local government, a copy of the notice, and a list of all names and addresses to whom the notice was sent.; and

2. Copies of all written comments received during the public comment period, copies of acknowledgement letters, and copies of any response to comments, as well as an evaluation of the comment's impact on the planned or completed action or actions.

D. The participant shall send all commenters a letter acknowledging receipt of comments.

E. The participant shall provide to the department copies of all written comments received during the public comment period, copies of acknowledgement letters, a discussion of how those comments were considered, a copy of any response to comments, and a discussion of their impact on the proposed or completed remediation.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (9VAC20-160)

Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste: Physical/ Chemical Methods; EPA Publication SW-846, Third Edition (1986) as amended by Final Update I, Final Update II, Final Update IIA, Final Update IIB, Final Update III, and Final Update IIIA, PB 99-115 891, revised April 1998 March 2009.

U.S. EPA Soil Screening Guidance, EPA/540/R-96/018, Publication 9355.4-23, July 1996.

U.S. EPA Supplemental Guidance for Developing Soil Screening Levels for Superfund Sites (OSWER, December 2002, Document 9355.4-24)

Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund, Volume I, Human Health Evaluation Manual (Part A) Interim Final, EPA/540/1-89/002, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, December 1989.

Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund: Volume I , Human Health Evaluation Manual (Part B, Development of Risk-based Preliminary Remediation Goals) Interim, Publication 9285.7-01B, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, December 1991.

Risk-Based Concentration Table, Region III, United States Environmental Protection Agency, April 2, 2002.

Regional Screening Level Table, Region III, VI, and IX, United States Environmental Protection Agency, December 2009.

Title of Regulation: 12VAC30-10. State Plan Under Title XIX of the Social Security Act Medical Assistance Program; General Provisions (adding 12VAC30-10-445).

Statutory Authority: § 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: October 25, 2012.

Agency Contact: Brian McCormick, Regulatory Supervisor, Department of Medical Assistance Services, 600 East Broad Street, Suite 1300, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 371-8856, FAX (804) 786-1680, or email brian.mccormick@dmas.virginia.gov.

Summary:

This action complies with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) published letter from the State Medicaid Director informing states that, pursuant to § 6411 of the Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. 111-148), CMS requires states to establish a program under which the state contracts with one or more recovery audit contractors for the purpose of identifying underpayments and overpayments and recouping overpayments under the State Plan and under any waiver of the State Plan with respect to all services for which payment is made to any entity under the plan or waiver.

12VAC30-10-445. Recovery audit contractors.

A. The state has established a program under which it will contract with one or more recovery audit contractors (RACs) for the purpose of identifying underpayments and overpayments of Medicaid claims under the State Plan and under any waiver of the State Plan.

B. The state/Medicaid agency has contracts of the type listed in § 1902(a)(42)(B)(ii)(I) of the Act. All contracts meet the requirements of the statute. RACs are consistent with the statute.

C. The state will make payments to the RACs only from amounts recovered.

D. The state will make payments to the RACs on a contingent basis for collecting overpayments.

E. The state attests that the contingency fee rate paid to the Medicaid RAC will not exceed the highest rate paid to Medicare RACs as published in the Federal Register.

F. The payment methodology used to determine state payments to Medicaid RACs for the identification of underpayments will be based upon the percentage of the contingency fee.

G. The state has an adequate appeal process in place for entities to appeal any adverse determination made by the Medicaid RACs.

H. The state assures that the amounts expended by the state to carry out the program will be amounts expended as necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the State Plan or a waiver of the plan.

I. The state assures that the recovered amounts will be subject to a state's quarterly expenditure estimates and funding of the state's share.

J. Efforts of the Medicaid RACs will be coordinated with other contractors or entities performing audits of entities receiving payments under the State Plan or waiver in the state, and/or state and federal law-enforcement entities and the CMS Medicaid Integrity Program.

Titles of Regulations: 12VAC30-10. State Plan Under Title XIX of the Social Security Act Medical Assistance Program; General Provisions (amending 12VAC30-10-325).

12VAC30-20. Administration of Medical Assistance Services (adding 12VAC30-20-205).

Statutory Authority: § 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information: No public hearings are scheduled.

Public Comment Deadline: October 24, 2012.

Effective Date: November 8, 2012.

Agency Contact: Cindy Olson, Department of Medical Assistance Services Eligibility Supervisor, Department of Medical Assistance Services, 600 East Broad Street, Suite 1300, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 225-4282, FAX (804) 786-1680, or email cindy.olson@dmas.virginia.gov.

Basis: Section 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia grants to the Board of Medical Assistance Services the authority to administer and amend the Plan for Medical Assistance. Sections 32.1-324 and 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia authorize the Director of the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to administer and amend the Plan for Medical Assistance according to the board's requirements. The Medicaid authority as established by § 1902(a) of the Social Security Act (42 USC § 1396a) provides governing authority for payments for services.

Purpose: This change is to put in place the language added to Item 296 L of Chapter 874 of the 2010 Acts of Assembly directing DMAS to develop enrollment and retention provisions, consistent with those outlined in § 104 of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA), and implement provisions determined to be budget neutral, cost effective, or that would lead to an award of a CHIPRA performance bonus.

Rationale for Using Fast-Track Process: The agency is using the fast-track rulemaking process since this action is designed to save tax dollars and brings substantial additional federal money into the state. Using the fast-track process will get this regulation implemented as quickly as possible, as there was no emergency regulatory authority included in the General Assembly's mandate.

Substance: The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 authorizes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to award annual financial bonuses to states that: (i) implement certain enrollment and retention provisions in their children's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs and (ii) exceed enrollment goals in their children's Medicaid program. Funding for the annual CHIPRA performance bonus payments is available through federal fiscal year (FFY) 2013.

In order for the department to ensure that Virginia is eligible for a CHIPRA performance bonus in FFY2011, two new enrollment and retention strategies must be implemented. One enrollment and retention strategy, Administrative Renewals, is being implemented to streamline the renewal process for current FAMIS enrollees. While this is a positive step forward for the Children's Health program, this provision alone will not secure a performance bonus for the Commonwealth. A second enrollment and retention strategy is needed to obtain this funding. Without significant expense and administrative changes, the department can implement a § 1906A premium assistance program, and thereby qualify for federal performance bonuses for the next three years. Premium assistance programs use federal and state Medicaid funds to help subsidize the purchase of group health coverage for children who have access to employer-sponsored coverage, but who may need assistance in paying for their premiums.

Virginia currently operates a premium assistance program, known as the Health Insurance Premium Payment Program (HIPP) under the authority of § 1906 of the Social Security Act. HIPP provides reimbursement for the Medicaid individual's share of the cost of the health insurance premium when it is cost-effective for the state to do so. The current HIPP program does not restrict enrollment to children under age 19 and opens enrollment up to most Medicaid eligible individuals covered under employer-sponsored health insurance.

CHIPRA added § 1906A to the Social Security Act and provides states with an additional premium assistance option for children under age 19 enrolled in Medicaid. This new provision is intended to give states the opportunity to build on existing § 1906 programs to augment coverage options for children.

The premium assistance option offered through CHIPRA allows states to provide health insurance premium assistance to children under age 19, who are eligible for Medicaid and who have access to qualified employer-sponsored coverage. The CHIPRA premium assistance provision would also require the department to pay cost sharing for the ineligible parent who holds the insurance as well as for enrolled children under age 19. It is estimated that this will cost the department approximately $947,614 in total funds ($446,326 in general funds) each year. Individual enrollment in the CHIPRA premium assistance program is voluntary and is not a condition of enrollment for those applying for Medicaid. This program will not require an administratively burdensome cost effectiveness calculation for each participant as is currently required in the HIPP program. Program guidelines require that cost effectiveness will be met as long as the employer covers at least 40% of the health insurance premium. Implementation of this provision will provide an alternative method for subsidizing employer-sponsored coverage and will encourage parents of Medicaid children to enroll in private health insurance.

Issues: The primary advantage of this action is that it will permit DMAS to extend the Health Insurance Premium Payment program to children, saving the state money and providing for private health insurance coverage for children. In addition, implementing this program qualifies Virginia for substantial extended federal match money. There are no disadvantages to the Commonwealth or to the public.

Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis:

Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. Pursuant to Chapter 874 of the 2010 Acts of Assembly Item 296 L, the proposed regulations will establish an additional premium assistance option for children enrolled in Medicaid.

Result of Analysis. The benefits likely exceed the costs for all proposed changes.

Estimated Economic Impact. The federal Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 authorized the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to award annual performance bonuses through federal fiscal year (FFY) 2013 to states that implement certain enrollment and retention provisions in their children's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs and exceed enrollment goals in their children's Medicaid program. Consequently, the 2010 General Assembly directed the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to develop enrollment and retention provisions that would lead to an award of a performance bonus.

In order to get the bonus, a state must implement at least five of the eight program features that simplify the application and enrollment process. The goal is to encourage and assist states in reaching and enrolling more uninsured children who are eligible for Medicaid. The eight program features are: 1) liberalization of asset or resource requirements, 2) elimination of in-person interviews, 3) the same application and renewal process for Medicaid and CHIP, 4) automatic/administrative renewals, 5) premium assistance, 6) continuous eligibility, 7) presumptive eligibility for children, and 8) express lane eligibility.

During the last year, Virginia met the first three of the eight criteria above. Also, the fourth criterion was implemented administratively October 1, 2010. DMAS proposes to add the fifth criteria, premium assistance, through these regulations to qualify for the bonus.

Virginia Medicaid currently operates an optional premium assistance program known as the Health Insurance Premium Payment Program (HIPP). Under HIPP, Medicaid pays for the employees share of the health insurance premium and any other cost sharing fees if participation is found to be cost effective for Medicaid. Participation is considered cost effective if the premium assistance subsidy is likely to be less than the expected total expenditures that will be spent on that persons Medicaid coverage. The current HIPP program does not restrict enrollment to children under age 19 and opens enrollment up to most Medicaid eligible individuals covered under employer-sponsored health insurance.

The proposed new premium assistance program is different than the current HIPP program in three main ways. First, the new program provides health insurance premium assistance to children under age 19 while the current program does not restrict enrollment to children under age 19. Second, the new program requires Medicaid to pay cost sharing for the ineligible parent who holds the insurance as well as for enrolled children. Third, the proposed program does not require a cost effectiveness calculation for each participant as is currently required in the HIPP program as long as the employer covers at least 40% of the health insurance premium.

DMAS estimates that 1,186 families will enroll in the proposed premium assistance program. The new program enrollees are expected to come from the current HIPP program and from the Medicaid program. Some of the families in the current HIPP program who have a child under age 19 are expected to apply for the new program because of the available cost sharing for the ineligible parents or because Medicaid will no longer require the cost effectiveness determination which may be administratively burdensome. Also, some of the families in the Medicaid program whose employer pays at least 40% of the health insurance premium and who did not pass the cost effectiveness test for the current program are expected to apply for the new program as there is no cost effectiveness test required.

It is estimated that DMAS will pay $585,107 in FFY 2011, $600,057 in FFY 2012, and $600,057 in FFY 2013 for cost sharing¹, one time system changes in the first year, and two full time staff positions. Approximately one half of these amounts will be paid by the federal government and the remaining half will be paid by the Commonwealth.

The main benefit of the proposed program is the expected bonus. The projected performance bonus for FFY 2011 is $32.4 million, for FFY 2012 it is $43.6 million, and FFY 2013 it is $59.2 million. Based on the 1,186 anticipated enrollment level, the expected bonus per enrollee varies from $27,393 to $49,959 which is significantly greater than $799 expected cost sharing per enrollee. Also, the influx of the federal funds coming into the Commonwealth is expected to have expansionary economic effects on Virginia's economy.

In addition, a reduction in cost sharing expenditures in the current HIPP program would be expected as some individuals leave the current program to join the new program. Also, a reduction in administrative expenses may be expected as the new program does not require the time consuming administrative cost effectiveness determination. Furthermore, a reduction in Medicaid expenditures would be expected as some individuals who were ineligible for HIPP become eligible for premium assistance under the new program.² All of these anticipated fiscal effects would offset the additional cost sharing, system changes, and staff costs discussed above.

Finally, the proposed premium assistance program is expected to benefit the enrollees by paying for their and their ineligible parents' health insurance premiums. Since this is a completely optional program, applicants reveal that the benefits to them are greater than the costs by choosing to participate in the program.

Businesses and Entities Affected. The number of individuals anticipated to enroll in the proposed premium assistance program is 1,186.

Localities Particularly Affected. The proposed regulations do not affect any locality more than others.

Projected Impact on Employment. Implementation of the new program is estimated to require two full time staff positions and expected to increase in the demand for labor. Also, the expansionary effects of the influx of federal funds are expected to increase demand for labor. On the other hand, expected reduction in the administratively burdensome cost effectiveness determinations would reduce the need for some staff time and reduce the demand for labor, offsetting some of the expected increase in labor demand.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. The proposed regulations are not expected to have an effect on the use and value of private property.

Small Businesses: Costs and Other Effects. The proposed regulations do not have a direct effect on small businesses.

Small Businesses: Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. There is no anticipated adverse effect on small businesses.

Real Estate Development Costs. No effect on real estate development costs is expected.

Legal Mandate. The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) has analyzed the economic impact of this proposed regulation in accordance with § 2.2-4007.04 of the Administrative Process Act and Executive Order Number 14 (10). Section 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include, but need not be limited to, the projected number of businesses or other entities to whom the regulation would apply, the identity of any localities and types of businesses or other entities particularly affected, the projected number of persons and employment positions to be affected, the projected costs to affected businesses or entities to implement or comply with the regulation, and the impact on the use and value of private property. Further, if the proposed regulation has adverse effect on small businesses, § 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include (i) an identification and estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the regulation; (ii) the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs required for small businesses to comply with the regulation, including the type of professional skills necessary for preparing required reports and other documents; (iii) a statement of the probable effect of the regulation on affected small businesses; and (iv) a description of any less intrusive or less costly alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the regulation. The analysis presented above represents DPB's best estimate of these economic impacts.

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¹ According to DMAS, $799 per year is the national average for cost sharing.

² Even though no actual cost effectiveness determination is required, employer paying at least 40% of the health insurance premium is expected to result in cost effectiveness in majority of the cases.

Agency's Response to Economic Impact Analysis: The agency has reviewed the economic impact analysis prepared by the Department of Planning and Budget regarding the regulations concerning Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) for Kids Program (12VAC30-20). The agency concurs with this analysis.

Summary:

This action implements Item 296 L of Chapter 874 of the 2010 Appropriations Act, which directed the Department of Medical Assistance Services to develop enrollment and retention provisions, consistent with those outlined in § 104 of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA), P.L. 111-3, and implements provisions determined to be budget neutral, cost effective, or that would lead to an award of a CHIPRA performance bonus.

12VAC30-10-325. Premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and other cost sharing obligations.

A. The Pursuant to § 1906 of the Act, the Medicaid agency pays all premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other cost sharing obligations for items and services covered under the State plan (subject to any nominal Medicaid copayment) for eligible individuals in employer-based cost-effective group health plans.

B. When coverage for eligible family members is not possible unless ineligible family members enroll, the Medicaid agency pays premiums for enrollment of other family members when cost-effective. In addition, the eligible individual is entitled to services covered by the State plan which are not included in the group health plan. Guidelines for determining cost effectiveness are described in 12VAC30-10-610 H.

C. Pursuant to § 1906A of the Act, the Medicaid agency pays all premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other cost sharing obligations for items and services covered under the State Plan, as specified in the qualified employer-sponsored coverage, without regard to limitations specified in § 1916 or § 1916A of the Act, for eligible individuals under age 19 who have access to and elect to enroll in such coverage. The eligible individual is entitled to services covered by the State Plan that are not included in the employer-sponsored coverage. For qualified employer-sponsored coverage, the employer must contribute at least 40% of the premium cost.

When coverage for eligible family members under age 19 is not possible unless an ineligible family member enrolls, the Medicaid agency pays premiums for enrollment of the ineligible family member and, at the option of the parent or legal guardian, other family members that are eligible for coverage under the employer-sponsored plan. The agency also pays deductibles, coinsurance, and other cost-sharing obligations for items and services covered under the State Plan for the ineligible family member. 12VAC30-20-205 provides a detailed description of this program.

C. D. The Medicaid agency pays premiums for individuals described in subsection 19 of 12VAC30-30-10.

12VAC30-20-205. Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) for Kids.

A. Definitions. The following words and terms when used in this section shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Case" means all family members who are eligible for coverage under the group health plan and who are eligible for Medicaid.

"Code" means the Code of Virginia.

"DMAS" means the Department of Medical Assistance Services consistent with Chapter 10 (§ 32.1-323 et seq.) of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia.

"DSS" means the Department of Social Services consistent with Chapter 1 (§ 63.2-100 et seq.) of Title 63.2 of the Code of Virginia.

"Family member" means individuals who are related by blood, marriage, or adoption.

"High deductible health plan" means a plan as defined in § 223(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, without regard to whether the plan is purchased in conjunction with a health savings account (as defined under § 223(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).

"HIPP" means the Health Insurance Premium Payment Program administered by DMAS consistent with § 1906 of the Act.

"HIPP for Kids" means the Health Insurance Premium Payment Program administered by DMAS consistent with § 1906A of the Act.

"Member" means a person who is eligible for Medicaid as determined by DMAS, a DMAS designated agent, or the Department of Social Services.

"Parent" means the biological or adoptive parent or parents, or the biological or adoptive parent and the stepparent, living in the home with the Medicaid-eligible child. The health insurance policyholder shall be a parent as defined herein.

"Premium" means the fixed cost of participation in the group health plan, which cost may be shared by the employer and employee or paid in full by either party.

"Premium assistance subsidy" means the amount that DMAS will pay of the employee's cost of participating in the qualified employer-sponsored coverage to cover the Medicaid eligible member or members under age 19.

"Qualified employer-sponsored coverage" means a group health plan or health insurance coverage offered through an employer:

1. That qualifies as creditable coverage as a group health plan under § 2701(c)(1) of the Public Health Service Act;

2. For which the employer contribution toward any premium for such coverage is at least 40%; and

3. That is offered to all individuals in a manner that would be considered a nondiscriminatory eligibility classification for purposes of paragraph (3)(A)(ii) of § 105(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (but determined without regard to clause (i) of subparagraph (B) of such paragraph).

"State Plan" means the State Plan for Medical Assistance for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

B. Program purpose. The purpose of the HIPP for Kids program shall be to:

1. Enroll members who are eligible for coverage under a qualified employer-sponsored coverage plan.

2. Provide premium assistance subsidy for payment of the employee share of the premiums and other cost-sharing obligations for the Medicaid eligible child under age 19. In addition, to provide cost sharing for the child's noneligible parent for items and services covered under the qualified employer-sponsored coverage that are also covered services under the State Plan. There is no cost sharing for parents for services not covered by the qualified employer-sponsored coverage.

3. Treat coverage under such employer group health plan as a third party liability consistent with § 1902(a)(25) of the Social Security Act.

C. Member eligibility. DMAS shall obtain specific information on qualified employer-sponsored coverage available to the members in the case including, but not limited to, the effective date of coverage, the services covered by the plan, the deductibles and copayments required by the plan, and the amount of the premium paid by the employer and employee. Coverage that is not comprehensive shall be denied premium assistance. All Medicaid eligible family members under the age of 19 who are eligible for coverage under the qualified employer-sponsored coverage shall be eligible for consideration for HIPP for Kids except the following:

1. The member is Medicaid eligible due to "spenddown"; or

2. The member is currently enrolled in the qualified employer-sponsored coverage and is only retroactively eligible for Medicaid.

D. Application required. A completed HIPP for Kids application must be submitted to DMAS to be evaluated for program eligibility. The HIPP for Kids application consists of the forms prescribed by DMAS and any necessary information as required by the program to evaluate eligibility and determine if the plan meets the criteria for qualified employer-sponsored coverage.

E. Exceptions. The term "qualified employer-sponsored coverage" does not include coverage consisting of:

1. Benefits provided under a health flexible spending arrangement (as defined in § 106(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) or

2. A high deductible health plan (as defined in § 223(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), without regard to whether the plan is purchased in conjunction with a health savings account (as defined under § 223(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).

3. For self-employed individuals, qualified employer-sponsored coverage obtained through self-employment activities shall not meet the program requirements unless the self-employment activities are the family's primary source of income and the insurance meets the requirements of the definition of qualified employer-sponsored coverage in subsection A of this section. Family for this purpose includes family by blood, marriage, or adoption.

F. Payments. When DMAS determines that a qualified employer-sponsored coverage plan is eligible and other eligibility requirements have been met, DMAS shall provide for the payment of premium assistance subsidy and other cost-sharing obligations for items and services otherwise covered under the State Plan, except for the nominal cost-sharing amounts permitted under § 1916 of the Social Security Act.

1. Effective date of premium assistance subsidy. Payment of premium assistance subsidies and other cost-sharing obligations shall become effective on the first day of the month in which DMAS receives a complete HIPP application or the first day of the month in which qualified employer-sponsored coverage becomes effective, whichever is later. Payments shall be made to either the employer, the insurance company, or the individual who is carrying the group health plan coverage.

2. Payments for deductibles, coinsurances, and other cost-sharing obligations.

a. Medicaid eligible children under age 19 pursuant to § 1906A of the Act. The Medicaid agency pays all premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other cost-sharing obligations for items and services covered under the State Plan, as specified in the qualified employer-sponsored coverage, without regard to limitations specified in § 1916 or § 1916A of the Act, for eligible individuals under age 19 who have access to and elect to enroll in such coverage. The eligible individual is entitled to services covered by the State Plan that are not included in the qualified employer-sponsored coverage.

b. Ineligible family members. When coverage for Medicaid-eligible family members under age 19 is not possible unless an ineligible parent enrolls, the Medicaid agency pays premiums only for enrollment of the ineligible parent and, at the parent's option, other family members who are eligible for coverage under the qualified employer-sponsored coverage. In addition, the agency provides cost sharing for the child's ineligible parent for items and services covered under the qualified employer-sponsored coverage that are also covered services under the State Plan. There is no cost-sharing for ineligible parents for items and services not covered by the qualified employer-sponsored coverage.

3. Documentation required for premium assistance subsidy reimbursement. A person to whom DMAS is paying a qualified employer-sponsored coverage premium assistance subsidy shall, as a condition of receiving such payment, provide documentation as prescribed by DMAS of the payment of the employer group health plan premium, as well as payment of coinsurances, copayments, and deductibles for services received.

G. Program participation requirements. Participants must comply with program requirements as prescribed by DMAS for continued enrollment in HIPP for Kids. Failure to comply with the following may result in termination from the program:

1. Submission of documentation of premium expense within specified time frame in accordance with DMAS established policy.

2. Report changes in the qualified employer-sponsored coverage within 10 days of the family's receipt of notice of the change.

3. Completion of annual redetermination.

4. Completion of consent forms. Participants may be required to complete a consent form to release information necessary for HIPP for Kids participation and program requirements as required by DMAS.

H. HIPP for Kids redetermination. DMAS shall redetermine the eligibility of the qualified employer-sponsored coverage periodically, at least every 12 months. DMAS shall also redetermine eligibility when changes occur with the group health plan information that was used in determining HIPP for Kids eligibility.

I. Program termination. Participation in the HIPP for Kids program may be terminated for failure to comply or meet program requirements. Termination will be effective the last day of the month in which advance notice has been given (consistent with federal regulations).

1. Participation may be terminated for failure to meet program requirements including, but not limited to, the following:

a. Failure to submit documentation of payment of premiums;

b. Failure to provide information required for reevaluation of the qualified employer-sponsored coverage (noncompliance);

c. Loss of Medicaid eligibility for all household members;

d. Medicaid household member no longer covered by the qualified employer-sponsored coverage;

e. Medicaid-eligible child turns age 19; or

f. Employer-sponsored health plan no longer meets qualified employer-sponsored coverage requirements.

2. Termination date of premiums. Payment of premium assistance subsidy shall end on whichever of the following occurs the earliest:

a. On the last day of the month in which eligibility for Medicaid ends;

b. The last day of the month in which the member loses eligibility for coverage in the group health plan;

c. The last day of the month in which the child turns age 19;

d The last day of the month in which adequate notice has been given (consistent with federal requirements) that DMAS has determined that the group health plan no longer meets program eligibility criteria; or

d. The last day of the month in which adequate notice has been given (consistent with federal requirements) that HIPP for Kids participation requirements have not been met.

J. Third-party liability. When members are enrolled in qualified employer-sponsored coverage health plans, these plans shall become the first sources of health care benefits, up to the limits of such plans, prior to the availability of payment under Title XIX.

K. Appeal rights. Members shall be given the opportunity to appeal adverse agency decisions consistent with agency regulations for client appeals (12VAC30-110).

L. Provider requirements. Providers shall be required to accept the greater of the group health plan's reimbursement rate or the Medicaid rate as payment in full and shall be prohibited from charging the member or the Medicaid program amounts that would result in aggregate payments greater than the Medicaid rate as required by 42 CFR 447.20.

FORMS (12VAC30-20)

Health Insurance Premium Payment HIPP for Kids (HFK) Program - Cost Sharing of Co-Pays, Deductibles and Co-insurance (undated).

Health Insurance Premium Payment Programs Application/Renewal/Employer Insurance Verification Form, DMAS-502 (rev. 2/2012).

Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) and HIPP for Kids Program - Consent for Authorization for Release of Information - Family Member Eligibility Release (undated).

Health Insurance Premium Payment Program - Change Form (undated).

Health Insurance Premium Payment Program (HIPP) for Kids - Change Form (eff. 9/2010).

Titles of Regulations: 12VAC30-10. State Plan Under Title XIX of the Social Security Act Medical Assistance Program; General Provisions (amending 12VAC30-10-325).

12VAC30-20. Administration of Medical Assistance Services (adding 12VAC30-20-205).

Statutory Authority: § 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information: No public hearings are scheduled.

Public Comment Deadline: October 24, 2012.

Effective Date: November 8, 2012.

Agency Contact: Cindy Olson, Department of Medical Assistance Services Eligibility Supervisor, Department of Medical Assistance Services, 600 East Broad Street, Suite 1300, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 225-4282, FAX (804) 786-1680, or email cindy.olson@dmas.virginia.gov.

Basis: Section 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia grants to the Board of Medical Assistance Services the authority to administer and amend the Plan for Medical Assistance. Sections 32.1-324 and 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia authorize the Director of the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to administer and amend the Plan for Medical Assistance according to the board's requirements. The Medicaid authority as established by § 1902(a) of the Social Security Act (42 USC § 1396a) provides governing authority for payments for services.

Purpose: This change is to put in place the language added to Item 296 L of Chapter 874 of the 2010 Acts of Assembly directing DMAS to develop enrollment and retention provisions, consistent with those outlined in § 104 of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA), and implement provisions determined to be budget neutral, cost effective, or that would lead to an award of a CHIPRA performance bonus.

Rationale for Using Fast-Track Process: The agency is using the fast-track rulemaking process since this action is designed to save tax dollars and brings substantial additional federal money into the state. Using the fast-track process will get this regulation implemented as quickly as possible, as there was no emergency regulatory authority included in the General Assembly's mandate.

Substance: The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 authorizes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to award annual financial bonuses to states that: (i) implement certain enrollment and retention provisions in their children's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs and (ii) exceed enrollment goals in their children's Medicaid program. Funding for the annual CHIPRA performance bonus payments is available through federal fiscal year (FFY) 2013.

In order for the department to ensure that Virginia is eligible for a CHIPRA performance bonus in FFY2011, two new enrollment and retention strategies must be implemented. One enrollment and retention strategy, Administrative Renewals, is being implemented to streamline the renewal process for current FAMIS enrollees. While this is a positive step forward for the Children's Health program, this provision alone will not secure a performance bonus for the Commonwealth. A second enrollment and retention strategy is needed to obtain this funding. Without significant expense and administrative changes, the department can implement a § 1906A premium assistance program, and thereby qualify for federal performance bonuses for the next three years. Premium assistance programs use federal and state Medicaid funds to help subsidize the purchase of group health coverage for children who have access to employer-sponsored coverage, but who may need assistance in paying for their premiums.

Virginia currently operates a premium assistance program, known as the Health Insurance Premium Payment Program (HIPP) under the authority of § 1906 of the Social Security Act. HIPP provides reimbursement for the Medicaid individual's share of the cost of the health insurance premium when it is cost-effective for the state to do so. The current HIPP program does not restrict enrollment to children under age 19 and opens enrollment up to most Medicaid eligible individuals covered under employer-sponsored health insurance.

CHIPRA added § 1906A to the Social Security Act and provides states with an additional premium assistance option for children under age 19 enrolled in Medicaid. This new provision is intended to give states the opportunity to build on existing § 1906 programs to augment coverage options for children.

The premium assistance option offered through CHIPRA allows states to provide health insurance premium assistance to children under age 19, who are eligible for Medicaid and who have access to qualified employer-sponsored coverage. The CHIPRA premium assistance provision would also require the department to pay cost sharing for the ineligible parent who holds the insurance as well as for enrolled children under age 19. It is estimated that this will cost the department approximately $947,614 in total funds ($446,326 in general funds) each year. Individual enrollment in the CHIPRA premium assistance program is voluntary and is not a condition of enrollment for those applying for Medicaid. This program will not require an administratively burdensome cost effectiveness calculation for each participant as is currently required in the HIPP program. Program guidelines require that cost effectiveness will be met as long as the employer covers at least 40% of the health insurance premium. Implementation of this provision will provide an alternative method for subsidizing employer-sponsored coverage and will encourage parents of Medicaid children to enroll in private health insurance.

Issues: The primary advantage of this action is that it will permit DMAS to extend the Health Insurance Premium Payment program to children, saving the state money and providing for private health insurance coverage for children. In addition, implementing this program qualifies Virginia for substantial extended federal match money. There are no disadvantages to the Commonwealth or to the public.

Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis:

Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. Pursuant to Chapter 874 of the 2010 Acts of Assembly Item 296 L, the proposed regulations will establish an additional premium assistance option for children enrolled in Medicaid.

Result of Analysis. The benefits likely exceed the costs for all proposed changes.

Estimated Economic Impact. The federal Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 authorized the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to award annual performance bonuses through federal fiscal year (FFY) 2013 to states that implement certain enrollment and retention provisions in their children's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs and exceed enrollment goals in their children's Medicaid program. Consequently, the 2010 General Assembly directed the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to develop enrollment and retention provisions that would lead to an award of a performance bonus.

In order to get the bonus, a state must implement at least five of the eight program features that simplify the application and enrollment process. The goal is to encourage and assist states in reaching and enrolling more uninsured children who are eligible for Medicaid. The eight program features are: 1) liberalization of asset or resource requirements, 2) elimination of in-person interviews, 3) the same application and renewal process for Medicaid and CHIP, 4) automatic/administrative renewals, 5) premium assistance, 6) continuous eligibility, 7) presumptive eligibility for children, and 8) express lane eligibility.

During the last year, Virginia met the first three of the eight criteria above. Also, the fourth criterion was implemented administratively October 1, 2010. DMAS proposes to add the fifth criteria, premium assistance, through these regulations to qualify for the bonus.

Virginia Medicaid currently operates an optional premium assistance program known as the Health Insurance Premium Payment Program (HIPP). Under HIPP, Medicaid pays for the employees share of the health insurance premium and any other cost sharing fees if participation is found to be cost effective for Medicaid. Participation is considered cost effective if the premium assistance subsidy is likely to be less than the expected total expenditures that will be spent on that persons Medicaid coverage. The current HIPP program does not restrict enrollment to children under age 19 and opens enrollment up to most Medicaid eligible individuals covered under employer-sponsored health insurance.

The proposed new premium assistance program is different than the current HIPP program in three main ways. First, the new program provides health insurance premium assistance to children under age 19 while the current program does not restrict enrollment to children under age 19. Second, the new program requires Medicaid to pay cost sharing for the ineligible parent who holds the insurance as well as for enrolled children. Third, the proposed program does not require a cost effectiveness calculation for each participant as is currently required in the HIPP program as long as the employer covers at least 40% of the health insurance premium.

DMAS estimates that 1,186 families will enroll in the proposed premium assistance program. The new program enrollees are expected to come from the current HIPP program and from the Medicaid program. Some of the families in the current HIPP program who have a child under age 19 are expected to apply for the new program because of the available cost sharing for the ineligible parents or because Medicaid will no longer require the cost effectiveness determination which may be administratively burdensome. Also, some of the families in the Medicaid program whose employer pays at least 40% of the health insurance premium and who did not pass the cost effectiveness test for the current program are expected to apply for the new program as there is no cost effectiveness test required.

It is estimated that DMAS will pay $585,107 in FFY 2011, $600,057 in FFY 2012, and $600,057 in FFY 2013 for cost sharing¹, one time system changes in the first year, and two full time staff positions. Approximately one half of these amounts will be paid by the federal government and the remaining half will be paid by the Commonwealth.

The main benefit of the proposed program is the expected bonus. The projected performance bonus for FFY 2011 is $32.4 million, for FFY 2012 it is $43.6 million, and FFY 2013 it is $59.2 million. Based on the 1,186 anticipated enrollment level, the expected bonus per enrollee varies from $27,393 to $49,959 which is significantly greater than $799 expected cost sharing per enrollee. Also, the influx of the federal funds coming into the Commonwealth is expected to have expansionary economic effects on Virginia's economy.

In addition, a reduction in cost sharing expenditures in the current HIPP program would be expected as some individuals leave the current program to join the new program. Also, a reduction in administrative expenses may be expected as the new program does not require the time consuming administrative cost effectiveness determination. Furthermore, a reduction in Medicaid expenditures would be expected as some individuals who were ineligible for HIPP become eligible for premium assistance under the new program.² All of these anticipated fiscal effects would offset the additional cost sharing, system changes, and staff costs discussed above.

Finally, the proposed premium assistance program is expected to benefit the enrollees by paying for their and their ineligible parents' health insurance premiums. Since this is a completely optional program, applicants reveal that the benefits to them are greater than the costs by choosing to participate in the program.

Businesses and Entities Affected. The number of individuals anticipated to enroll in the proposed premium assistance program is 1,186.

Localities Particularly Affected. The proposed regulations do not affect any locality more than others.

Projected Impact on Employment. Implementation of the new program is estimated to require two full time staff positions and expected to increase in the demand for labor. Also, the expansionary effects of the influx of federal funds are expected to increase demand for labor. On the other hand, expected reduction in the administratively burdensome cost effectiveness determinations would reduce the need for some staff time and reduce the demand for labor, offsetting some of the expected increase in labor demand.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. The proposed regulations are not expected to have an effect on the use and value of private property.

Small Businesses: Costs and Other Effects. The proposed regulations do not have a direct effect on small businesses.

Small Businesses: Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. There is no anticipated adverse effect on small businesses.

Real Estate Development Costs. No effect on real estate development costs is expected.

Legal Mandate. The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) has analyzed the economic impact of this proposed regulation in accordance with § 2.2-4007.04 of the Administrative Process Act and Executive Order Number 14 (10). Section 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include, but need not be limited to, the projected number of businesses or other entities to whom the regulation would apply, the identity of any localities and types of businesses or other entities particularly affected, the projected number of persons and employment positions to be affected, the projected costs to affected businesses or entities to implement or comply with the regulation, and the impact on the use and value of private property. Further, if the proposed regulation has adverse effect on small businesses, § 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include (i) an identification and estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the regulation; (ii) the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs required for small businesses to comply with the regulation, including the type of professional skills necessary for preparing required reports and other documents; (iii) a statement of the probable effect of the regulation on affected small businesses; and (iv) a description of any less intrusive or less costly alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the regulation. The analysis presented above represents DPB's best estimate of these economic impacts.

____________________________________

¹ According to DMAS, $799 per year is the national average for cost sharing.

² Even though no actual cost effectiveness determination is required, employer paying at least 40% of the health insurance premium is expected to result in cost effectiveness in majority of the cases.

Agency's Response to Economic Impact Analysis: The agency has reviewed the economic impact analysis prepared by the Department of Planning and Budget regarding the regulations concerning Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) for Kids Program (12VAC30-20). The agency concurs with this analysis.

Summary:

This action implements Item 296 L of Chapter 874 of the 2010 Appropriations Act, which directed the Department of Medical Assistance Services to develop enrollment and retention provisions, consistent with those outlined in § 104 of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA), P.L. 111-3, and implements provisions determined to be budget neutral, cost effective, or that would lead to an award of a CHIPRA performance bonus.

12VAC30-10-325. Premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and other cost sharing obligations.

A. The Pursuant to § 1906 of the Act, the Medicaid agency pays all premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other cost sharing obligations for items and services covered under the State plan (subject to any nominal Medicaid copayment) for eligible individuals in employer-based cost-effective group health plans.

B. When coverage for eligible family members is not possible unless ineligible family members enroll, the Medicaid agency pays premiums for enrollment of other family members when cost-effective. In addition, the eligible individual is entitled to services covered by the State plan which are not included in the group health plan. Guidelines for determining cost effectiveness are described in 12VAC30-10-610 H.

C. Pursuant to § 1906A of the Act, the Medicaid agency pays all premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other cost sharing obligations for items and services covered under the State Plan, as specified in the qualified employer-sponsored coverage, without regard to limitations specified in § 1916 or § 1916A of the Act, for eligible individuals under age 19 who have access to and elect to enroll in such coverage. The eligible individual is entitled to services covered by the State Plan that are not included in the employer-sponsored coverage. For qualified employer-sponsored coverage, the employer must contribute at least 40% of the premium cost.

When coverage for eligible family members under age 19 is not possible unless an ineligible family member enrolls, the Medicaid agency pays premiums for enrollment of the ineligible family member and, at the option of the parent or legal guardian, other family members that are eligible for coverage under the employer-sponsored plan. The agency also pays deductibles, coinsurance, and other cost-sharing obligations for items and services covered under the State Plan for the ineligible family member. 12VAC30-20-205 provides a detailed description of this program.

C. D. The Medicaid agency pays premiums for individuals described in subsection 19 of 12VAC30-30-10.

12VAC30-20-205. Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) for Kids.

A. Definitions. The following words and terms when used in this section shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Case" means all family members who are eligible for coverage under the group health plan and who are eligible for Medicaid.

"Code" means the Code of Virginia.

"DMAS" means the Department of Medical Assistance Services consistent with Chapter 10 (§ 32.1-323 et seq.) of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia.

"DSS" means the Department of Social Services consistent with Chapter 1 (§ 63.2-100 et seq.) of Title 63.2 of the Code of Virginia.

"Family member" means individuals who are related by blood, marriage, or adoption.

"High deductible health plan" means a plan as defined in § 223(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, without regard to whether the plan is purchased in conjunction with a health savings account (as defined under § 223(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).

"HIPP" means the Health Insurance Premium Payment Program administered by DMAS consistent with § 1906 of the Act.

"HIPP for Kids" means the Health Insurance Premium Payment Program administered by DMAS consistent with § 1906A of the Act.

"Member" means a person who is eligible for Medicaid as determined by DMAS, a DMAS designated agent, or the Department of Social Services.

"Parent" means the biological or adoptive parent or parents, or the biological or adoptive parent and the stepparent, living in the home with the Medicaid-eligible child. The health insurance policyholder shall be a parent as defined herein.

"Premium" means the fixed cost of participation in the group health plan, which cost may be shared by the employer and employee or paid in full by either party.

"Premium assistance subsidy" means the amount that DMAS will pay of the employee's cost of participating in the qualified employer-sponsored coverage to cover the Medicaid eligible member or members under age 19.

"Qualified employer-sponsored coverage" means a group health plan or health insurance coverage offered through an employer:

1. That qualifies as creditable coverage as a group health plan under § 2701(c)(1) of the Public Health Service Act;

2. For which the employer contribution toward any premium for such coverage is at least 40%; and

3. That is offered to all individuals in a manner that would be considered a nondiscriminatory eligibility classification for purposes of paragraph (3)(A)(ii) of § 105(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (but determined without regard to clause (i) of subparagraph (B) of such paragraph).

"State Plan" means the State Plan for Medical Assistance for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

B. Program purpose. The purpose of the HIPP for Kids program shall be to:

1. Enroll members who are eligible for coverage under a qualified employer-sponsored coverage plan.

2. Provide premium assistance subsidy for payment of the employee share of the premiums and other cost-sharing obligations for the Medicaid eligible child under age 19. In addition, to provide cost sharing for the child's noneligible parent for items and services covered under the qualified employer-sponsored coverage that are also covered services under the State Plan. There is no cost sharing for parents for services not covered by the qualified employer-sponsored coverage.

3. Treat coverage under such employer group health plan as a third party liability consistent with § 1902(a)(25) of the Social Security Act.

C. Member eligibility. DMAS shall obtain specific information on qualified employer-sponsored coverage available to the members in the case including, but not limited to, the effective date of coverage, the services covered by the plan, the deductibles and copayments required by the plan, and the amount of the premium paid by the employer and employee. Coverage that is not comprehensive shall be denied premium assistance. All Medicaid eligible family members under the age of 19 who are eligible for coverage under the qualified employer-sponsored coverage shall be eligible for consideration for HIPP for Kids except the following:

1. The member is Medicaid eligible due to "spenddown"; or

2. The member is currently enrolled in the qualified employer-sponsored coverage and is only retroactively eligible for Medicaid.

D. Application required. A completed HIPP for Kids application must be submitted to DMAS to be evaluated for program eligibility. The HIPP for Kids application consists of the forms prescribed by DMAS and any necessary information as required by the program to evaluate eligibility and determine if the plan meets the criteria for qualified employer-sponsored coverage.

E. Exceptions. The term "qualified employer-sponsored coverage" does not include coverage consisting of:

1. Benefits provided under a health flexible spending arrangement (as defined in § 106(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) or

2. A high deductible health plan (as defined in § 223(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), without regard to whether the plan is purchased in conjunction with a health savings account (as defined under § 223(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).

3. For self-employed individuals, qualified employer-sponsored coverage obtained through self-employment activities shall not meet the program requirements unless the self-employment activities are the family's primary source of income and the insurance meets the requirements of the definition of qualified employer-sponsored coverage in subsection A of this section. Family for this purpose includes family by blood, marriage, or adoption.

F. Payments. When DMAS determines that a qualified employer-sponsored coverage plan is eligible and other eligibility requirements have been met, DMAS shall provide for the payment of premium assistance subsidy and other cost-sharing obligations for items and services otherwise covered under the State Plan, except for the nominal cost-sharing amounts permitted under § 1916 of the Social Security Act.

1. Effective date of premium assistance subsidy. Payment of premium assistance subsidies and other cost-sharing obligations shall become effective on the first day of the month in which DMAS receives a complete HIPP application or the first day of the month in which qualified employer-sponsored coverage becomes effective, whichever is later. Payments shall be made to either the employer, the insurance company, or the individual who is carrying the group health plan coverage.

2. Payments for deductibles, coinsurances, and other cost-sharing obligations.

a. Medicaid eligible children under age 19 pursuant to § 1906A of the Act. The Medicaid agency pays all premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other cost-sharing obligations for items and services covered under the State Plan, as specified in the qualified employer-sponsored coverage, without regard to limitations specified in § 1916 or § 1916A of the Act, for eligible individuals under age 19 who have access to and elect to enroll in such coverage. The eligible individual is entitled to services covered by the State Plan that are not included in the qualified employer-sponsored coverage.

b. Ineligible family members. When coverage for Medicaid-eligible family members under age 19 is not possible unless an ineligible parent enrolls, the Medicaid agency pays premiums only for enrollment of the ineligible parent and, at the parent's option, other family members who are eligible for coverage under the qualified employer-sponsored coverage. In addition, the agency provides cost sharing for the child's ineligible parent for items and services covered under the qualified employer-sponsored coverage that are also covered services under the State Plan. There is no cost-sharing for ineligible parents for items and services not covered by the qualified employer-sponsored coverage.

3. Documentation required for premium assistance subsidy reimbursement. A person to whom DMAS is paying a qualified employer-sponsored coverage premium assistance subsidy shall, as a condition of receiving such payment, provide documentation as prescribed by DMAS of the payment of the employer group health plan premium, as well as payment of coinsurances, copayments, and deductibles for services received.

G. Program participation requirements. Participants must comply with program requirements as prescribed by DMAS for continued enrollment in HIPP for Kids. Failure to comply with the following may result in termination from the program:

1. Submission of documentation of premium expense within specified time frame in accordance with DMAS established policy.

2. Report changes in the qualified employer-sponsored coverage within 10 days of the family's receipt of notice of the change.

3. Completion of annual redetermination.

4. Completion of consent forms. Participants may be required to complete a consent form to release information necessary for HIPP for Kids participation and program requirements as required by DMAS.

H. HIPP for Kids redetermination. DMAS shall redetermine the eligibility of the qualified employer-sponsored coverage periodically, at least every 12 months. DMAS shall also redetermine eligibility when changes occur with the group health plan information that was used in determining HIPP for Kids eligibility.

I. Program termination. Participation in the HIPP for Kids program may be terminated for failure to comply or meet program requirements. Termination will be effective the last day of the month in which advance notice has been given (consistent with federal regulations).

1. Participation may be terminated for failure to meet program requirements including, but not limited to, the following:

a. Failure to submit documentation of payment of premiums;

b. Failure to provide information required for reevaluation of the qualified employer-sponsored coverage (noncompliance);

c. Loss of Medicaid eligibility for all household members;

d. Medicaid household member no longer covered by the qualified employer-sponsored coverage;

e. Medicaid-eligible child turns age 19; or

f. Employer-sponsored health plan no longer meets qualified employer-sponsored coverage requirements.

2. Termination date of premiums. Payment of premium assistance subsidy shall end on whichever of the following occurs the earliest:

a. On the last day of the month in which eligibility for Medicaid ends;

b. The last day of the month in which the member loses eligibility for coverage in the group health plan;

c. The last day of the month in which the child turns age 19;

d The last day of the month in which adequate notice has been given (consistent with federal requirements) that DMAS has determined that the group health plan no longer meets program eligibility criteria; or

d. The last day of the month in which adequate notice has been given (consistent with federal requirements) that HIPP for Kids participation requirements have not been met.

J. Third-party liability. When members are enrolled in qualified employer-sponsored coverage health plans, these plans shall become the first sources of health care benefits, up to the limits of such plans, prior to the availability of payment under Title XIX.

K. Appeal rights. Members shall be given the opportunity to appeal adverse agency decisions consistent with agency regulations for client appeals (12VAC30-110).

L. Provider requirements. Providers shall be required to accept the greater of the group health plan's reimbursement rate or the Medicaid rate as payment in full and shall be prohibited from charging the member or the Medicaid program amounts that would result in aggregate payments greater than the Medicaid rate as required by 42 CFR 447.20.

FORMS (12VAC30-20)

Health Insurance Premium Payment HIPP for Kids (HFK) Program - Cost Sharing of Co-Pays, Deductibles and Co-insurance (undated).

Health Insurance Premium Payment Programs Application/Renewal/Employer Insurance Verification Form, DMAS-502 (rev. 2/2012).

Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) and HIPP for Kids Program - Consent for Authorization for Release of Information - Family Member Eligibility Release (undated).

Health Insurance Premium Payment Program - Change Form (undated).

Health Insurance Premium Payment Program (HIPP) for Kids - Change Form (eff. 9/2010).

Title of Regulation: 12VAC30-20. Administration of Medical Assistance Services (amending 12VAC30-20-180).

Statutory Authority: § 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Dates: September 4, 2012, through September 3, 2013.

Agency Contact: Tom Edicola, Director, Program Operations Division, Department of Medical Assistance Services, 600 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 786-8098, FAX (804) 786-1680, or email tom.edicola@dmas.virginia.gov.

Preamble:

The department is promulgating this emergency regulation to comply with Chapter 890, Item 300 H of the 2011 Acts of Assembly, which requires the department to implement a mandatory electronic claims submission process, including the development of an exclusion process for providers who cannot submit claims electronically.

Approximately 84% of all Medicaid claims are currently filed electronically with the department. A survey of participating Medicaid providers who submit claims on paper was performed to better understand why claims are filed on paper when electronic filing is available and to understand any barriers that may exist to filing electronically. The survey found that the main barriers to electronic filing were cost and inadequate technology. However, a majority of providers indicated that they transact business electronically with commercial carriers and would welcome the change if these barriers could be addressed for Medicaid.

The department has implemented a Web-based Direct Data Entry solution that allows for electronic claim submission at no cost to the provider and at a lower cost for Virginia to process these claims. Language mandating the participation of providers via electronic funds transfer and electronic claims submissions is part of an overall strategy to simplify the claims submission process, increase processing efficiency, lower costs for both the Commonwealth and the Virginia Medicaid provider community, and support collaboration and consistency in business practices with other commercial carriers and Medicare. In this regulation, the department has identified the common reasons for which providers may be unable to submit claims electronically and anticipates that additional reasons will be identified during the standard regulatory process.

12VAC30-20-180. Definition of a claim by service.

A. Claims:

	SERVICE	CLAIM
	A) Inpatient Hospital	A Bill for Service
	B) Outpatient Hospital	A Bill for Service
	C) Rural Health Clinic	A Line Item for Service
	D) Laboratory and X-Ray	A Line Item of Service
	E) Skilled Nursing	A Bill for Service
	F) EPSDT	A Bill for Service
	G) Family Planning	A Bill for Service or Line Item depending on provider type
	H) Physician	A Line Item of Service
	I) Other Medical	A Bill for Service or Line Item depending on provider type
	J) Home Health	A Bill for Service
	K) Clinic	A Line for Service Item
	L) Dental	A Line Item of Service
	M) Pharmacy	A Line Item of Service
	N) Intermediate Care	A Bill for Service
	O) Transportation	A Line Item of Service
	P) Physical Therapy	A Bill for Service or Line Item depending on provider type
	Q) Nurse Midwife	A Line Item of Service
	R) Eyeglasses	A Line Item of Service

B. All providers that enroll with Medicaid on or after October 1, 2011, shall submit electronically all claims for covered services they render in the fee-for-service program under the State Plans for Title XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act, and any waivers thereof and enroll to receive Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for payment of those services. All other providers shall comply with this electronic submission requirement by July 1, 2012.

1. Any provider who cannot comply with this electronic claims submission or EFT requirement may request an exception from DMAS for good cause shown. Good cause may include, but is not limited to, the unavailability of the infrastructure necessary to support electronic claims submission in the provider's geographic region; there is no mechanism for electronic submission for the particular claim type, such as in the case of a Temporary Detention Order (TDO); the provider is unable to transact business through a banking institution capable of EFT; or for financial hardship.