Peer Recovery Specialist Hiring Guidelines - Criminal History Consideration
Summary
Virginia Governor signed SB608 into law (Chapter 91) on April 6, 2026, directing the Virginia Department of Health and Virginia Department of Corrections to develop agency guidelines for hiring peer recovery specialists who have previous criminal convictions for compensated employment. The bill, a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care, takes effect July 1, 2026, and passed unanimously in both chambers.
What changed
Virginia enacts SB608 requiring two state agencies to establish hiring guidelines that allow individuals with criminal convictions to serve as peer recovery specialists in compensated positions. The bill specifically targets the Department of Health and Department of Corrections, mandating they develop policies to hire peer recovery specialists who have prior criminal records.\n\nAffected parties include state health and corrections agencies, which must develop compliant hiring guidelines, as well as individuals with criminal histories seeking employment in peer recovery roles. Healthcare providers and social service organizations may also need to align their hiring practices with the forthcoming state guidelines.
What to do next
- Monitor Virginia Department of Health and DOC for guideline development updates
- Prepare hiring policies to accommodate peer recovery specialists with criminal histories
- Review existing background check policies for compliance with new hiring guidelines
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Virginia / SB608 Signed by Governor SB608 Senate Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-06
Peer recovery specialists; VDH & DOC to develop guidelines for hiring.
Department of Health; Department of Corrections; peer recovery specialists. Directs the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Corrections to develop agency guidelines for hiring peer recovery specialists with previous criminal convictions for compensated employment. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care. This bill is identical to HB 209.
Bill Details
State Virginia
Session 2026 Regular Regular Session
Chamber Senate
Official Source lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB608
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Sponsors
Todd Pillion (Sen - R) Adam Ebbin (Sen - D) Tammy Brankley Mulchi (Sen - R)
Action History
2026-04-06 Approved by Governor-Chapter 91 (effective 7/1/2026) 2026-04-06 Approved by Governor-Chapter 91 (effective 7/1/2026) 2026-03-10 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 2026-03-10 S Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 2026-02-26 S Signed by President 2026-02-26 H Signed by Speaker 2026-02-26 S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB608) 2026-02-26 S Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB608ER) 2026-02-26 S Enrolled 2026-02-24 H Passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-02-24 H Read third time 2026-02-23 H Read second time 2026-02-19 H Reported from Health and Human Services (21-Y 0-N) 2026-02-13 S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB608) 2026-02-04 H Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services 2026-02-04 H Read first time 2026-02-04 H Placed on Calendar 2026-01-28 S Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-01-27 S Engrossed by Senate as amended Block Vote (Voice Vote) 2026-01-27 S Rehabilitation and Social Services Amendment agreed to 2026-01-27 S Read second time 2026-01-26 S Passed by for the day 2026-01-26 S Passed by for the day 2026-01-26 S Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) 2026-01-26 S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-01-26 S Read first time 2026-01-23 S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB608) 2026-01-23 S Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendment (15-Y 0-N) 2026-01-23 S Senate committee offered 2026-01-14 S Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services 2026-01-14 S Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102529D
Votes
2026-01-23 Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendment (15-Y 0-N) Yea: 15 Nay: 0 2026-01-26 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 38 Nay: 0 2026-01-28 Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 40 Nay: 0 2026-02-19 Reported from Health and Human Services (21-Y 0-N) Yea: 21 Nay: 0 2026-02-24 Passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 98 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-01-14 S Rehabilitation and Social Services 2026-02-04 H Health and Human Services
Amendments
0000-00-00 Rehabilitation and Social Services Amendment 0000-00-00 Rehabilitation and Social Services Amendment
Bill Text Versions
2026-01-14 Introduced 2026-01-27 Engrossed 2026-02-26 Enrolled Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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