Terms Used In Virginia Code > Title 2.2 > Subtitle I > Part A > Chapter 1 - Governor

• Abused or neglected child: means the same as that term is defined in § 63. See Virginia Code 2.2-438
• Administrative act: includes an action, omission, decision, recommendation, practice, or other procedure of the Department, a local department, or a child-placing agency with respect to a particular child related to adoption, foster care, or protective services. See Virginia Code 2.2-438
• Adult: means a person 18 years of age or more. See Virginia Code 1-203
• Advisory Committee: means the Six-Year Capital Outlay Plan Advisory Committee established pursuant to § 2. See Virginia Code 2.2-1515
• Capital outlay project: means acquisition of real property, including buildings or plant or machinery or equipment, or new construction or improvements related to state-owned real property, buildings, plant, or machinery or equipment including plans therefor. See Virginia Code 2.2-1515
• Case law: The law as laid down in cases that have been decided in the decisions of the courts.
• Central registry: means the system maintained at the Department of Social Services pursuant to § 63. See Virginia Code 2.2-438
• Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
• Child: means an individual under the age of 18. See Virginia Code 2.2-438
• Child-placing agency: means (i) any person who places children in foster homes, adoptive homes, or independent living arrangements pursuant to § 63. See Virginia Code 2.2-438
• Child-serving agency: means (i) a state agency that provides services to children, including the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Social Services, and the Office of Children's Services, and (ii) a local entity that provides services to children and that receives funding from a state agency under clause (i). See Virginia Code 2.2-438
• Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
• Complainant: means an individual who makes a complaint pursuant to § 2. See Virginia Code 2.2-438
• Department: means the Department of Social Services. See Virginia Code 2.2-438
• Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
• Federal statute: means a federal statute that is in accord with the United States Constitution imposing mandates on state or local governments, which may include, but is not limited to, the following:

  1. See Virginia Code 2.2-617

• Foster care: means care provided to a child by a foster parent, children's residential facility, or group home licensed or approved by the Department under Chapter 9 of Title 63. See Virginia Code 2.2-438
• Germane: On the subject of the pending bill or other business; a strict standard of relevance.
• inhabitants: means with reference to any county, city, town, political subdivision of the Commonwealth or any combination thereof, the natural persons in such county, city, town, political subdivision or combination as shown by the unadjusted United States decennial census last preceding the time at which any provision dependent upon population is being applied or the time as of which it is being construed. See Virginia Code 1-235
• Law-enforcement agency: means any crime victim and witness assistance program whose funding is provided in whole or in part by grants administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services pursuant to § 9. See Virginia Code 2.2-438
• Local department: means the local department of social services of any county or city in the Commonwealth. See Virginia Code 2.2-438
• Office: means the Office of the Children's Ombudsman established under § 2. See Virginia Code 2.2-438
• Ombudsman: means the individual appointed to head the Office of the Children's Ombudsman under § 2. See Virginia Code 2.2-438
• Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.
• Project: means a capital outlay project included in the six-year capital outlay plan described in § 2. See Virginia Code 2.2-1515
• real estate: includes lands, tenements and hereditaments, and all rights and appurtenances thereto and interests therein, other than a chattel interest. See Virginia Code 1-219
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.