Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §16.1-261 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§16.1-261. Statements made by a child during or after intake or mental health screening or evaluation prior to hearing.
Statements made by a child (i) to the intake officer or
probation officer during the intake process or during (ii) to any
persons participating in a screening, evaluation, or assessment of a child,
including a mental health screening or assessment conducted pursuant to §
16.1-248.2 and, prior to a hearing on the merits of the petition
filed against the child, shall not, with the exception of at disposition,
be admissible at any stage of the proceedings.