CHAPTER 658

An Act to amend and reenact § 16.1-148.1, as amended, of the Code of
Virginia, providing for the establishment of regional juvenile and
domestic relations courts.

[H 236]

Approved April 5, 1968

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 16.1-143.1, as amended, of the Code of Virginia be amended
and reenacted as follows:

§ 16.1-143.1. The governing bodies of two or more cities or of two
or more counties or of any combination of cities and counties may, with
the approval of the judge or judges of the circuit court or courts of said
cities and/or counties, establish and operate a regional juvenile and domes-
tic relations court to serve the participating counties and cities; provided
that, on and after the effective date of this act, the cities, counties or com-
bination thereof seeking such approval and establishing such regional
court shall constitute a contiguous geographic area which contains a popu-
lation of not less than sixty thousand, unless it shall be certified to the
judge or judges of such circuit court or courts by the Board of Welfare and
Institutions that the population requirement of this clause constitutes an
unusual restriction in view of geographic considerations, for example
surrounding bodies of water or mountain ranges, which may make larger
combinations of localities impractical; and provided further that, on and
after the effective date of this act, no city or county with a population in
excess Of sixty thousand shall be eligible to participate in the establishment
of any such regional court.