CHAP. 474.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 780 of the Code of
Virginia, as amended and re-enacted by an act approved March 4,
1898 (chapter 959, acts 1897-98), so as to impose certain duties upon
Commonwealth’s attorneys in regard to the collection of fines and
costs and to allow them compensation therefor. (H. B. 559.)

Approved March 22, 1916.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
section seven hundred and thirty of the Code of Virginia, as
amended and re-enacted by an act approved March fourth, eigh-
teen hundred and ninety-eight (chapter. nine hundred and fifty-
nine, acts eighteen hundred and ninety-seven-ninety-eight) so as
to impose certain duties upon Commonwealth’s attorneys, in re-
gard to the collection of fines, and to allow them compensation
therefor out of the treasury, be amended and re-enacted so as
to read as follows:

Section 730. The clerk of every court shall, on or before the
fifteenth day of October in each year, return to the auditor of
public accounts a list of fines imposed by his court or assessed
therein during the year ending on the last day of August next
preceding (except those cases in which executions had been
issued and were not returnable before that day), and of fines
imposed by a justice and recorded in the clerk’s office, pursuant
to this chapter, during the same year (except as aforesaid).
Cases in which, at the time of transmitting the annual list the
year before, executions had been issued, but were not returnable
on or before the last day of August in that year, shall likewise
be included.

The clerk shall certify to the correctness of the report.

The auditor of public accounts is hereby authorized to em-
ploy the attorneys for the Commonwealth, of the several coun-
ties and cities, to institute such actions and take such steps as
may be authorized by law for the recovery and collection of fines
and costs which have not been collected and which are now due
the Commonwealth; also fines and costs which may hereafter be
due the Commonwealth, and it shall be the duty of the attorneys
for the Commonwealth to accept such employment and to make
reports to the auditor of public accounts at the times required
by that officer, showing what proceedings have been instituted,
what steps taken to secure the payment of such fines and costs,
also what sums have been collected. The attorneys for the Com-
monwealth so employed shall give bond to the Commonwealth
for the faithful performance of the duties put upon them by this
section, (which bond shall be filed in the office of the auditor
of public accounts), in the penalty prescribed by the auditor
of public accounts and such attorneys shall retain out of the
fines and costs collected by them a commission to be agreed
upon by the auditor of public accounts and the attorney, which
commission, however, shall not exceed ten per centum of the
amount collected and paid into the State treasury by the at-
torney.