Chap. 170.—An ACT to create a legislative council to be known as the Virginia
Advisory Legislative Council; to provide for the appointment of the mem-
bers of such council; to prescribe the powers and duties of the said council;
and to appropriate funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.

[H B 239]

Approved March 12, 1936

1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, as follows:

Section 1. There is hereby created a legislative council to be
known as the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council, hereinafter re-
ferred to in this act as the council. The council shall consist of seven
members, appointed by the Governor to hold office at the pleasure
of the Governor; at least five of the members of the council shall
be members of the General Assembly. Vacancies in the membership
of the council shall be filled by the Governor. The council shall
designate one of its members as chairman.

Section 2. It shall be the duty of the council:

(a) To make an investigation and study of any matter or ques-
tion which may be referred to it by the General Assembly, and to
submit a report containing its findings and recommendations to the
Governor and to the members of the General Assembly at least thirty
days prior to the next regular session of the General Assembly, or
at such other time or times as the General Assembly shall direct; and,

(b) To make an investigation and study of any matter or ques-
tion which may be referred to it by the Governor and to submit
to the Governor a copy of its report containing its findings and rec-
ommendations at least thirty days prior to the next regular session
of the General Assembly or at such other time or times as the Gov-
ernor may request.

Section 3. The council shall meet as often as may be necessary
and at such place or places as it shall from time to time determine.
Four members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of bus-
iness and a majority thereof shall have authority to act upon any
matter before it for consideration. The council shall have authority
to employ such persons and to engage the services of such research
agencies as it may deem necessary and to fix their compensation,
provided the expenses of the council for all purposes shall not ex-
ceed the amount of the appropriation herein made. The council may
also appoint such committees as it shall deem necessary to assist it
in investigating and studying matters referred to it.

Section 4. Members of the council shall receive as compensation
for their services as members of the council the sum of ten dollars
per day while actually in attendance upon meetings of the council
and of its committees; they shall also receive their actual traveling
and hotel expenses incurred by them in attending such meetings and
in the performance of their official duties. Members of the com-
mittees appointed by the council may, in the discretion of the council,
be paid their actual hotel and traveling expenses incurred by them
in attendance upon meetings of such committees and of the council
and in the performance of duties required of them by the council.

Section 5. The Director of the Division of Statutory Research
and Drafting shall be the secretary of the council, and shall through
the said division assist in coordinating the work of the council and
of any committees which may be appointed by it, and in supplying
any information and rendering such assistance and services as may
be necessary or as the council may require. The council may, sub-
ject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Statutory Re-
search and Drafting, assign to the said division any person or per-
sons employed by the council to assist the said director and the di-
vision in carrying out the provisions of this act. And the council
may, subject to the approval of the Governor, and from funds ap-
propriated to the council, supplement the compensation of the Director
of the division in so far as the council shall deem proper and com-
mensurate with the duties and work imposed upon the said Director
pursuant to the provisions of this act.

Section 6. In order to provide funds necessary to carry out the
provisions of this act, there is hereby appropriated to the council,
out of any funds in the State treasury not otherwise appropriated, the
sum of fifteen thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be neces-
sary for said purpose, for each year of the biennium beginning July
first, nineteen hundred and thirty-six. All payments out of this ap-
propriation shall be made by the Treasurer of Virginia on warrants
of the Comptroller issued on vouchers signed by the chairman of the
council, or such other person or persons as shall be designated by the
council. The council is also authorized to accept any funds which
may be given or granted to the council; all such funds shall be paid
into the State treasury and shall be, and are hereby, appropriated
to the council for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this
act.