Chap. 23.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 526 of the Code of Virginia,
as heretofore amended, relating to powers of the State Commission on Con-
servation and Development concerning the acquisition, maintenance and con-
trol of State forests, so as to authorize the said commission to lease and
acquire lands, and interests therein, from the United States, and to provide
for the management, control and utilization of the said lands, and the dis-
position of products and proceeds derived therefrom. [S B 85]

Approved February 17, 1936

1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That section
five hundred and twenty-six of the Code of Virginia, as heretofore
amended, be amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Section 526. The State Commission on Conservation and Develop-
ment shall have power and authority to purchase in the name of the
State lands suitable for State forests. The commission may accept
gifts of land and money to the State for forestry purposes, which
gifts must be absolute, except that mineral and mining rights over
and under land donated may be reserved by the donors, and that the
land shall be administered as State forests. The commission shall also
have power and authority to accept gifts, donations and contributions
of land from the United States, or any agency or agent thereof, and to
enter into agreements with the United States, or any agency or agent
thereof, for the acquisition by purchase, lease, or otherwise, of such
lands as the said commission may deem suitable for State forests, and
to pledge and apply on the purchase price of any land or lands so ac-
quired not to exceed one-half of the gross proceeds derived from the
said lands. The attorney general of the State is directed to see that
all deeds, leases or other instruments of transfer of land or any in-
terest therein to the State for the purposes above mentioned are properly
executed before such purchase or lease is completed or such gift is
accepted.

The commission shall have authority to provide for the management,
development and utilization of any such lands purchased, leased or
otherwise acquired, to sell or otherwise dispose of products on or
derived from the said land, to make and enforce rules and regulations
governing State forests, the care and maintenance thereof, and the
prevention of trespassing thereon, and such other rules and regulations
as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

In exercising the powers conferred by this section, the commission
shall not obligate the State for any expenditure in excess of any funds
either donated or appropriated to the commission for such purpose;
one-fourth of the gross proceeds derived from any lands so acquired
by the State conservation and development commission is hereby ap-
propriated and shall be paid annually by the commission to the counties
in which such lands are respectively located, and shall become a part
of the general funds of such counties.