Chap. 320.—An ACT to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a new section num-
bered 2698-a relating to surety bonds of public officials. [S 253]

Approved March 29, 1944

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia be amended by adding a new section
numbered twenty-six hundred ninety-eight-a, as follows:

Section 2698-a. The Comptroller and the governing bodies of
counties, cities and towns are authorized to pay out of the respective treas-
uries the premiums on the surety bonds of all State, county, city and town
officials who are required to be bonded, for a period of more than one
year when a discount for advanced payment of such premiums may be
obtained under the rates, rules and regulations promulgated by the State
Corporation Commission according to law.

If any such surety bond be cancelled prior to its expiration, the portion
of the premium to be returned shall be calculated on the basis of the
regular annual rate of premiums for the duration of the bond as such
refunds are prescribed by the rates, rules and regulations promulgated by
the State Corporation Commission according to law.

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C war. 321.—An ACT to amend and re-enact Chapter 337 of the Acts of Assembly
’ of 1918, approved March 16, 1918, relating to the recordation of maps. [H 368]

Approved March 29, 1944

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That chapter three hundred thirty-seven of the Acts of Assembly
of nineteen hundred eighteen, approved March sixteen, nineteen hundred
eighteen, be amended and re-enacted, as follows:

Section 1. All plats and maps may in the discretion of the clerks of
the several circuit, corporation or hustings courts be recorded in a book to
be known as the plat book. And in case any plat or map which 1s at-
tached to or made a part of any deed, deed of trust, or writing which is
recorded in the deed book, an appropriate note shall be made on the deed
book where such deed, deed of trust, or other writing is recorded, re-
ferring to the plat book and page where the plat or map is recorded, and
where any plat is so recorded in a plat book the clerk shall endorse on the
plat and plat book the date of the recordation and a reference by book and
page to the recorded instrument of which it is a part and shall sign the
certificate. No clerk, however, shall be required to spread upon the
records of his office any such plat or map if it be larger than the sheets of
the deed book or plat book kept in his office.

Section 2. Whereas, a large number of plats have been recorded in
the various clerks’ offices of this State in separate books from the deed
books, and a question as to the validity of such plat books has arisen. All
such plat books in all the clerks’ offices of this State are hereby validated
and made parts of the official records of the offices, and the clerks of the
courts are hereby required to make proper cross references as above
within thirty days after this act becomes effective, on the deed books and
plat books of such plats, so recorded before this act becomes effective as
are herein required to be made on deed or plat books after this act goes
into effect.