CHAPTER 284

AN ACT to amend and reenact § 15-504 of the Code of 1950 re-
lating to prohibition as to county officers having interest in
certain contracts so as to provide exemptions.

[ H 206 ]

Approved April 4, 1950

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1, That § 15-504 of the Code of 1950 be amended and re-
enacted as follows:

§ 15-504. Supervisors, etc., not to have interest in con-
tracts with or claims against, counties.—No supervisor, superin-
rendent of the poor, special policeman, commissioner of the
revenue, treasurer, attorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of the
court, trial justice, sheriff or any paid officer of the county shall
become interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract, or in
the profits of any contracts, made by or with any officer, agent,
~ommissioner, or person acting on behalf of the supervisors,
the county school board, or superintendent of the poor of the
county, or in any contract, fee, commission, premium or profit
hherefrom, paid, in whole or in part, by the county or any board,
‘commission or agency thereof, or in the sale or furnishing of
supplies or materials to such county, and shall not become inter-
sted, directly or indirectly, in any contract, or in the profits of
ny contract, made by or with any officer, agent, commissioner,
Trustee or overseer for working and keeping in repair the public
‘oads in the county.

On application of the board of supervisors, board of public
welfare, or school board, the circuit court may designate such
attorney, who may be the attorney for the Commonwealth or
trial justice of such county, to represent either or all such
boards in matters requiring the services of an attorney, such at-
torney so designated to be paid such compensation by the county
or school board or by the board of public welfare, as requisite,
as the court prescribes.

And no supervisor shall, except by descent or devise, mar-
riage or as a personal representative, committee of an insane
person, or guardian, become interested, directly or indirectly in
any claim against his county, whether the same shall have been
passed upon by the board of supervisors or not. Any such con-
tract shall be void, and the amount embraced by any such con-
tract, the value of any such supplies or materials and the amount
of any such claim shall never be paid; or, if paid, may be re-
covered back, with interest, by the county, in the circuit court
of the county, by action or motion, within two years from the
time of payment.

The term “contract” as herein used, shall not be held to
include the depositing of county or town funds in, or the bor-
rowing of funds from, local banks in which members of the
board of supervisors, members of the school board, or other
county officers herein named may have a stock interest; or shall
it include the granting of franchises to or purchase of services
from public service corporations.

This section shall not apply to attorneys for the Common-
wealth employed by the governing bodies of counties under the
provisions of §§ 58-762, 58-1016 or 58-1102 to collect taxes
which are a lien on real estate.

Nor shall this section apply to the publication of notices,
lists, or other information, which the county is required or per-
mitted by law to publish, in a newspaper owned directly or in-
directly by a county officer or operated by such officer, provided
such newspaper is the only newspaper of general circulation
published in such county.