CHAPTER 339

AN ACT to amend and reenact § 20-61 of the Code of 1950, relating
to desertion and nonsupport, so as to raise the amount of
forfeiture in such cases.

[S 143]

Approved April 5, 1950

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 20-61 of the Code of 1950 be amended and reenacted
as follows:

§ 20-61. Desertion or nonsupport of wife or children in desti-
tute circumstances.—Any husband who without just cause deserts
or wilfully neglects or refuses or fails to provide for the support
and maintenance of his wife, and any parent who deserts or wilfully
neglects or refuses or fails to provide for the support and mainte-
nance of his or her male child under the age of sixteen years,
female child under the age of seventeen years, or child of either
sex of whatever age who is crippled or otherwise incapacitated for
earning a living, the wife, child or children being then and there
in destitute or necessitous circumstances, shall be guilty of a mis-
demeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not
exceeding five hundred dollars, or in the case of a husband or
father be sentenced to the State convict road force at hard labor
for a period of not less than ninety days nor more than twelve
months or both; or in lieu of the fine being imposed he or she may
be required to suffer a forfeiture of an amount not exceeding the
sum of * one thousand dollars, and the fine or forfeiture may be
directed by the court to be paid in whole or in part to the wife
or to the guardian, curator,. custodian or trustee of the minor
child or children, or to some discreet person or responsible organiza-
tion designated by the court to receive it.