CHAPTER 249

An Act to amend and reenact § 16-51 of the Code of Virginia, relating to
the residence of trial justices.
[H 287]

Approved March 18, 1954
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

i, That § 16-51 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted as
ollows:

§ 16-51. For every county, including all incorporated towns therein,
except as hereinafter provided and except as provided in § 39-3, there
shall be appointed for a term of four years, by the circuit court for such
county, or the judge thereof in vacation, a trial justice, who shall be a
resident and landowner in the county and physically be a resident of the
territory, or of a city lying wholly in any county in such territory, for
which he is appointed, or of a county adjoining the county for which he
is appointed; provided, however, that no such trial justice shall be a
resident of any city lying wholly in any county in such territory having
a population of not less than forty thousand nor more than forty-four
thousand according to the United States census latest preceding; and pro-
vided, further, that any trial justice or substitute trial justice of a
county adjoining a city containing a population of more than one hun-
dred and seventy-five thousand by the last United States census, who
resides in territory annexed to any such city, may continue to reside
in such annexed territory for a period of two years after such annexa-
tion and during such time shall be eligible for reappointment as trial
justice or substitute trial justice for such county and to hold such office
and discharge the duties thereof. Provided further that in any county
having a population of less than fifty thousand and operating under the
county executive form of organization and government, the trial justice
Shall reside in the county. Removal from the county by a trial justice
shall vacate his office.

Any vacancy in the office of trial justice shall be filled for the unex-
pired term by the circuit court for the county or the judge thereof in
vacation.
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding thereto a section num-
bered 58-811.1, relating to assessment of certain real property for
purposes of taxation.

[H 303]

Approved March 18, 1954

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia be amended by adding thereto a section
numbered 58-811.1 as follows:

§ 58-811.1. In any county in which a resolution so directing shall
have been adopted by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members
of the governing body thereof, all new buildings shall be assessed when
substantially completed and fit for use, occupancy and enjoyment and the
commissioner of the revenue of such county shall enter in the books the
fair market value of such building. The tax on such new building shall
be computed according to the ratio which the portion of the year such
building is fit for use, occupancy and enjoyment bears to the entire year.
2. This section shall be in force for tax years commencing after
December thirty-one, nineteen hundred fifty-four.