CHAPTER 405

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 16-172.44, as amended, and 16-172.47
of the Code of Virginia, relating to certain decrees and orders affect-
ing children or minors, to the transfer of certain information upon
the commitment of children. CH 819]

Approved March 15, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 16-172.44, as amended, and 16-172.47 of the Code of Vir-
ginia be amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 16-172.44. If the court shall find that the child or minor is within
the purview of this law it shall so decree and by order duly entered
proceed as follows:
CH. 405] ACTS OF ASSEMBLY 455

(1) Take custody and place the child or minor on probation, under
such conditions as the court shall determine. ws

(2) Leave the child or minor in his own home under the supervision
of the court with or without taking custody; or take custody and place
the child or minor temporarily in a suitable home, under supervision of
the court pending final disposition of the case.

(3) Take custody and commit the child or minor to the care and
custody of the local board of public welfare of the county or city in which
the court has jurisdiction, which board shall accept such child for care
and custody; provided, however, that if it is established to the satisfac-
tion of the court that the parent, parents or guardian of the child have
residence in another county or city of the State, and the child has been
living with such parent, parents or guardian, commitment may be to the
local board of public welfare of the county or city in which such parent,
parents or guardian have residence, which local board shall accept the
child for care and custody. And provided further that nothing herein shall
be construed as prohibiting the commitment of a child to any local board
of public welfare in the State when such local board consents to the
commitment. ,

(4) Take custody and commit the child or minor coming within the
provisions of paragraphs (g), (h) and (i) of subsection 1 of § 16-172.28
of this law, to the guardianship and custody of the State Board of Welfare
and Institutions if the child’s or minor’s behavior * is such that the court
deems it cannot be satisfactorily or adequately dealt with in his own
locality or with its resources. All children intended to be placed in one
of the industrial schools of the State shall be committed to the State Board
of Welfare and Institutions, it being the purpose of this law that the
Director shall determine which children or minors shall be so placed.

(4%) Take custody and commit the child or minor to the care, cus-
tody ad guardianship of a person within the degree of relationship to
the child as specified in paragraph (d) of § 68-141 of the Code of Vir-
ginia if, after an investigation of the suitability of such commitment, the
court finds that it would be for the best interests of the child and the State.

(5) Take custody and commit the child or minor to the custody and
guardianship of a private agency or organization approved and licensed
by the State Board to care for and place children or minors in foster
homes. No court shall commit a child or minor to an agency or organiza-
tion out of the State without the approval of the Director.

(6) Commit the child or minor if adjudged mentally defective, to a
mental institution, in accordance with the provisions of the law.

(7) Refer or send the child or minor, if fourteen years of age or
older, for proceedings and trial to a court having criminal jurisdiction,
in accordance with the provisions of this law.

(8) In case of traffic violations the court may suspend an operator’s
license, or require restitution in accordance with provisions of this law,
or it may impose the penalties which are authorized to be imposed on
adults for such violations.

(9) As disciplinary measure the court may impose a fine not ex-
ceeding fifty dollars upon a child or minor of working age or suspend
his driving permit when such child or minor is found by the court to
have violated the traffic laws of this State or a State or federal law or
local ordinance. All sums so ordered to be paid may be paid by the child
or minor in monthly or weekly installments; such child or minor may also
be required to make restitution or reparation for damages resulting from
his wrongful conduct.

(10) Order support or such other care and treatment, medical or
otherwise as the court deems to be for the best interests of the child
or minor.
§ 16-172.47. Whenever the court commits a child to the State Board
of Welfare and Institutions, or to any other institution or agency, it shall
transmit with the order of commitment a summary of its information con-
cerning the child. * * *The State Board shall not be responsible for any
such committed child until it has received the court order and the sum-
mary of information concerning the child. The State Board and other
institutions or agencies shall give to the court such information con-
cerning the child as the court at any time requires. All such information
shall be treated as confidential.