CHAPTER 479

An Act to create a Virginia Metropolitan Areas Study Commission, to
provide for its composition and to prescribe its powers and duties.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. §1. The General Assembly—recognizing that in recent years the
process of industrialization has rapidly accelerated in Virginia and has
caused concentrations of population which present special and urgent
governmental problems, and further recognizing that such problems must
be regarded as problems of entire metropolitan areas comprising both
cities and surrounding urban counties—hereby declares that it is the policy
of this Commonwealth and necessary in the public interest that the ex-
pansion and development of such metropolitan areas proceed on a sound
and orderly basis within a governmental framework and economic en-
vironment which will foster the constructive growth and efficient admin-
istration of such areas.

§ 2. In furtherance of this policy, there is hereby created a Virginia
Metropolitan Areas Study Commission which shall consist of fifteen mem-
bers to be appointed by the Governor from the State at large. The Chair-
man of the Commission shall be designated by the Governor. The Commis-
sion shall make a comprehensive study of metropolitan area governmental
problems and undertake to develop solutions to such problems which will
further the orderly growth of such areas and facilitate productive govern-
mental responses to the needs and interests of the inhabitants thereof.
The Commission shall consider all pertinent inter-governmental relation-
ships, as well as cooperative action between public and private agencies.
The Commission may also convass the experience of other cities of the
United States and shall examine all relevant provisions of Virginia Law
to determine whether or not existing laws are adequate to meet the present
and future needs of such areas, and the Commission shall recommend such
changes in existing laws as it shall deem appropriate.

The members of the Commission shall be paid their necessary
expenses incurred in the performance of their duties but shall receive no
other compensation. The Commission may employ a director and such
professional, technical, legal or financial counsel as may be necessary to
complete its study, including such secretarial, clerical or other assistance
as the Commission may require.

§ 4. The Commission may accept and expend gifts, grants, and
donations from any or all sources or persons for the purpose of carrying
out its study, including such appropriations as may be made to it by law.

§ 5. All agencies of the State and the governing bodies and agencies
of all political subdivisions of the State shall cooperate with and assist the
Commission in its study.

§ 6. The Commission shal] make a report to the Governor and the
General] Assembly not later than October 1, 1967.