Chap. 184.—An ACT requiring the governing boards or heads of State depart-
ments and institutions to provide for the registration of officers and em-
ployees when absent from duty. {S B 12]

Approved March 18, 1926.

1.. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the
governing boards or heads of all State departments and institutions
shall hereafter cause to be kept in the main office of such department
or institution, respectively, a blank book to be known as the registra-
tion record or proper alphabetical card system in which it shall be
the duty of all officers and salaried employees of such departments
and institutions, respectively, to register upon leaving the depart-
ment or institution to be absent from duty for more than one day
whether on official or personal business. Such _ registration shall
state the date of leaving, the reason for such absence, and the prob-
able date of return. Upon their return they shall likewise register
the date thereof, the reason for such absence, and, if delayed in re-
turning the reason for such delay; but whenever any such officer or em-
ployee shall have been absent from duty on account of sickness or
otherwise, and has had no opportunity to so register before leaving,
his registration upon his return shall be sufficient compliance with
this act. The registration record herein required to be kept shall be
public records. Any officer or employee refusing or failing to com-
ply with this act shall be subject to a fine of five dollars for each
offense.

Also a record of absence from duty shall be transmitted with the
annaul report of the departments and institutions.

This act shall not interfere with the time clock system, used by
the State highway department, or used by any other department; nor
the departments or employees at the capitol, nor to the employees of
the State forestry department engaged in field work, a check on whose
time and service shall be prescribed or managed by the governor.