Chap. 268.—An ACT to create a continuing commission for the purpose of draft-
ing and recommending to the session of the general assembly of 1932 a
general law setting forth optional forms of county government; to study
comparative county government in Virginia; to analyze and interpret statistics
as to the comparative cost of government in the several counties; to study
and ascertain facts as to county government with power to furnish such
information to the citizens of the several counties, and to appropriate $3,-
000.00 therefor. ~ [S B 220]

Approved March 24, 1930

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That a con-
tinuing commission be, and the same is hereby, created as an agency of
the Commonwealth of Virginia to be known as the Virginia commission
on county government. ‘The commission shall consist of five members,
appointed by the governor. Two of the members of the commission
shall be appointed for terms of two years each, two for terms of three
years each, and one for a term of four years. Subsequent appoint-
ments shall be for terms of four years, except appointments to fill
vacancies which shall be made by the governor for the unexpired
terms. The first appointments shall be made for terms beginning July
first, nineteen hundred and thirty. The members of the commission
shall receive no salaries, but shall be paid their necessary traveling
expenses incurred in attendance upon meetings, or while otherwise
engaged in the discharge of their duties, and a per diem of ten dol-
lars, not to exceed one hundred dollars a member in any one year.
The commission shall elect one of its members chairman and another
secretary. ‘I'he commission shall meet at least once in every three
months and, on the call of the chairman, when, in his opinion, additional
meeting or meetings may be necessary. Three members shall consti-
‘tute a quorum of the commission for all purposes. Each member of
‘he commission shall, before entering upon the discharge of his duties,
ake the oath prescribed by section thirty-four of the Constitution in
he manner prescribed by section-two hundred .and seventy-three of

he Code

#
2. As soon as the commission is organized, it shall be its duty to
proceed with the drafting of a general law setting forth optional forms
of county government, to become effective when submitted to the quali-
fied voters of any county in an election held for the purpose and ap-
proved by a majority of those voting thereon, as is authorized by
section one hundred and ten of the Constitution, which law shall be sub-
mitted, with the recommendations of the commission, to the session of
the general assembly to be held in nineteen hundred and thirty-two.
In the drafting of such proposed law, the commission may require the
services of the legal draftsman employed by the State and the attorney
general.

3. It shall also be the duty of the commission to study comparative
county government in Virginia, and to analyze and interpret the statis-
tics now gathered, or to be gathered in the future, as to the comparative
cost of the several functions of government in all the counties of the
State. It shall further be its duty to study all the various governmental
activities in which the several counties are engaged, and to inform the
citizens of the several counties of Virginia as to the progress, effective-
ness and cost of such activities in order that they may have the neces-
sary facts upon which to work out their own problems in the manner
best suited to their needs.

4. For the purpose of paying the per diem of the members of the
commission and the expenses incurred by them in the performance of
their duties hereunder, and for the employment of such clerical help
as may be necessary, a sum not exceeding three thousand dollars 1s
hereby appropriated for the biennium beginning July first, nineteen
hundred and thirty, and ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and
thirty-two, out of any monies in the treasury not otherwise appro-
priated, the same to be paid by the treasurer on the warrant of the
comptroller, upon the proper voucher or vouchers required by the
comptroller, approved by the chairman of said commission. No ex-
penditure shall be made, or obligation incurred by the commission un-
less and until approved by the governor; nor shall any warrant au-
thorized by this act, be paid until approved by the governor.