Chap. 10.—An ACT to declare the existence of an emergency and to provide for the

co-ordination of civilian defense \activities \ and to this end to designate the
Governor as director of civilian défense arid. to, prescribe his powers and duties

as such, and the powers and duties of certain other officers and of certain
organizations; and to authorize the (governor to proclaim and publish rules and
regulations and to issue executive orders to accomplish the purposes of this act
and to constitute violation thereof, when so declared in any such executive order,
a misdemeanor. [H B 209]

Approved February 11, 1942

1. Beit enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, as follows:

Section 1. Declaration of emergency and necessity.—It is hereby
declared that the existing state of war between the United States and
certain foreign powers has created a continuing emergency in this Com-
monwealth and exposed its people and the public and private property
within its borders to serious dangers; therefore, it is necessary that steps
be taken at once to organize and make effective the resources of man-
power and the machinery of the general and local government for the pro-
tection of the Commonwealth and its people.

Section 2. Governor to be director of civilian defense.—The Gov-
ernor shall be the director of civilian defense for the Commonwealth of
Virginia. It shall be his duty as such to take such action, from time to
time, as in his judgment is best calculated for the adequate promotion and
co-ordination of State and local civilian activities relating to the defense
of the State and the Nation, whenever in time of war or of grave national
peril the safety of the Commonwealth, in his opinion, so requires.

Section 3. General powers of the Governor.—As director of civilian
defense, the Governor shall have, in addition to his powers hereinafter
or elsewhere prescribed by law, the following powers and duties:

(1) To proclaim and publish such rules and regulations and to
issue stich executive orders, as may in his judgment be necessary to ac-
complish in full the purposes of this act, which shall have the force and
effect of law and the violation thereof shall be punishable as a misde-
meanor in every case where the executive order declares that its violation
shall have such force and effect;

(2) To appoint a co-ordinator or executive officer, and to appoint
or employ, or authorize the appointment or employment of, such other
personnel as in his judgment is required to carry out the provisions of
this act, and to remove, in his discretion, any and all persons serving here-
under ;

(3) To establish a State Council of Defense to serve in an advisory
capacity ; to provide for the establishment of such regional and local coun-
cils of defense as in his judgment are requisite; to prescribe programs
and rules therefor; to co-operate with the authorized agencies of the
Federal Government and of the several States engaged in defense activ-
ities; and to take such other action, as in his opinion will further the or-
ganization, co-ordination and preparation for adequate defense.

Section 4. State council.—In the event the Governor finds it neces-
sary to establish a State council of defense, its membership shall consist
of the heads of such departments and agencies of the Commonwealth,
and of such other State officers, as shall be designated by the Governor
for the purpose. The members of such council shall serve at the pleasure
of the Governor and shall perform such functions and duties as are pre-
scribed by him. They shall not be entitled to any compensation for their
services. Such council may be dissolved at the pleasure of the Governor.

Section 5. Regional councils—A regional council of defense may be
established in the discretion of the Governor for any two or more counties
or cities, or counties and cities. The membership of every such council
shall consist of the local directors, as hereinafter defined, of civilian de-
fense of the political subdivisions included in the region for which the
council is established. The local directors of civilian defense shall desig-
nate the chairman, who may be a private citizen or local official, and shall
appoint defense committees representing different groups of interested
citizens to assist them in the discharge of their duties. Members shall not
be entitled to compensation for their services. The regional councils and
their members shall, within the programs of activity prescribed by the
Governor, engage in such activities and perform such functions and duties
as will further the defense of the region and of the State.

Any such council may, within the limits of such funds available for
the purpose, employ necessary personnel and fix their compensation, if
any, subject to the approval of the Governor, or of such other person or
persons as he may designate for the purpose. Any such regional council
may be dissolved, reorganized or rearranged by the Governor whenever in
his discretion such action is necessary.

Section 6. Local councils—(a) There shall be a local council of
defense, as hereinafter defined, in each county, city and town in the State;
provided, however, that in the discretion of the Governor one local council
may be established for a county and any city or town, or cities and towns,
located within the territorial boundaries of such county.

(b) For each local council there shall be a director of civilian de-
fense, who, in the absence of an executive order by the Governor, shall
be as follows:

(1) In the case of a city of the first class the director shall be the
mayor or chief executive officer of the said city who shall have the au-
thority to appoint a co-ordinator of defense activities ;

(2) In the case of a city of the second class or incorporated town
the director shall be the mayor who may, by and with the consent of the
city or town council, appoint a co-ordinator of defense activities ;

(3) Inthe case of counties the boards of supervisors, or other gov-
erning body of a county, shall elect a director, who, by and with their con-
sent, may appoint a co-ordinator of defense activities ; and

(4) In the case of a local council established for a county and any
city or town, or cities and towns, within its territorial boundaries, the
director, who shall also serve as co-ordinator, shall be designated by the
chairman of the board of supervisors, or other governing body of the
county, and the mayor or mayors of the city or town, or cities and towns,
as the case may be, and in case the local authorities do not agree promptly
upon a director, the Governor shall appoint one.
(c) The membership of a local council of defense shall consist of
such persons, resident of the locality for which the council is established,
as shall be appointed by the local director. Every such member shall
serve, without compensation, at the pleasure of the local director.

(d) It shall be the duty of each such local director of civilian defense,
and of each local defense council established pursuant to this act, within
the programs of activity prescribed by the Governor, to engage in such
activities and perform such functions and duties as will further the de-
fense of the locality and the State. Each such director and council shall,
from time to time, make to the Governor such reports as he may require.
Any director may be removed by the Governor when he deems it in the
public interest.

(e) Any such local council may be dissolved, reorganized or re-
arranged by the Governor whenever in his discretion such action is
necessary.

Section 7. Appropriations by counties, cities and towns.—The boards
of supervisors, and the councils or other governing bodies of the counties,
cities and towns are hereby authorized to make appropriations of funds
for expenditure by any local or regional council of defense established
pursuant to this act, and for local or regional defense activities.

2. An emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.