Chap. 5.—An ACT to amend an act entitled an act to provide a new charter for
the city of Richmond, approved March 24, 1926, as heretofore amended, by
adding thereto a new section numbered 29a so as to empower the council of
the city of Richmond to provide for leave of absence for officers and employees
of the city of Richmond serving in the military and naval forces of the United
States and reinstatement of such officers and employees to positions in the
government of the city of Richmond when released from such service. [H B 5]

Approved October 5, 1942

1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That an act
entitled an act to provide a new charter for the city of Richmond, ap-
proved March twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred and twenty-six, be
amended by adding thereto a new section, numbered twenty-nine-a, which
new section shall read as follows:
Section 29a. The Council shall have the power to provide leave
of absence for all city officers and employees, including members of the
police and fire departments, except those elected by the people and their
appointees, who at the time this act becomes effective are serving in the
military or naval forces of the United States of America or who may
hereafter become members of such forces, for the period of such service
during the existence of a state of war between the United States of
America and any foreign power, and may also provide for the reten-
tion of any rights or privileges they may have under any pension system
provided by the Council during the period of such service. The Council
may further provide for the reinstatement of such officers, emplovees
and members of the police and fire departments to the positions held
by them at the time of taking such leave of absence 1f such positions
exist at the time of their release from such service, or, if such positions no
longer exist at that time, reinstatement to similar or other positions when
the same become available, upon the condition that such officers, em-
ployees and members of the police and fire departments are physically
and mentally capable of performing the duties of said positions and re-
port for duty promptly after being released from such service.

2. An emergency is hereby declared to exist and this act shall be
in force from its passage.