CHAPTER 233

AN ACT to amend and reenact § 10-21 of the Code of 1950 tn
relation to the acquisition of lands of scenic beauty by the
Director of Conservation and Development, so as to correct
an erroneous cross reference therein.

[H 514 ]

Approved March 15, 1950

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That : 10-21 of the Code of 1950 be amended and re-
enacted as follows:

§ 10-21. Lands of scenic beauty, recreational utility or his-
torical interest.—(1) Acquisition.—The Director, with the ap-
proval of the Board, shall have full power and authority to ac-
quire by gift or purchase or by the exercise of the power of
eminent domain, areas, properties, lands or any estate or inter-
est therein, of scenic beauty, recreational utility, historical in-
terest, remarkable phenomena or any other unusual features
which in the judgment of the Board should be acquired, pre-
served and maintained for the use, observation, education, health
and pleasure of the people of Virginia; provided, that such power
and authority of acquisition shall be within the limits of any
appropriation which may be made by the General Assembly for
the purchase of such properties, or of voluntary gifts or contri-
butions placed at the disposal of the Department for such pur-
poses; and the Director shall have no power to purchase or con-
tract for the purchase of any property beyond the amount con-
tained in such appropriation or provided by such voluntary gifts
or contributions.

(2) Eminent domain proceedings.—The Director shall have
the power to institute and prosecute any proceedings in the ex-
ercise of the power of eminent domain for the acquisition of
such properties for public use in accordance with the laws relat-
ing to the exercise of such right and power, being * chapters 1
and 4 of Title 25.

(3) Report of Attorney General upon title—Before any
such property shall be purchased or acquired by condemnation,
the Director may call upon the Attorney General to examine and
render a report upon the title thereto, and it shall be the duty of
the Attorney General to make such examination and report at
the request of the Director.

(4) Leasing property or placing in custody of others.—
When any property is acquired by the Director under the pro-
visions of this section without the aid of any appropriation made
by the General Assembly and exclusively with the aid of gifts
or contributions placed at the disposal of the Department for
that purpose, he may place such property in the custody of the
person, persons, or association making such gifts or contribu-
tions, or lease the property to such person, persons, or associa-
tion, for a period not to exceed ninety-nine years, upon terms
and conditions approved by the Governor, which, in the opinion
of the Board, will best preserve and maintain such property or
properties for the use, observation, education, health or pleasure
of the people of Virginia.

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

passage.