CHAPTER 369

An Act to authorize the establishment of a joint or regional detention
facilities for juveniles; to provide for the appointment of a commis-
sion as the governing body of such facilities and prescribe its powers
and duties; to authorize participating political subdivisions to appro-
priate funds and the proceeds of bond issues to the commission; and
to require certain records and reports. CH 480]

Approved March 14, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. § 1. This act may be cited as the Juvenile Detention Facilities Act.
§ 2. The governing bodies of three or more counties, cities or towns
(hereinafter referred to as “political subdivisions”) may, by concurrent
ordinances or resolutions, provide for the establishment of a joint or
regional juvenile detention commission. Such commission shall be a public
body corporate, with such powers as are set forth in this chapter.

8. A juvenile detention commission shall consist of not less than
six members, comprising not less than two members, but always an even
number, from each participating political subdivision having a population
of twenty-five thousand or more, and one member from each participating
political subdivision having a population of less than twenty-five thousand,
and appointed by the city council or county board of supervisors, as the
case may be (hereinafter referred to as “governing body”) thereof. One-
half of the members first appointed by each governing body which ap-
points two or more members shall serve for two years and one-half for
CH. 369] ACTS OF ASSEMBLY 419

four years. After the first appointment, the term of office of all members
shall be for four years; in case of an appointment of a single member by
& governing body, his term of office shall be for four years.

§ 4. The members shall be appointed by the governing bodies of
the participating political subdivision from a list of eligible persons con-
taining at least twice as many names as there are appointments to be
made by the governing bodies, submitted by a committee of persons
appointed by the respective governing bodies for the purpose of making
such recommendations. .

The members of the commission so appointed shall, together with the
ex officio members, constitute the commission, and the powers of the com-
mission shall be vested in and exercised by the members in office from
time to time. The judge of the juvenile and domestic relations court or
the judge acting in juvenile matters in each participating political sub-
division shall ex officio be a member of the commission.

A majority of the members in office shall constitute a quorum. The
commission shall elect a chairman, and shall adopt rules and regulations
for its own procedure and government. The governing bodies of the par-
tictpating political subdivisions may by ordinance or resolution provide
for the payment of compensation to the members of the commission and
for the reimbursement of their actual expenses incurred in the perform-
ance of their duties.

§ 5. Each commission created hereunder shall have all powers neces-
sary or convenient for carrying out the general purposes of this act,
including the following powers in addition to others herein granted, and
subject to such supervision by the Director of the Department of Welfare
and Institutions as is provided in §§ 16-172.64 through 16-172.66 of the
Code of Virginia:

(1) In general. To adopt a seal and alter the same at pleasure; to
have perpetual succession; and to make and execute contracts and other
instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers.

(2) Officers, agents and employees. To employ such technical ex-
perts, and such other officers, agents and employees as it may require, to
fix their qualifications, duties and compensation and to remove such
employees at pleasure.

(3) Acquisition of property. To acquire within the territorial limits
of the political subdivisions for which it is formed, by purchase, lease,

ift, or exercise of the right of eminent domain, subject to conditions
hereinafter set forth, whatever lands, buildings and structures may be
reasonably necessary for the purpose of establishing, constructing, enlarg-
ing, maintaining and operating one or more juvenile detention homes or
facilities for the reception of juveniles committed thereto under the pro-
visions of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Law.

(4) Construction. To acquire, establish, construct, enlarge, improve,
maintain, equip and operate any juvenile detention home or facility.

Rules and regulations for management. To make and enforce
rules and regulations for the management and conduct of its business and
affairs and for the use, maintenance and operation of its facilities and
properties.

(6) Acceptance of donations. To accept gifts and grants from the
State or any political subdivision thereof, and from the United States and
any of its agencies; and to accept donations of money, personal property
or real estate, and take title thereto from any person, firm, corporation
or association.

(7) Rules and regulations as to juveniles under care. To make rules,
regulations and policies governing the care, guidance and training of juve-
niles in such detention facilities.

§ The commission shall have the right to acquire by eminent
420 ACTS OF ASSEMBLY [va., 1956

domain any real property, including fixtures and improvements, which it
may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, after the
adoption by it of a resolution declaring that the acquisition of the prop-
erty described therein is in the public interest and necessary for public
use, provided, however, that no such real property shall be so acquired
or such facility established within the territorial limits of such political
subdivision without the approval, after public hearing, of the governing
body of such political subdivision.

Subject to the provisions of § 25-233, property already devoted to a
public use may be acquired, provided, that no property belonging to any
county or city or to any religious or charitable corporation may be acquired
without its consent.

§ 7. All property of the commission shall be exempt from levy and
sale by virtue of an execution. No judgment against the commission shall
be a charge or lien upon its property, real or personal.

§ 8. The political subdivisions for which the commission is created
are authorized to make appropriations to the commission from available
funds for the construction, improvement, maintenance and operation of
any juvenile detention facility operated or proposed to be operated by the
commission; and subject to other applicable provisions of law may issue
general obligation bonds and appropriate the proceeds thereof for capital
costs of such facility.

§ 9. The commission shall keep and preserve complete records of its
administrative operations and transactions, which records shall be open
to inspection by the participating political subdivisions at all times. It
shall make reports to such subdivisions annually, and at such other times
as they may require.