CHAPTER 457

An Act to regulate the introduction of certain chemicals in certain public
water systems and to provide for referendums under certain circum-

stances.
(S 144]
Approved March 30, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. After the effective date hereof it shall be unlawful to introduce
fluorine, or sodium fluoride, or any compound or combination thereof into
any public water system unless the voters of the area served thereby
approve the same in a referendum called and held under § 24-141 of the
Code, if the court orders a referendum as hereinafter provided. Such refer-
endum may be initiated by filing in the circuit court of the county or city
concerned a resolution of the governing body of the county or city asking
the court to set a date for such referendum. The court shall set a time and
place for a hearing on such resolution and require notice to be given thereof
in such manner as is deemed appropriate. At the time and place set in the
order the court shall decide whether or not any impairment of the public
health is involved. If the court believes no such impairment to be involved,
it shall enter an order to that effect and no referendum shall be required
as to the introduction of any of the above compounds into the public water
system. If the court believes that any impairment of the public health
is involved, it shall enter an order to that effect and shall set a date for
holding such referendum not less than thirty nor more than ninety days
from the date of such filing. The procedure thereafter shall conform to
§ 24-141. If a majority of the voters voting in the election approve,
fluorine, sodium fluoride, or a compound thereof may be added to such
water supply, but if a majority so voting, vote against them neither
fluorine, sodium fluoride, nor any compound thereof shall be added to such
water supply system. The provisions hereof shall be applicable only in
cities having populations of more than twenty-five thousand but less than
thirty-five thousand and in which the use of fluorine, sodium fluoride or
compounds thereof was not continuous for the three months immediately
preceding January one, nineteen hundred fifty-six. If a referendum is
held hereunder another referendum thereon shall not be held until the
expiration of two years.

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