CHAPTER 34

An Act to create a joint committee of the General Assembly to study and
report upon the administration and enforcement of certain statutes;
to prescribe the powers of such joint committee; to provide for the
selection, terms of office and compensation of the members of such
committee; and to require reports from the committee to the General
Assembly.

[H 62]

Approved September 29, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. § 1. There is hereby created a joint committee of the General As-
sembly to be known as the Committee on Offenses Against the Adminis-
tration of Justice, hereinafter referred to as Joint Committee. Such Joint
Committee shall investigate and determine the extent and manner in which
the laws of the Commonwealth relating to the administration of justice are
being administered and enforced and shall specifically direct its attention
to the administration and enforcement of those laws relating to champerty,
maintenance, barratry, running and capping and other offenses of any other
nature relating to the promotion or support of litigation by persons who
are not parties thereto. The Joint Committee shall be composed of five
members to be selected as follows: Three of the members shall be ap-
pointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates from the membership of
the House Committee for Courts of Justice and two of the members shall
be appointed by the President of the Senate from the membership of the
Senate Committee for Courts of Justice. Members shall serve on the
Joint Committee during the effective period of this act; the presiding
officer of each house shall have the power to fill vacancies occurring on the
Joint Committee. The Joint Committee shall meet at least once in each
three month period and oftener on call of the chairman or a majority of
the members. The members of the Joint Committee shall receive the
same salary and expenses for each day spent in the performance of
their duties as is allowed under §§ 14-29.1 and 14-5 of the Code of Vir-
ginia, respectively, to be paid from the contingent fund of the General
Assembly together with any other expenses incurred by the Joint Com-
mittee. The Joint Committee is hereby specifically vested with the

wers and duties conferred upon committees of the General Assembly
by § 30-10 of the Code of Virginia and any other provisions of law under
which powers are conferred upon committees of the General Assembly. In
addition to the foregoing powers, the Joint Committee shall be empowered
to administer oaths and examine witnesses and may employ counsel to
assist in its investigations. The Joint Committee may, in addition to the
procedure provided in § 80-10 of the Code of Virginia, compel attendance of
witnesses or production of documents by motion made before the circuit
or corporation court having jurisdiction of the person or documents whose
attendance or production is sought. The court, upon such motion, shall
issue such subpoenas, writs, processes or orders as the court deems
necessary.

§ 2. All officers and agencies of the State shall assist the Joint Com-
mittee in the discharge of its duties.

§ 3. The Joint Committee shall have plenary power to oversee the
administration and manner of enforcement of the several statutes set
forth in § 1 hereof, and, not later than sixty days preceding the next
regular session of the General Assembly, it shall make a written report to
the General Assembly upon the administration and method of enforcement
of said statutes and shall set forth in its report its findings and recom-
mendations and drafts of any amendatory legislation the Joint Committee
deems desirable.

2. This act shall be effective until the convening of the next regular
session of the General Assembly.
3. An emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.