CHAPTER 293

An Act to permit certain cities to assess certain costs in certain civil
actions filed in their courts, and providing that such costs so collected
shall be held for the establishment, use and maintenance of public
law libraries.

(S 21]

Approved March 30, 1962

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. §1. Any city having a population in excess of one hundred thirteen
thousand but not more than one hundred fourteen thousand in this State
may, through its governing body, assess as part of the costs, incident to
each civil action filed in the courts located within its boundaries a sum
not in excess of one dollar. The imposition of such assessment shall be by
ordinance of the governing body and the assessment shall be collected by
the clerk of the court in which the action is filed, and remitted to the treas-
urer or finance officer of such city and held by such treasurer or finance
officer subject to disbursements by the governing body for the acquisition
of law books and law periodicals for the establishment, use and mainte-
nance of a law library which shall be open for the use of the public. In
addition to the acquisition of law books and law periodicals, the disburse-
ments may include compensation to be paid to librarians and other neces-
sary staff for the maintenance of such library and acquisition of suitable
quarters for such library. The compensation of such librarians and the
necessary staff and the cost of suitable quarters for such library shall be
fixed by the governing body and paid out of the fund created by the im-
position of such assessment of cost. The assessment provided for herein
shall be in addition to all other costs prescribed by law, but shall not ap-
ply to any action in which the Commonwealth or any political subdivision
thereof or the federal government is a party and in which the costs are
assessed against the Commonwealth, political subdivision thereof, or 1ederal
government. The governing body is authorized to accept contributions to
the fund from any bar association.