CHAPTER 225

An Act to amend and reenact § 42-194, as amended, of the Code of Vir-
ginia, relating to establishment of law libraries in cities and counties,
and how the cost thereof defrayed. CH 159)

Approved March 31, 1966

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 42-19.4, as amended, of the Code of Virginia, be amended and
reenacted as follows:
§ 42-19.4. Any county * or city may, through its governing body, as-
sess as part of the costs, incident to each civil action filed in the courts “ol
record and courts not of record located within its boundaries a sum not in
excess of one dollar. *

The imposition of such assessment shall be by ordinance of the govern-
ing body, which ordinance may provide for different sums in courts of record
and courts not of record, and the assessment shall be collected by the clerk
of the court in which the action is filed, and remitted to the treasurer of
such county or city and held by such treasurer subject to disbursements by
the governing body for the acquisition of law books and law periodicals for
the establishment, use and maintenance 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 disbursements may include compensation to be
paid to librarians and other necessary staff for the maintenance of such
library and acquisition of suitable quarters for such library. The com-
pensation 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 imposition of such assessment of cost. The
assessment provided for herein shall be in addition to all other costs pre-
scribed by law, but shall not apply to any action in which the Common-
wealth 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 federal government. The governing body
is authorized to accept contributions to the fund from any bar association.

Any such library established in the county of Wythe shall be located
only in a town which is the seat of the county government.