CHAPTER 676

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding, in Title 80, a chapter
number 2.1 containing §§ 80-28.1 through 80-28.9, which chapter and
sections all relate to the Division of Statutory Research and Drafting,
and to repeal §§ 2-117, 2-118, 2-119, 2-120, 2-121, 2-122, 2-128, 2-124,
and 2-124.1, of the Code of Virginia, all relating to the Division of
Statutory Research and Drafting.

[fH 281]

Approved April 6, 1966

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia be amended by adding, in Title 80,
chapter numbered 2.1 containing sections numbered 30-28.1 through

80-28.9, as follows:
CHAPTER 2.1
DIVISION OF STATUTORY RESEARCH AND DRAFTING

§ 80-28.1. Director; qualifications.—There shall be a _ legislative
agency known and designated as the Division of Statutory Research and
Drafting, hereinafter in this chapter sometimes called the Division. The
Division shall be in charge of a Director, who shall be elected by the
General Assembly for a term of four years. The Director of the Division
of Statutory Research and Drafting elected by the General Assembly shall
continue in office until his present term expires. Whenever a vacancy oc-
curs during a time when the General Assembly is not in session, the
Governor shall appoint a Director to fill such vacancy who shall hold
office until his successor is elected by the General Assembly at its next
session.

The Director shall be an experienced lawyer, preferably a graduate
of the school of law of some approved college or university.

The Director elected by the General Assembly may be removed from
office by joint resolution of the General Assembly.

§ 30-28.2. Assistants, draftsmen and clerks.—The Director, subject
to the provisions of Chapter 9 of Title 2 and with the approval of the
Governor, may employ and fix the compensation of necessary assistants,
draftsmen and clerks, who shall be selected solely on the grounds of fitness
for the performance ‘of the duties assigned to them. Such compensation
shall be paid out of appropriations made for the purpose.

§ 30-28.8. Offices of Division—The Lieutenant Governor and
Speaker of the House of Delegates shall provide the Division of Statutory
Research and Drafting with suitable rooms in the State Capitol in the
City of Richmond to be convenient for the members of the General As-
sembly.

§ 30-28.4. Use of State libraries; withdrawal of books.—The Di-
vision, through its Director and employees, shall have access to the State
Law Library, and to the State Library, with the right to withdraw,
in the performance of his or their duties, any books, pamphlets or printed
data from either library, subject to the rules of the libraries, respectively,

to time.
n° 30-28. 5. Duties of Division and of Director.—(1) The Division

"Collect and classify books, pamphlets, periodicals, documents and
other literature relating to prospective or pending legislation ;

Keep on file copies of all bills, resolutions, amendments thereto, report
of committees and other documents printed ‘by order of either house of
the General Assembly ;

Accumulate data and statistics regarding the practical operation and
effect of statutes of this and other States.

(2) Upon the request of the Governor, or any member of the General
Assembly, or the head of any State agency, the Division shall:

Draft or aid in drafting legislative bills or resolutions and amend-
ments thereto;

Advise as to the constitutionality or probable legal effect of proposed
legislation ;

Prepare summaries of existing laws affected by proposed legislation,
compilations of laws in other states or countries relating to the subject
matter of such legislation, and statements of the operation and effect
of such laws;
ati Make researches and examination as to any subject of proposed legis-
ation.
(3) The Director shall perform such other duties as may be required
of him by the Governor, or either house of the General Assembly.

§ 30-28.6. Books and documents to be accessible to officers and gen-
eral public.—All the books, documents and other materials, and the guides
to materials shall be at all times accessible to the Governor and members
of the General Assembly, State and municipal officers, boards and com-
missions, and the general public, for reference purposes.
§ 80-28.7. Requests for drafting bills or resolutions; secrecy; bills
to conform to request.—All requests for the drafting of bills or resolutions
by the Division shall be submitted in writing, and shall contain a general
statement respecting the policies and purposes which the Governor, mem-
ber or agency head making the request desires incorporated in and ac-
complished by the bill. All requests and required statements shall be
signed by the person submitting them. Neither the Director nor any em-
ployee of the Division shall reveal to any person outside of the Division
the contents or nature of any such request or statements except with the
consent of the person signing such request. Bills drafted by the Division
shall conform to the statements submitted with the request or the sup-
plementary written instructions submitted by the person who originally
made the request.

§ 30-28.8. Printing and stationery—The printing and binding
necessary for the proper performance of the duties of the Division, and
for the proper preservation of the materials collected therein, shall be
done under the supervision of the Department of Purchases and Supply
which shall also, upon the requisition of the Director of the Division of
Statutory Research and Drafting, furnish the latter with so many copies
of the acts of the General Assembly as shall be required for such office
and for purposes of exchange with other states.

§ 80-28.9. Authority to destroy certain records.—The Division of
Statutory Research and Drafting is hereby authorized to destroy, from
time to time, the records, correspondence, and other information ob-
tained for legislative commissions, studies of the Virginia Advisory Legis-
lative Council], and correspondence and other material relating to the
preparation of bills and resolutions for the Governor, members of the
General Assembly and State agencies when any of such records, cor-
respondence and other material is more than four years old. The Division
shall retain copies of the reports made by such commissions, the Ceuncil,
and final drafts of bills and resolutions.

2. That §§ 2-117, 2-118, 2-119, 2-120, 2-121, 2-122, 2-128 2-124, and
2-124.1 of the Code of Virginia are repealed.