CHAPTER 634

An Act to amend and reenact § 15.1-1132 of the Code of Virginia, relating
to voters’ petition requesting consolidation agreement and referendum
in certain counties, cities and towns.

[H 1184]

Approved April 4, 1968

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 15.1-1132 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted
as follows:

§ 15.1-11382. Voters’ petition requesting consolidation agreement
and referendum.—(a) The qualified voters of any county, city or town
whose governing body has not taken the initiative under § 15.1-1131 may,
by filing with the governing body of such county, city or town a petition
signed by not less than ten per centum of the qualified voters of the
county, city or town voting in the last preceding presidential election,
which number in no case shall be less than fifty, asking the governing
body to effect in accordance with the preceding section (§ 15.1-1131), a
consolidation agreement with the counties, cities and towns named in the
petition and to petition the judge for a referendum on the question, re-
quire the governing body so to proceed. A copy of the petition of the
voters shall also be filed with the judge of each circuit court having
jurisdiction in the county or town or the judge of the corporation court
in the city. If the governing body is able within * one year thereafter
to effect such consolidation agreement, the procedure shall be the same as
hereinbefore set forth. If the governing body within such period of time
is unable, or for any reason fails, to perfect such consolidation agreement
then the "judge of the circuit court having jurisdiction in the county or
town or the judge of the corporation court of the city shall appoint a
committee of five representative citizens of the county, city or town to act
for and in lieu of the governing body in perfecting the consolidation
agreement and in petitioning for a referendum.

(b) If a regional planning commission established in accordance
with Article 1(§ 15.1-427 et seq.) of Chapter II of this title has presented
a plan for consolidation of the area into a single city or a single city
and one or more counties or a single county and no agreement has within *
one year thereafter been reached by the governing body of any such county,
city or town, then upon a petition signed by not less than ten per centum
of the qualified voters of the county, city or town voting in the last preced-
ing general election but in no case less than fifty, the circuit court having
jurisdiction in the county or town or the corporation court of the city
or circuit court of the city if there be no corporation court shall order
an election to be held as provided in § 15.1-1138.