Bill Text: VA HB702 | 2018 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Libraries; assessment for costs in civil actions, disbursement for law libraries.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-02-15 - Left in Courts of Justice [HB702 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2018-HB702-Comm_Sub.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §42.1-70 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§42.1-70. Assessment for law library as part of costs in civil actions; contributions from bar associations.
A. Any county, city or town 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 four dollars
$4.
B. The imposition of such assessment shall be by
ordinance of the governing body, which ordinance may provide for different sums
in circuit courts and district courts, 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, city or town and held by such treasurer subject to
disbursements by the governing body for the acquisition of (i) law books, law
periodicals and, computer legal research services, and
computer terminals for offsite placement to maximize access to the law library
by the public, and (ii) equipment for the establishment, use and
maintenance of a law library which shall be open for the use of the public at
hours convenient to the public. In addition to the acquisition of law books,
law periodicals and computer legal research services and equipment, 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 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 imposition
of such assessment of cost. Such libraries, pursuant to rules of the Supreme
Court and at costs to such libraries, may have access to computer research
services of the State Law Library. Disbursements may be made to purchase or
lease computer terminals for the purpose of retaining such research services.
The assessment provided for herein shall be in addition to all other costs
prescribed by law, but shall not apply 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 federal government. The governing body is authorized to
accept contributions to the fund from any bar association.
C. Any such library established in the County of Wythe shall be located only in a town which is the seat of the county government.
D. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, any county, city, or town located in Planning District 8 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 $7.
