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1999 SESSION
994603661Be 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. Assessments for law library as part of costs in civil, criminal and traffic actions; contributions from bar associations.
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. Any county, city or town located in the Northern Virginia Planning District may also, through its governing body, assess against the defendant, as part of the costs incident to a conviction in each traffic and criminal case in the courts located within its boundaries, a sum not in excess of four dollars.
The imposition of such assessment assessments shall be by ordinance of the
governing body, which ordinance may provide for different sums in circuit courts and
district courts, and the assessment. The assessments 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 law books, law periodicals and
computer legal research services and 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 assessments. 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 civil case 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.
Any such library established in the County of Wythe shall be located only in a town which is the seat of the county government.