SEARCH SITE
VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL
- Code of Virginia
- Virginia Administrative Code
- Constitution of Virginia
- Charters
- Authorities
- Compacts
- Uncodified Acts
- RIS Users (account required)
SEARCHABLE DATABASES
- Bills & Resolutions
session legislation - Bill Summaries
session summaries - Reports to the General Assembly
House and Senate documents - Legislative Liaisons
State agency contacts
ACROSS SESSIONS
- Subject Index: Since 1995
- Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
- Summaries: Since 1994
Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
2023 SESSION
23103820DBe it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 15.2-1520 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 15.2-1520. Employment of counsel to defend localities and political subdivisions, governing bodies, officers or employees in certain proceedings; costs and expenses of such proceedings.
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, general
or special, a locality, or
political subdivision of such locality may employ the county, city, or town attorney, or the attorney for the
Commonwealth, if
there be no county, city, or
town attorney, or other counsel approved by the governing body to defend it, or
any member thereof, or
any officer of the locality, or
political subdivision or employee thereof, or any trustee or member of any
board or commission appointed by the governing body in any legal proceeding to
which the governing body, or any member thereof, or any of the foregoing named
persons may be a defendant, when such proceeding is instituted against it, or them by virtue of any
actions in furtherance of their duties in serving the locality or political
subdivision as its governing body or as members thereof or the duties or
service of any officer or employee of the locality or political subdivision or
any trustee or any member of any board or commission appointed by the governing
body.
All costs and expenses of such proceedings so defended shall
be charged against the treasury of the locality,
or political subdivision and shall be paid out of funds provided therefor by
the governing body thereof. Further, in the event any settlement is agreed upon
or judgment is rendered against any of the foregoing persons or the governing body, the
governing body may, in its discretion, pay such settlement or judgment from
public funds or other funds or in connection with all of the foregoing may
expend public or other funds for insurance or to establish and maintain a
self-insurance program to cover such risks or liability. A record of
such amount paid in settlement or judgment, whether paid directly by the
locality or by the other means described in the preceding sentence, shall be
retained by the locality and the record of such amount shall be subject to
disclosure if requested pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of
Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.).