2006 Code of Virginia § 42.1-70 - Assessment for law library as part of costs in civil actions; contributions from bar association...

42.1-70. Assessment for law library as part of costs in civil actions;contributions from bar associations.

Any county, city or town may, through its governing body, assess, as part ofthe costs incident to each civil action filed in the courts located withinits boundaries, a sum not in excess of four dollars.

The imposition of such assessment shall be by ordinance of the governingbody, which ordinance may provide for different sums in circuit courts anddistrict courts, and the assessment shall be collected by the clerk of thecourt in which the action is filed, and remitted to the treasurer of suchcounty, city or town and held by such treasurer subject to disbursements bythe governing body for the acquisition of law books, law periodicals andcomputer legal research services and equipment for the establishment, use andmaintenance of a law library which shall be open for the use of the public athours convenient to the public. In addition to the acquisition of law books,law periodicals and computer legal research services and equipment, thedisbursements may include compensation to be paid to librarians and othernecessary staff for the maintenance of such library and acquisition ofsuitable quarters for such library. The compensation of such librarians andthe necessary staff and the cost of suitable quarters for such library shallbe fixed by the governing body and paid out of the fund created by theimposition of such assessment of cost. Such libraries, pursuant to rules ofthe Supreme Court and at costs to such libraries, may have access to computerresearch services of the State Law Library. Disbursements may be made topurchase or lease computer terminals for the purpose of retaining suchresearch services. The assessment provided for herein shall be in addition toall other costs prescribed by law, but shall not apply to any action in whichthe Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof or the federalgovernment is a party and in which the costs are assessed against theCommonwealth, political subdivision thereof, or federal government. Thegoverning body is authorized to accept contributions to the fund from any barassociation.

Any such library established in the County of Wythe shall be located only ina town which is the seat of the county government.

(Code 1950, 42-19.4; 1964, c. 439; 1964, Ex. Sess., c. 26; 1966, c. 225;1970, c. 606; 1972, c. 343; 1977, c. 397; 1981, c. 48; 1982, c. 607; 1983,cc. 309, 355; 1984, c. 16; 1985, c. 381; 1988, c. 571.)