HB 738

            
2020 SESSION

20100981D

HOUSE BILL NO. 738 

House Amendments in [ ] � February 5, 2020

A BILL to amend and reenact � 15.2-1422 of the Code of
Virginia, relating to presiding officer of board of supervisors.

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Patron Prior to Engrossment--Delegate Reid 

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Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns 

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That � 15.2-1422 of the Code of Virginia is amended and
reenacted as follows:

� 15.2-1422. Electing a chairman and vice-chairman or a mayor
and vice-mayor.

Unless the [ chairman or mayor presiding officer
] is elected by popular vote, every governing body, at its first meeting after
taking office, shall elect one of its number as presiding officer. Such officer
shall be called "chairman," "chairwoman,"
"chair," [ �chairperson,� ] or
"chair-at-large," in the presiding officers discretion, if a
member of a board of supervisors and "mayor" if a member of a city or
town council. Such member, if present, shall preside at the first meeting and
all other meetings during the term for which so elected. The governing body
also shall elect a vice-chairman or vice-mayor, as the case may be, who shall preside
at meetings in the absence of the chairman or mayor and may discharge any duty
of the chairman or mayor during his absence or disability. Chairmen and
vice-chairmen, and mayors and vice-mayors, may be so
elected to serve for terms corresponding with their terms as supervisors or
councilmen or may be elected for such other period as determined by the
governing body. Whenever any board or council at the time of such election,
fails to designate the specific term of office for which a chairman or
vice-chairman, or a mayor or vice-mayor, is elected, it
shall be presumed that such officers were elected for a term of one year and
shall serve until their successors have been elected and qualify. Chairmen and
vice-chairmen, and mayors and vice-mayors, may succeed
themselves in office. In the case of the absence from any meeting of the
chairman and vice-chairman, or mayor and vice-mayor, the members
present shall choose one of their number as temporary presiding officer.