HB 938

            
2020 SESSION

20101811D

HOUSE BILL NO. 938


Offered January 8, 2020


Prefiled January 7, 2020

A BILL to amend and reenact � 15.2-1646 of the Code of 
 Virginia, relating to relocation or expansion of courthouse.
----------

Patrons-- Webert; Senator: Vogel

----------

Referred to Committee on General Laws

----------
 
 
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
 
 
1. That � 15.2-1646 of the Code of Virginia is amended and 
 reenacted as follows:
 
 
� 15.2-1646. Certification of result to board of supervisors; 
 procuring land and buildings; relocation to contiguous or nearby land.
 
 
If it appears from the returns that a majority of the votes 
 cast at the election specified in � 15.2-1644 are for the removal of the 
 courthouse to one of the places specified in the petition or resolution, the 
 results shall be certified to the board of supervisors of the county, with the 
 amount authorized to be expended for land, if not donated, and for necessary 
 buildings and improvements. If the vote is for removal, the board of 
 supervisors shall at once proceed to acquire the necessary land at the new 
 location, if the same has not been donated, and to erect the necessary 
 buildings and improvements.
 
 
The relocation or expansion of a courthouse to (i) land contiguous with its 
 present location, including contiguous property directly across a public 
 right-of-way, or (ii) any property within 
 1,000 feet of the parcel upon which the 
 courthouse is located, and within the same county or, 
 city, or town is not such a removal 
 as to require authorization by the electorate.
 
 
The provisions of these sections requiring authorization by 
 the electorate shall not apply, in the case of a joint court system, between 
 Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville, James City County and the 
 City of Williamsburg, York County and the City of Poquoson, and Greensville 
 County and the City of Emporia, to the relocation of the courthouse to other 
 land within the localities which it serves, from its present location, if the 
 governing bodies find by concurrent resolutions that the existing courthouse is 
 inadequate and that renovation or expansion of the existing courthouse is not 
 feasible.