The General Assembly in 1960 amended the section of the Code dealing with "laboring at any trade or calling" on Sunday. The new Act specifically prohibited the sale of certain named types of articles on Sunday. Two years later, in 1962, the General Assembly deemed it desirable that a study be made of the operation of the amended statute and accordingly directed the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council, by House Joint Resolution No. 4, to make such a study.

The Council selected two of its members, C. W. Cleaton, member of the House of Delegates, South Hill, and Mosby G. Perrow, Jr., member of the State Senate, Lynchburg, as Cochairmen of a Committee to make the study. (Due to illness, Senator Perrow was unable to participate in the deliberations of the Committee.) The following persons also served as members of the Committee: Matt G. Anderson, member, House of Delegates, Oilville; Norman C. Bailey, wholesale merchant, former member, House of Delegates, Orange; Rutledge C. Clement, attorney, Danville; Mrs. Kossen Gregory, housewife, Roanoke; Frank D. Harris, attorney, South Hill; Maury A. Hubbard, Executive Secretary, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Richmond (we note regretfully that Mr. Hubbard died before the study was completed); Mrs. J. Ray Larcombe, housewife, Warrenton; James T. Mathews, Group Manager, Sears Roebuck and Company, President, State Chamber of Commerce, Richmond; Wm. N. Neff, merchant, former member, Senate of Virginia, Abingdon; George T. Omohundro, Jr., merchant, Scottsville; Wm. S. Patterson, merchant, Lynchburg; Anne Dobie Peedles, Stony Creek; Harry B. Price, Jr., merchant, Norfolk; and William L. Winston, attorney, member of the House of Delegates, Arlington. John B. Boatwright, Jr. and G. M. Lapsley served as Secretary and Recording Secretary, respectively, to the Committee.

The Committee reviewed the laws of this and other states relating to the subject. It held public hearings in Richmond, Norfolk and Arlington, which were well attended. A fourth hearing in the western part of Virginia was considered, but was not held because of the lack of requests from that area and also because many of its citizens appeared at the other hearings. It considered the material before it and the recommendations made to it amd reported to the Council. The Council has reviewed the report of the Committee and now submits the following report.