The General Assembly at its Regular Session of 1964 directed the Virginia Code Commission, by Chapter 625 of the Acts of that Session, to revise certain titles of the Code of Virginia, including Title 2, relating to administration of the government generally.

Extracts from Chapter 625 follow:

"§ 1. The Code of Virginia shall be gradually revised by revising one or more titles at a time. In revising each title, all other sections of the Code relating to the same subject matter shall be revised to the extent necessary. Experts shall be employed by the Virginia Code Commission to assist in the project. The Commission may also accept the services of qualified volunteers who are willing to serve without pay. Tentative drafts of proposed revisions shall be printed and circulated among interested persons and their comments solicited.

"§ 2. The Commission shall undertake the revision of Titles 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7, and submit to the Governor and the General Assembly, on or before October one, nineteen hundred sixty-five, a report of its recommendations, together with suggested legislation necessary to carry such recommendations into effect."

Hugh R. Thompson, Jr., Esquire, of the Richmond City Bar, was retained as Counsel to assist in the revision of Title 2.

Counsel examined the provisions of this title in detail, and consulted interested individuals, groups and agencies of the State government.

The Commission met on several occasions with Counsel and discussed in detail changes recommended by members of the Commission, by Counsel, and by the above-mentioned individuals, groups and agencies. Representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Immigration attended most of these meetings and participated in the discussions.

As a result of its efforts, the Commission considered it desirable that there be a rearrangement of a number of the provisions for better sequence, a general renumeration of the sections, the deletion of certain obsolete sections, and the amendment of other sections. We are of the opinion that this can be better accomplished by the repeal of Title 2 and the enactment of Title 2.1 in lieu thereof.

Included in this Report is the report of Counsel to the Commission on Title 2. Also, following each section of the draft of Title 2.1 are Counsel's notes identifying the source of the provisions of the section and commenting upon any change therein. Furthermore, preceding the draft of Title 2.1 there is set forth a table of comparable sections, for the purpose of tracing each of the provisions of Title 2 into proposed Title 2.1. This table also indicates these sections of Title 2 which have been deleted. Those who are interested in the major features of the revision should read the report of Counsel and the notes following the several sections of Title 2.1, to which reference is hereby made.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Code Commission subm1ts this Report, and recommends that the Legislature enact the attached bills in 1966.

The Commission wishes to recognize expressly the valuable assistance rendered the Commission by Counsel in the preparation of this revision. We also express our appreciation for the cooperation of various interested officials and agencies of the State government.

Respectfully submitted,

James M. Thomson, Chairman
E. Almer Ames, Jr., Vice-Chairman
John B. Boatwright, Jr.
Kenneth C. Patty