{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/37.2-501.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/37.2-501.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/37.2-501.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/37.2-501.html"}],"law_id":54288,"edition_id":1,"section_id":54288,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-501","catch_line":"Community services board; appointment; membership; duties of fiscal agent","history":"1968, c. 477, \u00a7 37.1-195; 1970, c. 346; 1972, c. 498; 1973, c. 78; 1976, c. 671; 1978, c. 11; 1980, c. 582; 1988, c. 285; 1989, c. 254; 1994, c. 939; 1996, c. 412; 1997, c. 323; 1998, cc. 667, 680; 1999, c. 653; 2005, c. 716; 2012, cc. 476, 507.","full_text":"A\n\nEvery city or county or any combination of counties and cities, before it shall come within the provisions of this chapter, shall establish a community services board with no less than six and no more than 18 members. When any city or county singly establishes a community services board, the board shall be appointed by the governing body of the city or county establishing the board. When any combination of counties and cities establishes a community services board, the board of supervisors of each county or the council of each city shall mutually agree on the size of the board and shall appoint the members of the community services board. Prior to making appointments, the governing body shall disclose the names of those persons being considered for appointment.\n\t\t\tAppointments to the community services board shall be broadly representative of the community. One-third of the appointments to the board shall be individuals who are receiving or who have received services or family members of individuals who are receiving or who have received services, at least one of whom shall be an individual receiving services. One or more appointments may be nongovernmental service providers. Sheriffs or their designees also shall be appointed, when practical. No employee of the community services board or employee or board member of an organization that receives funding from any community services board shall be appointed a member of that board.\n\t\t\tNo community services board shall be composed of a majority of local government officials, elected or appointed, as members, nor shall any county or city be represented on a board by more than two officials, elected or appointed.\n\t\t\tThe board appointed pursuant to this section shall be responsible to the governing body of each county or city that established it.B\n\nThe county or city or any combination of cities and counties that establishes an operating or administrative policy board shall receive an independent annual audit of the total revenues and expenditures of that board, a copy of which shall be provided to the Department, and designate an official of one member city or county to act as fiscal agent for the board. The county or city whose designated official serves as fiscal agent for the board in the case of boards established by more than one city or county shall review and act upon the independent audit of the board and, in conjunction with the other cities and counties, arrange for the provision of legal services to the board. When a single county or city establishes an operating or administrative policy board, it shall arrange for the provision of legal services to the board.C\n\nThe county or city that establishes a policy-advisory board shall provide an annual audit of the total revenues and expenditures of the city or county government department to the board and the Department, carry out the responsibilities and duties enumerated in subsection A of § 37.2-504 and § 37.2-505, and provide legal services to the board. When any combination of cities and counties establishes a policy-advisory board, those cities and counties shall designate which local government shall operate the city or county government department. This local government shall provide an annual audit of the total revenues and expenditures of that department to the board and the Department, carry out the responsibilities and duties enumerated in subsection A of § 37.2-504 and § 37.2-505, and, in conjunction with the other cities and counties, arrange for the provision of legal services to the board.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":199302,"text":"Every city or county or any combination of counties and cities, before it shall come within the provisions of this chapter, shall establish a community services board with no less than six and no more than 18 members. When any city or county singly establishes a community services board, the board shall be appointed by the governing body of the city or county establishing the board. When any combination of counties and cities establishes a community services board, the board of supervisors of each county or the council of each city shall mutually agree on the size of the board and shall appoint the members of the community services board. Prior to making appointments, the governing body shall disclose the names of those persons being considered for appointment.\n\t\t\tAppointments to the community services board shall be broadly representative of the community. One-third of the appointments to the board shall be individuals who are receiving or who have received services or family members of individuals who are receiving or who have received services, at least one of whom shall be an individual receiving services. One or more appointments may be nongovernmental service providers. Sheriffs or their designees also shall be appointed, when practical. No employee of the community services board or employee or board member of an organization that receives funding from any community services board shall be appointed a member of that board.\n\t\t\tNo community services board shall be composed of a majority of local government officials, elected or appointed, as members, nor shall any county or city be represented on a board by more than two officials, elected or appointed.\n\t\t\tThe board appointed pursuant to this section shall be responsible to the governing body of each county or city that established it.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":199303,"text":"The county or city or any combination of cities and counties that establishes an operating or administrative policy board shall receive an independent annual audit of the total revenues and expenditures of that board, a copy of which shall be provided to the Department, and designate an official of one member city or county to act as fiscal agent for the board. The county or city whose designated official serves as fiscal agent for the board in the case of boards established by more than one city or county shall review and act upon the independent audit of the board and, in conjunction with the other cities and counties, arrange for the provision of legal services to the board. When a single county or city establishes an operating or administrative policy board, it shall arrange for the provision of legal services to the board.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":199304,"text":"The county or city that establishes a policy-advisory board shall provide an annual audit of the total revenues and expenditures of the city or county government department to the board and the Department, carry out the responsibilities and duties enumerated in subsection A of § 37.2-504 and § 37.2-505, and provide legal services to the board. When any combination of cities and counties establishes a policy-advisory board, those cities and counties shall designate which local government shall operate the city or county government department. This local government shall provide an annual audit of the total revenues and expenditures of that department to the board and the Department, carry out the responsibilities and duties enumerated in subsection A of § 37.2-504 and § 37.2-505, and, in conjunction with the other cities and counties, arrange for the provision of legal services to the board.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13299,"edition_id":1,"name":"Community Services Boards","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13087,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:36","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:36","permalink":{"id":210025,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13299,"identifier":"5","token":"37.2\/II\/5","url":"\/37.2\/II\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13087,"edition_id":1,"name":"Behavioral Health and Developmental Services","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12843,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:16","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:16","permalink":{"id":210023,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13087,"identifier":"II","token":"37.2\/II","url":"\/37.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12843,"edition_id":1,"name":"Behavioral Health and Developmental Services","identifier":"37.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":209673,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12843,"identifier":"37.2","token":"37.2","url":"\/37.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":60895,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-500","catch_line":"Purpose; community services board; services to be provided","url":"\/37.2-500\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-500","metadata":false},{"id":54288,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-501","catch_line":"Community services board; appointment; membership; duties of fiscal agent","url":"\/37.2-501\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-501","metadata":false},{"id":72591,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-502","catch_line":"Community services board members; term of office; vacancies; removal","url":"\/37.2-502\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-502","metadata":false},{"id":73882,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-503","catch_line":"Compensation of community services board members","url":"\/37.2-503\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-503","metadata":false},{"id":65222,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-504","catch_line":"Community services boards; local government departments; powers and duties","url":"\/37.2-504\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-504","metadata":false},{"id":62018,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-505","catch_line":"Coordination of services for preadmission screening and discharge planning","url":"\/37.2-505\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-505","metadata":false},{"id":75347,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-506","catch_line":"Background checks required; services for children and developmental services","url":"\/37.2-506\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-506","metadata":false},{"id":61726,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-506.1","catch_line":"Background checks required; adult substance abuse and mental health services","url":"\/37.2-506.1\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-506.1","metadata":false},{"id":63221,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-507","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/37.2-507\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-507","metadata":false},{"id":61165,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-508","catch_line":"Performance contract for mental health, developmental, and substance abuse services","url":"\/37.2-508\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-508","metadata":false},{"id":77016,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-509","catch_line":"Mental health, developmental, and substance abuse services; allocation of funds by Department; reduction of funds","url":"\/37.2-509\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-509","metadata":false},{"id":76062,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-510","catch_line":"Community services board; withdrawal of county or city","url":"\/37.2-510\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-510","metadata":false},{"id":73736,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-511","catch_line":"Liability for expenses of services","url":"\/37.2-511\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-511","metadata":false},{"id":86688,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-512","catch_line":"Authority to enter into joint agreements","url":"\/37.2-512\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-512","metadata":false},{"id":72496,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-513","catch_line":"Information about services to be made available to courts","url":"\/37.2-513\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-513","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":60895,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-500","catch_line":"Purpose; community services board; services to be provided","url":"\/37.2-500\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-500","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":72591,"structure_id":13299,"section_number":"37.2-502","catch_line":"Community services board members; term of office; vacancies; removal","url":"\/37.2-502\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-502","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/37.2-501\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1968. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 477 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1968 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 15 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1970, chapter 346; in 1972, chapter 498; in 1973, chapter 78; in 1976, chapter 671; in 1978, chapter 11; in 1980, chapter 582; in 1988, chapter 285; in 1989, chapter 254; in 1994, chapter 939<\/a>; in 1996, chapter 412<\/a>; in 1997, chapter 323<\/a>; in 1998, chapters 667<\/a> and 680<\/a>; in 1999, chapter 653<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 716<\/a>; in 2012, chapters 476<\/a> and 507<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":70138,"section_number":"2.2-5205","catch_line":"Community policy and management teams; membership; immunity from liability","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-5205\/"},{"id":77897,"section_number":"2.2-5207","catch_line":"Family assessment and planning team; membership; immunity from liability","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-5207\/"},{"id":76036,"section_number":"37.2-100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-100\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":65222,"section_number":"37.2-504","catch_line":"Community services boards; local government departments; powers and duties","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-504\/"},{"id":62018,"section_number":"37.2-505","catch_line":"Coordination of services for preadmission screening and discharge planning","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-505\/"}],"permalink":{"id":210031,"object_type":"law","relational_id":54288,"identifier":"37.2-501","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-501","url":"\/37.2-501\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/37.2-501\/","token":"37.2\/II\/5\/37.2-501","dublin_core":{"Title":"Community services board; appointment; membership; duties of fiscal agent","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 37.2-501","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Every city or county or any combination of counties and cities, before it shall come within the provisions of this chapter, shall establish a community services board<\/span> with no less than six and no more than 18 members. When any city or county singly establishes a community services board<\/span>, the board shall be appointed by the governing body of the city or county establishing the board. When any combination of counties and cities establishes a community services board<\/span>, the board of supervisors of each county or the council of each city shall mutually agree on the size of the board and shall appoint the members of the community services board<\/span>. Prior to making appointments, the governing body shall disclose the names of those persons being considered for appointment.\n\t\t\tAppointments to the community services board<\/span> shall be broadly representative of the community. One-third of the appointments to the board shall be individuals<\/span> who are receiving or who have received services or family members<\/span> of individuals<\/span> who are receiving or who have received services, at least one of whom shall be an individual receiving services<\/span>. One or more appointments may be nongovernmental service providers. Sheriffs or their designees also shall be appointed, when practical. No employee of the community services board<\/span> or employee or board member of an organization that receives funding from any community services board<\/span> shall be appointed a member of that board.\n\t\t\tNo community services board<\/span> shall be composed of a majority of local government officials, elected or appointed, as members, nor shall any county or city be represented on a board by more than two officials, elected or appointed.\n\t\t\tThe board appointed pursuant to this section shall be responsible to the governing body of each county or city that established it. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The county or city or any combination of cities and counties that establishes an operating or administrative policy board<\/span> shall receive an independent annual audit of the total revenues and expenditures of that board, a copy of which shall be provided to the Department<\/span>, and designate an official of one member city or county to act as fiscal agent for the board. The county or city whose designated official serves as fiscal agent for the board in the case of boards<\/span> established by more than one city or county shall review and act upon the independent audit of the board and, in conjunction with the other cities and counties, arrange for the provision of legal services to the board. When a single county or city establishes an operating or administrative policy board<\/span>, it shall arrange for the provision of legal services to the board. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The county or city that establishes a policy-advisory board<\/span> shall provide an annual audit of the total revenues and expenditures of the city or county government department<\/span> to the board and the Department<\/span>, carry out the responsibilities and duties enumerated in subsection A of § 37.2-504<\/a> and § 37.2-505<\/a>, and provide legal services to the board. When any combination of cities and counties establishes a policy-advisory board<\/span>, those cities and counties shall designate which local government shall operate the city or county government department<\/span>. This local government shall provide an annual audit of the total revenues and expenditures of that department<\/span> to the board and the Department<\/span>, carry out the responsibilities and duties enumerated in subsection A of § 37.2-504<\/a> and § 37.2-505<\/a>, and, in conjunction with the other cities and counties, arrange for the provision of legal services to the board. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCOMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD; APPOINTMENT; MEMBERSHIP; DUTIES OF FISCAL AGENT (\u00a7\n37.2-501)\n\nA. Every city or county or any combination of counties and cities, before it\nshall come within the provisions of this chapter, shall establish a community\nservices board with no less than six and no more than 18 members. When any city\nor county singly establishes a community services board, the board shall be\nappointed by the governing body of the city or county establishing the board.\nWhen any combination of counties and cities establishes a community services\nboard, the board of supervisors of each county or the council of each city shall\nmutually agree on the size of the board and shall appoint the members of the\ncommunity services board. Prior to making appointments, the governing body shall\ndisclose the names of those persons being considered for appointment.\n\t\t\tAppointments to the community services board shall be broadly representative\nof the community. One-third of the appointments to the board shall be\nindividuals who are receiving or who have received services or family members of\nindividuals who are receiving or who have received services, at least one of\nwhom shall be an individual receiving services. One or more appointments may be\nnongovernmental service providers. Sheriffs or their designees also shall be\nappointed, when practical. No employee of the community services board or\nemployee or board member of an organization that receives funding from any\ncommunity services board shall be appointed a member of that board.\n\t\t\tNo community services board shall be composed of a majority of local\ngovernment officials, elected or appointed, as members, nor shall any county or\ncity be represented on a board by more than two officials, elected or appointed.\n\t\t\tThe board appointed pursuant to this section shall be responsible to the\ngoverning body of each county or city that established it.\n\nB. The county or city or any combination of cities and counties that establishes\nan operating or administrative policy board shall receive an independent annual\naudit of the total revenues and expenditures of that board, a copy of which\nshall be provided to the Department, and designate an official of one member\ncity or county to act as fiscal agent for the board. The county or city whose\ndesignated official serves as fiscal agent for the board in the case of boards\nestablished by more than one city or county shall review and act upon the\nindependent audit of the board and, in conjunction with the other cities and\ncounties, arrange for the provision of legal services to the board. When a\nsingle county or city establishes an operating or administrative policy board,\nit shall arrange for the provision of legal services to the board.\n\nC. The county or city that establishes a policy-advisory board shall provide an\nannual audit of the total revenues and expenditures of the city or county\ngovernment department to the board and the Department, carry out the\nresponsibilities and duties enumerated in subsection A of § 37.2-504 and\n§ 37.2-505, and provide legal services to the board. When any combination\nof cities and counties establishes a policy-advisory board, those cities and\ncounties shall designate which local government shall operate the city or county\ngovernment department. This local government shall provide an annual audit of\nthe total revenues and expenditures of that department to the board and the\nDepartment, carry out the responsibilities and duties enumerated in subsection A\nof § 37.2-504 and § 37.2-505, and, in conjunction with the other\ncities and counties, arrange for the provision of legal services to the board.\n\nHISTORY: 1968, c. 477, \u00a7 37.1-195; 1970, c. 346; 1972, c. 498; 1973, c. 78;\n1976, c. 671; 1978, c. 11; 1980, c. 582; 1988, c. 285; 1989, c. 254; 1994, c.\n939; 1996, c. 412; 1997, c. 323; 1998, cc. 667, 680; 1999, c. 653; 2005, c. 716;\n2012, cc. 476, 507.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}