{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/63.2-317.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/63.2-317.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/63.2-317.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/63.2-317.html"}],"law_id":78830,"edition_id":1,"section_id":78830,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-317","catch_line":"Employment of counsel for local boards and employees; payment of expenses","history":"1976, c. 382, \u00a7 63.1-54.1; 1977, c. 184; 1985, c. 438; 2002, c. 747; 2014, cc. 122, 536.","full_text":"Except in those cases in which the attorney for the Commonwealth or county or city attorney represents the local board, a local board may employ legal counsel in civil matters to give advice to or represent the local board or any of its members or the employees of the local department and may pay court costs and other expenses involved in the conduct of such civil matters from funds appropriated by the local governing body for the administration of the local department. Such counsel may be employed on a part-time basis for any particular action or actions. A local board may employ in-house counsel to provide general legal advice and representation and advice related to specific actions. However, prior approval of the Department shall be obtained by the local board before counsel is employed except in instances where legal counsel is necessary for the provision of services or assistance to eligible recipients under this title.\n\t\tThe Department may reimburse the local board for all or any part of such expenditures at the same rate in effect for all other administrative costs at the time of the expenditure. However, the Department shall not reimburse the local board for any expenses for which payment was available through an insurance policy currently in force.\n\t\tWhere such counsel is employed by the local board, the attorney for the Commonwealth or city attorney or county attorney may be relieved of his responsibility to represent the local board or local department in that matter.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":282378,"text":"Except in those cases in which the attorney for the Commonwealth or county or city attorney represents the local board, a local board may employ legal counsel in civil matters to give advice to or represent the local board or any of its members or the employees of the local department and may pay court costs and other expenses involved in the conduct of such civil matters from funds appropriated by the local governing body for the administration of the local department. Such counsel may be employed on a part-time basis for any particular action or actions. A local board may employ in-house counsel to provide general legal advice and representation and advice related to specific actions. However, prior approval of the Department shall be obtained by the local board before counsel is employed except in instances where legal counsel is necessary for the provision of services or assistance to eligible recipients under this title.\n\t\tThe Department may reimburse the local board for all or any part of such expenditures at the same rate in effect for all other administrative costs at the time of the expenditure. However, the Department shall not reimburse the local board for any expenses for which payment was available through an insurance policy currently in force.\n\t\tWhere such counsel is employed by the local board, the attorney for the Commonwealth or city attorney or county attorney may be relieved of his responsibility to represent the local board or local department in that matter.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13037,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Boards of Social Services","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13036,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:10","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:10","permalink":{"id":270841,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13037,"identifier":"1","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1","url":"\/63.2\/I\/3\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13036,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Social Services","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12790,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:10","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:10","permalink":{"id":270839,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13036,"identifier":"3","token":"63.2\/I\/3","url":"\/63.2\/I\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12790,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions Relating to Social Services","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12789,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":270663,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12790,"identifier":"I","token":"63.2\/I","url":"\/63.2\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12789,"edition_id":1,"name":"Welfare (Social Services)","identifier":"63.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":270661,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12789,"identifier":"63.2","token":"63.2","url":"\/63.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":79715,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-300","catch_line":"Local boards established by local governments","url":"\/63.2-300\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-300","metadata":false},{"id":76957,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-301","catch_line":"Local board appointments and terms of office","url":"\/63.2-301\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-301","metadata":false},{"id":75875,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-302","catch_line":"How local board for a single county is constituted","url":"\/63.2-302\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-302","metadata":false},{"id":80272,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-303","catch_line":"Local boards in counties having special forms of county government","url":"\/63.2-303\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-303","metadata":false},{"id":54100,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-304","catch_line":"How local board of a city is constituted","url":"\/63.2-304\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-304","metadata":false},{"id":72829,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-305","catch_line":"Advisory boards","url":"\/63.2-305\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-305","metadata":false},{"id":85404,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-306","catch_line":"Local boards established by two or more political subdivisions","url":"\/63.2-306\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-306","metadata":false},{"id":81247,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-306.1","catch_line":"Withdrawal from district boards of social services","url":"\/63.2-306.1\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-306.1","metadata":false},{"id":75837,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-307","catch_line":"Local boards serving certain districts","url":"\/63.2-307\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-307","metadata":false},{"id":65295,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-308","catch_line":"Suspension or removal of members","url":"\/63.2-308\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-308","metadata":false},{"id":56549,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-309","catch_line":"Quorum","url":"\/63.2-309\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-309","metadata":false},{"id":54686,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-310","catch_line":"Compensation and expenses","url":"\/63.2-310\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-310","metadata":false},{"id":75070,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-311","catch_line":"Fiscal officer for district board; compensation of such officer","url":"\/63.2-311\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-311","metadata":false},{"id":67210,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-312","catch_line":"Meetings; organization; chairman and vice-chairman; secretary","url":"\/63.2-312\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-312","metadata":false},{"id":65949,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-313","catch_line":"Administration of law","url":"\/63.2-313\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-313","metadata":false},{"id":69040,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-314","catch_line":"Funds received from public or private sources; authority of local governing bodies to make grants; authority of local boards to establish regulations and fees for court ordered services","url":"\/63.2-314\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-314","metadata":false},{"id":65835,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-315","catch_line":"Furnishing reports","url":"\/63.2-315\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-315","metadata":false},{"id":59137,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-316","catch_line":"Submission of budget to governing bodies","url":"\/63.2-316\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-316","metadata":false},{"id":78830,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-317","catch_line":"Employment of counsel for local boards and employees; payment of expenses","url":"\/63.2-317\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-317","metadata":false},{"id":80438,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-318","catch_line":"Payment of legal fees and expenses for certain local department employees","url":"\/63.2-318\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-318","metadata":false},{"id":86602,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-319","catch_line":"Child welfare and other services","url":"\/63.2-319\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-319","metadata":false},{"id":59613,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-320","catch_line":"Accepting and expending certain funds on behalf of children placed by or entrusted to local board when no guardian appointed; disposition of funds when children discharged","url":"\/63.2-320\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-320","metadata":false},{"id":66779,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-321","catch_line":"Interest in and cooperation for public assistance and social services; directing local director","url":"\/63.2-321\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-321","metadata":false},{"id":75438,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-322","catch_line":"Conducting hearings, issuing subpoenas, etc","url":"\/63.2-322\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-322","metadata":false},{"id":76145,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-323","catch_line":"Emergency payments","url":"\/63.2-323\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-323","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":59137,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-316","catch_line":"Submission of budget to governing bodies","url":"\/63.2-316\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-316","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":80438,"structure_id":13037,"section_number":"63.2-318","catch_line":"Payment of legal fees and expenses for certain local department employees","url":"\/63.2-318\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-318","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/63.2-317\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1976. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 382 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 1976 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 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 1977, chapter 184; in 1985, chapter 438; in 2002, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?021+ful+CHAP0747\">747<\/a>; in 2014, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?141+ful+CHAP0122\">122<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?141+ful+CHAP0536\">536<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":270915,"object_type":"law","relational_id":78830,"identifier":"63.2-317","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-317","url":"\/63.2-317\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/63.2-317\/","token":"63.2\/I\/3\/1\/63.2-317","dublin_core":{"Title":"Employment of counsel for local boards and employees; payment of expenses","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 63.2-317","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>Except in those cases in which the attorney for the Commonwealth or county or city attorney represents the <span class=\"dictionary\">local board<\/span>, a <span class=\"dictionary\">local board<\/span> may employ legal <span class=\"dictionary\">counsel<\/span> in civil matters to give advice to or represent the <span class=\"dictionary\">local board<\/span> or any of its members or the employees of the <span class=\"dictionary\">local department<\/span> and may pay <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> costs and other expenses involved in the conduct of such civil matters from funds appropriated by the local governing body for the administration of the <span class=\"dictionary\">local department<\/span>. Such <span class=\"dictionary\">counsel<\/span> may be employed on a part-time basis for any particular action or actions. A <span class=\"dictionary\">local board<\/span> may employ in-house <span class=\"dictionary\">counsel<\/span> to provide general legal advice and representation and advice related to specific actions. However, prior approval of the Department shall be obtained by the <span class=\"dictionary\">local board<\/span> before <span class=\"dictionary\">counsel<\/span> is employed except in instances where legal <span class=\"dictionary\">counsel<\/span> is necessary for the provision of services or assistance to eligible recipients under this title.\n\t\tThe Department may reimburse the <span class=\"dictionary\">local board<\/span> for all or any part of such expenditures at the same rate in effect for all other administrative costs at the time of the expenditure. However, the Department shall not reimburse the <span class=\"dictionary\">local board<\/span> for any expenses for which payment was available through an insurance policy currently in force.\n\t\tWhere such <span class=\"dictionary\">counsel<\/span> is employed by the <span class=\"dictionary\">local board<\/span>, the attorney for the Commonwealth or city attorney or county attorney may be relieved of his responsibility to represent the <span class=\"dictionary\">local board<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">local department<\/span> in that matter.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEMPLOYMENT OF COUNSEL FOR LOCAL BOARDS AND EMPLOYEES; PAYMENT OF EXPENSES (\u00a7\n63.2-317)\n\nExcept in those cases in which the attorney for the Commonwealth or county or\ncity attorney represents the local board, a local board may employ legal counsel\nin civil matters to give advice to or represent the local board or any of its\nmembers or the employees of the local department and may pay court costs and\nother expenses involved in the conduct of such civil matters from funds\nappropriated by the local governing body for the administration of the local\ndepartment. Such counsel may be employed on a part-time basis for any particular\naction or actions. A local board may employ in-house counsel to provide general\nlegal advice and representation and advice related to specific actions. However,\nprior approval of the Department shall be obtained by the local board before\ncounsel is employed except in instances where legal counsel is necessary for the\nprovision of services or assistance to eligible recipients under this title.\n\t\tThe Department may reimburse the local board for all or any part of such\nexpenditures at the same rate in effect for all other administrative costs at\nthe time of the expenditure. However, the Department shall not reimburse the\nlocal board for any expenses for which payment was available through an\ninsurance policy currently in force.\n\t\tWhere such counsel is employed by the local board, the attorney for the\nCommonwealth or city attorney or county attorney may be relieved of his\nresponsibility to represent the local board or local department in that matter.\n\nHISTORY: 1976, c. 382, \u00a7 63.1-54.1; 1977, c. 184; 1985, c. 438; 2002, c. 747;\n2014, cc. 122, 536.","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}}