Governance

The Science Museum of Virginia is an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is governed according to the applicable portion of the Code of Virginia.

Relevant Code of Virginia Portions

§ 23-239 Museum created; essential governmental function

There is hereby created and constituted an educational institution of the Commonwealth of Virginia to be known as "The Science Museum of Virginia," hereinafter in this chapter sometimes referred to as the "Museum." The Museum is hereby declared to be a public body and instrumentality for the dissemination of education. The exercise by the Museum of the powers conferred by this chapter shall be deemed and held to be the performance of an essential governmental function.

§ 23-240 Purposes

The purposes of The Science Museum of Virginia are:

• to deepen our understanding of man and his environment;
• to promote a knowledge of the scientific method and thus encourage objectivity in the everyday affairs of man;
• to engage in instruction and research in the sciences in order to educate citizens of all ages in the concepts and principles of science and how these concepts and principles form the foundation upon which rests our technological society and its economy;
• to use, subject to approval of the accredited educational affiliates concerned, Museum personnel in educational programs;
• to motivate and stimulate young people to seek careers in science; to encourage an understanding of the history of scientific endeavor;
• to provide special facilities and collections for the study of Virginia's natural resources; and to foster a love of nature and concern for its preservation.

These purposes are hereby declared to be a matter of legislative determination.

§ 23-242 Organization

The Museum shall contain a headquarters and six divisions to encompass the following major areas of science:

• Physical Sciences
• Botanical Sciences
• Natural History
• Industry and Technology
• Oceanography and Limnology
• Zoological Gardens.

§ 23-243 To be governed by board of trustees; appointment of members

The Museum shall be governed by a board of trustees, consisting of fifteen members, each of whom shall be appointed by the Governor. One of the members appointed to the board shall be a member of the Virginia Academy of Science. The appointments shall be subject to confirmation by the General Assembly if in session and, if not, then at its next succeeding session. The board of trustees will hereinafter in this chapter be referred to as the "board."

§ 23-244 Terms of members; vacancies

The members of the board shall be appointed for terms of five years each beginning from the expiration of the respective terms of their predecessors, except that an appointment to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired term and that the initial appointments to increase the board to fifteen members shall be for such terms of less than five years as may be necessary to stagger the expiration of terms so that the terms of not more than four members expire in any one year. Members of the board may be suspended or removed by the Governor at his pleasure. For the purpose of succession, the initial appointments of members for terms of less than five years shall be deemed appointments to fill vacancies. No person shall be eligible to serve for or during more than two successive terms; provided, however, any person appointed to fill a vacancy may be eligible for two additional successive terms after the term of the vacancy for which he was appointed has expired. The members of the board shall receive no salaries.

§ 23-245 Officers of board

The board shall select a chairman from its membership, and under rules adopted by itself may elect one of its members as vice-chairman. It shall elect one of its members as secretary.

§ 23-246 Oath of members

Before entering upon the discharge of his duties, each member of the board shall take the usual oath of office.

§ 23-247 Bonds of members

Each member of the board shall give bond, with corporate surety, in such penalty as is fixed by the Governor, conditioned upon the faithful discharge of his duties. The premium on the bonds shall be paid from funds available to the Museum.

§ 23-248 Meetings of board

The board shall meet at such times as it deems appropriate and on call of the chairman when in his opinion meetings are expedient or necessary.

§ 23-249 Quorum of board

Seven members of the board shall constitute a quorum for all purposes.

§ 23-250 Powers and duties of board

The board is hereby authorized and empowered:

1. To select sites for the Museum and the divisions thereof and to provide for the erection, care and preservation of all property belonging to the Museum;
2. To appoint the Director of the Museum, and prescribe his duties and salary;
3. To prescribe rules and regulations for the operation of the Museum, including, but not limited to, the kinds and types of instruction and exhibits, and the making of plans for expansion from time to time of the Museum;
4. To employ planning consultants and architects in relation to establishment of the Museum and any expansions thereof;
5. To acquire by purchase, gift, loan or otherwise land necessary for establishment and expansion of the Museum, and exhibits and displays;
6. To enter into contracts for construction of physical facilities;
7. To adopt a seal; and
8. To charge for admission to the Museum, if deemed appropriate.

§ 23-251 Agents and employees

The Director may engage or authorize the engagement of such agents and employees as may be needed in the operation and maintenance of the Museum, subject to the approval of the board.

§ 23-252 Acceptance of gifts; expenditures; application of §§ 23-3.1 and 23-9.2

1. The board is authorized, on behalf of the Commonwealth and in furtherance of the purposes of the Museum, to receive and administer gifts, bequests and devises of property of any kind whatsoever, and grants from agencies of the United States government, and to expend, or authorize the expenditure of, funds derived from such sources and funds appropriated by the General Assembly to the Museum.
2. The Museum shall be deemed to be an institution of higher education within the meaning of §§ 23-3.1 and 23-9.2.
3. Gifts heretofore made to the Museum by political subdivisions of the Commonwealth are hereby validated.

§ 23-253 Annual report

The Board of Trustees shall submit an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly on or before November 1 of each year. Such report shall contain, at a minimum, the annual financial statements of the Museum for the year ending the preceding June 30. The annual report shall be distributed in accordance with the provisions of § 2.1-467.