Chap. 248.—An ACT to provide for the voluntary admission of insane persons
in the State hospitals or other State institutions for the insane, and for
their transportation and maintenance and treatment while in such
hospitals or institutions, and their discharge from such hospitals or
institutions. (8S. B. 373.)

Approved March 24, 1914.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the superintendent of any State hospital or other State institutior
for the care and treatment of the insane may, subject to the rules
and regulations established by the general board of directors of
State hospitals, receive and detain therein, as a patient, any suitable
person who is a legal resident of the State, and is in the early
stages of insanity and desirous of submitting himself to treatment,
and who voluntarily makes written application therefor, and whose
mental condition is such as to render him competent to make said
application, understand the same if made by another for him, or
whose application, if he is under the age of twenty-one years, is
made by a parent or guardian; provided, however, that the mental
derangement of such person is not the temporary ettects of alcehol
or any drug, and, provided further, that the admission of such
voluntary patient does not deprive any person who has been com-
mitted of care and treatment in such hospital or other institution
for the insane.

2. A person thus received as a voluntary patient at such hos-
pital or institution shall not be detained under such voluntary agree-
ment more than ten days after notice, in writing given by him or
by another for him, with his knowledge and consent, of his intention
or desire to leave such hospital or institution.

3. The superintendent or physician in charge of a State hospital
shall, within three days after the admission of a patient by such
voluntary agreement, forward to the commissioner of State hos-
pitals, and also present to the special board of directors at their
next meeting, a record of such patient, in accordance with such
rules and regulations as may be established by the commissioner and
the general board of directors of State hospitals.

4. The cost of transportation of any such voluntary patient to
and from the hospital or institution shall not be borne by the said
hospital or institution. Such voluntary patient shall be required to
defray his expenses for care and treatment while in such hospital
or institution at a rate fixed by the commissioner of hospitals and
the general board of directors of State hospitals, provided that the
charges do not exceed the actual cost for care and maintenance and
treatment of such voluntary patient; and provided, further, that
if such voluntary patient is, in the opinion of the special board of
directors of such hospital or other institution unable, financially,
to defray his expenses for such care and treatment, then the said
special board may, for reasons apparent to them and stated on
record, exempt such patient from the payment of such expenses for
a period not to exceed two months, and, upon making application
for admission, such person shall, unless so exempted as hereinbefore
provided, furnish and deliver an obligation acceptable to the general
board of directors, with sufficient surety (payable to the hospital
or institution in its corporate name), for the payment of such sum
of money as may be designated by the general board of directors.
for his maintenance, care and treatment while in the hospital or
institution.

5. All acts and parts of acts in conflict with this act are hereby
repealed.