Chap. 56.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 1077 of the Code of Virginia

as amended, in relation to State colony for epileptics and feeble-minded. ,
[H B 57
Approved February 27, 1930

I. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That sec-
tion ten hundred and seventy-seven of the Code of Virginia, as amended,
be amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Section 1077. The superintendent of the State colony for epilep-
tics and feeble-minded shall receive and care for such epileptic white
persons, male and female, not under ten years of age, and such feeble-
minded white persons, females of child-bearing age not under ten years
nor over forty-five years of age and males not under ten years of
age, to whom such training would be of most benefit, who are legal
residents of Virginia, as under the laws of the State may be committed
to the said colony, provided that in committing persons to the said
colony and in receiving them therein those indigent white persons who
would be most likely to receive benefit from colony care and training
shall be first received and admitted. And in order to promote the ob-
jects for which the said colony was established, for the protection of
society and feeble-minded and epileptic persons themselves, and that
those who are capable of being trained for self-support may eventually
leave the institution and enjoy the life and liberty of the outer world,
the superintendent thereof and the said special board of directors shall,
as far as practicable, provide suitable employment for such patients
and such training, both educational and industrial, as may be adapted
to their capacities, and shall see that such moral, medical and surgical
treatment, as they may deem proper, shall be given such patients in
order to promote the objects for which the institution is provided.
The said special board of directors and superintendent shall, as far
as practicable, provide necessary school and industrial buildings and
employ such teachers as may be necessary for these purposes. Until
separate buildings for feeble-minded males are provided, the superin-
tendent may receive and care for with white epileptic males, such
white feeble-minded male patients as may for urgent and distressing
reasons require custodial care and treatment. It shall be unlawful
for any colony to receive and care for with feeble-minded patients,
any idiot, as defined in section ten hundred and seventy-five. However,
on provision by the State of building or buildings at any colony for the
reception and care of idiots, they, when duly committed according to
the provisions of law as to the commitments of the feeble-minded,
shall be received and segregated therein apart from the feeble-minded
population of any such colony or colonies. It is further provided, that
it shall be lawful to transfer from the department of epileptics and
feeble-minded in any colony or colonies patients, whether epileptic or
feeble-minded, who from mental deterioration may have reached the
practical state of idiocy, to be cared for in such building or buildings.
The children of school age within the population of said colony shall
ye enumerated in the school census of the district and county in which
he colony is located, as a part of the school population of the Com-
monwealth, and annually the colony shall be entitled to receive from
the State board of education an appropriation for the support of the
said school, based on its population such as is made to the Virginia
Industrial School at Bon Air, and like institutions.