Chap. 40.—An ACT to amend and re-enact Section 1031 of the Code of Virginia,
relating to the voluntary admission of insane persons to hospitals. [H B 39]

Approved February 19, 1936

1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That section
ten hundred and thirty-one of the Code of Virginia, be amended and
re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Section 1031. The superintendent of any State hospital or colony
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 con-
dition is such as to render him competent to make said application,
understand the same if made by another for him, or made by a parent,
guardian, or next friend; provided the admission of such voluntary
patient does not deprive any person who has been committed of care
and treatment in such hospital, or other institution for the insane.

A person thus received as a voluntary patient at such hospital or
institution shall not be detained under such voluntary agreement 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.

The superintendent or physician in charge of a State hospital shall,
after the admission of such a patient by such voluntary agreement,
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 general board of directors of State hospitals.

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 general board of directors of State hospitals, but
the charges shall not exceed the actual cost for care and maintenance
and treatment of such voluntary patient. If, however, such voluntary
patient is, in the opinion of the special board of directors of such hos-
pital or other institution, unable financially to defray his hospital
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. Upon making application
for admission, such person shall, unless so exempted as hereinbefore
provided, furnish and deliver an obligation acceptable to the special
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.