Chap. 180.—An ACT authorizing and empowering the board of supervisors
of any two or more counties in this State, or the board of supervisors of
any one or.more of the counties in this State and the council or councils
of any one or more of the several cities in this State, to establish a
home for the care and maintenance of the poor; to authorize the sale
and conveyance of certain renl and personal property belonging to such
cities and counties as may adopt the provisions of this act; to authorize
the authorities of such counties and cities to purchase farms of suitable
size, fertility and location; to authorize such authorities to erect suitable
buildings to be called district homes, to which all of the counties and
cities composing such district must send its poor, and care for same;
providing for the appointment of boards of control, superintendents,
physicians and necessary employees; and to abolish county and city
poor houses in the several counties and cities which adopt the provisions
of this act. {H B 68]

Approved March 14, 1918.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the
boards of supervisors of any two or more of the several counties in
this State, or the board of supervisors of any one or more of the
counties in this State, and the council of any one or more of the
several cities in this State are hereby authorized and empowered
to establish a home for the care and maintenance of persons unable
to care for themselves, to be known as Wistrict home for the coun-

ties of ...........02. Sec c cree eccceecece ., or district home for
the county or counties of ........ pues venanee settee eee cceeees ‘
and city or cities Of .......... cee eeeeeee cece eee aees ..5 aS the case
may be.

2. That each of these homes shall be erected upon a farm of suit-
able size and of soil susceptible of high improvement, and be con-
trolled by a board to consist of at least one representative from each
county and city composing the district, but where a county or city
shall have more than twenty thousand inhabitants its representative
shall have one vote and an additional vote for every twenty thou-
sand inhabitants or fractional part thereof over ten thousand; pro-
vided, that no city shall have more votes in any district than the
combined votes of the counties composing the districts. The rep-
resentatives from the counties shall be elected by the board of super-
visors, and from the cities by the councils thereof, and shall be enti-
tled to necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings of the
board, and in addition each shall receive an allowance of five ($5.00)
dollar per day for each day that he shall be in attendance on said
board, said allowance, however, not to exceed in any one year the
sum of thirty ($30.00) dollars, to be paid by the counties and cities
respectively. The accounts for such expenses and allowances shall
be made out and verified by affidavits of the representative and
attested by the secretary of the board.

8. The boards of supervisors of the respective counties and the
councils of the several cities in the State for which such district
homes are established, are hereby authorized and empowered to
sell and convey by proper deed, all the real estate held by them for
the.use, benefit and maintenance of their poor, and to sell all per-
sonal property used for that purpose, and out of the proceeds to
appropriate so much as may be required by this act for each county
or city to purchase farms, stock, tools, and all other necessary equip-
ment, and to erect district homes as hereinafter provided.

4. It shall be the duty of the several boards of supervisors of
the counties and councils of the cities, that elect to adopt the pro-
visions of this act, to appoint, as soon thereafter as practicable,
the members of the boards provided for by this act, and which shall
be known as the district home board for the counties of ..........
ween eeeeane or counties and cities Of........... cee eee eee eeee

5. The district home board shall, as soon as possible after
appointment, upon call of the representatives of the city or county,
commencing with the letter nearest to the first in the alphabet,
assemble at some time and place to be named in the call, organize
by the election of a chairman and secretary, and proceed at once
to the purchase of a farm of suitable size and fertility to be located
at some convenient place, having regard to transportation facilities,
and to provide all necessary stock, tools, machinery and equipment,
and shall cause to be erected plain, substantial and comfortable
buildings for the accommodation of the inmates, and separate build-
ings for white and colored people so placed that the white inmates
and colored inmates will not interfere with each other, which build-
ings shall be furnished with plain, comfortable and substantial fur-
niture. The several counties, or the several counties and cities estab-
lishing the district homes hereinabove provided for shall pay for
the farm, stock, buildings, furniture, tools, and other necessary
equipment in proportion to population, and shall hold and own the
same in same proportion. .

6. As soon as the buildings shall be finished and ready for occu-
pancy, the several poorhouses and almshouses hertofore maintained
by the several counties and cities for which the district home is
established, shall be abolished, and the inmates shall be moved to
the district home.

¢. Each district board shall elect a suitable superintendent,
competent physician and necessary assistants for the conduct and
management of the home, and shall fix their salaries, having due
regard to the number of inmates occupying the said home. The
district board shall meet at least twice a year for the conduct of
such business as may be required by the district home, and shall
have the general conduct and management of its affairs, and shall
meet at the call of the chairman whenever he shall deem it neces-
sary, or upon call issued by a majority of the board. In the calls
for special meetings the matters to be considered shall be set out,
but any business may be transacted which shall at said special meet-
ing receive a two-thirds vote of the entire board, although not
mentioned in the call.

8. The several counties or the several counties and cities of the
State, establishing the district homes hereinbefore provided for,
shall, as required by law now in force for the care and maintenance
of those unable to care for themselves, send such persons to the dis-
trict homes, and pay the expenses of the maintenance of said home
in proportion to the number of inmates from the several counties
and cities.

9. The board having charge of each home shall have the con-
trol and management of its home, and may make such rules and
regulations in respect thereto, as shall not be inconsistent with the
laws of the State.

10. As soon after the first day of January of each year as may
be practical the district board shall cause a report to be made of
the home, which shall show the number and age of the inmates, the
condition of health of each one of them, the county or city of his or
her residence, the average number during the year, the amount
received from each county and city composing the district, and the
amount expended, and an itemized statement of all expenditures.
It shall also show an inventory and appralisement of the property
on hand at the commencement of the year, and shall give an account
of receipts from the farm and disbursements on account of it, and
such other matters as may be required by the board of supervisors
of any county or the council of any city included in the district, or
by the State board of charities and corrections. A copy of the
report of the board shall be furnished to the boards of supervisors
of the counties and to the council of the city or cities within the
district, and to the State board of charities and corrections.

11. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are

hereby repealed.