Chap. 78.—An ACT to authorize the State Board of Public Welfare to establish
a state-wide system of public homes for certain persons, to prescribe standards
for such homes and for the care of persons resident therein, and to eB Ca
that persons cared for in such homes may receive public assistance.

Approved March 2, 1946

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, as follows:

1. Section 1. The State Board of Public Welfare is authorized
and directed to organize and establish a statewide system of public homes
for the care and maintenance of indigent aged, infirm, chronically ill or 1n-
capacitated persons who are not eligible for care in general hospitals or
hospitals for the care of tubercular patients, or for the care of mentally
disturbed or retarded persons, and for the care of such other persons as
voluntarily contract for such service. In establishing such system the
Board shall include therein existing city, county and district homes which
meet the standards required by the Board, and whose boards or local
governing bodies request admission to the system.

Section 2. The Board shall encourage the establishment of district
or area homes which shall meet the standards prescribed by the Board
for the care of its indigent aged, infirm, chronically ill or incapacitated
persons.

Section 3. The Board shall prescribe reasonable standards for the
construction, maintenance and operation of such homes, and for the treat-
ment, care, maintenance and general welfare of persons admitted to and
cared for therein, and shall, by inspection at such times and in such man-
ner as it determines, ascertain if such standards are being maintained.
If any such home fails to maintain such standards, it shall be removed
from the list of homes approved by the Board.

Section 4. Any such approved home may receive and care for
such recipients of public assistance as voluntarily apply for admittance
therein, and residence of any such recipient in an approved home shall
in no way affect his right to receive such public assistance. All residents
of approved homes who are otherwise eligible for public assistance may,
notwithstanding any provisions of the “Virginia Public Welfare and
Assistance Act of nineteen hundred thirty-eight”, as amended, apply for
and receive such assistance as they are eligible to receive under such act,
provided that applications for such assistance must be made to and such
assistance shall be paid by the county or city from which the applicant
was approved for admission to the home. Nothing in this act shall be
construed to require any persons eligible for public assistance to remain
in any such home, nor to require the management of any home to retain
any such person therein.