Chap. 544.—An ACT to provide for the study of the problems of alcoholism, the
treatment and rehabilitation of persons addicted to the excessive use of alco-
holic beverages; and for other purposes; and to this end to create in the
Department of Health a Division of Alcohol Studies and Rehabilitation
subject to the State Board of Health; to provide for a Director of the Division
of Alcoholic Studies and Rehabilitation and to confer upon the Board, the
Director and the Division, respectively, certain powers, duties and functions;
to provide for the establishment and operation of certain hospital and clinic
facilities for the study, treatment and rehabilitation of persons addicted to the
excessive use of alcoholic beverages; to authorize the receipt and expenditure
of certain grants and gifts; to authorize the entry into certain cooperative
undertakings ; and to make an appropriation. [S 304

Approved April 6, 1948

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia :
1. Section 1. There is created in the Department of Health a
Division of Alcohol Studies and Rehabilitation (hereinafter referred
to as the Division) for the study of the problems of alcoholism, the
treatment and rehabilitation of persons addicted to the excessive use of
alcoholic beverages and for the promotion of preventive and educational
programs. The State Board of Health (hereinafter referred to as the
Board) is vested with the control and management of the Division.

Section 2. The State Health Commissioner shall appoint a Director
of the Division who shall have knowledge of the problems of alcoholism,
treatment and rehabilitation of persons addicted to the excessive use of
alcoholic beverage, and of the promotion of preventive and educational
programs in co-operation with State and focal education authorities and
other recognized agencies.

Section 3. The Director shall consult and work in conjunction with
such nationally recognized scientific and service organizations such as
the Research Council on Problems of Alcohol of the American Associa-
tion for the Advancement of Science, Alcoholics Anonymous and other
agencies as are able to assist in the study, treatment and rehabilitation of
alcoholics and in a scientific educational program on the problems of
alcoholism.

Section 4. The Director, with approval of the State Health Com-
missioner, may appoint such personnel and purchase such supplies and
equipment as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this act. The
Director and all other employees of the Division may be removed or
discharged for cause by the State Health Commissioner.

Section 5. The Director, subject to approval of the State Health
Commissioner, shall contract and/or establish such hospital and clinic
facilities as are necessary to care properly for persons addicted to exces-
sive use of alcoholic beverages. The administration, organization and
standards of these hospitals and clinic facilities shall be such as are
established by the Board.

Section 6. The governing board of the Medical College of Virginia
is authorized and directed to establish, maintain and operate, from funds
hereinafter appropriated or otherwise provided by law, at and as a part
of the Medical College of Virginia, Hospital Division, hospital and clinic
facilities for the study, treatment and rehabilitation of persons addicted
to the excessive use of alcoholic beverages, retaining in these facilities
those patients most amenable to general hospital and clinic care and
referring to the Department of Mental Hygiene and Hospitals for treat-
mént and care other patients coming within the purview of that Depart-
ment.

Section 7. The board of the Medical College of Virginia shall
employ or assign for the conduct of Section five of this act, persons skilled
in the study, treatment and rehabilitation of persons addicted to the
excessive use of alcoholic beverages and may employ or assign for
training thereto such other medical, technical and clinical personnel as
may be desirable.

Section 8. Any person who, through the excessive use of alcoholic
beverages has become unable to care for himself, his family or his pro-
perty, or has become a burden on the public, may voluntarily request
direct admission to the hospital and clinic facilities established under
Section five of this Act. Admission to these facilities may be made also
on application to the Division under the Department of Health and by
courts of competent jurisdiction of the Commonwealth. Admission to
the aforementioned hospital and clinic facilities will be subject to the
medical discretion of the Hospital Division, Medical College of Virginia
and the Director, Division of Alcohol Studies and Rehabilitation.

Section 9. Persons admitted for care and treatment in the hospital
and clinic facilities as provided for in this Act shall be selected in
accordance with policies established by the Board, and shall be deemed
the type of person for whom such care will be of value both individually
and/or for research purposes.

Section 10. The per diem rate for persons receiving care and treat-
ment in the hospital and clinic provided for in this Act shall be deter-
mined by rates established by the Board based on estimates and actual
cost of operation; provided, however, that no person shall be charged
at a rate greater than the actual cost of care and treatment.

Section 11. Persons admitted to the hospital and clinic facilities
heretofore provided for under the provisions of this act shall insofar
as they are able to do so pay for the expense of their care and treatment.
Funds so received in payment shall revert to the Board for the proper
conduct of this Act.

Section 12. The Board may accept on behalf of the Division, from
any source whatsoever, grants, gifts, donations, bequests or devises of
money or property, real or personal, to be used in carrying out the
purposes of this Act.

Section 13. The Division shall reimburse on an actual cost basis
such hospital and clinic facilities provided for in this Act for the study,
treatment and rehabilitation of persons addicted to the excessive use of
alcoholic beverages.