CHAPTER 60

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 37 an article
numbered 4.1, consisting of §§ 37-25.1 through 37-25.6, to create the
Virginia Treatment Center for Children; to confer certain powers and
duties on the State Hospital Board and the Commissioner of Mental
Hygiene and Hospitals with respect thereto; to provide for a Director
and other personnel; to provide the conditions for admission or trans-
fer of emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children thereto and their
release therefrom; and to establish responsibility for the payment of
costs of care and treatment at such Center. [S. B. 67]

Approved February 17, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia be amended by adding in Title 37 an article
numbered 4.1, consisting of §§ 37-25.1 through 37-25.6 as follows:

Article 4.1
Virginia Treatment Center for Children

§ 37-25.1. The State Hospital Board is authorized and directed to
establish, construct and equip a treatment center to provide for study,
treatment and care, and for research into methods of treatment of,
emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children. The Center shall be known
as the Virginia Treatment Center for Children and shall be located on
State-owned property within the vicinity of a State supported medical
teaching center.

§ 37-25.2. The Treatment Center shall be under the supervision and
control of the State Hospital Board, which shall determine the policies to
be followed in the operation and management of the Center and may adopt
rules and regulations with respect thereto and concerning the admission
of patients to the Center.

§ 37-25.3. The Commissioner of Mental Hygiene and Hospitals, shall
appoint, subject to the approval of the State Hospital Board, a director of
the Treatment Center, who shall be a physician who is a graduate of a
medical school approved by the American Medical Association and who
has been engaged in the practice of psychiatry for at least five years. The
Director shall perform such duties as the State Hospital Board or the Com-
missioner shall prescribe. Subject to the provisions of Chapter 9 of Title 2
of the Code, the Director may recommend for appointment by the Commis-
sioner all other officers and employees of the Treatment Center.

§ 37-25.4 (a). Only mentally-ill or emotionally disturbed children
under sixteen years of age shall be admitted or transferred to the Treat-
ment Center.

(b). Voluntary admissions shall be made, in the discretion of the
Director, upon application signed by the parent or parents or legal guardian
of the child, which shall be accompanied by a certificate signed by a
psychiatrist or physician that, in his opinion, study, care and treatment at
the Center would be beneficial to the child. A complete case history shall
accompany each such application.

(c). Transfers to the Center may be made as provided in § 37-7 with
respect to transfers between other institutions under the control of the
State Hospital Board. Upon application made by any State department,
institution or agency having custody of any child who is mentally ill or
emotionally disturbed, such child may, with the approval of the Commis-
sioner, be admitted for study, care and treatment at the Center.
§ 37-25.5. No admission or transfer to the Center shall be for a period
longer than three months; provided, however that the Director, with the
approval of the Commissioner, may discharge or otherwise release a patient
as provided by law with respect to other institutions under the control of
the State Hospital Board; or may, with such approval, extend the period
of study, care and treatment from time to time if necessary. In no event
shall a child remain in the Center for more than twelve consecutive months.
All children admitted or transferred to the Center shall be in the custody
and under the control of ¢:e Director, who may impose such restraints on
any such child as he may deem necessary for the welfare of the child or the
proper conduct of the Center.

§ 37-25.6. The. parent, guardian or other person legally liable for
the support of any child admitted or transferred to the Center shall be
liable for the cost of the care and treatment of such child therein to the
extent set forth as to other institutions under the control of the State
Hospital Board in Article 6, Chapter 3 of this Title, which cost may be
collected in the manner therein provided.