Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 52.djvu/671

 PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 326-JUNE 8, 1938 lacing o haless If it appears that a person found to be insane is harmless and his insane in eareof roela- tives. or her relatives or committee of his or her person are willing and able properly to care for such insane person at some place or insti- tution other than Saint Elizabeths Hospital, the judge may order that such insane person be placed in the care and custody of such relatives or such committee upon their entering into an undertaking to provide for such insane person as the court may direct. for cityof rmatives EC. 11 . The father, mother, husband, wife, and adult children of nance and treatment. an insane person, if of sufficient ability, and the committee or guardian of his or her person and estate, if his or her estate is sufficient for the purpose, shall pay the cost to the District of Columbia of his or her maintenance, including treatment, in Saint Elizabeths Hospital, or in any other hospital to which the insane Ascertainment of person may be committed. It shall be the duty of said Commission abilitytopay. to examine, under oath, the father, mother, husband, wife, adult children, and committee, if any, of any alleged insane person when- ever such relatives live within the District of Columbia, and to ascertain the ability of such relatives or committee, if any, to main- tain or contribute toward the maintenance of such alleged insane tsmittion. person: Provided, That in no case shall said relatives or committee be required to pay more than the actual cost to the District of Colum- bia of maintenance of such alleged insane person. eCntononpaymede If any person hereinabove made liable for the maintenance of an insane person shall fail so to provide or pay for such maintenance, the court shall issue to such person a citation to show cause why he should not be adjudged to pay a portion or all of the expenses of Citation, hearing, maintenance of such patient. The citation shall be served at least ten days before the hearing thereon. If, upon such hearing, it shall appear to the court that the insane person has not sufficient estate out of which his maintenance may properly be fully met and that he has relatives of the degrees hereinabove mentioned who are parties Action bycort. to the proceedings, and who are able to contribute thereto, the court may make an order requiring payment by such relatives of such sum or sums as it may find they are reasonably able to pay and as may be necessary to provide for the maintenance of such insane person. Said order shall require the payment of such sums to the Board of Public Welfare annually, semiannually, or quarterly as the court may Collections. direct. It shall be the duty of the Board to collect the said sums due under this section, and to turn the same into the Treasury of prEnforementi nster the United States to the credit of the District of Columbia. Aly on or peson liable. such order may be enforced against any property of the insane person or of the person liable or undertaking to maintain him in the same way as if it were an order for temporary alimony in a divorce case. Releaten,brarnlso SE 12. Any insane person who has been committed to Saint determine sanity, etc. Elizabeths Hospital, or any other hospital, and who shallhave been released from such hospital as improved, or who shall have been paroled from such hospital (but who shall not have been discharged as cured), and who shall have been absent from the hospital on release or parole for a period of six months or longer, shall have the right to appear before the Commission for a hearing to determine the sanity and right to restoration to the status of a person of sound mind of said insane person by filing a petition therefor with the court upon a form to be provided by the Commission for that purpose. ob-inat'lon and It shall be the duty of the Commission to make such examination observation by Com- mission. and observation of the insane person as may be necessary to deter- mine such questions, and to make a report and a recommendation to p Commision finds the court. In the event the Commission shall find that the said person to be of sound mind. person is of sound mind and shall recommend to the court the restoration of said person to the status of a person of sound mind 630 [52 STAT.

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