PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 620-AUG. 9, 1939 of Columbia whose residence cannot be ascertained, who is not in confinement on a criminal charge, may be committed by the court to, and confined in, said Saint Elizabeths Hospital, or any other hos- pital in said District, which, in the judgment of the Commission of said District, is properly constructed and equipped for the reception and care of such persons, and the official in charge of which, for the time being, is willing to receive such persons. Disricdent of the "Resident of the District of Columbia", as used in this section, bia" defined. means a person who has maintained his principal place of abode in the District of Columbia for more than one year prior to the filing of the petition provided for in section 1 of this Act. inanec of harmless If it appears that a person found to be insane is harmless and his 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 institution 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 cost Jof mainte- SEC. 9. 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 Colum- bia of his or her maintenance, including treatment in Saint Elizabeths Hospital or in any other hospital to which the insane person may be Ascertainment of committed. It shall be the further duty of said Commission, to ability to pay. examine under oath, the father, mother, husband, wife, adult chil- dren, and committee, if any, of any alleged insane person whenever such relatives live within the District of Columbia, and to ascertain the ability of such relatives or committee, if any, to maintain or contribute toward the maintenance of such alleged insane person: mProion. Provided, That in no case shall said relatives or committee be required to pay more than the actual cost to the District of Columbia of maintenance of such alleged insane person. ecourt procedure i 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 court action. 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 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 Collections. may 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 Enforement again of the United States to the credit of the District of Columbia. Any property of insane erson or person lia- 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. Released or paroled SEC. 10. Any insane person who has been committed to Saint Eliza- patients. learings to deter- beths Hospital or any other hospital, and who shall have been released mine sanity, etc. 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 1298 [53 STAT.
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