1925_public laws_121_4
CHAPTER 120 AN ACT PLACING ALL STATE CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS ON THE SAME BASIS AND TO PROTECT THE INTEREST OF THE STATE AND TO REQUIRE THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO PAY TO BEAR THE EXPENSE OF THEIR CARE, MAIN- TENANCE AND TREATMENT, AND TO ENFORCE THE SAME POLICY IN ALL SUCH INSTITUTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE MACHINERY RELATING TO THE SAME. Whereas, there have been different policies in practice in differ- ent institutions in this State, according to the several created and regulatory statutes affecting the several institutions, and re- sulting therefrom different policies have been pursued at the State charitable, custodial, curative and correctional institu- tions, until the State, as result thereof, now bears a heavy ex- pense at these institutions for such pupils, inmates and patients as are financially able to pay the same, or are legally dependent upon others who are solvent and able to pay the same thereby not only burdening the State unnecessarily but preventing the State from caring for many indigent patients that it should and otherwise would care for if a single policy were in force at all such institutions, under which those who are able to pay, would pay, and those who could not pay would be given adequate treat- ment at the cost of the State: Now, therefore, The General Assembly of North Carolina doenact:
Such cost, when so fixed and determined by the respective boards of trustees or directors of each institution, shall be paid by the patient, pupil or inmate thereof, or by his parent, guardian, trustee or other person legally responsible therefor, and the payment thereof shall constitute a valid expenditure of the funds of any such pupil, patient or inmate by any fiduciary who may be in the control of such fund, and a receipt for the payment of such cost in the hands of such fiduciary shall be a valid voucher to the extent thereof in the settlement of his accounts of his trust. Immediately upon the determination of the cost, as herein provided for, the superintendent of the institution shall notify the patient, pupil, inmate, parent, guardian, trustee, or such other person who shall be legally responsible for the payment thereof, of the monthly amount thereof, and such statement shall be rendered from month to month. The respective boards of trustees or directors of the various institutions are vested with full and complete authority to arrange with the patient, pupil, inmate, parent, guardian, trustee, or other person legally responsible for the cost, for the payment of any portion of such cost monthly or otherwise, in the event such patient, pupil, inmate, parent, guardian, trustee or other person legally responsible therefor shall not be able to pay the total cost. The head of the various institutions shall annually file with the Auditor of the State a list of all unpaid accounts.