Pennsylvania Act 1917-160 — CONTAGIOUS DISEASE HOSPITALS, ESTABLISHMENT

Act text

CONTAGIOUS DISEASE HOSPITALS, ESTABLISHMENT
                  Act of May 24, 1917, P.L. 297, No. 160              Cl. 16
                                  AN ACT

     Authorizing the establishment of contagious disease hospitals in
        the several counties of the Commonwealth, to be constructed
        and maintained out of county funds.

        Compiler's Note:  Section 2901 of Act 130 of 1955 provided
            that Act 160 is repealed insofar as it relates to
            counties of the third through eighth class.
        Compiler's Note:  Section 3301 of Act 230 of 1953 provided
            that Act 160 is repealed insofar as it relates to
            counties of the second class.
        Section 1.  Be it enacted, &c., That, from and after the
     passage of this act, hospitals for the care and treatment of
     persons suffering from contagious diseases may be constructed
     and maintained by counties in this Commonwealth.
        Section 2.  Whenever, in the opinion of the county
     commissioners of any county, a hospital for the care of
     contagious diseases appears to be necessary or advisable, the
     said county commissioners may either locate such a hospital on
     the grounds of the county poor-farm or may purchase a suitable
     location in some other locality; provided such locality is not
     within, or close to, the built-up portion of any city, borough,
     or village, and not within one hundred (100) feet of any public
     highway.
        Section 3.  Plans and specifications may be prepared for such
     hospital by the county commissioners, or at their instance,
     which plans and specifications must be submitted to the
     Commissioner of Health of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for
     his approval, and must be so approved before the construction of
     any building is commenced.
        Section 4.  Upon the plans and specifications being approved
     by the Commissioner of Health, the said hospital may be
     constructed and equipped in the same manner that other county
     buildings are constructed and equipped, and the expense and cost
     of such construction and equipment paid by the county
     commissioners out of county funds.
        Section 5.  After such hospital is erected and equipped and
     ready for occupancy, it shall be conducted and maintained, by
     and under the authority of the directors of the poor, in the
     same manner that the county-home and other county poor-buildings
     are conducted and maintained.
        Section 6.  All expense incident to the construction and
     maintenance of contagious disease hospitals, established in
     accordance with the provisions of this act, shall be paid out of
     county funds, and no appropriations shall be made to such
     hospitals by the State.
        Section 7.  In any county in which a hospital for the care
     and treatment of contagious diseases has been constructed and is
     being maintained, whenever, in the opinion of the health
     authorities,--either the local board or department of health of
     any city or borough in such county, or the State Department of
     Health,--proper quarantine measures cannot be otherwise
     enforced, the said health authorities may, for the protection of
     public health and the prevention of epidemics of disease, have
     authority to remove cases of contagious disease from private
     residences and other places to such hospital, for treatment and
     isolation during the continuance of such disease.