Pennsylvania Act 1937-538 — STATE HOSPITAL, CONSTRUCTION

Act text

STATE HOSPITAL, CONSTRUCTION
                 Act of Jul. 1, 1937, P.L. 2685, No. 538              Cl. 35
                                  AN ACT

     Providing for the erection, construction, and equipment of
        buildings for a new State sanatorium, or new buildings at
        existing sanatoria; designating the manner of acquiring or
        setting aside of land for the erection and construction of
        such buildings by The General State Authority; authorizing
        the Commonwealth to lease such new sanatorium or building or
        buildings and the grounds connected therewith from The
        General State Authority upon their completion, and the
        Department of Health to manage and operate the same; and
        conferring powers and imposing duties upon certain State
        departments.

        WHEREAS, It is the desire of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     that The General State Authority construct a new sanatorium or
     erect additional buildings to existing sanatoria and lease the
     same to the Commonwealth; therefore,
        Section 1.  Be it enacted, &c., That the Department of
     Health, with the approval of the Governor, may select for
     acquisition, either by the Department of Property and Supplies
     in the name of the Commonwealth or by The General State
     Authority with funds of the authority, a tract of land well
     supplied or capable of being supplied with water and capable of
     being sewered and drained, for the erection and construction
     thereon by The General State Authority of an additional
     sanatorium for the treatment of persons afflicted with
     tuberculosis. The title to the lands so acquired shall be
     approved by the Attorney General. If it shall be found that the
     Commonwealth owns State forest lands or other lands suitable in
     whole or in part for such use, such lands may be designated by
     the Department of Health, with the approval of the Governor and
     the department, board, or commission of the Commonwealth having
     possession and control of the same, and any additional lands
     necessary may be selected and acquired as aforesaid.
        Section 2.  The Department of Property and Supplies shall
     have authority to convey any land so acquired or selected, or
     any lands now owned in connection with any State sanatorium, to
     The General State Authority for the purpose of having such
     authority erect and construct thereon and equip buildings for a
     new sanatorium or a new building or buildings to any existing
     sanatorium. The plans and specifications of any such sanatorium
     building or buildings, whether erected on land acquired directly
     by The General State Authority or by conveyance to it from the
     Commonwealth, shall be subject to the approval of the Department
     of Health, and shall provide for suitable buildings and an
     adequate water supply system, sewage treatment works, heat and
     electric power plant or plants, service lines, and other
     necessary equipment, structures, and improvements. The buildings
     shall be of modern design, plain and substantial, and capable of
     extension as the needs of the sanatorium may require.
        Section 3.  The Department of Property and Supplies, with the
     approval of the Governor, is hereby authorized, on behalf of the
     Commonwealth, to enter into a lease for a term of not more than
     thirty (30) years with The General State Authority, to acquire
     the use of the new sanatorium building or buildings so erected,
     constructed, and equipped, and any lands or farms connected
     therewith for the purpose of operation and management. In such
     case the management and operation of the sanatorium building or
     buildings and the care, treatment and maintenance of patients
     therein shall be the function of the Department of Health.
     Subject to and in the manner provided in the Administrative Code
     of one thousand nine hundred twenty-nine, and its amendments,
     the Department of Health shall have power to employ and fix the
     compensation of a director, physicians, mechanics, nurses,
     clerks, stenographers, and other employes as may be deemed
     necessary for the proper maintenance and management of the
     sanatorium and patients therein and the land connected
     therewith. The compensation of all persons so appointed and all
     other expenses in connection with such care and maintenance of
     patients therein shall be paid from the appropriation made to
     the Department of Health for such purposes.
        Section 4.  In the management and operation of the new
     sanatorium building or buildings, the Department of Health shall
     have all the powers conferred and perform all the duties imposed
     by the laws of this Commonwealth on it in respect to the
     existing sanatoria for tubercular patients.
        Section 5.  This act shall become effective immediately upon
     its final enactment.