Pennsylvania Act 1945-325 — AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MENTAL HOSPITALS

Act text

AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MENTAL HOSPITALS
                  Act of May 18, 1945, P.L. 815, No. 325              Cl. 67
                                  AN ACT

     Authorizing the Department of Welfare, with the approval of the
        Governor, to establish additional institutions, or to
        relocate present institutions for the care and treatment of
        persons afflicted with mental disorders, or for the detention
        of persons sentenced by the courts; authorizing the
        Department of Property and Supplies to acquire by purchase or
        condemnation certain sites for such institutions and to
        improve or erect buildings thereon; providing for the
        administration of, relocated or new institutions; and
        empowering the Board of Commissioners of Public Grounds and
        Buildings to dispose of institutions no longer used.

        Compiler's Note:  Section 1001(1) of Act 141 of 1951 provided
            that Act 325 is repealed insofar as it relates to
            institutions for the care of persons afflicted with
            mental disorders.

        Whereas, A committee of experts upon penal affairs appointed
     by the Governor has recommended a development of the State's
     penal system to include among other things the relocation of the
     Western State Penitentiary at Pittsburgh and the Eastern State
     Penitentiary at Philadelphia, the establishment of
     classification centers for persons committed by the courts, a
     relocation of the institution for mental defectives committed by
     the courts and a separation of male and female juveniles now
     committed to the Pennsylvania Training School, and
        Whereas, A committee of experts upon institutional care of
     mental patients has recommended enlargement of present mental
     hospitals and other institutions and the possible establishment
     of additional institutions of this type, and
        Whereas, Determinations as to the size to which to develop
     present institutions, or locations for new institutions cannot
     be made without architectural and engineering studies,
     particularly studies of water supply, drainage and sewerage and
     requirements for sewage treatment, and
        Whereas, Studies and plans are not now available and are
     difficult to complete because of the war, and
        Whereas, The orderly progress of the State's postwar
     construction and employment program for which this session of
     the General Assembly is appropriating upwards of sixty-five
     millions of dollars requires that construction proceed as soon
     after the war as the necessary plans and surveys can be made,
     therefore

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

        Section 1.  The Department of Welfare may recommend to the
     Governor the establishment of new institutions for the care of
     persons afflicted with mental disorders, or for the detention of
     persons sentenced by the courts, or the relocation of present
     institutions under the supervision of the Department of Welfare,
     where it appears that a present institution is no longer fit for
     use or for reconstruction and that the conditions of its water
     supply, sewerage location or environment justify its
     abandonment.
        Section 2.  Upon receiving the recommendations of the
     Department of Welfare, the Governor, if he approves, shall
     direct the Department of Property and Supplies to determine
     desirable sites within the area recommended by the Department of
     Welfare for the erection of such institutions. Such sites shall
     provide ample water supply and be capable of adequate sewerage
     and drainage. Consideration shall be given to the needs for
     expansion over a period of fifty years and the quality of soil
     and the acreage obtained shall be sufficient for the most
     productive agricultural employment of the type of persons for
     which the institution is planned.
        Section 3.  After the Governor shall have approved a site
     from among those proposed by the Department of Property and
     Supplies, the Department of Property and Supplies shall acquire
     the land and improvements thereon by purchase or by
     condemnation, and shall proceed with the construction of
     necessary buildings and facilities following the recommendations
     of the Department of Welfare and the Governor's approval. The
     cost of such land, buildings and facilities shall be paid from
     appropriations made for such purpose.
        Section 4.  Upon completion of the institution, it shall be
     administered by the same board of trustees as was appointed for
     the institution which was relocated, or, in the case of a new
     institution, by a board of trustees which shall be appointed and
     organized, and shall conduct its affairs in accordance with the
     provisions of the Administrative Code of 1929, as amended. The
     name for any new institution shall be selected by the Department
     of Welfare with the Governor's approval which shall be
     indicative of the political subdivisions in or near which such
     institution is located.
        Section 5.  Admissions and commitments to any institution
     established or relocated under the provisions of this act, and
     transfer, release, discharge or parole therefrom, shall be
     subject to the same laws which govern the present institution of
     the same type, under the supervision of the Department of
     Welfare. The Department of Welfare shall have power to make all
     necessary rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this act,
     for the admission, care, detention, employment, discipline,
     instruction, treatment, transfer, release, discharge or parole
     therefrom.
        Section 6.  The Board of Commissioners of Public Grounds and
     Buildings shall advertise publicly in newspapers of general
     circulation for offers to purchase lands and buildings no longer
     used by the Commonwealth for institutional purposes and may make
     award and execute deed of conveyance to the highest responsible
     bidder. The board shall have the power to reject any and all
     bids and to postpone offer of sale from time to time. The costs
     of sale shall be paid from the biennial appropriation for
     salaries and general expenses of the Department of Property and
     Supplies.
        Section 7.  The provisions of this act shall become effective
     immediately upon final enactment.