Pennsylvania Act 2019-96 — AN ACT AUTHORIZING MUNICIPALITIES OTHER THAN TOWNSHIPS TO ACQUIRE BY GIFT, DEVISE, OR BEQUEST, LANDS, CHATTELS, SECURITIES AND FUNDS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A HOSPITAL, ETC. - REPEAL

Act text

Session of 2019

No. 2019-96

HB 917

An Act

Repealing the act of May 17, 1929 (P.L.1805, No.598), entitled "An act authorizing municipalities other than townships to acquire by gift, devise, or bequest, lands, chattels, securities and funds for the establishment and maintenance of a hospital; to appoint trustees of such property and funds, subject to the approval of the orphans' court; to operate and maintain such hospital through and by means of such trustees; and to expend municipal funds to aid in the establishment and maintenance of such hospital."

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

Section 1. The act of May 17, 1929 (P.L.1805, No.598), entitled "An act authorizing municipalities other than townships to acquire by gift, devise, or bequest, lands, chattels, securities and funds for the establishment and maintenance of a hospital; to appoint trustees of such property and funds, subject to the approval of the orphans' court; to operate and maintain such hospital through and by means of such trustees; and to expend municipal funds to aid in the establishment and maintenance of such hospital," is repealed:

[AN ACT

Authorizing municipalities other than townships to acquire by gift, devise, or bequest, lands, chattels, securities and funds for the establishment and maintenance of a hospital; to appoint trustees of such property and funds, subject to the approval of the orphans' court; to operate and maintain such hospital through and by means of such trustees; and to expend municipal funds to aid in the establishment and maintenance of such hospital.

Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That any municipality, other than townships, shall have power to acquire by gift, devise or bequest, lands, chattels, securities and funds for the establishment and maintenance of a hospital, for the purposes of caring for the sick and injured residents of such municipality and the vicinity thereof, and, for such purposes, to appropriate and expend money of the municipality: Provided, That the poor residents of such municipality shall receive free treatment, to the extent that it is possible to provide for same with the means available. Such hospital, or any ward therein, may be named in accord with the wishes of any person making a substantial donation thereto by will or otherwise.

Section 2. Said gifts, devises, bequests and appropriated funds shall be under the supervision of a board of trustees, to be appointed by the governing body of such municipality, consisting of at least nine trustees, three of whom shall be members of such governing body, three of whom shall be licensed and practicing physicians in such municipality and the vicinity thereof, and the remainder of which board shall consist of residents of such municipality and vicinity thereof. Said appointments shall at all times be made subject to the approval of the orphans' court of the county in which said municipality is situated; and said board of trustees shall at all times be subject to the resolutions of the governing body of such municipality and the jurisdiction of said court, which shall have power to remove any of them upon petition of such municipality. Any vacancy in such board may be filled by a new appointment in manner aforesaid. Said board of trustees shall make reasonable rules for the management of such hospital, and appoint and remove the physicians, surgeons, nurses and other employes necessary for the conduct thereof.

Section 3. This act shall not repeal or annul any special act heretofore passed having reference to the operation of municipal hospitals in any particular community.]

Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 27th day of November, A.D. 2019.

TOM WOLF