Chap. 0331 An Act relative to reimbursing cities and towns for aid rendered to persons without settlement.

Be it enacted, etc., as folloivs:

Section 1. Section twenty-one of chapter eighty-one of the Revised Laws, as amended by chapter three hundred and fifty-five of the acts of the year nineteen hundred and three, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word "months", in the ninth line, the words: - except as otherwise ordered by the state board of charity, - so as to read as follows: - Section 21. A city or town may furnish aid to poor persons found therein, having no lawful settlements within the commonwealth, if the overseers of the poor consider it for the public interest; but, except in cases under the provisions of section fourteen of chapter eighty-five, not for a greater amount than two dollars a week for each family during the months of May to September, inclusive, or three dollars a week during the other months, except as otherwise ordered by the state board of charity; and the overseers shall in every case give immediate notice in writing to the state board of charity, which shall examine the case and if it directs a discontinuance of such aid, shall remove such
persons to the state hospital or to any state or place where they belong, if their necessities or the public interest requires it, and the superintendent of said hospital shall receive the persons removed thereto as if they were sent there in accordance with the provisions of section seven of chapter eighty-five. A detailed statement of expenses so incurred shall be rendered, and after approval by the state board, such expenses shall be paid by the commonwealth. If any such person refuses to submit to removal the state board of charity, or any of its officers or agents, may apply to the district, municipal or police court of the district where such person resides, or to any trial justice, for an order directing that such removal be made. Upon such application the court or magistrate shall forthwith cause a summons to be served upon the person so refusing, and, if he be a minor, upon his parent or guardian, requiring the attendance of the person so summoned at a time and place appointed therein for hearing; and at such time and place shall hear and examine upon oath such person or persons, and shall hear such other evidence as may be material. If upon hearing it appears that the person sought to be removed is without a legal settlement in this commonwealth and is unable to support himself, and that his necessities or the public interests require his removal, the court or magistrate shall issue an order in writing, directed to a duly constituted officer or agent of the state board of charity, reciting that such person appears to be a state pauper, and that his necessities or the public interests require his removal, and commanding such officer or agent to remove him to the state hospital or to any other state institution designated by the state board of charity, and such officer or agent shall thereupon make the removal as ordered. After the removal is made such officer or agent shall file such order, with his return thereon, with the clerk of the court from which it was issued, or if issued by a trial justice it shall be filed with him. In every case where removal is ordered a detailed statement of the expense incurred by any city or town for the support of the person so removed while application for his removal was pending before the court, shall be rendered, and after approval by the state board shall be paid by the commonwealth.
Section 2.   This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved March 28, 1912.