Pennsylvania Act 1921-281 — COUNTIES, ORPHANS' AND INDIGENT CHILDRENS' HOMES

Act text

COUNTIES, ORPHANS' AND INDIGENT CHILDRENS' HOMES
                  Act of May 16, 1921, P.L. 666, No. 281              Cl. 16
                                  AN ACT

     Providing for the purchase of land and the erection and
        improvement of buildings, by counties of the fourth, fifth,
        sixth, seventh, and eighth classes, for the purpose of
        providing a home for indigent orphans and certain
        incorrigible, indigent, dependent, and neglected children;
        providing for the maintenance, regulation, and management of
        such homes, and for commitments thereto by juvenile courts,
        the directors of the poor, and the county commissioners.

        Section 1.  Be it enacted, &c., That the county commissioners
     of any county of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and
     eighth class, by and with the approval of the grand jury and of
     the court of quarter sessions of the peace of the county, shall
     have authority, and are hereby authorized, to purchase a farm or
     plot of ground within the county, and erect buildings thereon,
     or add to and improve buildings already erected, and make
     improvements thereon and thereto, as may be convenient and
     necessary for the use and purpose of providing a home within the
     county for the keeping, care, education, and training of all
     indigent orphans dependent upon the public for support and not
     otherwise provided for, incorrigible, indigent, dependent, and
     neglected children of either sex, under sixteen years of age,
     who shall be committed to said home by the court of quarter
     sessions of the peace acting as juvenile court of the county, or
     by the county commissioners, poor directors of said county, or
     the poor directors of any district within the county, by and
     with the consent of the juvenile court of the county, and pay
     for the same out of the public funds belonging to the said
     county.
        (1 amended Apr. 9, 1931, P.L.22, No.21)
        Section 2.  The courts, county commissioners, poor directors,
     or any other authority, before making orders for the commitment
     of children to said "Children's Home," shall place them first,
     as far as possible, in care and custody of persons having the
     same religious belief as the parents of the child, or with some
     association which is controlled by persons of such religious
     belief, and shall, as far as possible, provide in making orders
     of commitment that the care, custody, and discipline of the
     child shall be as nearly as possible that which should be given
     by its parents. In all cases where it can be properly done, the
     child shall be placed in an approved family home, and become a
     member of the family by legal adoption or otherwise. The court,
     before making a final order for the commitment of any child to
     said "Children's Home," shall cause said child to be examined by
     a competent physician, and shall obtain a full report as to the
     physical and mental condition of said child, together with a
     certificate of the examining physician that said child is not
     suffering from any physical or mental condition which will
     interfere with its proper care, treatment, or training in said
     "Children's Home" or with the proper care, treatment, or
     training of the other children in said home.
        Section 3.  That said land, when purchased, shall be deeded
     to the county, and shall be known as "Children's Home," and
     shall be thereafter supported and maintained by the county out
     of the public funds of the said county.
        Section 4.  The said county commissioners are hereby
     authorized to receive, from time to time, donations, gifts,
     legacies, endowments, devises, and conveyance or conveyances of
     property, either real or personal, that may be made, given, or
     granted towards the support and maintenance of said "Children's
     Home," and use the same for said purpose.
        Section 5.  Said county commissioners shall have full control
     of said "Children's Home," and of the inmates therein, and may,
     with the consent and approval of, and subject to terms
     stipulated by, the juvenile court, place the said inmates, or
     any one or more of them, in private homes, to be kept and
     maintained in said private homes, having due regard to the
     religious belief of the parents of such inmate as provided in
     section two; and the county commissioners, with the consent and
     approval of, and subject to terms stipulated by, the juvenile
     court, may discharge from said home any inmate when, in their
     discretion, the county commissioners consider said inmate
     capable and able to care for himself or herself, or for any
     other sufficient reason.
        Section 6.  Said county commissioners shall have authority,
     and they are hereby authorized, in the support, conduct, and
     management of said "Children's Home," to employ a superintendent
     and such other teachers, employes, and other assistants as may
     be necessary, to keep said children or inmates properly clothed,
     fed, and cared for in sickness and in health, and to make proper
     provisions for giving said inmates instructions in reading,
     writing, arithmetic, drawing, duties of citizenship, and such
     branches as may be deemed requisite for a good English
     education, which instruction shall be subject to the provisions
     of the act approved the eighteenth day of May, one thousand nine
     hundred and eleven (Pamphlet Laws, three hundred nine), and
     known as the school code, its amendments and supplements, and
     shall be under the direction of the county superintendents of
     schools.
        Section 7.  It shall be lawful for said county commissioners
     to employ and require the inmates committed in said "Children's
     Home" to do and perform any work, in said home or on said farm,
     not beyond their strength and not interfering with their
     attendance at school during school hours established by said
     institution.
        Section 8.  Said county commissioners shall have authority to
     adopt all necessary by-law, rules, and regulations, not
     inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of this
     Commonwealth, for the control, conduct, and management of said
     "Children's Home."
        Section 9.  Said county commissioners shall have authority,
     and are hereby authorized, at any time after purchase of said
     farm or property, to buy and purchase any additional land and
     erect additional buildings from time to time as the
     circumstances and requirements of the said "Children's Home"
     shall require, and pay for the same out of the funds of the said
     county, by and with the approval of the grand jury and of the
     court of quarter sessions of the peace of the said county.