56 STAT.] 77TH CONG., 2 D SESS.-CH. 601-OCT. 14 , 1942 or sanitarium west of the main range of the Rocky Mountains, sub- mitting the lowest and best responsible bid for the care and custody of persons legally adjudged insane in said District of Alaska, the cost of advertising for bids, executing the contract and caring for the insane to be paid from appropriations to be made for such service upon estimates to be submitted to Congress annually", is hereby amended to read as follows: "The Secretary in behalf of the United States is authorized to contract, for one or more years, with a responsible asylum, sani- tarium, or hospital west of the main range of the Rocky Mountains submitting the lowest responsible bid for the care, treatment, and custody of patients. The cost of advertising for bids, executing the contract, and caring for the insane shall be paid from appropriations to be made for such service upon estimates to be submitted to Congress annually." SEC. 3. The superintendent or other proper officer of any mental institution shall, upon admission of a patient to such institution, be entitled to the temporary and immediate custody of the moneys and personal property on the person of the patient and shall keep a proper account thereof. Such moneys may be used from time to time for the benefit of a patient if the patient so requests. Upon parole or discharge of any patient from such institution. all moneys and personal property remaining to the credit of the patient shall be returned to him or his legal representatives. SEC. 4. Section 1 of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for the disposition of moneys of the legally adjudged insane of Alaska who have been cared for by the Secretary of the Interior", approved April 24, 1926 (44 Stat. 322), is hereby amended to read as follows: "All articles of personal property belonging to a patient, who has died prior to his parole or discharge from a mental institution or has eloped therefrom, and remaining in the custody of the superin- tendent or other proper officer of such institution, shall, if unclaimed by such patient, or his legal heirs or representatives, within the period of five years after the decease of such patient or the date of leaving the institution, be disposed of in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe, and any proceeds resulting therefrom shall be covered into the Treasury by the Secretary. Any moneys remaining to the credit of such patient, if unclaimed by his legal heirs or representatives or such patient within the period of five years after the decease of such patient or the date of the leaving of such institution, shall be covered into the Treasury by the Secretary." SEc. 5. Section 2 of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for the disposition of moneys of the legally adjudged insane of Alaska who have been cared for by the Secretary of the Interior", approved April 24 1926 (44 Stat. 322), is hereby amended to read as follows: "The Secretary shall cause diligent inquiry to be made, in every instance after death or elopement of any patient, to ascertain his whereabouts or that of his legal heirs or representatives and shall turn over to the proper party or parties any moneys or articles of personal property in the custody of the superintendent of the institu- tion to the credit of such person. Claims to such moneys or articles of personal property may be presented to the Secretary at any time. In the event a claim is established by competent proof more than five years after the death or elopement of a patient, it shall be certified to Congress for consideration." SEC. 6 . The superintendent of any mental institution shall dis- charge any patient, except one held on order of a court or judge having criminal jurisdiction in any action or proceeding arising out of a criminal offense, as follows: 783 Contract author- ized. Payment of costs. Custody of moneys and personal property. Return upon parole or discharge. 48U. S. o. 50. Disposition of un- claimed property. Unclaimed moneys. 48U.S.. O.iO Inquiries to locate heirs, etc. Presentation of claims. Criteria for dis- charge of patients.
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