* § 126-b. Public hospitals for chronically ill. 1. (a) The governing
board of a county or city may by resolution determine that there shall
be in such county or city a public hospital for the care and treatment
of the chronically ill and make provision for the establishment and
operation of such a hospital by such county or city in the same manner
and in accordance with the same procedure as is prescribed by the
provisions of this article for the establishment and operation of public
general hospitals; and the provisions of sections one hundred
twenty-six, one hundred twenty-seven, one hundred twenty-eight, one
hundred twenty-nine, one hundred thirty-one, one hundred thirty-two, one
hundred thirty-three, one hundred thirty-five-a and one hundred
thirty-five-b shall apply thereto except to the extent they shall be
inconsistent therewith.

(b) Provided the state board of social welfare shall approve, such
county or city may use for the operation of such a hospital a building
or buildings formerly used as a tuberculosis hospital or sanatorium or a
part thereof.

2. (a) If such a hospital is established, provision shall be made for
the admission of patients thereto, upon the authorization of the
commissioner of public welfare of the county or city, as the case may
be, who are receiving public assistance or care from such commissioner
or who may be determined to be needy by such commissioner in accordance
with the standards and criteria of his public welfare district pursuant
to the provisions of the social welfare law, and for payment by such
commissioner for the cost of care provided such patients.

(b) When a patient who is not the concern of the public welfare
commissioner is admitted, the superintendent shall cause to be made such
inquiry as he may deem necessary relative to the ability of such
patient, and of the relatives legally liable for his support, to pay for
his care and treatment. If he finds that such patient, or said
relatives, are able to pay for his care and treatment in whole or in
part, an order shall be made by the superintendent directing such
patient, or said relatives, to pay to the treasurer of such hospital for
the support of such patient a specified sum per week, in proportion to
their financial ability, but such sum shall not exceed the actual cost
of maintenance. The superintendent shall have the same power and
authority to collect such sums from the patient, or his relatives
legally liable for his support, as is possessed by a public welfare
official in like circumstances. If the superintendent find that such
patient, or his said relatives, are not able to pay, either in whole or
in part, for his care and treatment in such hospital, the unpaid cost of
his maintenance shall become a charge upon the county or city by which
the hospital is maintained, but may be subject to chargeback to another
public welfare district pursuant to the provisions of the social welfare
law. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any person
admitted for care and treatment of tuberculosis, as defined and provided
for in the public health law.

(c) No employee of such hospital shall accept from any patient thereof
any fee, payment or gratuity whatsoever for his service.

3. (a) Whenever a county or city has, prior to the enactment of this
section, established a public hospital for the care of the chronically
sick, the governing body of such county or city may by resolution
provide that such hospital shall thereafter be controlled and maintained
in accordance with the provisions of this section and article.

(b) Any public hospital for the care of the chronically sick which may
hereafter be established by the governing board of any county or city
shall be subject to the provisions of this section and article.

* NB There are 2 § 126-b's