Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-15
More Exploit in Detail Than Was
Old Law.
WELCOMED BY OTIUMWA OFFICIALS
Lays Special Emphasis Upon the Mat
ter of Paying for the Care of Quar-
antined Peopie-Division of Elk
penses Between City and County.

antine and the payment of the ex-
penses thereof, is matter of much in
terest to the city officials and officers
of the local board of health. The law
as enacted is substitute for section
2570 of the code, which has been re-
pealed, and is more explicit in detail
than was the old statute that covered
this ground. The principal change is
IN that portion of section l relative to
the payment of bills rendered by the
board of health for expenses incurred
in caring for county patients. Under
the old law this was not provided for
in very satisfactory manner. The
new statute, however, renders it COM
pulsory with the board of supervisors
to act upon all certified bills for ex-
penses rendered, at it's first regular
meeting after said bills have been sub
mitted to them. This will do away
with the delay now said to be expert
enced by the local health officers in
having their expense bills allowed.
The New Bill.
An act to repeal section two thou
sand five hundred and seventy (2570)
of the code and enact a substitute
thereof. Be it enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Iowa:
| Section /. That section two thou
sand five hundred and seventy (257O)
of the code is hereby repealed and the
following enacted in lieu thereof:
When any person shall be sick of ill.,
fected with smallpox or other infec-
tious or contagious disease dangerous
to the public health, whether a resi-
dent or otherwise, the local board of
health shall make such provisions as
are best calculated to protect the in
habitants therefrom, and may remove
such person to separate house, or to
pest house, or detention or other hos
pital, and shall provide needful assist
ance, nurses, medical attendants and
supplies.
If in the judgment of said board such
person cannot be removed then he
shall be cared for at the place where
he resides in the same manner as
above provided. In case of the remov-
al of more than one person to the same
house, or to any pest house, or deten-
ton or other hospital, it shall provide
needful assistance, nurses, medical at
tendants and supplies, necessary for
their proper. care.
ALI bills for expenses incurred in
carrying out the provisions of this
section shall be filed with the clerk
of the local board of health, which
board shall examine the same and
act, thereon at it's next regular meet
ing after the same have been filed with
| the clerk and certify the amount al.
4 lowed thereon by it to the county
auditor and the county board of super.
yisors shall act upon said bills as thus
certified at its first regular meeting
thereafter The local board of health
shall allow an amount on such bills
as shall be reasonable and the certifi
Gates of the local board of health shall
! be prima facie evidence of the cor.
rectness of such bills. but the board oi
supervisors may revise the amounts
so allowed and fix the same. The eX
| penses paid under the provisions Of
this act and the chapter of which it is
amendatory shall in no case exceed
the reasonable value of the property
Furnished or services rendered and the
lcounty shall not advance such ex-
penses until the same shall have been
audited and allowed by the board O.
i supervisors. When one or more per
sons shall be confined in a house, OF
pest house, or detention or other hos
l pitaI, the local board of health shall
ascertain the total amount of expense
incurred for the care of such persons
: (which amount shall be equitably ap.
portioned by the local board of health
between the several persons cared for
and when SO apportioned the presi
dent and clerk Of said board shall Ger
tify to the county auditor the name o
such person or persons and their pro
portionate share, and the county shall
recover the same in any court of com
petent jurisdiction within this stat,
and the certificate of the presiden
and clerk of said board shall be prim;
facie evidence of the amount Furnished
such person or persons.
In case of the inability of any per
son or persons or those liable for theil
support, to pay for the expenses in
Cured as provided in this section, sucf
expenses shall be paid by the county
and the board of supervisors of sai(
county shall, at the time it levies the
general taxes, levy on the property O
the city, town or township from which
such expenses were certified, a suffi
Gent tax to reimburse the county tt
the extent of one third of the amour
paid by it under the provisions of thi.
i r. II 4. L q - 49,