An Act to improve the health of the people by assisting in increasing the number of adequately trained professional and practical nurses and professional, public health personnel, assisting in the-development of improved methods or pare and treatment in t
PL 84-911 (S.3958), enacted 08/02/1956

70 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 911-AUG. 2, 1966 
923 
Public Law 911 
CHAPTER 871 
AN ACT 
To improve the health of the people by assisting in increasing the number of 
adequatelj' trained professional and practical nurses and professional public 
health personnel, assisting in the development of improved methods of care and 
treatment in the field of mental health, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Seriate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of Aifnerica in Congress assembled^ That this Act may 
be cited as the "Health Amendments Act of 1956". 
August 2,1956 
[S. 3958] 
He al th Amend-
ments Act of 195 6. 
TITLE I—GEADUATE TRAINING OF PROFESSIONAL 
PUBLIC H E A L T H PERSONNEL 
TRAINEESHIPS 
SEC. 101. Title I I I of the Public Health Service Act (42 U. S. C , 
ch. ()A, subch. II) is amended by adding at the end of part A the 
following new section: 
"TRAINEESHIPS FOR PROFESSIONAI. PUBLIC HEALTH PERSONNEL 
"SEC. 306. (a) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated for 
the fiscal year ending June 30,1957, and for each of the next two fiscal 
years, such sums as the Congress may determine, to cover the cost of 
traineeships for graduate or specialized training in public health for 
physicians, engineers, nurses, and other professional health personnel. 
"(b) Traineeships under this section may be awarded by the Sur-
geon General either (1) directly to individuals whose applications for 
admission have been accepted by the public or other nonprofit institu-
tions providing the training, or (2) through grants to such in-
stitutions. 
"(c) Payments under this section may be made in advance or by 
way of reimbursement, and at such intervals and on such conditions, 
as the Surgeon General finds necessary. Such payments to institu-
tions may be used only for traineeships, and payments under this sec-
tion with respect to any traineeship shall be limited to such amounts 
as the Surgeon General finds necessary to cover the cost of tuition and 
fees, and a stipend and allowances (including travel and subsistence 
expenses) for the trainee. 
"(d) The Surgeon General shall appoint an expert advisory com-
mittee, composed of persons representative of the principal health 
specialties in the fields of public health administration and training, 
to advise him in connection with the administration of this section, 
including the development of program standards and policies. 
Mem-
bers of such committee who are not otherwise in the employ of the 
United States, while attending meetings of the committee or otherwise 
serving at the request of the Surgeon General, shall be entitled to re-
ceive compensation at a rate to be fixed by the Secretary of Health, 
Education, and Welfare, but not exceeding $50 per diem, including 
travel time, and while away from their homes or regular places of 
business they may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law (5 U. S. C. 73b-2) for per-
sons in the Government service employed intermittently. 
"(e) The Surgeon General shall, between June 30,1958, and Decem-
ber 1,1958, call a conference broadly representative of the professional 
and training groups interested in and informed about training of pro-
fessional public health personnel, and including members of the advi-
sory committee appointed pursuant to subsection (d), to assist him in 
appraising the effectiveness of the traineeships under this section in 
Ante, p. 490. 
60 Stat. 808; 69 
Stat. 394. 
Report to C o n -
gress. 
924 
PUBLIC LAW 911-AUG. 2, 1956 
[70 STAT. 
meeting the needs for trained public health personnel; in considering 
modifications in this section, if any, which may be desirable to increase 
its effectiveness; and in considering the most effective distribution of 
responsibilities between Federal and State governments with respect 
to the administration and support of public health training. 
The Sur-
geon General shall submit to the Congress, on or before January 1, 
1959, a report of such conference, including any recommendations 
by it relating to the limitation, extension, or modification of this 
section. 
"(f) Except as otherwise provided in this section, nothing contained 
in this section shall be construed as authorizing any department, 
agency, oiRcer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direc-
tion, supervision, or control over the personnel or curriculum of any 
training institution." 
EFFECTIVE DATE 
SEC. 102. The amendment made by this title shall become effective 
July 1,1956. 
TITLE II—ADVANCED TRAINING O F PROFESSIONAL 
NURSES 
TRAINEESHIPS 
SEC. 201. Title I I I of the Public Health Service Act (42 IT. S. C , 
ch. 6A, subch. I I ) is amended by adding after section 306 (added by 
section 101 of this Act) the following new section: 
u, 
TRAINEESHIPS FOR ADVANCED TRAINING OF PROFESSIONAL 
NURSES 
"SEC. 307. (a) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated for 
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1957, and for each of the next two 
fiscal years, such sums as the Congress may determine, to cover the cost 
of traineeships for the training of professional nurses to teach in the 
various fields of nurse training (including practical nurse training) 
or to serve in an administrative or supervisory capacity. 
"(b) Traineeships under this section shall be awarded by the Sur-
geon General through grants to public or other nonprofit institutions 
providing the training. 
"(c) Payments to institutions under this section may be made in 
advance or by way of reimbursement, and at such intervals and on 
such conditions as the Surgeon General finds necessary. Such pay-
ments may be used only for traineeships and shall be limited to such 
amounts as the Surgeon General finds necessary to cover the costs of 
tuition and fees, and a stipend and allowances (including travel and 
subsistence expenses) for the trainees. 
"(d) The Surgeon General shall appoint an expert advisory com-
mittee, composed of persons from the fields of nursing and nurse 
training, hospital administration, and medicine, to advise him in 
connection with the administration of this section, including the 
development of program standards and policies. Members of such 
committee who are not otherwise in the employ of the United States, 
while attending meetings of the committee or otherwise serving at 
the request of the Surgeon General, shall be entitled to receive compen-
sation at a rate to be fixed hy the Secretary of Health, Education, and 
Welfare, but not exceeding $50 per diem, including travel time, and 
while away from their homes or regular places of business they may 
be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 
Stat*. 3
9
4
V *°*' ^^ ^s authorized by law (5 U. S. C. 73b-2) for persons in the Government 
serviqe employed intermittently. 
70 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 911-AUG. 2, 1956 
' 
926 
"(e) The Surgeon General shall, between June 30, 1958, and De-
cember 1, 1958, call a conference broadly representative of the pro-
fessional and training groups interested in and informed about the 
advanced training of professional nurses, and including members of 
the advisory committee appointed pursuant to subsection (d), to 
assist him in appraising the effectiveness of the traineeships under this 
section in meeting the needs for professional nurses in teaching, 
administrative, and supervisory positions and in considering modi-
fications in this section, if any, which may be desirable to increase 
its effectiveness, including possible means of stimulating State par-
ticipation in the administration and financing of advanced training 
of professional nurses through Federal matching grants to States for 
the support of traineeships or related training activities, or otherwise. 
The Surgeon General shall submit to the Congress, on or before gresf.°'* *° ^*'"" 
January 1, 1959, a report of such conference, including any recom-
mendations by it relating to the limitation, extension, or modification 
of this section. 
"(f) Except as otherwise provided in this section, nothing con-
tained in this section shall be construed as authorizing any depart-
ment, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any 
direction, supervision, or control over the personnel or curriculum 
of any training institution." 
EFFECTIVE DATE 
SEC. 202. The amendment made by this title shall become effective 
Jiily 1,1956. 
TITLE III—PKACTICAL NURSE TRAINING 
AMENDMENTS TO VOCATIONAL EDUCATION ACT 
SEC. 301. The Vocational Education Act of 1946, as amended (20 
U. S. C. 15i-15m, 15o-15q), is amended by inserting: 
"TITLE I—VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE, 
HOME ECONOMICS, TRADES AND INDUSTRY, AND DIS-
TRIBUTIVE OCCUPATIONS" 
immediately above the heading of section 1 of such Act, by changing 
the words "this Act" wherever they appear in such Act to read 
"this title", and by adding immediately after section 9 the following 
new title: 
"TITLE II—VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN PRACTICAL 
NURSE TRAINING 
60 Stat. 775. 
(( 
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
"SEC 201. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the 
fiscal year ending June 30, 1957, and for each of the next four fiscal 
years a sum not to exceed $5,000,000, for grants to States with State 
plans to extend and improve practical nurse training approved 
Ijursuant to section 203. 
926 
" 
PUBLIC LAW 911-AUG. 2, 1966 
[70 STAT, 
"GRANTS TO STATES FOR EXTENSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF PRACTICAL 
NURSE T R A I N I N G 
"SEC. 202. (a) From the sums appropriated for any fiscal year 
pursuant to section 201, each State shall be entitled to an allotment of 
an amount bearing the same ratio to such sums as the total of the 
amounts apportioned under title I and the Act of March 18, 1950 
64 Stat. 27. 
(20 U. S. C. 31-33) to such State for such year bears to the total of 
the amounts so apportioned to all the States for such year. 
The 
allotment to any State under the preceding sentence for a fiscal year 
which is less than $10,000 (or, in the case of the Virgin Islands, which 
is less than $5,000) shall be increased to that amount, the total of the 
increases thereby required being derived by proportionately reducing 
the allotments to each of the remaining States under the preceding 
sentence, but with such adjustments as may be necessary to prevent 
the allotment of any of such remaining States from being thereby 
reduced to less than that amount. 
"(b) The amount of any allotment to a State under subsection (a) 
for any fiscal year which the State certifies to the Commissioner will 
not be required for carrying out the State plan (if any) approved 
under this title, shall be available for reallotment from time to time, 
on such dates as the Commissioner may fix, to other States in pro-
portion to the original allotments to such States under subsection 
(a) for such year. 
Any amount so reallotted to a State shall be 
deemed part of its allotment under subsection (a). 
"(c) From each State's allotment under this section for any fiscal 
year, the Commissioner shall pay to such State a portion of the cost 
of carrying out the State plan approved under this title. To the 
extent permitted by the State's allotment under subsection (a) for 
any fiscal year, the portion of the cost of carrying out the State plan 
paid under this section shall be 75 per centum of such cost in the case 
of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1957, and the fiscal year ending 
June 30, 1958, and 50 per centum of such cost in the case of each of 
the next three fiscal years. 
"STATE PLANS 
"SEC. 203. (a) To be approvable under this title, a State plan to 
extend and improve practical nurse training shall— 
"(1) designate the State board as the sole agency for the ad-
ministration of the plan or for the supervision of administration 
of the plan by local educational agencies; 
"(2) provide that the individual supervising the functions of 
the State board under the plan shall be a registered professional 
nurse or shall have the consultative services of a registered pro-
fessional nurse available to him; 
"(3) show the plans, policies, and methods to be followed in 
extending and improving practical nurse training under the State 
plan, and in administering and supervising the administration of 
the plan, and provide such accounting, budgeting, and other 
fiscal methods and procedures as are necessary for the proper and 
efficient administration of the plan; 
"(4) contain minimum qualifications for teachers, teacher-
trainers, supervisors, and directors; and 
"(5) provide that the State board will make such reports, in 
such form and containing such information, as the Commissioner 
may from time to time reasonably require to carry out his func-
tions under this title, and comply with such provisions as he may 
from time to time find necessary to assure the correctness and 
verification of such reports. 
70 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 911-AUG. 2, 1956 
927 
"(b) The Commissioner shall approve any plan which he finds 
fulfills the conditions specified in subsection (a) of this section. 
"(c) Whenever the Commissioner, after reasonable notice and op-
portunity for hearing to the State agency administering or super-
vising the administration of the State plan approved under this section, 
finds that— 
"(1) the State plan has been so changed that it no longer com-
plies with a requirement of subsection (a) of this section; or 
"(2) in the administration of the plan there is a failure to 
comply substantially with such a requirement; the Commissioner 
shall notify such State agency that no further payments will be 
made to the State from its allotments under section 202 (or, in 
his discretion, that further payments will not be made to the State 
for parts of the State plan affected by such failure), until he is 
satisfied that there will no longer be any such failure. 
Until 
he is so satisfied the Commissioner shall make no further pay-
ments to such State from its allotments under section 202 (or shall 
limit payments to parts of the State plan in which there is no 
such failure). 
"(d) (1) If any State is dissatisfied with the Commissioner's action court'^^**^*'"°" °^ 
under subsection (c) of this section, such State may appeal to the 
United States court of appeals for the circuit in which the State is 
located. 
The summons and notice of appeal may be served at any 
place in the United States. 
"(2) The findings of fact by the Commissioner, unless substantially 
contrary to the weight of the evidence, shall be conclusive; but the 
court, for good cause shown, may remand the case to the Commissioner 
to take further evidence, and the Commissioner may thereupon make 
new or modified findings of fact and may modify his previous action. 
Such new or modified findings of fact shall likewise be conclusive 
unless substantially contrary to the weight of the evidence. 
"(5) The court shall have jurisdiction to affirm the action of the 
Commissioner or to set it aside, in whole or in part. 
The judgment 
of the court shall be subject to review by the Supreme Court of the 
United States upon certiorari or certification as provided in title 28, 
United States Code, section 1254. 
« stat. 928. 
"METHOD OF MAKING AND COMPUTING PAYMENTS 
"SEC. 204. The method of computing and paying amounts pursuant 
to section 202 shall be as follows: The Commissioner shall, j^rior to 
the beginning of each calendar quarter or other period prescribed by 
him, estimate the amount to be paid to each State under the provisions 
of such section for such period; and shall pay to the State, from the 
allotment available therefor, the amount so estimated by him for such 
period, reduced or increased, as the case may be, by any sum (not 
previously adjusted under this section) by which he finds that his 
estimate of the amount to be paid the State for any prior period 
under such section was greater or less than the amount which should 
have been paid to the State for such prior period under such section. 
Such payments shall be made in such installments as the Commissioner 
may determine. 
"ADMINISTRATION 
"SEC. 205. (a) In carrying out his duties under this title, the 
Commissioner shall— 
"(1) make studies, investigations, and reports with respect to 
matters relating to practical nurse training; 
"(2) cooperate with and render technical assistance to States 
in matters relating to practical nurse training; and 
928 
PUBLIC LA^\ 911-AUG. 2, 1956 
[70 STAT, 
"(3) disseminate information as to the studies, investigations, 
and reports referred to in ^paragraph (1) and other matters 
relating to practical nurse training. 
"(b) The Commissioner is authorized to make rules and regulations 
governing the administration of this title and to delegate to any officer 
or employee of the Office of Education such of his powers and duties, 
except the making of rules and regulations, as he finds necessary. 
"ADVISORY COMMITTEES 
"SEC. 206. (a) The Commissioner is authorized to appoint an advi-
sory committee or committees to advise him on matters of general 
policy in connection with the administration of this title. 
"(b) Members of any such committee who are not otherwise in the 
employ of the United States, while attending meetings or conferences 
of their committee or otherwise serving at the request of the Commis-
sioner, shall be entitled to receive compensation at a rate to be fixed 
by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, but not exceeding 
$50 per diem, including travel time, and while away from their homes 
or regular places of business they may be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law^ (5 
Stat*. 3
9
4
V ^°*' ^^ U- S- C. 73b-2) for persons in the Government service employed 
intermittently. 
"EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS 
"SEC. 207. Nothing in this title shall in any way affect the availa-
bility for practical nurse training of amounts paid the States under 
20 use 11-28. 
the Act of February 23,1917 (39 Stat. 929) as amended and extended, 
or title I of this Act, as amended and extended. 
"REPORTS 
• # 
"SEC. 208. The Commissioner shall include in his annual report a 
full report of the administration of this title. 
^ 
, 
"AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR ADMINISTRATION 
. 
"SEC. 209. There are hereby authorized to be includecf for each fiscal 
year in the appropriations for the Department of Health, Education, 
and Welfare such sums as are necessary to administer the provisions 
of this title. 
(( 
DEFINITIONS 
"SEC. 210. For purposes of this title 
"(a) The term 'Commissioner' means the Commissionef of Educa-
tion. 
"(b) The term 'practical nurse training' means training of less than 
college grade which is giA'^en in schools or classes (including field or 
laboratory work incidental thereto) under public supervision and 
control and is conducted as part of a program designed to fit indi-
viduals, engaged in or preparing to engage in employment as practi-
cal nurses, for such employment. 
The term includes also training of 
a similar nature, which is of less than college grade and is given and 
conducted as provided above, designed to fit individuals engaged or 
preparing to engage in other health occupations in hospitals or other 
health agencies, for such occupations. In addition, the term includes 
vocational guidance in connection with any such program and the in-
service training of teachers, teacher-trainers, supervisors, and direc-
tors for any such program, but does not include courses which have 
only incidental relationship to the specialized training needed by an 
70 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 911-AUG. 2, 1956 
^29 
individual for useful employment as a practical nurse or in such other 
health occupations. 
"(c) The term 'practical nurse' means a person who is trained to 
care for subacute, convalescent, and chronic patients under the direc-
tion of a licensed physician or under the supervision of a registered 
nurse, or to assist a registered nurse in the care of acute illness. 
"(d) The term 'local educational agency' means a board of educa-
tion or other legally constituted local school authority having admin-
istrative control and direction of public secondary schools in a county, 
township, independent, or other school district, or having such control 
and direction over vocational education in such schools. 
"(e) The term 'State' includes Alaska, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, 
Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. 
"(f) The term 'State board' means the State board of vocational 
education, or the State board primarily responsible for the supervision 
of public elementary and secondary schools, as designated in the State 
plan. 
"(g) The cost of administration of a State plan for practical nurse 
training may not include any portion of the cost of the purchase, 
preservation, erection, or repair of any building or buildings or the 
purchase or rental of any land." 
TITLE IV—EXTENSION OF T H E HOSPITAL SURVEY 
AND CONSTRUCTION ACT 
SEC. 401. The first sentence of section 621 of the Public Health 
tl l^i^ sifd. 
Service Act is amended by striking out "seven" and inserting in lieu 
thereof "nine". 
SEC. 402. Section 651 of such Act is amended by striking out "two" 
|f ^ic 29^^s. 
and inserting in lieu thereof "four", 
TITLE V—MENTAL H E A L T H 
SPECIAL PROJECT GRANTS 
SEC. 501. Section 303 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U. S. C. 
242a) is amended to read as follows: 
^° ^
*
®
*
* '*^^' 
"MENTAL HEALTH 
"SEC. 303. (a) In carrving out the purposes of section 301 with 
respect to mental health, tne Surgeon General is authorized— 
"(1) to provide training and instruction and to establish and 
maintain traineeships, in accordance with the provisions of 
section 433 (a) ; 
" (2) to make grants to State or local agencies, laboratories, and -
other public or nonprofit agencies and institutions, and to indi-
viduals for investigations, experiments, demonstrations, studies, 
and research projects with respect to the development of im-
proved methods of diagnosing mental illness, and of care, treat-
ment, and rehabilitation of the mentally ill, including grants to 
State agencies responsible for administration of State institutions 
for care, or care and treatment, of mentally ill persons for devel-
oping and establishing improved methods of operation and 
administration of such institutions. 
"(b) Grants under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) may be made 
only upon recommendation of the National Advisory Mental Health 
Council. Such grants may be paid in advance or by way of reim-
bursement, as may be determined by the Surgeon General; and shall 
be made on such conditions as the Surgeon General finds necessary." 
69225 O - 5 7 - 6 3 (Vol. 70) 
930 
PUBLIC LAW 912-AUG. 2, 1956 
[70 ST 
A T . 
69 Stat. 382. 
TECHNICAL 
AMENDMENT 
SEC. 502. The heading of section 304 of such Act (42 TJ. S. C. 
242b) 
is amended to read: 
"MENTAL 
H E A L T H 
STUDY 
GRANTS." 
EFFECTIVE DATE 
SEC. 503. The amendments made by this title shall become effective 
July 1,1956. 
Approved August 2, 1956. 
August 2, 1956 
[S. J. Res. 71] 
Public Law 912 
CHAPTER 872 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
To commend the foundation known as the Memorial to the American Indian 
Foundation for its project to establish a permanent memorial in honor of the 
North American Indians. 
Memorial t o the 
A tq e r i c an Indian 
Foundation. 
Commendation. 
Whereas it is fitting that there should be a permanent memorial in 
honor of the North American Indians, the original Americans; 
Whereas there has been chartered by the State of Michigan a nonprofit 
corporation known as the Memorial to the. American Indian Foun-
dation for the purpose of establishing such a memorial, which will 
be located in the State of New Mexico; and 
Whereas the establishment of such a memorial would acknowledge the 
contribution made to our Nation by the North American Indians: 
Therefore be it 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the Congress hereby 
commends the Memorial to the American Indian Foundation for its 
noteworthy project to establish a permanent memorial in honor of the 
North American Indians, and extends to such Foundation its best 
wishes in carrying out such project. 
Approved August 2, 1956. 
August 2,1956 
[S. 218] 
Clayton, N. Mex. 
Public Law 913 
CHAPTER873 
AN ACT 
For the relief of the town of Clayton, New Mexico. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in the admin-
istration of the Federal Airport Act, costs incurred by the town of 
Clayton, New Mexico, for construction of an administration building 
(including that part of such building constituting an auditorium or 
pilots' clubroom) and a fire reservoir which was designed and con-
structed to be usable as a swimming pool, pursuant to a grant agree-
ment for airpqrt development entered into on June 29, 1949, between 
such town and the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics (contract num-
bered C4ca-5800), shall for the sole purpose of releasing the town of 
liability based upon those costs, be held and considered allowable 
project costs within the meaning of such Act, and such town is hereby 
relieved of all liability to the United States to refund any amounts 
based upon such costs heretofore received by it under such agreement. 
Approved August 2, 1966.