and twenty-one, from the appropriation for the temporary support of state paupers, without reference to the legal settlement of such seamen.

sentence:

-

amended.

incurred by

commonwealth

with diseases

public health,

cases of

SECTION 3. Section one hundred and sixteen of chapter G. L. 111, § 116, one hundred and eleven of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following new Reimbursement by the commonwealth under the provisions hereof shall be subject to the provisions of section forty-two of chapter one hundred and twenty-one, so as to read as follows: Section 116. Reasonable ex- Expenses penses incurred by boards of health or by the commonwealth boards of in making the provision required by law for persons infected health or by with smallpox or other disease dangerous to the public health on account of shall be paid by such person or his parents, if he or they be persons infected able to pay, otherwise by the town where he has a legal dangerous to settlement, upon the approval of the bill by the board of payment, etc. health of such town or by the department of public welfare. Such settlement shall be determined by the overseers of the poor, and by the department of public welfare in cases cared. for by the commonwealth. If the person has no settlement, Payment by such expense shall be paid by the commonwealth, upon the nonwealth if person has approval of bills therefor by the department of public wel- no settlement. fare. In all cases of persons having settlements, a written Procedure in notice, sent within the time required in the case of aid given persons having to paupers, shall be sent by the board of health of the town settlements. where the person is sick to the board of health of the town where such person has a settlement, who shall forthwith transmit a copy thereof to the overseers of the poor of the place of settlement. If the person has no settlement, such In cases of notice shall be given to the department as provided in no settlements, section one hundred and twelve; and also, in any case liable etc. to be maintained by the commonwealth when public aid has been rendered to such sick person, a written notice shall be sent to the department of public welfare, containing such information as will show that the person named therein is a proper charge to the commonwealth, and reimbursement Reimbursement shall be made for reasonable expenses incurred within five wealth. days next before such notice is mailed, and thereafter until such sick person is removed under section twelve of chapter one hundred and twenty-one, or is able to be so removed without endangering his or the public health. Reimbursement by the commonwealth under the provisions hereof shall be subject to the provisions of section forty-two of chapter one hundred and twenty-one.

by common

etc., amended.

SECTION 4. Section seventeen of chapter one hundred G. L. 117, 8 17 and seventeen of the General Laws, as amended by chapter two hundred and ninety-eight of the acts of nineteen hundred and twenty-three, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word "commonwealth" in the fourteenth line the words: subject to the provisions of section fortytwo of chapter one hundred and twenty-one, so as to read as follows: Section 17. The overseers of each town Support and burial of certain shall also relieve and support and may employ all poor per- indigent

persons.

Expense, recovery of kindred, etc.

State allowance for

of certain

paupers.

sons residing or found therein, having no lawful settlements within the commonwealth, until their removal to the state infirmary, and if they die shall decently bury them. They shall also decently bury all deceased persons who, although without means of support while living, did not apply for public relief, and all unknown persons found dead. The expense thereof may be recovered of their kindred, if any, chargeable by law for their support in the manner provided in this chapter; and if the expense of their burial is not funeral expenses paid by such kindred, an amount not exceeding forty dollars for the funeral expenses of each pauper over twelve years of age, and not exceeding twenty dollars for the funeral expenses of each pauper under that age, shall be paid by the commonwealth subject to the provisions of section fortytwo of chapter one hundred and twenty-one; provided, that. the overseers shall file with each claim an affidavit of the undertaker stating the total amount of his bill, the amount received from the town and the amount received from all other sources; and provided, further, that if the total expense of the burial, by whomsoever incurred, shall exceed the sum of one hundred dollars, no payment therefor shall be made by the commonwealth.

Provisos.

G. L. 117, § 18, etc., amended.

Cities and towns may furnish aid to certain state paupers, etc.

Removal to state infirmary, etc.

Expenses.

Proceedings upon refusal to submit to removal, etc.

SECTION 5. Section eighteen of said chapter one hundred and seventeen, as amended by chapter two hundred and twenty-one of the acts of nineteen hundred and twentyfour, is hereby further amended by adding at the end thereof the following new sentence: Reimbursement by the commonwealth under the provisions hereof shall be subject to the provisions of section forty-two of chapter one hundred and twenty-one, so as to read as follows: Section 18. A town may furnish temporary aid to poor persons found therein, having no lawful settlements within the commonwealth, if the overseers consider it for the public interest; and the overseers shall in every case give written notice within five days to the department of public welfare, which shall examine the case and order such aid as it deems expedient. If it directs a discontinuance of such aid, it shall remove such persons to the state infirmary or to any state or place where they belong, if their necessities or the public interests require it, and the superintendent of said infirmary shall receive the persons removed thereto as if they were sent there in accordance with section seven of chapter one hundred and twenty-two. A detailed statement of expenses so incurred shall be rendered, and after approval by the department such expenses shall be paid by the commonwealth. If any such person refuses to submit to removal, the department or any of its officers or agents may apply to the district court of the district where such person resides, for an order directing that such removal be made. Upon such application the court shall forthwith cause a summons to be served upon the person so refusing, and, if he be a minor, upon his parent or guardian, requiring the attendance

for removal,

etc.

of the person so summoned at a time and place appointed therein for hearing; and at such time and place shall hear and examine upon oath such person or persons, and shall hear such other evidence as may be material. If upon hearing it appears that the person sought to be removed is without a legal settlement in this commonwealth and is unable to support himself, and that his necessities or the public interests require his removal, the court shall issue an Court order order in writing, directed to a duly constituted officer or agent of the department, reciting that such person appears to be a state pauper, and that his necessities or the public interests require his removal, and commanding such officer or agent to remove him to the state infirmary or to any other state institution designated by the department, and such officer or agent shall thereupon make the removal as ordered. After the removal is made such officer or agent shall file such order, with his return thereon, with the clerk of the court from which it was issued. In every case where a removal is Expenses, approval and ordered a detailed statement of the expense incurred by payment by any town for the support of the person so removed while commonwealth. application for his removal was pending before the court shall be rendered, and after approval by the department shall be paid by the commonwealth. Reimbursement by the commonwealth under the provisions hereof shall be subject to the provisions of section forty-two of chapter one hundred and twenty-one.

amended.

bursement of

to mothers

SECTION 6. Section six of chapter one hundred and G. L. 118, § 6, eighteen of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after the word "welfare" in the third line, the words: and subject otherwise to the provisions of section forty-two of chapter one hundred and twenty-one, -so as to read as follows: Section 6. In respect to all mothers in State reimreceipt of aid under this chapter the town rendering the aid cities and shall, after approval of the bills by the department of public towns for aid welfare, and subject otherwise to the provisions of section with dependent forty-two of chapter one hundred and twenty-one, be reimbursed by the commonwealth for one third of the amount of the aid given, or, if the mother so aided has no settlement, for the total amount thereof. If the mother so aided has a legal settlement in another town two thirds of the amount of such aid given may be recovered in contract against the town liable therefor in accordance with chapter one hundred and seventeen.

children.

etc., amended.

SECTION 7. Section fifteen of chapter one hundred and G. L. 122, 15, twenty-two of the General Laws, as amended by chapter one hundred and seventy-seven of the acts of nineteen hundred and twenty-three, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word "department", in the sixth line, the words: and subject otherwise to the provisions of section forty-two of chapter one hundred and twenty-one, to read as follows: Section 15. Towns may at their own Sending of expense send to the state infirmary, to be maintained at to state in

So as

certain persons

firmary by cities and towns.

State reim

bursement for

the public charge, all paupers falling into distress therein and having no settlement within the commonwealth. The town shall be reimbursed by the commonwealth, upon bills transportation approved by the department and subject otherwise to the provisions of section forty-two of chapter one hundred and twenty-one, for the expense of transportation of each state pauper so sent, for the excess over thirty miles by the usual route, at a rate not exceeding twelve cents a mile.

expenses, etc.

G. L. 122, 18, amended.

State reimbursement of cities and towns for care of certain sick poor, etc.

SECTION 8. Section eighteen of said chapter one hundred and twenty-two is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following new sentence: Reimbursement by the commonwealth under the provisions hereof shall be subject to the provisions of section forty-two of chapter one hundred and twenty-one, so as to read as follows: Section 18. Reasonable expenses incurred by a town under the preceding section within five days next before notice has been given as therein required and also after the giving of such notice and until said sick person is able to be removed to the state infirmary shall be reimbursed by the commonwealth. If the department, after investigation, deems it expedient as an economy in expenditure and in the interest of the patient's health, it may authorize reimbursement for aid rendered after the patient has become able to be so removed, and, in its discretion, until the patient is able to be discharged. If the department considers it expedient to order the removal to the state infirmary of a person whose physical condition is such as to require attendance, reasonable expenses incurred for such attendance as directed by the department shall also be reimbursed by the commonwealth. Bills for such support shall not be allowed unless endorsed with the declaration that, after full investigation, no kindred reimbursement. able to pay the amount charged have been found, and that the amount has actually been paid from the town treasury, nor unless they are approved by the department or by a person designated by it; and not more than ten dollars and fifty cents a week shall be allowed for the support of a person in a town hospital, and no charges of whatever nature in excess of the said ten dollars and fifty cents a week shall be allowed. Reimbursement by the commonwealth under the provisions hereof shall be subject to the provisions of section forty-two of chapter one hundred and twenty-one.

Conditions and

limitations of such

G. L. 122, 19, etc., repealed.

Effective date.

SECTION 9. Section nineteen of said chapter one hundred and twenty-two, as amended by section seventy-three of chapter three hundred and sixty-two of the acts of nineteen hundred and twenty-three, is hereby repealed.

SECTION 10. This act shall take effect on December first, nineteen hundred and twenty-six.

Approved April 14, 1926.

AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE LICENSING OF UNDERTAKERS.

Be it enacted, etc., as follows:

Chap.242

SECTION 1. Chapter one hundred and fourteen of the G. L. 114, § 49, General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section amended. forty-nine and inserting in place thereof the following:

undertakers.

conditions of

Section 49. Boards of health shall annually, on or before Licensing of May first, license a suitable number of undertakers who can read and write the English language and who are qualified as hereinafter provided. Each license hereunder shall be Terms and issued upon such terms and conditions as the board of licenses. health issuing it may prescribe and may be revoked at any Revocation. time by such board if any of its terms and conditions or any requirement of law relative thereto has been violated by the licensee. An undertaker so licensed may act in any town. Scope. Before issuance of such a license or of a renewal thereof, Qualifications of applicants, there shall be presented to the board of health by the appli- etc. cant for such license satisfactory evidence that he is a citizen of the United States of good moral character and is competent to prepare such death certificates and other documents as are required in the ordinary course of his business, and is familiar with the precautions to be taken by an undertaker to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and is conversant with the laws of the United States and of this commonwealth relative to the custody of dead bodies, the preparation of such bodies for burial, cremation and shipment and relative to their burial, cremation and shipment. An undertaker licensed as aforesaid shall maintain within Maintenance of undertaking the commonwealth an undertaking establishment so located, establishment constructed and equipped as to permit the decent and within state, sanitary handling of dead bodies and shall maintain therein suitable equipment for such handling.

etc.

engaging in

undertaker

Whoever, not being licensed hereunder, shall, by himself Penalty for or by an agent or servant who is not so licensed, engage in business of the business of an undertaker shall be punished by a fine of without license, not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for etc. not more than two months, or both; but this section shall not prohibit the employment of apprentices or assistants under the personal supervision of an undertaker licensed under this section.

to renewals

SECTION 2. This act shall not apply to the issuance of Not to apply any renewal of a license of an undertaker in effect prior to its of certain effective date. Approved April 14, 1926.

licenses.

AN ACT RELATIVE TO DEATH CERTIFICATES, BURIAL PER- Chap.243

MITS AND CERTAIN SEPULTURAL RECORDS AFFECTING

VETERANS.

Be it enacted, etc., as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter forty-six of the General Laws is G. L. 46, § 10, hereby amended by striking out section ten and inserting amended.