No. V-0019 (1947).

• Case Date: February 14, 1947
• Court: Texas

Texas Attorney General Opinions 1947. No. V-0019 (1947). 1February 14, 1947Hon. William N. HensleyCriminal District AttorneyBexar CountySan Antonio, TexasOpinion No. V-19Re: City-County Tuberculosis Board, authority of to aid indigent tubercular patients who are aliens, Article 4437a, Section 6A, V.A.C.S., and related questions.Dear Sir:We refer to your letter of January 27, 1947, and excellent brief wherein you request the opinion of this Department on three specific questions concerning the following submitted facts and statutory matters which are, in substance as follows:

Pursuant to Article 4437a, Section 6A, V.A.C.S., Acts 1945, 49th Legislature, Chapter 295, Page 466, Bexar County, in August, 1945, established a City-County joint program of tuberculosis control having for its object the protection of public health by the alleviation, suppression and prevention of the spread of tuberculosis. A special tax authorized under Section 6A (b) of not to exceed 5¢ per $100.00 valuation was voted. Under provisions of Section 6A (c) and (d) of said Act, a City-County Tuberculosis Control Board has been appointed to exercise the duties and powers set out in Subsection (e) of Section 6A, Article 4437a. Said Board submits the following questions:

1. Under provisions of Article 4437a, Section 6A, V.A.C.S., and any other applicable law, may the City-County Tuberculosis Control Board extend economic aid to an indigent person who is an alien and to members2

of his family?

2. Occasionally, it appears desirable to said Board in carrying out the purposes of Section 6A, Article 4437a, to cause to be placed in a County Hospital (such as the County Tuberculosis Hospital at Southton, Texas) an indigent tubercular who is an alien who qualifies for aid under Section 6A. May the County Hospital receive such an indigent alien patient as a free service patient upon request of the City-County Tuberculosis Control Board, upon its statement that he is a client of and entitled to aid from said Board?

3. Is the City-County Tuberculosis Control Board authorized to pay, out of its funds, the County Hospital, for the care of an indigent tuberculosis patient who has been certified to it by the Board?

We will quote herein only those portions of Article 4437a which we believe are pertinent to this opinion. Section 6A (a) provides as follows:

"The governing bodies of the county and of the city or cities within said county adopting the provisions hereof as herein provided, are hereby authorized to conduct a joint program of tuberculosis control within said city or cities

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