§ 20-48-411 — Charges

(a) (1) In the case of each petition for admission, the Board of Developmental Disabilities Services shall investigate and determine whether the individual or his or her parents or guardian can pay for the maintenance, training, education, or care of the individual. (2) The board is authorized to establish a system of charges to be based upon the ability of the individual or his or her parents or guardian to pay for maintenance, training, education, or care and to impose the charges. (3) However, if the board determines that the individual or his or her parents or guardian is unable to pay for all or part of the maintenance, training, education, or care of the individual, the board may provide all or part without charge. (4) The board may vary the schedule of charges from time to time as circumstances warrant. (b) (1) If any individual or his or her parents or guardian shall fail or refuse to pay the charges so assessed by the board, the board shall have and is granted the authority to institute appropriate legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction for the collection of the charges. (2) The board is authorized to retain the services of legal counsel and pay a reasonable fee for any services furnished the board. (c) All fees provided for by subsections (a) and (b) of this section for the benefit of the human development centers shall be deposited into the State Treasury as special revenues and shall be credited to the Developmental Disabilities Services Fund Account. (d) Subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be liberally construed. The enumeration of any object, purpose, power, manner, method, and thing shall not be deemed to exclude like or similar objects, purposes, powers, manners, methods, or things.

Legislative History

Acts 1955, No. 6, § 11; 1957, No. 349, § 4; 1959, No. 352, § 1; 1963, No. 186, §§ 6, 11; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 59-1111, 59-1112, 59-1126.