Library Collections: Document: Full Text

All which is respectfully submitted.

LEMUEL SHATTUCK,
N. P. BANKS, Jr.,
JEHIEL ABBOTT,
Commissioners.
Boston, April 25, 1850.

BILL DRAWN BY THE COMMISSION, AND RECOM- MENDED TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR ENACTMENT.

(See this Report, pp. 48-55, 109-119, 138, 242, and 284.)

An Act for the Promotion of Public and Personal Health.

BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Sect. 1. His Excellency the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Council, shall appoint seven persons, who, together with the Governor, and the Secretary of the Board of Education, ex officiis, shall constitute and be denominated the General Board of Health; and the persons so appointed shall hold their offices for the term of seven years: provided, that the person first named in said Board shall go out of office at the end of one year, the person next named shall go out of office at the end of two years, and so of the remaining members, one retiring each year, and in the order in which they are named, until the whole Board be changed. And the Governor, with the advice and consent of the council as aforesaid, shall fill all vacancies in said Board, which may occur from death, resignation or otherwise. Any member who resigns, or whose term of office has expired, may, if duly qualified, be reappointed.

Sect. 2. The said Board shall meet in January, April, July, and October, in each year, and at such other times as they may deem necessary or expedient.

Sect. 3. They shall appoint a competent person to be the Secretary of the Board, and shall also appoint such other persons, or employ such temporary assistance, as may be necessary to carry into execution the sanitary laws of the State, under their superintendence; and every such person so appointed or employed shall hold his office during the pleasure of the Board. The Board shall fix the compensation of all persons so appointed or employed: provided, that the members of said Board shall receive no compensation for their own services. The salary of the Secretary shall be hundred dollars per annum, which, together with his incidental expenses and those of the Board, while in the discharge of their official duties, shall be paid by the State, on certificates signed by the chairman and Secretary.

Sect. 4. The said Board shall perform the following duties: --

1. They shall have the general superintendence of the execution of the sanitary laws of the State.

2. They shall direct the Secretary of the Board in the discharge of his duties.

3. They shall consider and decide upon sanitary questions, submitted to them by the State, by cities, by towns, and by the Local Boards of Health.

4. They shall advise the State as to the location and erection of public buildings, and as to the sanitary regulations of public institutions.

5. They shall, at least once in each year, visit and ascertain the sanitary condition of the several public charitable institutions of the State.

6. They shall prepare and furnish, at the expense of the State, to the several Local Boards of Health, all necessary blanks for the purposes of this act.

7. They shall, from time to time, issue instructions to the several Local Boards, as to their powers and duties, and shall suggest and recommend local sanitary rules and regulations.

8. They shall superintend each enumeration of the inhabitants of the State, and the preparation of the abstracts of the same, authorized by the constitution and laws.

9. They shall lay before the Legislature, annually, in a printed form, a report, containing an abstract of their proceedings, and of their receipts and expenditures, together with the Report of the Secretary of said Board; and shall accompany the same with such remarks, as their observation, experience, and reflection may suggest, as to the sanitary condition of the State, its institutions, and its inhabitants; and recommend the adoption of such useful sanitary measures, as in their judgment may lead to improvement.

Sect. 5. They may expend fifty dollars, annually, in the purchase of books and works, relating to public health and to the causes and prevention of disease; which books and works, together with such other books, works, and documents, as may be obtained in exchange or by donation, shall be kept in the office of the Secretary of the Board, and be the property of the State.

Sect. 6. The Secretary, under the general direction of the Board, shall perform the following duties: --

1. He shall keep full and accurate accounts of the receipts and expenditures of the Board.

2. He shall, when directed by the Board, make a sanitary survey of a particular town, or part of the State; and collect information as to its sanitary condition.

3. He shall have all the authority by law given to, and perform all the duties imposed upon, the Secretary of State, relating to the registration and return of births, marriages, and deaths.