Health - Historical Notes

The following summaries are included herein for reference purposes.

1. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 755, amended Public Acts of 1915, Chapter 50, Section 1, the general law of the state on the subject, so as to make any licensed physician qualified to hold the position of county jail physician or health officer in Hickman County (identified by the use of the 1920 Federal Census figure).
2. Private Acts of 1961, Chapter 162, was the legal authority for the quarterly county court of Hickman County to lease any county hospital constructed, or to be constructed, to any person, persons, firm, or corporation upon such terms as might be mutually agreed upon between the parties. This act was rejected by the Hickman County Quarterly Court and therefore never took effect.
3. Private Acts of 1963, Chapter 109, created a board of trustees in Hickman County, which was to have full charge of the operation of the Hickman County Hospital in Centerville. The board was to have complete authority and responsibility for the management and control of the hospital facilities and the selection of the hospital staff, being given nine specific grants of power in Section 2. The board was to have five members, who were to be paid $5.00 per month, ten cents per mile for each mile traveled in the business of the hospital, and reimbursed for their legitimate expenses. The county judge was to serve as chairman of the board and the county attorney was to serve in an advisory capacity, only, but neither would have a vote on matters brought before the board. The county was divided into five zones from each of which one member of the board would be elected. The act named the first board of trustees, who along with all future members, were required to meet all the qualifications stipulated in the act. All vacancies were to be filled by the quarterly court until the next general election. The board was to meet on the fourth Tuesday of every month at such hour as the board might decide but the day and time of meetings could be changed by the board. The board was to hire a hospital administrator who was required to meet the standards prescribed in the act, perform the duties specified therein, be paid as the board determined and keep books which were to be independently audited at least once each year. The board was to report the financial status to the county court. If necessary, the quarterly court could levy a tax for the support and maintenance of the hospital. This act was rejected by the quarterly court of Hickman County, thus rendering the same ineffective.
4. Private Acts of 1967-68, Chapter 58, would have specifically repealed Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 183, relative to the authority of the county physician but was rejected by the quarterly court of Hickman County and never became law.