Chapter 647. To provide home care for dependent children in the District of Columbia
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CHAP. 647.— An Act To provide home care for dependent children in the District of Columbia.June 22, 1926.[[H. R. 7669](/us/bill/69/hr/7669).][[Public, No. 410](/us/69/pl/410).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,District of Columbia.Dependent children. That whenever the parent of a child under the age of sixteen years is unable to provide for the proper care of such child in his own home, the mother or guardian of such child may make application to the board of 759public welfare of the District of Columbia, hereinafter called theApplication by mother, etc., to public welfare board, for care of, if parent unable so to do.*Ante*, p. 208.*Proviso*.Residence and citizenship requirements. board, for the benefits conferred by this Act, which application shall be referred to a standing subcommittee of the board, at least one of whom shall be a woman: *Provided*, That such applicant has been a bona fide resident of the District of Columbia for one year preceding such application and that she is a citizen of the United States or has made application to become a citizen.
Sec. 2. The board shall thereupon make an investigation for theInvestigation by the board. purpose of securing the following information: a. Whether the mother or guardian is a proper person to have theAs to mother. custody and care of the child. b. Whether the home is a satisfactory place for the training andHome condition. rearing of the child. c. What resources may be available for the complete or partialAny available resources. maintenance of the child, including the full amount, if any, of real and personal property owned by the parent or held in trust for the child; whether there are any persons or organizations legally obligated to assist in the support of the child. d.
Whether legal steps have been taken to compel the father of theProvision for support by father. child, if he be living, to provide support when he willfully refuses to do so and with what result. e. What amount of aid is needed to keep the child in its ownAmount needed for care in its borne. home and to provide proper care. Sec. 3. The board shall make written findings based upon itsOrder for monthly allowance to maintain child at home. investigations. If it shall find affirmatively on subsections a, b, and d of section 2, and further that the income from, or the amount of, real and personal property owned by the parent or held in trust for the child, if any, is not of an amount or character which makes the giving of public aid inappropriate or unnecessary, the board may then make an order for a monthly allowance sufficient to insure the proper maintenance of the child in the home with the mother and. if it deems necessary, may impose such conditions uponConditions. the granting of the allowance as will promote the welfare of the child.
The allowance shall be discontinued whenever the motherDiscontinued if mother ceases residence. ceases to be a resident of the District of Columbia. Sec. 4. The board may award an allowance from month to monthPeriod of allowances, etc. or for a continuous period. It shall review all allowances at regular intervals and in no case shall an allowance be continued for more than six months without such review. Any allowance mayAlteration of allowances, conditions, etc. be increased or decreased in amount, or discontinued, and the board may alter or amend the conditions upon which the allowance was previously granted upon a showing that the welfare of the child and the protection of the public interest demands such change, discontinuance, or amendment after reasonable notice has been given to the mother of the child.
Sec. 5. The board shall cause every home for which an allowanceVisits, etc., by representative of board. is made to be visited by its representative as often as may be necessary to observe the conditions which obtain in the home, the care which the child is receiving, and to offer such friendly counsel and advice as may be helpful to the mother and the child. Sec. 6. The board shall keep on file a full record of each applicantRecords to be kept. for, or recipient of, assistance under this Act, including the reports of investigations, correspondence and other pertinent information, together with the orders of the board in each case.
Sec. 7. The board shall make such reasonable rules and regulationsRules, etc., to be made. as may be necessary to the proper administration of this Act. Sec. 8. Any person who attempts to obtain, or obtains, by falsePunishment for false representations, etc. representations, fraud, or deceit, any allowance under this Act, or who receives any allowance knowing it to have been fraudulently obtained, or who aids or assists any person in obtaining or attempting to obtain an allowance by fraud, shall be punished by a fine 760of not more than $200 or imprisonment for not more than twelve months, or both.
Sec. 9. The words “ child ” and “ parent ” where used in thisInclusion as plural of “child”; and “parent.” Act shall be interpreted to include the plural. Sec. 10. That in order to carry out the provisions of this ActAmount authorized from District revenues for fiscal year 1927. there is authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1927, the sum of $100,000, payable from the revenues of the District of Columbia, and for the fiscal year ending June 30,*Post*, p. 849. 1928, and annually thereafter, the Commissioners of the District of Columbia shall include in the estimates of appropriations forEstimates thereafter. said District such amount as may be necessary for this purpose.
The Commissioners of the District of Columbia, upon nominationCommissioners to appoint supervisor, etc. by the board, shall have power to appoint a supervisor, and such investigators, stenographers, and clerical assistants as are necessary to administer this Act, at such salaries as may be fixed for similar services by the provisions of the Classification Act of 1923. Such employees may be removed by the Commissioners upon recommendation of the board. Approved, June 22, 1926.