24th Colorado Assembly

The documents we received include three handwritten drafts of the bills, and several typed versions with notes and revisions. Much of the final versions of the bills lay out who the hospitals are for, and the price structures for care, staff, and facilities. The Act to establish the Psychopathic Hospital says that the hospital will be supervised and governed by the Regents of the University of Colorado. Section 3 through 7 explains the power the Regents of the University of Colorado have in administering the new hospital. It empowers the Regents to acquire land, build the hospital, and to use temporary buildings until a permanent hospital is built. It also charges them with hiring a superintendent, and explains the qualifications needed. Section 6 reads ‘The Board of Regents shall appoint a superintendent, who shall hold office during their pleasure, and who shall be a physician and graduate of an incorporated medical college who shall have had at least ten years’ experience in the actual practice of his profession, and who shall have had at least five years actual experience as a neuro-pathologist. The superintendent shall reside at the hospital, and give his entire time and attention to the discharge of his official duties and shall receive such compensation as shall be fixed by the Board of Regents.’ An assistant supervisor can also be appointed.  

The main function of the Psychopathic Hospital was to care for patients that are placed in the hospital by the courts. Additional room can be offered to volunteer patients, if there is space. The bill lays out how those patients will be charged for the hospitals services. A volunteer patient was to pay for a full month of care when they were admitted, and then pay for a full month for any additional time they believed they needed treatment. When the patient was discharged, they were refunded any money still on account.

The 24th Colorado Assembly, 1923-24 visiting CU Boulder
The 24th Colorado Assembly, 1923-24 visiting CU Boulder