Each patient receiving services from a state hospital shall be legally responsible for, and shall pay to the department, the cost of his care received from a state hospital. Payments for cost of care shall be payable following the receipt of services in accordance with standards and procedures established by the board. In the event the department is unable to collect the assessment from the patient or in the event the patient's assessment is less than the full cost of care for such patient, all other persons liable for the cost of care for such patient shall pay to the department their respective assessments as provided by Code Section 37-9-5.
(Ga. L. 1960, p. 1138, §§ 4, 5; Ga. L. 1966, p. 143, §§ 3, 4; Ga. L. 1979, p. 834, § 5; Ga. L. 1982, p. 3, § 37.)
Law reviews.- For comment advocating legislative determination of parental liability for costs of institutional custody of child involuntarily committed to a mental health facility in response to criminal behavior in light of Treglown v. Department of Health & Social Servs., 38 Wis. 2d 317, 156 N.W.2d 363 (1968), see 19 Mercer L. Rev. 457 (1968).