The board of supervisors of any county in connection with the administration of any county hospital may establish in the county treasury a special fund to be known as the “patients’ personal deposit fund.” When such fund is established, any patient in the hospital may request the superintendent thereof to deposit in the fund any moneys belonging to the patient. Upon any such request by any patient any moneys belonging to the patient shall be deposited in the name of that patient in the patients’ personal deposit fund, except that if a guardian or conservator of the estate is appointed for the patient, then the guardian or conservator shall have the right to demand and receive such moneys or to withdraw either in whole or in part the moneys theretofore deposited in the fund in the name of the patient. Any of the funds belonging to a patient deposited in the patients’ personal deposit fund may be used for the purchase of personal incidentals for the patient or otherwise used for the personal needs and benefits of the patient upon his request. At the time of the discharge from the hospital of any patient there shall be refunded to him upon the order of the superintendent the balance of any moneys standing to the credit of the patient in the fund.

Prior to the time of the discharge of any patient, upon the demand of the patient there shall be refunded to him upon the order of the superintendent the whole or any portion of the balance of any moneys standing to the credit of the patient in the fund. Upon such demand of the patient, or upon the discharge of the patient from the hospital, or upon the demand of the guardian or conservator of the estate of the patient, the superintendent shall order the refund to the patient or the payment to such guardian or conservator as hereinbefore provided.

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(Amended by Stats. 1979, Ch. 730.)