44:4-1 Definitions.

44:4-1. As used in this chapter:

"Almshouse" means a place for the maintenance of the poor at the public expense of a county or municipality, prior to the establishment of a welfare-house.

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Human Services.

"County adjuster" means the official of that designation authorized to act in the cases of commitment or admission of persons who have a mental illness to State or county hospitals for the insane.

"County welfare board" means the board of a single county authorized to have charge, supervision and control of a county welfare-house and the administration of the settlement and relief of the poor for such county and to supervise through a director of welfare such work for or in relation to the poor as directed or authorized.

"Director of welfare" means an employee of a county welfare board with authority to act for it and under its direction, and to act for and in lieu of overseers where there are none, and perform the functions of and replace the office of overseer.

"May" shall be construed to be permissive.

"Municipality" shall not include, in meaning, a county, unless otherwise indicated by the context, but shall include any city, borough, township, town, village or municipality governed by an improvement commission.

"Permanent or indoor poor," as found in this chapter, shall mean a disabled person who has been diagnosed by a regular practicing physician as being unemployable due to a mental or physical condition, providing such condition is in the physician's opinion of permanent nature, and further providing that the disabled person is not eligible for any other type of categorical aid.

"Poor person" means a permanently disabled person who is without means of support as defined above.

"Public charge" means a person to whom it is necessary to furnish proper relief as provided in this chapter.

"Settlement of a person" means his right under the provisions of this chapter to relief or maintenance and support in any county or counties.

"State board" means the State Board of Human Services.

"Temporary or outdoor poor" means poor persons who can be relieved temporarily at their domicile or without being maintained in an almshouse or welfare-house.

"Welfare-house" means a place where the poor are maintained at the public expense under the superintendence of a county welfare board in any county.

"Disabled person" means any person entitled to relief under this chapter.

amended 1947, c.373; 2013, c.103, s.118.