Poor Persons (Relief) Act

Short title This Law may be cited as the Poor Persons (Relief) Law (1997 Revision). Definitions In this Law — “relief” means the relief given under this Law to needy, destitute and sick persons out of such moneys as may be annually voted by the Legislative Assembly for that object, and includes all burial expenses; and “poor person” means any person who is or has been in receipt of relief and has not reimbursed the same, but does not include any person who has been in receipt of any special extraordinary relief voted or granted to such persons on account of any loss or destitution, as the case may be, occasioned by fire, storm, pestilence or famine. Governor may make regulations The Governor in Council may, from time to time, make regulations embodying the conditions under which relief may be given.

Poor person’s property to vest in Crown In the event of any poor person in or coming into possession of any real or personal property, such property shall vest in the Crown and it shall not be lawful for the poor person, so long as he continues to be a poor person, to dispose of or otherwise deal with the same without the permission of the Governor. Property may be disposed of in certain events In the event of the death of the poor person, or his absence for six calendar months from the Islands, or if the poor person has ceased to be in receipt of relief for a period of two years and has not within that period reimbursed the amount of the relief previously received by him, the Governor may dispose of the property by public auction or otherwise as he may think best, paying the proceeds into the Treasury:

Provided that should the Crown, at any time before the property is disposed of, be reimbursed the amount expended on the relief of the poor person, the Governor shall release the property and take no action for the disposal of the same:

Provided further, that should the property, if disposed of, realise a greater sum than the amount expended on the relief of the poor person, the balance after deducting the amount expended, shall be returned to the poor person, or, if he is deceased, to his executor or administrator:

Provided further that all judgments against the poor person duly recorded prior to his becoming a poor person shall be satisfied. Publication in revised form authorised by the Governor in Council this 9th day of December, 1997. Carmena H. Parsons Clerk of Executive Council