Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 1951 NO. 68 >

1. The board of county commissioners has the power to sell, close or lease a county hospital without any restriction other than the general statutory restrictions placed on the board in handling county properties.  2. Section 7, chapter 1, Laws of 1951, in no way places a limitation on the board of county commissioners to establish rules for the admission of private patients into county hospitals under section 1, chapter 62, Laws of 1945.  3. The board of county commissioners has the responsibility for financing capital improvements and major repairs and determining the general administration and policy of county hospitals.  4. The state department of health may not achieve sufficient flexibility by means of rules and regulations so that a higher percentage of patients eligible for necessary medical service may use private hospitals where county hospital facilities exist without violating the provisions of section 7, chapter 1, Laws of 1951.