The Office of Public Affairs shall be the purchasing agent for each institution in the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, but in other matters has no governing power or control of said institutions. In other matters, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has sole and exclusive control of institutions of the Department when such institutions deal with the care and treatment of mentally ill persons.

Added by Laws 1953, p. 159, § 33. Amended by Laws 1983, c. 304, § 15, eff. July 1, 1983; Laws 1983, c. 326, § 50, operative July 1, 1983. Renumbered from § 33 by Laws 1986, c. 103, § 103, eff. Nov. 1, 1986. Amended by Laws 1990, c. 51, § 48, emerg. eff. April 9, 1990.