(65 ILCS 5/11-26-1) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-26-1)
    Sec. 11-26-1. The corporate authorities of any municipality with a population of 500,000 or more may establish, erect, and maintain maternity or lying-in hospitals, dispensaries, and other auxiliary institutions connected therewith where female inhabitants of the municipality may be received, cared for, or treated during pregnancy or during or after delivery, without license therefor from or regulation thereof by the State Department of Public Health or the State Department of Public Welfare in accordance with the Hospital Licensing Act, approved July 1, 1953, as heretofore and hereafter amended. These hospitals, dispensaries, and auxiliary institutions are subject to supervision by the board of health of the municipality.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 576.)