SB156: relative to public health regions and regional public health councils.

SB 156 – AS INTRODUCED

2007 SESSION

07-1257

01/10

SENATE BILL 156

AN ACT relative to public health regions and regional public health councils.

SPONSORS: Sen. Kenney, Dist 3; Rep. Rosenwald, Hills 22

COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services

ANALYSIS

This bill requires the commissioner of the department of health and human services to establish public health regions for the state. Under this bill, a public health region may establish a public health council to develop plans for a coordinated response to a public health emergency. The commissioner is granted rulemaking authority to establish the regions.

This bill is a request of the department of health and human services.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

07-1257

01/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven

AN ACT relative to public health regions and regional public health councils.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Public Health Plans; Purpose. The purpose of this act is to create the framework for developing comprehensive and coordinated plans for responding to public health emergencies by New Hampshire’s municipalities. In addition, the purpose of this act is to enhance the ability of municipalities to work together to deliver basic public health services to protect and promote the health of the general population.

2 New Chapter; Public Health Regions. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 127 the following new chapter:

CHAPTER 127-A

PUBLIC HEALTH REGIONS

127-A:1 Definitions. In this chapter:

I. “Commissioner” means the commissioner of the department of health and human services.

II. “Department” means the department of health and human services.

127-A:2 Regions Established. The commissioner shall establish public health regions for the state by rules adopted pursuant to RSA 541-A. The regions shall be defined along such lines that the commissioner determines provide the best structure for the planning and delivery of public health services on a regional basis, taking into consideration geographic features and the existing health care infrastructure.

127-A:3 Regional Public Health Councils. A public health region may establish a public health council which shall include as members those municipalities in the region whose governing bodies have voted to participate in the council. Each council shall have a board of directors, a majority of which shall be representatives of the participating municipalities. Each participating municipality shall have one member on the board, except that municipalities with a population greater than 5,000 inhabitants shall have 2 members and municipalities with a population greater than 20,000 inhabitants shall have 3 members. If the region is entirely within one county, that county government shall have 2 members of the board, but if the region includes more than one county, each affected county government shall have one member of the board. The board may appoint such additional members as the board deems advisable for the effective discharge of its duties. If a participating municipality votes to withdraw from a council, its representatives shall no longer be members unless otherwise appointed by the board of directors.

127-A:4 Regional Public Health Councils; Duties. The regional public health councils may develop plans for a coordinated response to public health incidents and emergencies that may occur in their regions. The councils may conduct activities directly or through individual municipalities or other public or private entities to prevent, plan for, and respond to public health incidents and emergencies. The councils may carry out public health functions of the department as delegated by the commissioner and as agreed to by the councils and the commissioner.

127-A:5 Organization and Appropriations. Each regional public health council shall annually elect a chairperson of the board of directors from among the representatives of the participating municipalities. The councils may designate a fiscal agent to receive and expend funds. Any member municipality and any affected county government may appropriate such funds as it deems necessary to support the activities of the council. The fiscal year for the councils shall be from July 1 through June 30.

127-A:6 District Departments of Health. Municipalities participating in a regional public health council may vote to designate the council as a district department of health pursuant to RSA 127. In such cases the council shall have the powers and duties set forth in RSA 127, but the district department of health shall be governed as provided for in this chapter.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.