Bill Text: CT HB05457 | 2016 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Local Health Directors.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2016-05-03 - Senate Recommitted to Public Health [HB05457 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2016-HB05457-Introduced.html
General Assembly |
Raised Bill No. 5457 | ||
February Session, 2016 |
LCO No. 1534 | ||
*01534_______PH_* | |||
Referred to Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH |
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Introduced by: |
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(PH) |
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AN ACT CONCERNING LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICTS AND HEALTH DIRECTORS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 19a-244 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):
On and after October 1, 2010, any person nominated to be the director of health shall (1) be a licensed physician and hold a degree in public health from an accredited school, college, university or institution, or (2) hold a graduate degree in public health from an accredited school, college or institution. The educational requirements of this section shall not apply to any director of health nominated or otherwise appointed as director of health prior to October 1, 2010. The board may specify in a written agreement with such director the term of office, which shall not exceed three years, salary and duties required of and responsibilities assigned to such director in addition to those required by the general statutes or the Public Health Code, if any. [He] Such director shall be removed during the term of such written agreement only for cause after a public hearing by the board on charges preferred, of which reasonable notice shall have been given. [He shall devote his entire time to the performance of such duties as are required of directors of health by the general statutes or the Public Health Code and as the board specifies in its written agreement with him;] Such director shall serve in a full-time capacity, shall not engage in private practice and shall act as secretary and treasurer of the board, without the right to vote. [He] Such director shall give to the district a bond with a surety company authorized to transact business in the state, for the faithful performance of [his] such director's duties as treasurer, in such sum and upon such conditions as the board requires. [He] Such director shall be the executive officer of the district department of health. Full-time employees of a city, town or borough health department at the time such city, town or borough votes to form or join a district department of health shall become employees of such district department of health. Such employees may retain their rights and benefits in the pension system of the town, city or borough by which they were employed and shall continue to retain their active participating membership therein until retired. Such employees shall pay into such pension system the contributions required of them for their class and membership. Any additional employees to be hired by the district or any vacancies to be filled shall be filled in accordance with the rules and regulations of the merit system of the state of Connecticut and the employees who are employees of cities, towns or boroughs which have adopted a local civil service or merit system shall be included in their comparable grade with fully attained seniority in the state merit system. Such employees shall perform such duties as are prescribed by the director of health. In the event of the withdrawal of a town, city or borough from the district department, or in the event of a dissolution of any district department, the employees thereof, originally employed therein, shall automatically become employees of the appropriate town, city or borough's board of health.
Sec. 2. Section 19a-2a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):
The Commissioner of Public Health shall employ the most efficient and practical means for the prevention and suppression of disease and shall administer all laws under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Health and the Public Health Code. The commissioner shall have responsibility for the overall operation and administration of the Department of Public Health. The commissioner shall have the power and duty to: (1) Administer, coordinate and direct the operation of the department; (2) adopt and enforce regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, as are necessary to carry out the purposes of the department as established by statute; (3) establish rules for the internal operation and administration of the department; (4) establish and develop programs and administer services to achieve the purposes of the department as established by statute; (5) enter into a contract, including, but not limited to, a contract with another state, for facilities, services and programs to implement the purposes of the department as established by statute; (6) designate a deputy commissioner or other employee of the department to sign any license, certificate or permit issued by said department; (7) conduct a hearing, issue subpoenas, administer oaths, compel testimony and render a final decision in any case when a hearing is required or authorized under the provisions of any statute dealing with the Department of Public Health; (8) with the health authorities of this and other states, secure information and data concerning the prevention and control of epidemics and conditions affecting or endangering the public health, and compile such information and statistics and shall disseminate among health authorities and the people of the state such information as may be of value to them; (9) annually issue a list of reportable diseases, emergency illnesses and health conditions and a list of reportable laboratory findings and amend such lists as the commissioner deems necessary and distribute such lists as well as any necessary forms to each licensed physician and clinical laboratory in this state. The commissioner shall prepare printed forms for reports and returns, with such instructions as may be necessary, for the use of directors of health, boards of health and registrars of vital statistics; and (10) specify uniform methods of keeping statistical information by public and private agencies, organizations and individuals, including a client identifier system, and collect and make available relevant statistical information, including the number of persons treated, frequency of admission and readmission, and frequency and duration of treatment. The client identifier system shall be subject to the confidentiality requirements set forth in section 17a-688 and regulations adopted thereunder. The commissioner may designate any person to perform any of the duties listed in subdivision (7) of this section. The commissioner shall have authority over directors of health and may, for cause, remove any such director; but any person claiming to be aggrieved by such removal may appeal to the Superior Court which may affirm or reverse the action of the commissioner as the public interest requires. The commissioner shall assist and advise local directors of health in the performance of their duties, and may require the enforcement of any law, regulation or ordinance relating to public health. When requested by local directors of health, the commissioner shall consult with them and investigate and advise concerning any condition affecting public health within their jurisdiction. The commissioner shall investigate nuisances and conditions affecting, or that he or she has reason to suspect may affect, the security of life and health in any locality and, for that purpose, the commissioner, or any person authorized by the commissioner, may enter and examine any ground, vehicle, apartment, building or place, and any person designated by the commissioner shall have the authority conferred by law upon constables. The commissioner shall provide close supervision and oversight to the local health departments. Whenever the commissioner determines that any provision of the general statutes or regulation of the Public Health Code is not being enforced effectively by a local health department, he or she shall forthwith take such measures, including the performance of any act required of the local health department, to ensure enforcement of such statute or regulation and shall inform the local health department of such measures. In September of each year the commissioner shall certify to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management the population of each municipality. The commissioner may solicit and accept for use any gift of money or property made by will or otherwise, and any grant of or contract for money, services or property from the federal government, the state, any political subdivision thereof, any other state or any private source, and do all things necessary to cooperate with the federal government or any of its agencies in making an application for any grant or contract. The commissioner may establish state-wide and regional advisory councils.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
October 1, 2016 |
19a-244 |
Sec. 2 |
October 1, 2016 |
19a-2a |
Statement of Purpose:
To require the same time commitment to their duties for directors of district departments of health as is required of municipal health directors and to require the Department of Public Health to closely supervise and oversee local health departments.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]