§ 20-7-103 - Members -- Officers. - Arkansas Statutes

20-7-103. Members -- Officers.

(a) The members of the State Board of Health shall elect one (1) of the members as president. However, the Director of the Department of Health shall not serve as the President of the State Board of Health.

(b) (1) With approval of the board the Governor may appoint a Surgeon General for the State of Arkansas who shall not be a current sitting member of the board and who shall:

(A) Be a graduate of a legally constituted and reputable medical college;

(B) Be of good standing;

(C) Have all the powers of the members of the board; and

(D) Serve as a cabinet level advisor to the Governor.

(2) The Surgeon General shall perform such duties as may be required of him or her by the Governor or the board, or both, including, but not limited to:

(A) Reviewing, assessing, and developing health policy options, including insurance coverage, health risk management, disease prevention, and health promotion strategies across state agencies;

(B) Providing policy options for the Governor and senior state agency officials;

(C) Raising awareness of health care and public health areas of priority for advancement of the state population's health;

(D) Reviewing legislative analyses and proposed legislation and creating position statements for the Governor and senior state agency officials;

(E) Advising the Governor, senior state agency officials, and governing boards and commissions on policy issues and program accomplishments; and

(F) Providing medical review oversight and guidance to health and human services clinical programs upon request.