§ 120-196. Commission duties. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 120‑196.  Commissionduties.

The Commission shall study theavailability and accessibility of public health services to all citizensthroughout the State. In conducting the study the Commission shall:

(1)        Determine whetherthe public health services currently available in each local health departmentconform to the mission and essential services established under G.S. 130A‑1.1;

(2)        Study the workforceneeds of each local department, including salary levels, professionalcredentials, and continuing education requirements, and determine the impactthat shortages of public health professional personnel have on the delivery ofpublic health services in local health departments;

(3)        Review the statusand needs of local health departments relative to facilities, and the need forthe development of minimum standards governing the provision and maintenance ofthese facilities;

(4)        Propose a long‑rangeplan for funding the public health system, which plan shall include a reviewand evaluation of the current structure and financing of public health in NorthCarolina and any other recommendations the Commission deems appropriate basedon its study activities;

(5)        Conduct any otherstudies or evaluations the Commission considers necessary to effectuate itspurpose; and

(6)        Study the capacityof small counties to meet the core public health functions mandated by currentState and federal law. The Commission shall consider whether the current localhealth departments should be organized into a network of larger multidistrictcommunity administrative units. In making its recommendations on this study,the Commission shall consider whether the State should establish minimumpopulations for local health departments, and if so, shall recommend the numberof and configuration for these multicounty administrative units and shallrecommend a series of incentives to ease county transition into these newarrangements. (1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 771, s. 2.1; 1995, c.507, s. 23A.6(a), (b); 1997‑502, s. 11.)