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S.F. No. 2309 - Local Public Health System
 
Author: Senator Gregory D. Clausen
 
Prepared By:
 
Date: March 6, 2014



 

Section 1 (145A.02, subd. 1a) defines areas of public health responsibility.

Section 2 (145A.02, subd. 5) modifies the definition of a community health board to include a single county, multiple contiguous counties, or a single city in certain cases.

Section 3 (145A.02, subd. 6a) defines community health services administrator.

Section 4 (145A.02, subd. 8a) defines local health department.

Section 5 (145A.02, subd. 8b) defines essential public health services.

Section 6 (145A.02, subd. 15) makes conforming changes to the definition for medical consultant.

Section 7 (145A.01, subd. 15a) defines performance measurement.

Section 8 (145A.02, subd. 15b) defines performance measures.

Section 9 (145A.03, subd. 1) modifies the assignment of responsibilities.  Requires a governing body of a county to undertake the responsibilities of a community health board by establishing or joining a community health board and assigning to it the specified powers and duties.  Requires a community health board to include within its jurisdiction a population of 30,000 or more persons, or be composed of three of more contiguous counties.  Permits a county board or joint powers board that establishes a community health board that also has or establishes an operational human services board may assign the powers and duties of a community health board to a human services board.  States that community health boards established before January 1, 2014, may maintain their status as community health boards.  States that a community health board may authorize the community health services administrator or other designated agent or agents to act on the behalf of the community health board.

Section 10 (145A.03, subd. 2) makes minor and conforming changes.

Section 11(145A.03, subd. 4) makes conforming changes.

Section 12 (145A.03, subd. 5) makes conforming changes.

Section 13 (145A.03, subd. 7) specifies that a community health board that meets the requirements of this section is eligible to receive the local public health grants and other funds that the commissioner grants to community health boards to carry out public health activities.

Section 14 (145A.03) makes changes to the duties of community health boards.

Subdivision 1 specifies that a community health board has the general responsibility for the development and maintenance of a system of community health services under the local administration and within a system of state guidelines and standards.  A community health board shall recommend the enforcement of laws, regulations, and ordinances pertaining to the powers and duties within the jurisdictional area.  A member of a community health board may not withdraw from a joint powers community health board during the first two calendar years following the date of the initial joint powers agreement.  The withdrawal of a county or city from a community health board does not affect the eligibility for the local public health grants of the remaining any county or city for one year after the effective date of the withdrawal.  The local public health grant for a county or city that withdraws will be reduced by the amount of the local partnership incentive.

Subdivision 1a establishes a community health board’s duties:  (1) identify local public health priorities and implement activities to address these priorities; (2) submit to the commissioner at least every five years a community health assessment and community health improvement plan; (3) implement a performance management process in order to achieve desired outcomes; and (4) annually report to the commissioner on a set of performance measures and be prepared to provide documentation of ability to meet the measures.

Subdivision 2 specifies that a community health board must appoint, employ, or contract with a community health service (CHS) administrator.  The resolution authorizing the CHS administrator must specify the types of action or actions that the CHS administrator is authorized to take on behalf of the board.

Subdivision 2a requires a community health board to appoint, employ, or contract with a medical consultant to ensure appropriate medical advice and direction for the community health board, and assist the board and its staff in the coordination of community health services with local medical care and other health services.

Subdivision 3 permits a community health board to employ persons as necessary to carry out its duties.  Specifies that persons employed by a county, or city of the state whose functions and duties are assumed by a community health board shall become employees of the board without loss of benefits, salaries, or rights.

Subdivisions 4 through 12 make minor and conforming changes.

Subdivision 13 authorizes the community health boards to recommend local ordinances pertaining to community health services to any county board or city council within its jurisdiction, and advise the commissioner on matters relating to public health that require assistance from the state or is more than local interest.

Subdivision 14 requires community health boards to ensure that community health services are accessible to all persons on the basis of need and that no person shall be denied services because of race, color, sex, age, language, religion, nationality, inability to pay, political persuasion, or place of residence.

Subdivision 15 establishes a state community health services advisory committee to advise and make recommendations to the commissioner on the development, maintenance, funding, and evaluation of local public health services.  States that this advisory committee does not expire.  Permits city boards that have established or are members of a community health board to appoint a community health advisory committee to advise, consult, and make recommendations to the community health board.

Section 15 (145A.05, subd. 2) specifies that a city council or municipality may adopt ordinances to issue licenses or otherwise regulate animal control.

Section 16 (145A.06, subd. 2) makes conforming changes.

Section 17 (145A.06, subd. 3a) requires the commissioner to help and advise community health boards that ask for assistance in developing, administering, and carrying out public health services and programs.

Section 18 (145A.06, subd. 3b) authorizes the commissioner to adopt rules establishing standards for administrative and program personnel to ensure competence in administration and planning.

Section 19 (145A.06, subd. 5) makes conforming changes.

Section 20 (145A.06, subd. 5a) requires the commissioner, in consultation with the state community health services advisory committee, to develop performance measures and implement a process to monitor statwide outcomes and performance improvement.

Section 22 (145A.06, subd. 7) makes conforming changes.

Sections 23 and 24 (145A.07) makes conforming and minor changes.

Section 25 (145A.08) makes conforming changes.

Section 26 (145A.11, subd. 2) makes conforming changes.

Section 27 (145A.131) modifies the local public health grants.

Subdivision 1 makes conforming changes.

Subdivision 2 makes conforming changes.

Subdivision 3,  paragraph (a), specifies that community health boards accepting local public health grants must meet all requirements and perform all duties described in sections 145A.03 and 145A.04.

Paragraph (b) requires the commissioner, by January 1 of each year, to notify community health boards of the performance-related accountability requirements of the local public health grant for that calendar year.  Requires the performance-related accountability requirements to be comprised of a subset of the annual performance measures and selected in consultation with the state community health services advisory committee. 

Paragraph (c) requires the commissioner to notify the community health board if the commissioner determines that the community health board has not met the accountability requirements and must recommend specific actions the community health board must take over the next six months in order to maintain eligibility for the local public health grant.

Paragraph (d) requires the commissioner to provide administrative and program support to assist the community health board.

Paragraph (e) requires the commissioner to provide the community health board two months following the written notification to appeal the determination.

Paragraph (f) states that if the community health board fails to submit an appeal or has not taken the actions recommended by the commissioner that the commissioner may elect not to reimburse invoices for funds submitted after a six-month compliance period, and to reduce by 1/12 the board’s annual award allocation for every successive month of noncompliance.

Paragraph (g) authorizes the commissioner to retain the amount of funding that would have been allocated to the board and to assume responsibility for public health activities in the geographic area served by the board.

Subdivision 4 makes minor and conforming changes.

Subdivision 5 clarifies that the community health boards may use their local public health grant funds to address the areas of public health responsibility and local priorities developed through the community health assessment and community health improvement planning process.

Section 28 repeals sections 145A.02, subd. 2; 145A.03, subds. 3 and 6; 145A.09, subds. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7; 145A.10 subds. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5a, 7, 9, and 10; and 145A.12, subds. 1, 2, and 7.

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