GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

H	2 

HOUSE BILL 1098
Committee Substitute Favorable 5/8/89

Short Title:  Public Health Study Commission.	(Public)
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Sponsors:
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Referred to:  
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April 7, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO CREATE A PUBLIC HEALTH STUDY COMMISSION AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE COMMISSION.
Whereas, North Carolina continues to suffer from problems associated with a high incidence of adolescent pregnancy; and
Whereas, North Carolina has one of the highest incidences of infant mortality and infant morbidity in the United States; and
Whereas, the increased population of the State and the increasing diversity of its people and problems are causing an increase in the demand for public health services throughout the State; and
Whereas, the outbreak and spread of new and previously controlled diseases pose severe threats to the public health of the people of North Carolina; and
Whereas, the spread of economic development and population in the State has not been uniform, leading many in the public health community to question whether the allocation of resources for public health delivery on a local basis has been sufficient to assure a uniform and consistent level of quality in the delivery of those resources throughout the State; and
Whereas, the public health delivery system in certain localities of the State is reportedly suffering from insufficient resources, inadequate facilities, and shortages of competent professional and support staff; and
Whereas, no comprehensive review and evaluation of the public health system in North Carolina has been undertaken since 1973; and
Whereas, a current comprehensive review and evaluation of our public health delivery system in North Carolina is necessary at this time to assure that the State has an adequate, consistent, accessible, and efficient public health system to meet the public health demands and challenges in this State in the future; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is established the Public Health Study Commission, an independent commission, to study public health services in North Carolina and to recommend improvements that will assure that North Carolina has cost-effective, uniform and consistently administered public health services.
Sec. 2. The Commission shall consist of 16 members.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint four members, all of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives.  The President of the Senate shall appoint four members, two of whom shall be members of the Senate, one of whom shall be a recipient of public health services, and one of whom shall be a public health director.  The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint four members, two of whom shall be members of the Senate, one of whom shall be a county commissioner, and one of whom shall be an advocate for low-income people who is familiar with public health services in North Carolina.  The Governor shall appoint four members, one of whom shall be the Secretary of the Department of Human Resources or a designee thereof, one of whom shall be a physician licensed to practice medicine, one of whom shall be a business person who is involved in private enterprise, and one of whom shall be an individual involved in the administration or funding of public health services.  Initial appointments shall be made within 30 days following adjournment of the 1989 Session of the General Assembly.  Vacancies shall be filled by the official who made the initial appointment using the same criteria as provided by this section.
Sec. 3. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint a cochair of the Commission from their appointees.  The cochairs shall call the first meeting and preside at alternate meetings.
Sec. 4. The Public Health Study Commission shall examine the need for improvement in the statewide public health delivery system through local communities and shall develop legislation to address those needs.  If legislation is enacted directing the Department of Human Resources to develop a Public Health Services Plan, the Department may provide status reports on the development of the Plan to the Commission; upon completion of the Plan, the Department shall submit the Plan to the Commission for the Commission's review.
Sec. 5. Commission members shall receive subsistence and travel expenses as provided in G.S. 120-3.1, 138-5, and 138-6, as applicable.
Sec. 6. The Commission may solicit, employ, or contract for professional, technical, or clerical assistance, and may purchase or contract for the materials and services it needs. Subject to the approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the professional and clerical staff of the Legislative Services Office shall be available to the Commission, and the Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.  With the consent of the Secretary of the Department of Human Resources, staff employed by the Department or any of its divisions may be assigned permanently or temporarily to assist the Commission or its staff.
Sec.  7. Upon request of the Commission or its staff, all State departments and agencies and all local government agencies shall furnish the Commission or its staff with any information in their possession or available to them.
Sec. 8. The Commission shall submit a final written report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate before or upon the convening of the 1991 Session of the General Assembly.  The Commission shall terminate upon the filing of the report.
Sec. 9. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly $25,000 for fiscal year 1989-90 and $25,000 for the 1990-91 fiscal year to implement this act.
Sec. 10.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1989.