GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

S	1 

SENATE BILL 985

Short Title:  Public Health Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senator Cooper.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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April 28, 1993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR ENHANCING THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL BOARDS OF HEALTH TO ENSURE THE EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES.
Whereas, every county in North Carolina provides public health services; and
Whereas, local boards of health are responsible for hiring local health directors, establishing policies and adopting rules necessary to protect and promote the public health; and
Whereas, to perform effectively, board of health members need orientation to public health needs, services, legal issues, policy development, and effective governance; and
Whereas, in 1990, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation awarded a three-year grant to the Association of North Carolina Boards of Health to establish orientation and training programs for board of health members in North Carolina; and
Whereas, 40% of the State's board of health members have attended orientation programs, 10% have attended leadership development programs, and 90% have received some educational service from the Association of North Carolina Boards of Health in the past two years; and
Whereas, orientation and educational training increase board of health members' effectiveness in assessing community needs, developing local public health policies, and assuring essential public health services are available; and
Whereas, well-informed boards of health are better equipped to successfully incorporate local information and data about their community's health problems into early intervention and preventive health services; and
Whereas, knowledgeable boards of health can develop community partnerships and convene community forums to discuss problems and priorities; and
Whereas, local boards of health assure that local public health decisions are made in an independent, objective manner; and
Whereas, local boards of health are a significant part of North Carolina's strong community-based public health system; and
Whereas, the General Assembly created local boards of health to protect and promote the public's health and has a legitimate interest in their capacity to perform these duties; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) for the 1993-94 fiscal year and the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal year for allocation to the  Association of North Carolina Boards of Health for the purpose of providing continuing board of health orientation, leadership, and educational development programs to local boards of health.
Sec. 2. This act becomes effective July 1, 1993.