A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR LOCAL CORE AND ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, INCLUDING A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT IN PREDOMINANTLY TIER ONE COUNTIES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) for the 2003‑2004 fiscal year and the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) for the 2004‑2005 fiscal year.  These funds shall be allocated to the Institute of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for a public health improvement demonstration project in enterprise tier one counties and other counties affiliated with tier one counties through district health departments in northeastern North Carolina. For purposes of this section, "enterprise tier" has the same meaning as under G.S. 105‑129.2. The regional demonstration project will incorporate collaboration and tasking across county lines.  The funds shall be used as follows:
(1)	For the demonstration of health assessment functions, including the strengthening of epidemiological investigation capacity; active monitoring and surveillance of health conditions, diseases, and risk factors; involving the community in community health assessments; public awareness of health conditions and reporting of health issues to the general community and to risk groups; institutionalizing the capacity to monitor closure of disparity gaps; and monitoring, measuring, and evaluating health outcomes.
(2)	For the demonstration of public health policy development, including the retraining of the public health workforce, mobilizing community and coalition infrastructures, broadening the public health agenda through activation of the policy development role of local boards of health, and the development of policies and readiness for emerging public health threats.
(3)	For the demonstration of assurance functions, including the development of key accountability and performance measures, piloting a local health department accreditation system, the identification of major health system gaps, the translation of public health research into practice, and the development of model guidelines, policies, and procedures.
(4)	For the development of a proposed State funding system for core public health functions and essential public health services with emphasis on county wealth, county need, and incentive to collaborate and share resources on a regional level.
(5)	For defining and measuring the public health infrastructure as demonstrated by research at the federal level through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Reserve for State Aid to Counties the sum of thirteen million dollars ($13,000,000) for the 2003‑2004 fiscal year and the sum of thirteen million dollars ($13,000,000) for the 2004‑2005 fiscal year.  Of these funds, the sum of one hundred thirty thousand dollars ($130,000) shall be allocated in each fiscal year to each of the State's 100 counties as noncategorical funding.  Each county may use funds received under this section as follows:
(1)	To enhance core and essential local public health functions including assessment.
(2)	For policy development, assurance of access to needed health services, and reduction of disparities and barriers to care.
(3)	To partner with other local entities to promote development and enhance community health.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2003.