House committee substitute makes the following changes to 3rd edition. Amends GS 153A-76 to provide that a board of county commissioners may not abolish or consolidate into a human service agency a hospital authority assigned to provide public health services pursuant to Section 12 of SL 1997-502.
Makes technical and conforming changes to GS 153A-77.
Adds new GS 130A-34.3 to direct the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to establish a Public Health Improvement Incentive Program to provide monetary incentives for the creation of multicounty local health departments serving a population of at least 75,000. Directs the Commission of Public Health to adopt rules to implement the program.
Adds new GS 130A-34.4 to provide that, by July 1, 2014, a local health department must meet the following criteria in order to receive state and federal public health funding from the Division of Public Health: (1) the local health department must obtain and maintain accreditation pursuant to GS 130A-34.1; and (2) the county or counties comprising the local health department must maintain operating appropriations to local health departments from local ad valorem tax receipts at levels equal to amounts appropriated in fiscal year 2010-2011.
Amends GS 130A-1.1(b) to direct a local health department to assure that ten specified public health services are available and accessible to the population in each county served by the department.
Effective July 1, 2011, directs the DHHS to allocate $5 million to the Division of Public Health to provide incentives to local health departments through the Public Health Improvement Incentive Program.
Directs the Program Evaluation Division of the General Assembly to study the feasibility of the transfer of all functions, powers, duties, and obligations of the Division of Public Health in the Department of Health and Human Services to the University of North Carolina Healthcare System and/or the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina. The Division must report its findings and recommendations by February 1, 2012.
Makes conforming changes to title.