Bill > S2296

This bill establishes a special commission on local and regional public health to evaluate how well municipal and regional public health systems are working and to suggest ways to improve public health services and preventative care. The commission will be made up of various state officials, including the secretaries of administration and finance, public health, environmental protection, and agricultural resources, along with representatives from different legislative bodies and numerous public health and community organizations, as well as seven individuals appointed by the governor with specific expertise in areas like public health data, community health centers, hospital systems, workforce development, and representation from municipalities of various sizes and regional service models. The commission's duties include comparing local and regional public health capabilities to national standards, assessing the ability of local authorities to fulfill their legal responsibilities, examining current funding and resources, evaluating the qualifications of the public health workforce, reviewing the capacity of the state's public health department, analyzing different regional collaboration and service delivery models, and tracking progress on previous recommendations for public health regionalization. The commission is also authorized to gather public feedback through hearings and testimony.