32.1-31 - Operation of local health department under contract with Board; local health services advisory boards; district health departments.
§ 32.1-31. Operation of local health department under contract with Board;local health services advisory boards; district health departments.
A. The governing body of any county or city may enter into a contract withthe Board for the operation of the local health department in such county orcity.
B. Each contract between a county or city and the Board shall specify theservices to be provided in addition to the services required by law and shallcontain such other provisions as the Board and the governing body of thecounty or city may agree upon.
C. Whenever in the opinion of the State Health Commissioner the operation ofany local health departments operated under contractual agreement with theBoard may be accomplished in a more efficient and economical manner by theconsolidation of such local health departments, the Commissioner may proposethe creation of a district health department composed of such local healthdepartments. Such district health department shall be created by resolutionduly adopted by the governing body of each county and city to be included insuch district.
C1. The governing body of each city or county may appoint a local healthservices advisory board for the local health department that serves it. If alocal health department serves more than one city or county, the governingbodies of the cities or counties that it serves shall be entitled to jointlyappoint such a board. The board shall include representatives of health careproviders, recipients of health department services, state and local agencieswith programs operated in conjunction with the health department, and thepublic at large. No more than two elected officials shall serve on any board.
The number of members appointed to each local board shall not be less thanten nor more than fifteen.
The local board shall actively participate with community representatives inthe formulation of a comprehensive plan for the development, coordination andevaluation of local health services systems and shall make formalrecommendations to the governing authority or authorities at least annuallyconcerning the comprehensive plan and its implementation during the ensuingyear.
It shall be the responsibility of the local health director to:
1. Attend the meetings of the board;
2. Provide information concerning the operation of the local healthdepartment as requested by the board; and
3. Participate with the board in the preparation and review of thecomprehensive plan.
D. Whenever a contract is entered into between a county or city and the Boardas provided in this section, the Commissioner shall appoint the healthdirector for the local health department. Whenever a district healthdepartment is formed as provided in this section, the Commissioner shallappoint a district health director who shall be deemed to be the local healthdirector of each county and city in the district. Each health directorappointed by the Commissioner shall be employed full time and shall be astate employee. Such health director shall perform such duties as may beprescribed in the contract or contracts and, with the approval of theCommissioner, any other health-related duties prescribed by local ordinances.
E. Every employee of a local or district health department operated under acontract with the Board shall be a state employee; but if such person was anemployee of such political subdivision and a member of the local retirementsystem on the effective date of any such contract and does not elect, inwriting and within sixty days after the effective date of such contract, tobecome a member of the Commonwealth's retirement system, such employee shallremain a member of the local retirement system.
In any case in which the effective date of such contract of affiliation isprior to July 1, 1977, any member of the Virginia Retirement System whobecame a member by such election and who has withdrawn his contributions fromthe local retirement system may be credited with his creditable service insuch local system upon payment to the Virginia Retirement System of an amountequal to five percent of his salary rate at the date of payment multiplied bythe number of years of service to be credited. Such crediting of serviceshall be allowed only if such member files written request therefor with theBoard prior to October 1, 1977.
(Code 1950, §§ 32-40.1, 32-40.2; 1954, c. 508; 1966, c. 535; 1977, c. 620;1979, c. 711; 1987, c. 206.)