HB126 (2009) Detail

Relative to the voluntary certification of health officers by a health officer credentialing board.


HB 126-FN – AS INTRODUCED

2009 SESSION

09-0178

10/01

HOUSE BILL 126-FN

AN ACT relative to the voluntary certification of health officers by a health officer credentialing board.

SPONSORS: Rep. T. Russell, Rock 13; Rep. Pilliod, Belk 5; Rep. Batula, Hills 19; Rep. Bridgham, Carr 2

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a health officer credentialing board within the department of health and human services to administer a voluntary program for credentialing local health officers.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

09-0178

10/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine

AN ACT relative to the voluntary certification of health officers by a health officer credentialing board.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Purpose. Current law requires that there be an appointed health officer in every New Hampshire town and city, with New Hampshire residency being the only requirement. While public health at the local level has changed much over the approximately 100 years since the enactment of the statutes that created town health officers, little has been done to define their role and responsibilities within the larger public health system. The purpose of this act is to establish a voluntary credentialing program for health officers in the state which will define the competencies and training that are desirable in order to effectively carry out their work.

2 Chapter Heading Changed; City and Town Health Officer Credentialing. Amend the chapter heading for RSA 129 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 129

[ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS OF] CITY AND TOWN HEALTH

[OFFICERS ASSOCIATION] OFFICER CREDENTIALING

3 New Sections; Voluntary Credentialing of Health Officers. Amend RSA 129 by inserting after section 1 the following new sections:

129:2 Voluntary Credentialing of Health Officers.

I. There is hereby established a 2-level model of voluntary credentialing for health officers: certified health officer I and certified health officer II. The 2 levels shall reflect the differing scope of typical duties performed and shall be based on the standards and capacity indicators of the 10 essential public health services as described by the National Association of County and City Health Officials’ Operational Definition of a Functional Local Health Department, 2008 edition, and any future editions.

129:3 Health Officer Credentialing Board.

I. There is hereby established a health officer credentialing board, within the New Hampshire department of health and human services, which shall oversee the voluntary credentialing process for town and city health officers. The board shall consist of the following members:

(a) The department of health and human services, division of public health services, health officer liaison.

(b) The department of health and human services, state epidemiologist, or designee.

(c) The department of health and human services, director of the division of public health, or designee.

(d) The commissioner of the department of environmental services, or designee.

(e) A representative of the Local Government Center appointed by the Center.

(f) Two representatives of the New Hampshire Health Officers Association, appointed by the association.

(g) A representative of the New Hampshire Public Health Association, appointed by the association.

(h) A representative of the University of New Hampshire’s master’s of public health program, appointed by the university.

(i) A representative of the Dartmouth College master’s of public health program, appointed by the college.

(j) A representative of the New Hampshire Community Health Institute, appointed by the institute.

(k) Four at-large members, appointed by the commissioner of health and human services.

II.(a) The term of office for each member appointed under subparagraphs I(e)-(k) shall be 3 years, or until a successor is appointed and qualified in the case of a vacancy. Initial terms my be staggered. When a vacancy occurs the appointing authority shall name a replacement.

(b) The first meeting of the board shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section at the call of the commissioner of health and human services. The board shall, at its organizational meeting, elect a member to serve as chairperson for a 3-year term, or until a successor is elected and qualified. The board shall also elect a vice-chairperson and a clerk at the organizational meeting, each serving a 3-year term of office. Eight members shall constitute a quorum. No member shall receive any compensation for serving on the board.

III. The duties of the board shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) Developing the application process and requirements for credentialing health officers.

(b) Reviewing applications and determining whether credentialing requirements have been met.

(c) Recommending certification of those health officers who have met appropriate credentialing standards to the commissioner of health and human services.

(d) Periodically examining credentialing requirements to assure that they are consistent with contemporary public health standards and concerns.

(e) Promoting and facilitating the attainment of voluntary credentials, and related training, by local health officers.

(f) Providing further definition for recommended training and its program content for health officers at each level of certification.

129:4 Fees; Voluntary Health Officer Credentialing Fund. The department of health and human services shall establish fees for the credentialing of health officers. All moneys collected by the board from fees authorized under this chapter shall be deposited in the voluntary health officer credentialing fund. Moneys in the fund shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the commissioner of the department of health and human services. The fund shall be used to offset administrative costs incurred under this chapter by either the board or the department.

129:5 Rulemaking. The department of health and human services shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A concerning the following:

I. The creation and definition of the 2 different levels of certified health officers.

II. The training and criteria required for each level of certification.

III. The procedures governing the application and review process necessary to submit recommendations to the commissioner of health and human services.

IV. The amount of the fee established under RSA 129:4.

4 New Subparagraph; Application of Receipts; Voluntary Health Officer Credentialing Fund. Amend RSA 612, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (276) the following new subparagraph:

(277) Moneys deposited in the voluntary health officer credentialing fund established in RSA 129:4.

5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage

LBAO

09-0178

12/18/08

HB 126-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to the voluntary certification of health officers by a health officer credentialing board.

FISCAL IMPACT:

    The Department of Health and Human Services states this bill may increase state restricted revenues and expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2010 and each year thereafter. This bill will have no fiscal impact on county and local revenue or expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

      The Department of Health and Human Services states this bill will establish a Health Officer Credentialing Board to oversee a voluntary credentialing program, which would be administered by the Department. The bill also provides rulemaking authority under RSA 541-A, which includes establishing fees. Income collected from fees would be deposited into a newly established Voluntary Health Officer Credentialing Fund. The fund would be non-lapsing and continually appropriated to the Department in order to offset administrative costs. A fee schedule will be determined through rulemaking; however, the Department cannot estimate the number of individuals who may apply for credentialing in the first few years the program is established. The Department assumes that the program can be administered by current staff and would require a .05 FTE Program Specialist IV and a .05 FTE Executive Secretary. There will be no significant operating costs to maintain the program. Board members would not receive reimbursement for their service.