HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Number 100

(By  Pack, J. Barach, Barnhart, Bates, Dean, Ferrell, Fleischauer, Forsht, Griffith, Jeffries, D., Mallow, Miller, Pack L., Pushkin, Reed, Rohrbach, Rowan, Summers, Ward, G., Walker)

[Introduced April 5, 2021 ]

Requesting a study on how Local Health Departments are funded and supported.

Whereas, Local health departments promote and protect the health of the people and the communities where they live and work; and

Whereas, Local health departments assist the community with needs such as; tobacco control, immunizations, food safety, infectious disease control, chronic diseases, injury and violence prevention, environmental health, maternal and child health, and emergency preparedness; and

Whereas, West Virginia's 55 counties are served by 49 local boards of health charged with protecting the health and safety, and promoting the interest of the citizens of West Virginia and local boards of health provide services through local health departments located in all 55 counties; and

Whereas, Support to local health departments and local boards of health has traditionally been focused on core public health functions such as the prevention and control of infectious disease, preventing and responding to environmental health hazards in our food, air and water and promoting health and wellness; and

Whereas, Funding for county health departments comes from several sources, including federal funds state funds, and local appropriations from the county; and

Whereas, Many health departments receive grant or contract funding from public or private sources and a county health department may also generate revenue from fees for services; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study how local health departments are funded and supported ; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report back its findings to the full legislature by the first day of the 2022 Regular Session; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.