North Carolina Commission for Public Health

Commission For Public Health Statutes

The North Carolina General Assembly has invested the Commission for Public Health with statutory responsibilities to support the mission of the public health system, which is to promote and contribute to the highest level of health possible for the people of North Carolina.  The public health statues specific to the Commission are shown below.

130A-29. Commission for Public Health; — Creation, powers and duties.

1. The Commission for Public Health is created with the authority and duty to adopt rules to protect and promote the public health.
2. The Commission is authorized to adopt rules necessary to implement the public health programs administered by the Department as provided in this Chapter.
3. The Commission shall adopt rules:
   1. Repealed by Session Laws 1983 (Regular Session, 1984), c. 1022, s. 5.
   2. Establishing standards for approving sewage-treatment devices and holding tanks for marine toilets as provided in G.S. 75A-6(o).
   3. Establishing specifications for sanitary privies for schools where water-carried sewage facilities are unavailable as provided in G.S. 115C-522.
   4. Establishing requirements for the sanitation of local confinement facilities as provided in Part 2 of Article 10 of Chapter 153A of the General Statutes.
   5. Repealed by Session Laws 1989 (Regular Session, 1990), c. 1075, s. 1.
      (5a) Establishing eligibility standards for participation in Department reimbursement programs.
   6. Requiring proper treatment and disposal of sewage and other waste from chemical and portable toilets.
   7. Establishing statewide health outcome objectives and delivery standards.
   8. Establishing permit requirements for the sanitation of premises, utensils, equipment, and procedures to be used by a person engaged in tattooing, as provided in Part 11 of Article 8 of this Chapter.
   9. Implementing immunization requirements for adult care homes as provided in G.S. 131D-9 and for nursing homes as provided in G.S. 131E-113.
   10. Pertaining to the biological agents registry in accordance with G.S. 130A-479.
4. The Commission is authorized to create:
   1. Metropolitan water districts as provided in G.S. 162A-33;
   2. Sanitary districts as provided in Part 2 of Article 2 of this Chapter; and
   3. Mosquito control districts as provided in Part 2 of Article 12 of this Chapter.
5. Rules adopted by the Commission shall be enforced by the Department.

130A-30. Commission for Public Health - Members; selection; quorum; compensation.

1. The Commission for Public Health shall consist of 13 members, four of whom shall be elected by the North Carolina Medical Society and nine of whom shall be appointed by the Governor.
2. One of the members appointed by the Governor shall be a licensed pharmacist, one a registered engineer experienced in sanitary engineering or a soil scientist, one a licensed veterinarian, one a licensed optometrist, one a licensed dentist, and one a registered nurse. The initial members of the Commission shall be the members of the State Board of Health who shall serve for a period equal to the remainder of their current terms on the State Board of Health, three of whose appointments expire May 1, 1973, and two of whose appointments expire May 1, 1975. At the end of the respective terms of office of initial members of the Commission, their successors shall be appointed for terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify. Any appointment to fill a vacancy on the Commission created by the resignation, dismissal, death, or disability of a member shall be for the balance of the unexpired term.
3. The North Carolina Medical Society shall have the right to remove any member elected by it for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance, and the Governor shall have the right to remove any member appointed by him for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 143B-13. Vacancies on said Commission among the membership elected by the North Carolina Medical Society shall be filled by the executive committee of the Medical Society until the next meeting of the Medical Society, when the Medical Society shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term. Vacancies on said Commission among the membership appointed by the Governor shall be filled by the Governor for the unexpired term.
4. A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
5. The members of the Commission shall receive per diem and necessary traveling and subsistence expenses in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 138-5.

130A-31. Commission for Public Health - Officers.

The Commission for Public Health shall have a chairman and a vice-chairman. The chairman shall be designated by the Governor from among the members of the Commission to serve as chairman at his pleasure. The vice-chairman shall be elected by and from the members of the Commission and shall serve for a term of two years or until the expiration of his regularly appointed term.

130A-32. Commission for Public Health - Election meetings.

The meeting of the Commission for Public Health for the election of vice-chairman shall be at the first regular meeting after the joint session of the Commission for Public Health and the North Carolina Medical Society at the annual meeting of the North Carolina Medical Society each odd-numbered year.

130A-33. Commission for Public Health - Regular and special meetings.

Each year there shall be four regular meetings of the Commission for Public Health, one of which shall be held conjointly with a general session of the annual meeting of the North Carolina Medical Society. The State Health Director shall submit an annual report on public health at this meeting. The other three meetings shall be at such times and places as the chairman of the Commission shall designate. Special meetings of the Commission may be called by the chairman, or by a majority of the members of the Commission.