HB 7170 Summary

• Establishes a transition to regional health districts by July 1, 2020, consolidating existing municipal health departments and district departments of health into regional structures organized by planning region.

• Requires regional councils of government to appoint transitional regional health directors by July 1, 2018, with final regional health directors appointed by executive boards after July 1, 2020, subject to Commissioner of Public Health approval.

• Creates executive boards for each regional health district with at least 10 members, including mandatory representation from physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, oral health professionals, mental health professionals, and the general public.

• Grants regional health districts powers to sue, contract, adopt bylaws, acquire real estate, and borrow money, with financing through per capita appropriations from constituent municipalities and state aid based on population share.

• Requires transitional regional health directors to submit a joint report to the legislature by January 1, 2020, with statutory recommendations to facilitate the transition to the regional health district model.