House Bill 316 Summary

• Creates eligibility restrictions for county medical assistance and catastrophic health care cost programs, denying benefits to persons eligible for Medicaid, health insurance, or in mental health commitment proceedings if they have insurance.

• Establishes public health districts as independent governmental entities that are not departments or agencies of state or county government, effective January 1, 2022, while allowing continuation of existing service agreements with state agencies.

• Requires counties to provide annual aid to public health districts beginning January 1, 2022, in an amount not less than the state fiscal year 2021 legislative appropriation, with apportionment calculated under existing formulas or alternative methods agreed upon by budget committees.

• Removes restriction limiting district board membership to one member from professional or special interest groups and grants the district health director exclusive responsibility for personnel selection and compensation with board approval.

• Provides technical amendments regarding district board powers, audit procedures, and budget committee operations, including allowing county commissioner designees to represent them on budget committees.