HB 438 Summary

• Establishes a Public Health Improvement Incentive Program to provide monetary incentives for creation and expansion of multicounty local health departments serving populations of at least 75,000.

• Requires local health departments to obtain accreditation by July 1, 2014, and maintain local ad valorem tax appropriations at fiscal year 2010-2011 levels to remain eligible for State and federal public health funding.

• Mandates that local health departments ensure availability of ten essential public health services including health monitoring, disease investigation, community education, policy development, law enforcement, workforce development, and research.

• Modifies county board of commissioners authority to consolidate human services by prohibiting consolidation of area mental health/developmental disabilities/substance abuse boards and public hospitals into consolidated human services agencies.

• Directs Program Evaluation Division to study feasibility of transferring Division of Public Health functions to UNC Healthcare System and School of Public Health, with findings due by February 1, 2013.