NC S552

Establishes a Public Health Improvement Incentive Program providing 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, be organized as single-county or multicounty public health authorities or district health departments, and maintain local ad valorem tax appropriations at 2010-2011 levels or $15 per capita minimum to remain eligible for state and federal public health funding by July 1, 2014.

Redefines the ten essential public health services that local health departments must assure are available and accessible, including health monitoring, disease investigation, community education, policy development, law enforcement, workforce competency, and research.

Allocates $5,000,000 from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Division of Public Health for the Public Health Improvement Incentive Program.

Directs the Program Evaluation Division to study feasibility of transferring all Division of Public Health functions to the University of North Carolina Healthcare System and report findings by February 1, 2012.