HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1790

                      As Passed House:

                        March 8, 1995

Title:  An act relating to the appointment of the director of a combined city and county health department.

Brief Description:  Changing appointment provisions for the director of a combined city and county health department.

Sponsors:  Representatives Reams, R. Fisher, Sommers and Dyer.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Government Operations:  2/24/95, 2/28/95 [DP].

  Floor Activity:

     Passed House:  3/8/95, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives Reams, Chairman; Goldsmith, Vice Chairman; L. Thomas, Vice Chairman; Rust, Ranking Minority Member; Scott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chopp; R. Fisher; Hargrove; Honeyford; Hymes; Mulliken; D. Schmidt; Sommers; Van Luven and Wolfe.

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786-7092).

Background:  Each local board of health is authorized to appoint a local health officer.  The local health officer is responsible for enforcing the state public health laws.  The local health officer does not serve for any fixed term of office, but may only be removed after being provided with a hearing.

Any city with a population of 100,000 or more and the county in which it is located may establish a combined city and county health department.  A local health officer is appointed to enforce the public health laws, but if the county has a population of 500,000 or more, a director of public health is appointed to enforce the public health laws.

The director of public health in a combined city-county health department is appointed by the county executive and the mayor for a four-year term.  A majority of the legislative authority of the county and the city must confirm the appointment.  The director may be removed by the county executive after consulting with the mayor, and upon filing a statement of the reasons with the legislative authorities of the county and city.

Summary of Bill:  The four-year term of office for a director of public health in a combined city-county health department is eliminated.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  This is outdated language that should have been removed by previous legislation.  All affected jurisdictions support this.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Robin Appleford, King County.