FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 1790

                        PARTIAL VETO

                         C 188 L 95

                     Synopsis as Enacted

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

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

House Committee on Government Operations

Senate Committee on Government Operations

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

Votes on Final Passage:

House     98 0

Senate    48 0

Effective:  July 23, 1995

Partial Veto Summary: The veto removes the bill's emergency clause.