North Carolina § 130A-1 - 1. Mission and essential services.

§ 130A-1. 1. Mission and essential services.

The General Assembly recognizes that unified purpose and direction of the public health system is necessary to ensure that all citizens in the State have equal access to essential public health services. The General Assembly declares that the mission of the public health system is to promote and contribute to the highest level of health possible for the people of North Carolina by: Preventing health risks and disease; Identifying and reducing health risks in the community; Detecting, investigating, and preventing the spread of disease; Promoting healthy lifestyles; Promoting a safe and healthful environment; Promoting the availability and accessibility of quality health care services through the private sector; and Providing quality health care services when not otherwise available. A local health department shall ensure that the following 10 essential public health services are available and accessible to the population in each county served by the local health department: Monitoring health status to identify community health problems. Diagnosing and investigating health hazards in the community. Informing, educating, and empowering people about health issues. Mobilizing community partnerships to identify and solve health problems. Developing policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts. Enforcing laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety. Linking people to needed personal health care services and ensuring the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable. Ensuring a competent public health workforce and personal health care workforce. Evaluating effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services. Conducting research. The General Assembly recognizes that there are health-related services currently provided by State and local government and the private sector that are important to maintaining a healthy social and ecological environment but that are not included on the list of essential public health services required under this section. Omission of these services from the list of essential public health services shall not be construed as an intent to prohibit or decrease their availability. Rather, such omission means only that the omitted services may be more appropriately assured by government agencies or private entities other than the public health system. The list of essential public health services required by this section shall not be construed to limit or restrict the powers and duties of the Commission for Public Health or the Departments of Environmental Quality and Health and Human Services as otherwise conferred by State law. History (1991, c. 299, s. 1; 1997-443, s. 11A.54; 2007-182, s. 2; 2009-442, s. 1; 2012-126, s. 4; 2012-194, s. 62; 2015-241, s. 14.30(u).) Cross References. - As to the Hospital Authorities Act, see G.S. 131E-15 . Editor's Note. - Session Laws 1997-502, s. 12, provides any county which, on or prior to July 1, 1997, established a hospital authority board composed of no more than seven members under the provisions of Part B of Article 2 of Chapter 131E of the General Statutes may, by resolution adopted by its board of county commissioners and with the approval of the State Health Director, assign that authority board the power, duties, and responsibilities to provide public health services as outlined in G.S. 130A-1.1 . Thereafter, such authority board shall act as the local board of health for the county together with such additional powers, duties, and authority assigned to it by the board of county commissioners. Session Laws 2009-574, s. 52.1, provides: "For legislative studies authorized by this act, out-of-state travel must be authorized by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as appropriate." Session Laws 2011-145, s. 10.19, provides: "For fiscal years 2011-2012 and 2012-2013, the Department of Health and Human Services may not provide State funds or other funds administered by the Department for contracts or grants to Planned Parenthood, Inc., and affiliated organizations." Session Laws 2011-145, s. 1.1, provides: "This act shall be known as the 'Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2011.' " Session Laws 2011-145, s. 32.2, provides: "Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium." Session Laws 2011-145, s. 32.5, is a severability clause. Session Laws 2012-194, s. 62, was contingent on House Bill 438, 2011 Regular Session, becoming law. House Bill 438 was enacted as Session Laws 2012-126. Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2007-182, s. 2, effective July 5, 2007, substituted "Commission for Public Health" for "Commission for Health Services" in the concluding paragraph of subsection (b) and in subsection (d). Session Laws 2009-442, s. 1, effective August 7, 2009, added subdivisions (b)(1)e and (b)(4) and made a related change. Session Laws 2012-126, s. 4, effective June 29, 2012, rewrote subsection (b). Session Laws 2012-194, s. 62, effective July 17, 2012, in subdivision (b)(7), substituted "ensuring" for "assuring"; and in subdivision (b)(8), substituted "Ensuring" for "Assuring." Session Laws 2015-241, s. 14.30(u), effective July 1, 2015, substituted "Departments of Environmental Quality" for "Departments of Environment and Natural Resources" in subsection (d).