North Dakota § 23-35-12 - Local health officers

§ 23-35-12. Local health officers

1. A local health officer shall serve a term of five years, subject to removal for cause by the governing body or the district board of health. The health officer must be a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state and need not be a resident of the public health unit. The appointee shall qualify by filing the constitutional oath of office in the manner provided for the members of the board of health. If the state health officer finds a local health officer is failing to perform the duties of the position, the state health officer may report the case to the governing body of the appropriate city, county, or district board of health. At the next meeting of the city's or county's governing body or district board of health, the governing body or district board of health shall declare the office vacant and may appoint another physician to fill the unexpired term, or shall report the matter to the board of health, and the board shall declare the office vacant and promptly shall appoint another physician to fill the unexpired term. 2. Within the jurisdiction of the board of health, a local health officer: a. Shall keep a record of the official acts of the local health officer. b. Shall enforce every law and rule relating to preservation of life and health of individuals. c. May exercise the powers and duties of the board of health under the supervision of the board of health. d. May make sanitary inspections of any place within the jurisdiction in which the local health officer finds a probability a health-threatening condition exists. e. May investigate public water and ice supplies suspected of contamination and initiate necessary condemnation proceedings. f. May enforce school cleanliness; inspect any school that may be overcrowded, poorly ventilated, or unsanitary; and, when necessary, report cases of any unsanitary or unsafe school building to the board of health for investigation. g. May take any action necessary for the protection of public health and safety. h. May determine when confinement and decontamination is necessary for the safety of the public. The local health officer may establish confinements consistent with procedures provided under chapter 23-07.6 and perform any acts required for decontamination when necessary. i. Shall maintain an office within the jurisdiction of the public health unit consistent with any terms of appointment. j. May select and discharge any assistant health officer in the public health unit, consistent with any terms of appointment. 3. A local health officer may request the assistance of a county sheriff or city health department in the same manner as provided under subsection 3 of section 23-35-09.