West Virginia § 16-2-13 - 16-2-13. Local health officer; powers and duties.

§ 16-2-13. 16-2-13. Local health officer; powers and duties.

(a) A local health officer serves as the executive officer of the local board and under its supervision, a local health officer shall administer and enforce state rules, local rules, and local health department rules within the local board of health’s service area.

(b) A local health officer has the following additional powers which may be delegated with the approval of the board:

(1) To attend local board meetings as a nonvoting member. A local health officer serves as secretary at all board meetings and is responsible for maintaining the board’s offices, meeting minutes, and records;

(2) To supervise and direct the activities of the local board’s health services, employees and facilities;

(3) To ensure that procedures are established for the receipt of communicable or reportable disease reports and for the transmittal of the reports to the commissioner;

(4) To perform mandatory HIV tests on persons convicted of sex-related offenses and resident within the service area; and

(5) To determine when sufficient corrections have been made to warrant removal of any restrictions or limitations placed on an individual or entity for public health purposes by an employee of the local board of health.

(c) A local health officer shall perform enforcement activity.

(d) A local health officer may issue guidance.

(e) A local health officer may issue a health order.