About Local Boards of Health
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| 2006 Meeting of the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH). Left to right: Lee Kyle Allen, Richard Dideriksen, Teme Levbarg, Mr. Howington, Westelle Cherry-Howington, Shirley Stowe, Rachel Stevens, Terry Hall, Maili Hall, Lorraine Salois-Deane, Rose Blackburn, Bob Blackburn. |
North Carolina General Statutes defines both the responsibilities and the composition of local boards of health. The local board of health is charged with being “the policy-making, rule-making and adjudicatory body for a county health department.” And, with few exceptions, the typical board is composed of eleven members:
- one physician
- one dentist
- one optometrist
- one veterinarian
- one registered nurse
- one pharmacist
- one county commissioner
- one engineer
- four general public representatives
The exceptions to the 11-member board include boards for a district health department, public health authority, and a consolidated human service agency or public hospital.
S.L. 2012-126 (H 438) extends to all counties and creates new options to allow a board of county commissioners to assume the powers and duties of certain boards, create a consolidated human services agency, or take both actions. The options are:
- Assume direct control of certain boards by adopting a resolution abolishing the board(s) and transferring their powers and duties to the board of county commissioners;
- Create a consolidated human services agency (CHSA) governed by a consolidated human services board appointed by the county commissioners; or
- Create a CHSA governed directly by the county commissioners and appoint a health advisory committee.