SB128 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tim Melson Senator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Public Health Department State Board of Health, entity abolished and duties transferred to State Committee of Public Health; membership of committee revised; State Health Officer duties and qualifications revised

Description

Under existing law, the Medical Association of the State of Alabama is the State Board of Health, and the State Committee of Public Health is comprised of 12 members of the board of censors of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama and the chairs of four specified health-related councils.

In practice, the entity known as the State Board of Health has minimal duties other than to hold an annual meeting. In its stead, the State Committee of Public Health carries out the duties and functions of the state's public health laws through a body corporate referred to as the Alabama Department of Public Health.

This bill would abolish the State Board of Health and would confer all duties and authorities provided by law to the State Committee of Public Health.

This bill would revise the membership of the State Committee of Public Health to include four physician members appointed by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, six physician members appointed by specified specialty medicine organizations, and the Governor and the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries or their designees, in addition to the chairs of the four specified SB128 INTRODUCED health-related councils.

Under existing law, the State Committee of Public Health appoints the State Health Officer, who oversees the public health laws and, among other duties, is authorized to take prompt measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

This bill would set minimum qualifications for the position of State Health Officer.

This bill would authorize the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to petition the State Committee of Public Health to review certain actions taken by the State Health Officer in certain circumstances and provide a mechanism for discipline, including removal, of the State Health Officer by the State Committee of Public Health.

This bill would authorize the Governor to approve or deny certain actions proposed by the State Health Officer, and would prohibit certain general emergency rules, orders, and other directives issued by the State Health Officer from taking effect unless approved by the Governor with a copy filed in the Office of the Secretary of State.

This bill would also make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.

SB128 INTRODUCED.

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Subjects

Health