TITLE X
PUBLIC HEALTH

Chapter 127
DISTRICT DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH

Section 127:1

    127:1 Authority Granted. – Any town by vote at town meeting and any city by vote of the city councils may unite with any other town or city to form a district department of health. The affairs of any such district department of health shall be managed by a board as hereinafter provided.

Source. 1949, 203:1, eff. May 20, 1949.

Section 127:2

    127:2 Board. – The selectmen of each town and the city councils of each city, which has so voted to become a part of any such district, shall appoint annually 2 persons to be members of such board. Provided that any town or city having a population of more than 5,000 inhabitants, as determined by the last completed United States census, shall be entitled to one additional representative on said board for each 5,000 population or part thereof.

Source. 1949, 203:2, eff. May 20, 1949.

Section 127:3

    127:3 Organization. – Each board annually shall elect a chairperson and a district treasurer and shall determine the relative amount of service to be performed in each town or city within the district by persons employed by the board and shall furnish the necessary offices and equipment to enable it to carry out its duties. The fiscal year of each district department of health shall be from July 1 to June 30 and, during the month of June in each year, the board shall estimate the amount of money required to pay the costs and expenses of the district during the ensuing fiscal year.

Source. 1949, 203:3. 1997, 200:1, eff. Aug. 17, 1997.

Section 127:4

    127:4 Payments. – From time to time the board shall draw upon the treasurer of each town or city within the district for such funds as may have been apportioned to each to pay the costs of operating the district. Such apportionment shall be based upon the population of the towns and cities in the district.

Source. 1949, 203:4, eff. May 20, 1949.

Section 127:5

    127:5 Health Officer. – The board shall appoint some discreet person, possessing the qualifications hereinafter specified, to be health officer for such district. If the district health officer shall not be elected within 60 days from the formation of any such district, or in case a vacancy in said office shall continue to exist for 60 days or more, such officer shall be appointed by the commissioner of the department of health and human services. Upon the appointment of a health officer under the provisions of this section, the terms of office of the health officers of the towns or cities forming such district shall terminate.

Source. 1949, 203:5. 1995, 310:182, eff. Nov. 1, 1995.

Section 127:6

    127:6 Qualifications. – The district health officer shall have a bachelor's or graduate degree in public health, medicine, sanitary engineering, environmental health, microbiology, or general sanitation and at least one year of work experience in the field of public health. The district health officer shall be removed only for cause after a public hearing by the board on charges preferred of which reasonable notice shall have been given. The district health officer shall perform such duties as are required of health officers by the general laws of the state and as the state shall determine and shall act as secretary of the board, but shall not have a right to vote.

Source. 1949, 203:6. RSA 127:6. 1983, 291:1, I. 1985, 190:34. 1995, 310:181, 182. 1997, 200:2, eff. Aug. 17, 1997.

Section 127:7

    127:7 District Treasurer. – The district treasurer shall disburse the money received from the towns and cities in the district and from other sources upon warrants approved by a majority of the board and signed by the chairperson and secretary. The treasurer shall give bond to the district for the faithful performance of the duties as treasurer in such sums and upon such conditions as the board may require.

Source. 1947, 203:7. 1997, 200:3, eff. Aug. 17, 1997.

Section 127:8

    127:8 Employees. – The district health officer shall be the executive officer of the district department of health and shall appoint all necessary assistants or clerks subject to the approval of the board. Such employees shall perform such duties as shall be prescribed by the district health officer and receive such compensation as shall be fixed by the board.

Source. 1949, 203:8, eff. May 20, 1949.

Section 127:9

    127:9 Appropriations. – Any town, or city councils of any city, at any legal meeting, may grant and vote such sums of money as it shall judge necessary for the purpose of paying the apportionment of said town or city as a member of any district department of health.

Source. 1949, 203:9, eff. May 20, 1949.

Section 127:10

    127:10 Additional Funds. – Any district department of health organized hereunder is authorized to use any additional funds which the department of health and human services may secure from federal agencies or other official agencies and which it may allot to such district department of health.

Source. 1949, 203:11. RSA 127:10. 1983, 291:1, I. 1995, 310:181, eff. Nov. 1, 1995.

Section 127:11

    127:11 Withdrawal From District. – Any town or the city council of any city, which has voted to unite with another town or city to form a district department of health, may vote to withdraw from the district. Such withdrawal shall not become effective until the first day of July following such vote of withdrawal.

Source. 1949, 203:10, eff. May 20, 1949.

Section 127:12


[RSA 127:12 repealed by 2022, 278:2, effective November 1, 2024.]
    127:12 Commission Established. –
I. There is established a commission to study the delivery of public health services through regional public health networks and the continued development of coordinated responses to public health incidents and emergencies in New Hampshire.
II. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) One member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c) One representative from each of the 13 regional public health networks (RPHNs), appointed by the director of each respective network.
(d) The director of the division of public health of the department of health and human services, or designee.
(e) One member of the New Hampshire Public Health Association, appointed by the association.
III. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
IV. The commission shall:
(a) Review the operations of the current 13 public health networks.
(b) Review regional public health priorities across the state.
(c) Propose a plan for the provision and implementation of sustainable programs, practices, governance, and policies that are evidence-based to improve health outcomes across New Hampshire.
(d) Review management of public health emergencies at the state and local level.
(e) Review the coordination of services among partners, including local public health officers, and propose a plan for optimizing these services.
V. The commission may solicit information and participation from any person or entity determined necessary by the committee in the performance of its duties.
VI. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
VII. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2024.

Source. 2022, 278:1, eff. June 24, 2022. 2023, 145:15, eff. June 30, 2023.