Local health officers-education requirements.

Plain English Breakdown

The summary accurately reflects the content of the bill without speculation or exaggeration.

Local Health Officers Education Requirements

This law sets education requirements for health officers appointed by county commissioners, municipal governing bodies, or local boards of health.

What This Bill Does

• Requires full-time and part-time health officers to have a degree in doctor of medicine, be an advanced practice registered nurse as defined in W.S. 33-21-120(a)(i), or be a physician assistant as defined in W.S. 33-26-501(a)(iii).
• Specifies that health officers must assist the state department of health in enforcing all health and sanitary laws and regulations.
• Requires health officers to complete continuing education in public health as directed by their appointing body.

Who It Names or Affects

• Local health officers appointed by county commissioners, municipal governing bodies, or local boards of health.
• People living in counties, municipalities, or districts with or without a health department.

Terms To Know

Advanced practice registered nurse

A type of nursing that includes advanced education and clinical training beyond basic nursing education.

Physician assistant

A healthcare professional who works under the supervision of a doctor to provide medical care.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law only applies to health officers appointed on or after July 1, 2021.
• It does not specify residency requirements for health officers.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 21LSO-0471
Bill No.:

HB0109

Effective:

7/1/2021 12:00:00 AM

LSO No.:

21LSO-0471

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0038

Chapter No.:

49

Prime Sponsor:

Hunt

Catch Title:

Local health officers-education requirements.

Subject:

Qualifications and requirements for local health officers.

Summary/Major Elements:

Under current law in areas where there is a health department, a health officer is appointed by the local board of health. In areas where there is not a health department, a health officer is appointed by the county commissioners, health district or municipal governing body.

Where there is no health department the health officer must be a doctor of medicine. No qualifications are stated in current law for health officers or deputies where there is a health department.

This act covers local health officers, including full-time and part-time health officers in both situations.

For districts where there is no health department, the act specifies that a local health officer shall have a degree of doctor of medicine, be an advanced practice registered nurse as defined in W.S. 33‑21‑120(a)(i) or be a physician assistant as defined in W.S. 33
‑
26
‑
501(a)(iii). For districts where there is a health department the act specifies that full-time or part-time health officers shall have the same qualifications.

The act specifies that a local health officer shall assist the state department of health in carrying out the provisions of all health and sanitary laws and regulations of the state. This was already a requirement of a health officer where there is no health department and this act made both statutes conform with one another.

The act also states that a local health officer shall complete continuing education in public health as directed by the body that appointed the health officer.
The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

21LSO-0471

ORIGINAL House

Bill No
.
HB0109

ENROLLED ACT NO. 38,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2021 General Session

AN ACT relating to health officers; specifying education requirements for a county, municipal or district health officer; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 35
‑
1
‑
305(a) and 35
‑
1
‑
306(a) are amended to read:

35
‑
1
‑
305.

Appointment of health officers and other personnel generally; local board of health may fix fees for certain services.

(a)

In the counties, municipalities or districts where health departments are created, as provided herein, the local board of health may appoint a full
-
time or part
-
time health officer, deputy health officers, public health nurses, sanitarians, environmental health specialists and such other public health personnel as may be deemed necessary to adequately protect the public health.
Any full-time or part-time health officer shall have a degree of doctor of medicine, be an advanced practice registered nurse as defined in W.S. 33
‑
21
‑
120(a)(i) or be a physician assistant as defined in W.S. 33-26-501(a)(iii).

A full-time or part-time health officer appointed under this section shall assist the state department of health in carrying out the provisions of all health and sanitary laws and regulations of the state and shall complete continuing education in public health as directed by the local board of health.
Subject to subsection (c) of this section, the local board of health may fix reasonable fees and charges for services, except for follow
‑
up of communicable diseases and for individuals who receive services under the public health nursing infant home visitation subprogram created by W.S. 35
‑
27
‑
102. No person shall be denied necessary nursing
services within the limits of available personnel because of an inability to pay the cost of such services.

35
‑
1
‑
306.

Appointment of health officer and other personnel where departments not established; fees and charges for services; payment.

(a)

In counties or municipalities where such departments are not established the boards of county commissioners or municipal governing body shall appoint the county or municipal health officer and other necessary personnel. The governing body of any combination of municipalities, counties, or municipalities and counties where such departments are not established may form a health district and appoint a district health officer thereof. The term of office for the county, municipal
,
or district health officer shall be four (4) years unless sooner removed by the board of county commissioners, municipal
,
or district governing body.
He
The county, municipal or district health officer
shall have a degree of doctor of medicine,
and
be an advanced practice registered nurse as defined in W.S. 33
‑
21
‑
120(a)(i) or be a physician assistant as defined in W.S. 33-26-501(a)(iii). The county, municipal or district health officer
shall assist the state department of health in carrying out the provisions of all health and sanitary laws and regulations of the state
and shall complete continuing education in public health as directed by the local board of county commissioners, health district or municipal governing body
.

Section 2
.

This act applies to persons appointed as county, municipal or district health officers on and after July 1, 2021.

Section 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2021
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1