Local health department; authorization to exercise power or function; primary organization as to services and programs; exceptions; summary reports.

Sec. 2235.

Except as provided in subsection (3), the department may authorize a local health department to exercise a power or function of the department where not otherwise prohibited by law or rule.

The director, in determining the organization of services and programs which the department may establish or require under this code, shall consider a local health department which meets the requirements of part 24 to be the primary organization responsible for the organization, coordination, and delivery of those services and programs in the area served by the local health department.

Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply if the director determines that 1 of the following exists:

The local health department does not have and is unable or unwilling to obtain qualified personnel or does not have and is unable or unwilling to obtain the administrative capacity or programmatic mechanisms to perform a specific function.

The services or programs are so specialized in nature and of such technical complexity that cost benefit or cost effectiveness does not justify administration through the local health department.

Legal constraints preclude the assignment of the responsibility.

When a branch of the state department of public health directly delivers services within a local health department area, the state department of public health shall provide summary reports of those activities to the local health department upon the request of the local health officer.

History: 1978, Act 368, Eff. Sept. 30, 1978