SB 1053

This bill modifies the degree requirements for a local health officer of a Level

III local health department. Local health departments are operated by towns,

villages, cities, and counties for certain public health objectives. A Level III local

health department must perform all of the duties required of Level I and II local

health departments as well as certain additional duties, including public health data

collection and administration of an environmental health program. Local health

officers administer local health departments; enforce public health statutes, rules,

and regulations; administer funds for public health programs; and appoint

personnel.

Under current law, in order to be a local health officer of a Level III local health

department, an individual must meet one of several combinations of educational,

licensure, and experiential requirements. Among these combinations are 1) a

master's degree in public health, public administration, health administration, or a

similar field plus three years of experience or 2) a master's degree in public health,

public administration, health administration, or a similar field plus a license to

practice medicine and surgery. The bill modifies these requirements so that an

individual is eligible to be a local health officer of a Level III local health department

if that individual has a master's degree

or higher

in public health, public

administration, health administration, or a similar field plus three years of

experience or a license to practice medicine and surgery.

Under current law, the Department of Health Services may not, except in an

emergency, accept any Wisconsin resident for admission to a mental health institute

unless the county department of community programs or, for persons residing in

Milwaukee County, the Milwaukee County Mental Health Board authorizes his or

her care in a mental health institute. Certain persons who are committed to DHS,

are admitted by DHS to a mental health institute, or are transferred from a juvenile

correctional facility or a secured residential care center for children and youth to a

state treatment facility or from a jail or prison to a state treatment facility are not

subject to the requirement that the county department of community programs or

the Milwaukee County Mental Health Board, as applicable, authorize their care in

a mental health institute. This bill clarifies that the only requirement that does not

apply to these persons is the requirement that the county department of community

programs or the Milwaukee County Mental Health Board, as applicable, authorize

their care in a mental health institute.

This bill repeals statutory references and requirements relating to regional

long-term care advisory committees as these committees were eliminated by

2019

Wisconsin Act 9