Bill 1138

                    Current Status
Introducing Body:               Senate
Bill Number:                    1138
Ratification Number:            541
Act Number:                     571
Primary Sponsor:                J. Verne Smith
Type of Legislation:            JR
Subject:                        Public Health Advisory
                                Committee
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19940524
Computer Document Number:       CYY/15683AC.94
Introduced Date:                19940208
Date of Last Amendment:         19940518
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      19940825
Last History Body:              ------
Last History Date:              19940825
Last History Type:              Signed by Governor
Scope of Legislation:           Local
All Sponsors:                   J. Verne Smith
                                Courson
                                Bryan
Type of Legislation:            Joint
                                Resolution

Bill   Body    Date          Action Description              CMN  Leg Involved
____   ______  ____________  ______________________________  ___  ____________
1138   ------  19950103      Act No. 571
1138   ------  19940825      Signed by Governor
1138   ------  19940602      Ratified R 541
1138   Senate  19940524      Concurred in House amendment,
                             enrolled for ratification
1138   House   19940519      Read third time, returned to
                             Senate with amendment
1138   House   19940518      Amended, read second time
1138   House   19940428      Committee Report: Favorable     27
                             with amendment
1138   House   19940407      Introduced, read first time,    27
                             referred to Committee
1138   Senate  19940406      Read third time, sent to House
1138   Senate  19940405      Read second time, notice of
                             general amendments
1138   Senate  19940331      Committee Report: Favorable     13
1138   Senate  19940208      Introduced, read first time,    13
                             referred to Committee

(A571, R541, S1138)

A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT THE HUMAN SERVICES COORDINATING COUNCIL SHALL APPOINT

AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN SOUTH CAROLINA, TO PROVIDE THE MEMBERSHIP AND PURPOSE OF THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS DISSOLUTION UPON COMPLETION OF ITS WORK.

Whereas, the State has a responsibility for the well-being, including health, of its citizens; and

Whereas, while public health measures have been successful in controlling epidemic diseases, assuring safe food and water, and reducing premature mortality through prevention, new threats to the public's health emerge such as the AIDS epidemic, injuries and chronic illness, and the adverse effects of exposure to toxic byproducts of modern society must be successfully countered; and

Whereas, the core functions of public health include collection, analysis, and dissemination of information on the health of the community, development of comprehensive public health policies, and assurance that services necessary to achieve the state's health goals are provided either by encouraging or requiring action by other entities or by providing services directly; and

Whereas, the General Assembly finds that these public health functions are key elements in improving the overall health of South Carolinians and that population-based services provided by public health agencies are cost effective and essential to containing health care costs over time; and

Whereas, if health care reform is successful in providing financial access to medical care for low income persons currently without such access, public health agencies can place more emphasis on community public health activities; and

Whereas, the state's public health system must have the capacity to execute the core functions of public health consistent with the needs of a reformed health care system; and

Whereas, Section 129.57 of Act 164 of 1993 states:

"The Human Services Coordinating Council is designated as the entity responsible for developing and coordinating the implementation of a plan for a State Primary Prevention Strategy. Primary prevention is defined as programs which seek to prevent the onset of disease, disability, or high risk behaviors through the enhancement of individual and community protective factors and the reduction of risk factors."

Now, therefore, Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Advisory committee to be appointed; duties; dissolution

SECTION 1. The Human Services Coordinating Council shall appoint and convene a fourteen-member advisory committee on the future of public health in South Carolina. The advisory committee shall study appropriate changes in the public health responsibilities, functions, and resources of all state agencies involved with public health. Budget and Control Board and state agency staff shall facilitate and support the meetings and activities of the advisory committee.

All committee members shall have substantial expertise and experience in public health, preventive medicine, environmental health, or other related discipline. Of the fourteen members:

(1) six must be faculty members from any of the state-supported institutions of higher learning in South Carolina and of these, two members must be well qualified minority individuals;

(2) four must be the chief executives, or their designees, of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, the Department of Mental Health, and the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services;

(3) two must be the chairmen, or their designees, of the South Carolina Medical Association and the South Carolina Hospital Association; and

(4) two must be persons with no current affiliation with a state university or agency.

The advisory committee shall submit a preliminary report to the Human Services Coordinating Council by January 1, 1995, and shall present a final report and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly before the committee's dissolution, no later than July 1, 1995.

Time effective

SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 25th day of August, 1994.