Minn. Stat. § 383A.12 Health Department

• Library: Minnesota Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through 2023, c. 75
• Year: 2023
• Citation: Minn. Stat. § 383A.12

Subdivision 1. Establishment.

It is the purpose of this subdivision to provide enabling authority for Ramsey County to establish a comprehensive health department and to provide coordinated public and mental health services to the residents of Ramsey County. The term "department" means the comprehensive health department established in Ramsey County. This subdivision is in addition to any statutory authority now existing for the establishment of a health department for Ramsey County.

Ramsey County may create a county health department which is under the supervision and control of the county board.

Subd. 2. Powers and responsibilities.

(a) The responsibilities assigned to the department shall include but not be limited to all or some of the responsibilities as set forth in paragraphs (b) to (m).

(b) The powers and duties vested in or imposed upon a local health board as provided in Minnesota Statutes 1969, chapter 145, for the area of all of Ramsey County.

(c) The powers and duties imposed upon a board of county commissioners to employ public health nurses as provided in Minnesota Statutes 1969, chapter 145.

(d) Health services for school children vested in or imposed upon a school district when the board of education of the school district petitions the county to provide the services by contract or otherwise for its district.

(e) The powers and duties vested in or imposed upon the agent of a board of health as authorized under section 145A.04 of a city inside the county of Ramsey who has elected to maintain local registration of vital statistics and the powers and duties of the court administrator of the district court of Ramsey County as local registrar of vital statistics.

(f) The county may authorize the health department to operate a mental health program and may utilize the authorities of the community mental health boards as set forth in sections 245.61 to 245.66. When so authorized, the county board shall suffice to function in lieu of the community mental health board provided for in section 245.66.

(g) Prepare and have published an annual report of the work of the health department.

(h) Recommend to the governing body of a governmental unit inside the county of Ramsey local legislation pertaining to public health.

(i) The department may be authorized to provide other health services as may be directed by the county board if the services are authorized by law to be provided by the county or by any agency or department thereof.

(j) The department may be authorized to buy services from other agencies, public or private, that are providing services consistent with health department purposes.