Section 140.07. Designation of level of local health department.

 

(1)  Under the authority of s. 251.20 (1) , Stats., the department shall direct a process to formally review the operations of all local health departments in a county or municipality at least every 5 years. A review of the operations of a local health department shall result in a written finding issued by the state health officer as to whether the local health department satisfies the requirements for a level I, II or III local health department.

(2)  In directing the review under sub. (1) , the state health officer shall use department personnel and other appropriate local health officials who have expertise in the field of public health and are knowledgeable about the requirements for local health departments.

(3)  The written finding under sub. (1) shall include any recommendations for improvement in staffing, functions and practices.

(4)  When the written finding under sub. (1) is that a local health department meets the requirements for a level I, II or III local health department, the finding shall be in force for 5 years, unless the governing body of the county or municipality takes action which would change the findings of the review.

(5)  When the written finding under sub. (1) is that a local health department does not meet the requirements for a level I local health department under s. 251.05 (2) (a) , Stats., and s. DHS 140.04 , the department shall do all of the following:

(a) Inform the governing body of the county or municipality in writing of the finding and allow the governing body a period of time, as determined by the state health officer but not to exceed one year, to correct the identified deficiencies.

(b) Provide necessary technical assistance to help the governing body of the county or municipality remedy the identified deficiencies so that the local health department will comply with all level I local health department staffing functions and practices.

(c) Conduct a formal review to ensure that the deficiencies have been corrected. If the deficiencies are not corrected, the department shall take appropriate action under s. 250.04 (2) or 252.03 (3) , Stats.

(6)  A local health department established under ch. 251 , Stats. , shall be presumed to be a level I local health department until found by the department to be otherwise following a review under sub. (1) .

History: Cr. Register, July, 1998, No. 511 , eff. 8-1-98.