26:13-21 LINCS agencies to serve as planning, coordinating agency for local government entity.

21. a. In order to assist the department with comprehensive Statewide planning and coordination of all activities related to public health preparedness, LINCS agencies shall, at the direction of the commissioner, serve as the planning and coordinating agency for all municipalities and local health agencies within the county or city, as applicable.

b. The commissioner, either directly or through the LINCS agencies, shall coordinate the activities of all local health agencies in the county with regard to public health protection related to preparing for and responding to public health emergencies. The LINCS agency shall notify each local health agency in its jurisdiction of the nature and extent of the emergency, except that nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the commissioner from notifying a local health agency directly.

c. The LINCS agency and all other local health agencies within the county shall be subject to the direction and authority of the commissioner, and shall perform such activities as are directed by the commissioner, in accordance with the provisions of this act.

d. The LINCS agencies shall be responsible for performing human disease surveillance, terrorism response and public health emergency response-related activities in such a manner as the commissioner may direct, and for reporting to the commissioner on the conduct of these activities as performed in the county or city, as applicable.

e. The commissioner may utilize the LINCS agencies to disseminate such information to the other local health agencies in the county, and to collect such information from those agencies, as the commissioner deems necessary; and the LINCS agencies shall transmit the information to the commissioner or the other local health agencies as directed by the commissioner.

f. The commissioner is authorized to use available federal funds received by the State to offset the costs incurred by LINCS agencies in implementing the provisions of this act, and shall reimburse local health agencies, subject to the approval of the State Treasurer and in accordance with the provisions of this act.

L.2005,c.222,s.21.