130A-40.1. Pilot program for nurse as health director.

(a) Notwithstanding G.S. 130A-40, a local board of health, after consulting with the appropriate county board of commissioners, and with the approval of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, may appoint a local health director who meets the following education and experience requirements for that position:

(1) Graduation from a four-year college or university with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree that includes a public health nursing rotation; or

(2) A candidate with an RN but not a bachelors degree if the candidate has at least 10 years' experience, at least seven years of which must be in an administrative or supervisory role, and of this seven years, at least five years must be at the agency at which the candidate is an applicant for employment as local health director.

(b) The Secretary of Health and Human Services may approve only one request under subsection (a) of this section, this section being designed as a pilot program concerning alternative qualifications for a local health director. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall report any approval under this section to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services.

(c) All bachelors level candidates appointed under this section shall have a total of 10 years' public health experience, at least five years of which must be in a supervisory capacity at the agency at which the candidate is an applicant for employment as a local health director. Bachelor of Science in Nursing candidates with a public health rotation may use this BSN degree as credit for one year's public health experience.

(d) In addition to possessing the qualifications required in this section, all Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, or Registered Nurse candidates must complete at least six contact hours of continuing education annually on the subject of local and State government finance, organization, or budgeting. The training must be in a formal setting offered through the State or local government or through an accredited educational institution. This training is in addition to any other required training for local health director or other continuing education required to maintain other professional credentials. If during the course of employment as local health director the employee meets the requirements of this subsection, the additional training requirements of this section are waived.