251.05 Local health department; levels of service; duties.

(1) A local health department shall meet the following requirements specified in par. (a) and may, unless sub. (6) applies, meet the following requirements specified in par. (b) or (c):

(a) As a Level I local health department, at least the level of services specified in sub. (2) (a) with a local health officer who at least meets the qualifications specified in s. 251.06 (1) (a).

(b) As a Level II local health department, at least the level of services specified in sub. (2) (b) with a local health officer who at least meets the qualifications specified in s. 251.06 (1) (b).

(c) As a Level III local health department, at least the level of services specified in sub. (2) (c) with a local health officer who at least meets the qualifications specified in s. 251.06 (1) (c).

(2) The services to be provided by the 3 levels of local health departments are as follows:

(a) A Level I local health department shall provide at least surveillance, investigation, control and prevention of communicable diseases, other disease prevention, health promotion and human health hazard control.

(b) A Level II local health department shall provide at least the services under par. (a) and additional services specified by the department by rule under s. 251.20 (3).

(c) A Level III local health department shall provide at least the services under par. (a) and additional services specified by the department by rule under s. 251.20 (3).

(3) A local health department shall:

(a) Regularly and systematically collect, assemble, analyze and make available information on the health of the community, including statistics on health status, community health needs and epidemiologic and other studies of health problems.

(b) Develop public health policies and procedures for the community.

(c) Involve key policymakers and the general public in determining and developing a community health improvement plan that includes actions to implement the services and functions specified under s. 250.03 (1) (L).

(d) Submit data, as requested, to the local public health data system established by the department.

(e) Act as agent of the department, if designated by the secretary under s. 250.042 (1).

(4) Except as provided in sub. (6), a local health department is not required to provide the level of services that is specified in sub. (1) (b) or (c) or to have a local health officer who meets the qualifications specified in sub. (1) (b) or (c).

(5) Except as provided in sub. (6), the department may not require a local health department to provide the level of services that is specified in sub. (1) (b) or (c) or to have a local health officer who meets the qualifications specified in sub. (1) (b) or (c).

(6) A local health department may be required to provide the level of services that is specified in sub. (1) (b) or (c) if and only to the extent that these services and qualifications are funded from state and federal funds that are available and are additional to any funding available on January 1, 1994.

History: 1993 a. 27; 2001 a. 109; 2005 a. 198; 2007 a. 130.