Florida Florida Statutes

§ 154.01 — County health department delivery system

FS § 154.01Ch. 154

Statute text

(1)The several counties of the state may cooperate with the Department of Health in the establishment and maintenance of full-time county health departments in such counties for the promotion of the public's health, the control and eradication of preventable diseases, and the provision of primary health care for special populations.

(2)A functional system of county health department services shall be established which shall include the following three levels of service and be funded as follows:(a) “Environmental health services” are those services which are organized and operated to protect the health of the general public by monitoring and regulating activities in the environment which may contribute to the occurrence or transmission of disease. Environmental health services shall be supported by available federal, state, and local funds and shall include those services mandated on a state or federal level. Examples of environmental health services include, but are not limited to, food hygiene, safe drinking water supply, sewage and solid waste disposal, swimming pools, group care facilities, migrant labor camps, toxic material control, radiological health, occupational health, and entomology.

(b)“Communicable disease control services” are those services which protect the health of the general public through the detection, control, and eradication of diseases which are transmitted primarily by human beings. Communicable disease services shall be supported by available federal, state, and local funds and shall include those services mandated on a state or federal level. Such services include, but are not limited to, epidemiology, sexually transmissible disease detection and control, immunization, tuberculosis control, and maintenance of vital statistics.

(c)“Primary care services” are acute care and preventive services that are made available to well and sick persons who are unable to obtain such services due to lack of income or other barriers beyond their control. These services are provided to benefit individuals, improve the collective health of the public, and prevent and control the spread of disease. Primary health care services are provided at home, in group settings, or in clinics. These services shall be supported by available federal, state, and local funds and shall include services mandated on a state or federal level. Examples of primary health care services include, but are not limited to: first contact acute care services; chronic disease detection and treatment; maternal and child health services; family planning; nutrition; school health; supplemental food assistance for women, infants, and children; home health; and dental services.

(3)The Department of Health shall enter into contracts with the several counties for the purposes of this part. All contracts shall be negotiated and approved by the appropriate local governing bodies on behalf of the department. In accordance with federal guidelines, the state may utilize federal funds for county health department services. A standard contract format shall be developed and used by the department in contract negotiations. The contract shall include the three levels of county health department services outlined in subsection (2) above and shall contain a section which stipulates, for the contract year:(a) All revenue sources, including federal, state, and local general revenue, fees, and other cash contributions, which shall be used by the county health department for county health department services;

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Legislative history

s. 1, ch. 14906, 1931; CGL 1936 Supp. 2934(22); s. 7, ch. 22858, 1945; ss. 19, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 14, ch. 75-48; s. 29, ch. 77-147; s. 4, ch. 83-177; s. 5, ch. 88-235; s. 1, ch. 88-294; s. 1, ch. 89-311; s. 93, ch. 91-282; s. 76, ch. 91-297; s. 2, ch. 93-262; s. 17, ch. 97-101; s. 13, ch. 2003-1.