The bill amends the qualifications for the Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health in West Virginia, specifically addressing the requirements for the position of State Health Officer. It removes the previous requirement that the commissioner must hold a doctorate degree in public health administration unless designated as the State Health Officer. Instead, the bill stipulates that the State Health Officer must be licensed to practice medicine in the state.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that both the commissioner and the State Health Officer are appointed by the secretary and must serve full-time in their roles, without engaging in any other business or employment. This change aims to ensure that the leadership of the Bureau for Public Health is adequately qualified and dedicated to their responsibilities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 5-14-3, 15-5A-4, 16-1-5, 16-1-6, 16-1-7, 16-1-8, 16-1-9, 16-1-9a, 16-1-9c, 16-1-15, 16-1-17, 16-2-5, 16-2-11, 16-2-12, 16-2-13, 16-3-5, 16-3C-2, 16-3C-8, 16-3D-2, 16-3D-3, 16-3D-4, 16-3D-7, 16-3D-9, 16-4C-2, 16-4C-3, 16-4C-4, 16-4C-5, 16-4C-6a, 16-4C-6b, 16-4C-8, 16-4C-8a, 16-4C-9, 16-4C-12, 16-4C-13, 16-4C-14, 16-4C-15, 16-4C-16, 16-4C-20, 16-4C-21, 16-4C-23, 16-4E-2, 16-5-5, 16-5-11, 16-5-22, 16-5M-3, 16-5U-3, 16-9-2, 16-9-3, 16-9G-1, 16-22-2, 16-22-3, 16-32-11, 16-38-5, 16-40-2, 16-40-4, 16-40-5, 16-40-6, 16-40-7, 16-40-8, 16-41-3, 16-44-2, 16-56-4, 16A-11-1, 16A-11-2, 22B-2-1, 22C-1-4, 61-12-3
Committee Substitute: 16-1-5