Missoula County opposes HB 121, Require elected official approval of local health board and officer actions, up for hearing at 3 p.m. today, in the House Local Government Committee.
HB 121 creates several significant challenges for local governments, while failing to recognize that most health boards in the state have representatives from local county commission or city/town council among their membership.
Unresolved in HB 121 is how local governments would act to address disagreement between local governing bodies in the few areas where there are combined city/county health boards. Current statute lends itself to cooperation, where the governing bodies appoint members to create balance between the jurisdictions and allows for cooperative planning in areas of not only direct public health, such as the response to the pandemic, but also to issues of land use planning around sewer and wastewater. These decisions are critical to ensuring a clean and healthy environment.
In addition, HB 121 could create situations where local governments are unable to address the needs of constituents during declared states of emergency unrelated to the current pandemic. For example, a wildland fire outside an incorporated area requires health officers to exercise their authority to approve shelter and food operations. These shelters are often inside municipal boundaries. Under HB 121, these emergency health orders would now necessitate emergency meetings of commissions and municipalities to meet needed approvals which would cause unnecessary delay and confusion.
Letter from Ellen Leahy, Jan. 14: https://missoulacounty.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/administration/BCC/EcFYPECt65lIoXVLlkd0e3wBMm7gxzRiiQ5_Gyrcm2a8xQ?e=da0qn1
Senators, Missoula County joins public health agencies in supporting HB 121, Require elected official approval of local health board and officer actions, up for second reading today on the Senate floor, among the numerous bills addressing public health this session.
We would not support amending this bill at this time.
Sent Jan. 14:
ReplyDeleteRepresentatives Thane and Whitman,
Missoula County opposes HB 121, Require elected official approval of local health board and officer actions, up for hearing at 3 p.m. today, in the House Local Government Committee.
HB 121 creates several significant challenges for local governments, while failing to recognize that most health boards in the state have representatives from local county commission or city/town council among their membership.
Unresolved in HB 121 is how local governments would act to address disagreement between local governing bodies in the few areas where there are combined city/county health boards. Current statute lends itself to cooperation, where the governing bodies appoint members to create balance between the jurisdictions and allows for cooperative planning in areas of not only direct public health, such as the response to the pandemic, but also to issues of land use planning around sewer and wastewater. These decisions are critical to ensuring a clean and healthy environment.
In addition, HB 121 could create situations where local governments are unable to address the needs of constituents during declared states of emergency unrelated to the current pandemic. For example, a wildland fire outside an incorporated area requires health officers to exercise their authority to approve shelter and food operations. These shelters are often inside municipal boundaries. Under HB 121, these emergency health orders would now necessitate emergency meetings of commissions and municipalities to meet needed approvals which would cause unnecessary delay and confusion.
Please oppose HB 121.
Letter from Ellen Leahy, Jan. 14: https://missoulacounty.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/administration/BCC/EcFYPECt65lIoXVLlkd0e3wBMm7gxzRiiQ5_Gyrcm2a8xQ?e=da0qn1
ReplyDeleteSent March 24:
ReplyDeleteSenators,
Missoula County joins public health agencies in supporting HB 121, Require elected official approval of local health board and officer actions, up for second reading today on the Senate floor, among the numerous bills addressing public health this session.
We would not support amending this bill at this time.