CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Supporters of local health departments want to do away with a bill that would require county commissions to make public health decisions for residents.
The bill calls for local health board decisions to be voted on by county commissions. Currently, the health boards are able to establish their own rules without commission approval.
Many speakers opposed HB 4472 during a public hearing Friday morning in the House Chamber at the state Capitol.
Dan Foster, a former Kanawha County Senator, said public health decisions should be made by doctors, not politicians.
“Many things that doctors do that are important, they don’t have all the answers, but when you’re dealing with the public health, one needs to defer to them rather than to politicize these activities,” he said.
There has been much criticism over the years about un-elected officials making decisions for citizens. Foster said it’s a “dangerous precedent” to have non-medical individuals veto, overrule or eliminate health regulations.
Chuck Johnson, a representative with the West Virginia American Lung Association, said the 2014 water crisis, effecting tap water for thousands of residents, is just one example of the quick response needed to make these decisions.
“Can you imagine five county commissions having to do that and get there commissioners together who don’t agree or not informed? What would happen?” he asked. “I mean, that’s the kind of issues we’re creating.”
Talks of timeliness on these decisions were also brought up by Rachel Coffman, a representative with the West Virginia Association for Local Health Departments. She said it’s difficult to trust county commissions’ judgements, especially during emergency situations.
“You can’t really plan the order of an emergency, so are you going to be able to get those county commissioners together and make those decisions for a majority vote?” Coffman asked.
Greg Puckett, commissioner in Mercer County, said the process should stay the same to avoid bad decisions. He said county commissioners have a certain skill set that doesn’t involved public health knowledge.
“I think this bill would put that unnecessary burden within the counties and that is not something that we certainly support,” he said.
The bill is before the House Government Organization Committee.