UNC School of Public Health - The Board of Health Rulemaking Authority: A Primer for Local Boards of Health

The Board of Health Rulemaking Authority: A Primer for Local Boards of Health

Overview

Many volunteers who serve on local boards of health do not necessarily come from a background in public health, yet, as board members, you are responsible for rulemaking, adjudicating disputes about public health issues, as well as policy development and administration in public health. In this context, orientation training for boards of health is crucial.

Once you have completed the Orientation for Local Boards of Health module and have served as a board member for awhile, the time may come when you will be asked to work with your board to make a rule. Rulemaking is an essential function of boards of health. However, the making of rules is a complex task and to this end, this module is designed to support you in this endeavor.

This module was designed to bolster your knowledge about the rulemaking responsibility, boundaries and procedures by answering some of the fundamental questions about board of health rules. First, what is a board of health rule? Second, what kind of rules may a board of health adopt? Third, what is the board’s general authority to make rules as well as the limitations on this authority? Finally, we will briefly review a few of the procedural requirements that North Carolina law imposes on the rulemaking process. While these questions seem quite basic, you will be surprised to see how complicated the answers have become over the years.

Course Objectives

Define a board of health rule and distinguish a rule from a county ordinance or a policy.
Explain rulemaking authority, as it applies to a local board of health.
List the specific limitations that apply to rulemaking.
Determine whether a rule includes appropriate public health concerns and is within a board of health’s general authority to write.
Explain the process for proposing and passing a rule.

Topics

The following topics are covered in the Board of Health Rulemaking Authority: A Primer for Local Boards of Health module:

Section 1: What is a Board of Health (BOH) rule?
Section 2: Rules that a Board of Health May Adopt

Part 1: Authority to Make Rules
Part 2: Special Limitations on Rulemaking

Section 3: Procedural Requirements for Rulemaking

Part 1: Rulemaking Checklist
Part 2: Rulemaking Process

Frequently Asked Questions

I am interested in completing the module. How do I register?

To register, click the link to “Register online” under “Registration” below and complete the registration form. After we receive your registration information, we will email you the information you need to access the module.

Is there any credit or a certificate available for completing the module?

A certificate is available for completing the module. To obtain a certificate of completion, you must complete the certificate request form linked at the end of the module. Follow the instructions for requesting a certificate in the module.

Are there other modules available to help me learn about my role and responsibilities as a member of a board of health?

Yes. Another module available for board of health members in N.C. is the Orientation for Local Boards of Health. For more information, please visit the Orientation for Local Boards of Health website.

Who can I contact if I have questions about content or need help in completing the module?

Health directors or board chairpersons can contact Dr. Teme Levbarg by phone at 919-966-4917 or email at teme_levbarg@unc.edu. Dr. Levbarg will be able to assist you with questions about content and process. Another good resource is the School of Government’s North Carolina Public Health Law website.

System Requirements

In order to successfully complete the module, the computer equipment used should meet the following minimum hardware and software requirements:

266 MHz Intel Pentium III processor or better
128 MB or more of RAM
200 MB free on the hard disk
16-bit or better sound card and speakers
15-inch color monitor or larger
65,000-color or better video display card
Windows XP or 2000
Netscape Navigator 7.0 or later OR Internet Explorer 6.0 or later
Adobe Reader 8.0 or later (free)
Adobe Flash Player 9.0 or later (free)
56.6 K Modem or LAN connection to the Internet
Email account

Online Skills Test

Each board member can test his or her equipment initially by completing the Online Skills Test. Note: Although the Online Skills Test requests it, it is not necessary for those completing the test to send us a confirmation.

Registration

Fees

There is no fee for completing this module.

Last updated June 23, 2008


The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NC Institute for Public Health CB #8165 Chapel Hill, NC 27599 919-966-4032