Referred to: The Health, Human Services and Housing Committee (Chairman Uchitelle and Legislators Collins, Corcoran, Harmon, Kitchen, Lopez, and McCollough), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Collins, Hansut, Kovacs, Nolan, and Roberts)

Legislator Jason J. Kovacs offers the following:

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature, pursuant to Ulster County Charter §C-11, is the legislative, appropriating and policy-determining body of the County; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Ulster County Charter §C-41 there shall be a Department of Health, headed by a Commissioner of Health or a Public Health Director appointed by the County Executive in consultation with the Board of Health subject to confirmation by the County Legislature; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Proposed Local Law Number 3 of 2024, the head of the Department of Health need not be a licensed physician with experience in public health; and 

WHEREAS, having a licensed physician with experience in public health in charge of the County Department of Health provides additional safeguards and benefits to the public health of County residents since such licensed professionals are held to a higher standard of education, training and medical ethics; and

WHEREAS, the first two Commissioners of Health appointed since the enactment of the Ulster County Charter have been licensed physicians; and

WHEREAS, the vast majority of Counties in New York State with a population similar to or greater than Ulster County have licensed physicians appointed as their Commissioner of Health; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that it is the policy of the Ulster County Legislature that being a licensed physician with experience in public health shall be a preferred criteria in the Legislature’s confirmation of any candidate appointed by the Ulster County Executive to head the Ulster County Department of Health,           

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:      

Passed Committee: Health, Human Services and Housing on ______________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE