Local health department workforce assessment.

Existing law establishes the State Department of Public Health to implement various programs throughout the state relating to public health, including licensing and regulating health facilities, control of infectious diseases, and implementing programs relating to chronic health issues. Existing law authorizes the department to implement the required programs through, or with the assistance of, local health departments. Existing law requires the department, after consultation with and approval by the California Conference of Local Health Officers, to establish standards of education and experience for professional and technical personnel employed in local health departments and for the organization and operation of the local health departments. This bill would require the department to conduct an evaluation of the adequacy of the local health department infrastructure and to make recommendations for future staffing, workforce needs, and resources, in order to accurately and adequately fund local public health. The bill would authorize the department to contract with an appropriate and qualified entity to conduct the evaluation. The bill would exempt the department from specific provisions relating to public contracting with regard to this requirement. The bill would require the department to report the findings and recommendations of the evaluation to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before July 1, 2025. The bill would also require the department to convene an advisory group, composed of representatives from public, private, and tribal entities, as specified, to provide input on the selection of the entity that would conduct the evaluation. The bill would further require the advisory group to provide technical assistance and subject matter expertise to the selected entity. The bill would make its provisions contingent on sufficient funding and repeal its provisions on January 1, 2027.