Public Health Council

Overview

1. History
   In 1886 the Ohio General Assembly created a seven member State Board of Health to monitor activity in the field of public health. The Board selected an executive officer to administer the health laws of Ohio and to enforce the rules and orders of the Board. Over the next few years, with the increasing recognition of the necessity for preventive medicine, the General Assembly expanded the responsibilities of the Board.
   
   On July 1, 1917 the Board was abolished and its functions assigned to the newly created State Department of Health, consisting of a commissioner of health and a four member Public Health Council. In 1921 the commissioner was replaced by a director of health and Council membership was increased to six members. Council membership was again increased to the current level of seven members in 1945.
    
2. Current Composition of the Public Health Council
   Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Section 3701.02 prescribes that the Department of Health shall consist of a director of health and a Public Health Council. ORC Section 3701.33 requires that Council shall consist of seven members: three physicians, one registered nurse, one registered pharmacist, one registered sanitarian, and one member of the general public at least 60 years of age and who is not associated with or financially interested in the practice of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, or environmental health. Members are appointed to seven year terms by the governor, with one term expiring at the end of each June.
   
   Current members are:
   
   

   Member	Term Expiration
   Sheila M. Thomas, Pharm.D. [Chair]	June 30, 2008
   John D. Clough, M.D. [Vice-Chair]	June 30, 2009
   Kenneth Kerik, M.P.H., R.S.	June 30, 2010
   Lawrence J. Yodlowski, M.D.	June 30, 2011
   Chris Simpson, D.O., Ph.D.	June 30, 2012
   Rosemary Chaudry, R.N., Ph.D., M.H.A.	June 30, 2013
   Gail Long, M.S.S.A., L.I.S.W.	June 30, 2014

   
   
   The Executive Secretary of Council is the department’s General Counsel, Winston M. Ford. The Administrative Assistant to the Council is Kaye Norton.
    
3. Powers and Duties of Council
   The Public Health Council is the primary rule-making body for the Department of Health and its powers and duties are set forth in law. It adopts, amends, and rescinds rules pertaining to public health. It prescribes, by rule, the number and functions of divisions and bureaus and the qualifications of the chiefs of the divisions and bureaus with the Department; and it advises the director of health on matters affecting public health. Council has no executive or administrative duties. See ORC 3701.34.
    
4. Rule Adoption Procedure
   As a matter of policy, while drafting rules to be proposed by the Council, the department solicits input from affected parties in an effort to reach a compromise on issues of controversy. Draft rules are prepared by departmental staff and approved by the director of health prior to presentation to Council for consideration.
   
   Most rules promulgated by Council are subject to ORC 119. Proposed rules are filed with the Secretary of State, Legislative Services Commission, Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR), and, if appropriate, with the Office of Small Business and/or the Department of Aging. A notice of public hearing and copies of the proposed rules are published on the Register of Ohio Website (www.registerofohio.state.oh.us). Also, a copy of the notice is sent to anyone who asks to be on the Council mailing list. See Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 3701-1-01.
   
   After Council conducts a public hearing on the rules, the rules are heard by JCARR. They are then returned to Council for final vote. Notice that rules have been adopted is sent to people on the Council mailing list and to all local health departments. Copies of the final rules are sent electronically to local health departments. Final rules may be found on the Department of Health's website (www.odh.ohio.gov/rules/final/finalRules.aspx); they will be sent out in hardcopy if specifically requested.  See ORC 3701.35.
    
5. Notice of Public Health Council Meetings
   Council usually meets about every six to eight weeks. Copies of the meeting agenda are sent to people on the Council mailing list. See OAC 3701-1-02.  

2008 Public Health Council Dates:

January 10, 2008
March 6, 2008
May 1, 2008
June 26, 2008
August 21, 2008
October 16, 2008
December 11, 2008

Generally all meetings will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the 8th floor conference room, Ohio Department of Health, 246 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio. Direct any questions to Kaye Norton at (614) 644-8184.

Last Updated: 03/21/08