A. The state health officer, after consultation with the parish governing authority and with the approval of the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, and the parish governing authority, shall appoint a parish health officer, except in Orleans Parish. In Orleans Parish, the parish health officer shall be designated as the health director and shall be appointed by the mayor of the city of New Orleans.

           B. The parish health officer shall be a full-time licensed physician, if possible, and if a physician is not available the parish health officer shall be a full-time employee experienced in the administration and enforcement of public health programs. The health officer shall be domiciled in the parish in which he is appointed unless he serves more than one parish as hereinafter provided.

           C. If the parish health officer is unclassified or under contract, he may be removed by the state health officer with the approval of the parish governing authority and a replacement named as herein provided. If the parish health officer is in the classified service, he shall be a member of the state classified service and shall be appointed or removed by the state health officer in accordance with existing state civil service provisions of law and regulations. The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to the parish health director for Orleans Parish.

           Acts 1976, No. 346, §1. Amended by Acts 1978, No. 786, §5, eff. July 17, 1978; Acts 1992, No. 378, §1.