West Virginia Code 16-1-1 – Purpose
It is the policy of this state to promote the physical and mental health of all of its citizens and to prevent disease, injury, and disability whenever possible. The state recognizes its responsibility to assist in the provision of essential public health services and establishes by this article a state public health system to work in conjunction with local boards of health to provide basic public health services that encourage healthy people in healthy communities. Until January 1, 2024, the Bureau for Public Health and the Department of Health and Human Resources shall have those powers and duties respecting the administration of the state public health system as authorized, granted and imposed by this chapter and elsewhere by law.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 16-1-1
- Basic public health services: means those services that are necessary to protect the health of the public. See West Virginia Code 16-1-2
- Bureau: means the Bureau for Public Health in the department. See West Virginia Code 16-1-2
- Department: means the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources: Provided, That beginning January 1, 2024, as used in this chapter, "department" and "Department of Health and Human Resources" means the Department of Health. See West Virginia Code 16-1-2
- Essential public health services: means the core public health activities necessary to promote health and prevent disease, injury, and disability for the citizens of the state. See West Virginia Code 16-1-2
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
Beginning January 1, 2024, the Department of Health is comprised of the agencies as provided in § 5F-2-1a of this code, is charged with the administration of this chapter, and shall have those powers and duties respecting the administration of the state public health system as authorized, granted and imposed by this chapter and elsewhere by law.