The commissioner shall be the executive and administrative head of the bureau and shall have the power and duty to:

Terms Used In West Virginia Code 16-5P-6

  • Bureau: means the Bureau for Public Health in the department. See West Virginia Code 16-1-2
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of the bureau, who may be designated as the state health officer. See West Virginia Code 16-1-2
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • 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

(a) Exercise general supervision of the bureau;

(b) Propose legislative rules for the effective and expeditious performance and discharge of the duties and responsibilities placed upon the commissioner by law;

(c) Conduct and coordinate studies of the problems of the state's older people;

(d) Encourage and promote the establishment of local programs and services for the aging;

(e) Conduct programs of public education on the problems of the aging;

(f) Review state programs for the aging, and annually make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature;

(g) Encourage and assist governmental and private agencies to coordinate effective efforts on behalf of the aging;

(h) Coordinate statewide local and voluntary efforts to serve the aging and develop programs at the local level;

(i) Supervise fiscal management and responsibilities of the bureau;

(j) Keep an accurate and complete record of all bureau proceedings, record and file all bonds and contracts and assume responsibility for the custody and preservation of all papers and documents of the bureau;

(k) Submit an annual report to the Governor on the condition, operation and functioning of the bureau;

(l) Invoke any legal or special remedy for the enforcement of orders or the provisions of this chapter;

(m) Standardize administration, expedite bureau business, revise rules and promote the efficiency of the service;

(n) Provide a program of continuing professional, technical and specialized instruction for the personnel of the bureau and local service providers; and

(o) Receive on behalf of the state any grant or gift and accept the same, so that the title shall pass to the state. All moneys from grants or gifts shall be deposited with the State Treasurer in a special fund and shall be used for the purposes set forth in the grant or gift.