CGS § 19a-242. (Formerly Sec. 19-107). Appointment of director of health. Removal. Environmental health specialists. Authorized agent.

(a) The board shall, after approval of the Commissioner of Public Health, appoint some discreet person, possessing the qualifications specified in section 19a-244, to be director of health for such district, and if the director of health is not selected within sixty days from the formation of any such district, or if a vacancy in said office continues to exist for sixty days, such director shall then be appointed by said commissioner. The board may appoint a person to serve as the acting director of health during such time as the director of health is absent or a vacancy exists, provided such acting director shall meet the qualifications for directors of health in section 19a-244, or such other qualifications as may be approved by said commissioner. Upon the appointment of a director of health under the provisions of this section, the terms of office of the directors of health of the towns, cities or boroughs forming such district shall terminate.

(b) Such director of health may be removed whenever a majority of the board of such health district finds that such director of health is guilty of misconduct, material neglect of duty or incompetence in the conduct of such director's office.

(c) On and after July 1, 1988, each district health department shall provide for the services of an environmental health specialist licensed under chapter 395 to work under the direction of the district director of health. Where practical, the district director of health may act as the environmental health specialist.

(d) As used in this chapter, “authorized agent” means an environmental health specialist licensed under chapter 395 and any individual certified for a specific program of environmental health by the Commissioner of Public Health in accordance with the general statutes and regulations of Connecticut state agencies.

Short History

(1949 Rev., S. 3878; P.A. 75-573, S. 2; P.A. 77-598, S. 3; P.A. 78-303, S. 66, 136; P.A. 87-521, S. 4; 87-589, S. 48, 87; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 18-168, S. 59; P.A. 24-68, S. 23.)

Long History

History: P.A. 75-573 added Subsec. (b) re removal of director of health; P.A. 77-598 added provisions re appointment of acting director of health; P.A. 78-303 replaced public health council with commissioner of health services; Sec. 19-107 transferred to Sec. 19a-242 in 1983; P.A. 87-521 added Subsecs. (c) and (d) re sanitarians and authorized agents; P.A. 87-589 moved provision authorizing local director of health to act as sanitarian from Subsec. (d) to Subsec. (c); P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 18-168 amended Subsec. (a) by making a technical change, amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “directors” with “board” and making technical changes, amended Subsec. (c) by replacing “certified” with “licensed”, and amended Subsec. (d) by replacing “certified” with “licensed”, and replacing “Public Health Code” with “general statutes and regulations of Connecticut state agencies”, effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 24-68 amended Subsecs. (c) and (d) by replacing references to sanitarian with references to environmental health specialist, effective July 1, 2024.

See Also

See Sec. 19a-209a re authority to issue permits for well drilling on residential premises near approved community water supply system.