RCW 70.46.140 — Community health advisory boards—Membership—Meetings.

1. (1) A community health advisory board shall:

   1. (a) Provide input to the local board of health in the recruitment and selection of an administrative officer, pursuant to RCW 70.05.045, and local health officer, pursuant to RCW 70.05.050;
   2. (b) Use a health equity framework to conduct, assess, and identify the community health needs of the jurisdiction, and review and recommend public health policies and priorities for the local health jurisdiction and advisory board to address community health needs;
   3. (c) Evaluate the impact of proposed public health policies and programs, and assure identified health needs and concerns are being met;
   4. (d) Promote public participation in and identification of local public health needs;
   5. (e) Provide community forums and hearings as assigned by the local board of health;
   6. (f) Establish community task forces as assigned by the local board of health;
   7. (g) Review and make recommendations to the local health jurisdiction and local board of health for an annual budget and fees; and
   8. (h) Review and advise on local health jurisdiction progress in achieving performance measures and outcomes to ensure continuous quality improvement and accountability.
2. (2) The advisory board shall consist of nine to 21 members appointed by the local board of health. The local health officer and a member of the local board of health shall serve as ex officio members of the board.

3. (3) The advisory board must be broadly representative of the character of the community. Membership preference shall be given to tribal, racial, ethnic, and other minorities. The advisory board must consist of a balance of members with expertise, career experience, and consumer experience in areas impacting public health and with populations served by the health department. The board's composition shall include:

   1. (a) Members with expertise in and experience with:

      1. (i) Health care access and quality;
      2. (ii) Physical environment, including built and natural environments;
      3. (iii) Social and economic sectors, including housing, basic needs, education, and employment;
      4. (iv) Business and philanthropy;
      5. (v) Communities that experience health inequities;
      6. (vi) Government; and
      7. (vii) Tribal communities and tribal government;
   2. (b) Consumers of public health services;
   3. (c) Community members with lived experience in any of the areas listed in (a) of this subsection; and
   4. (d) Community stakeholders, including nonprofit organizations, the business community, and those regulated by public health.
4. (4) The local health jurisdiction and local board of health must actively recruit advisory board members in a manner that solicits broad diversity to assure representation from marginalized communities including tribal, racial, ethnic, and other minorities.
5. (5) Advisory board members shall serve for staggered three-year terms. This does not preclude any member from being reappointed.
6. (6) The advisory board shall, at the first meeting of each year, select a chair and vice chair. The chair shall preside over all advisory board meetings and work with the local health jurisdiction administrator, or their designee, to establish board meeting agendas.
7. (7) Staffing for the advisory board shall be provided by the local health jurisdiction.
8. (8) The advisory board shall hold meetings monthly, or as otherwise determined by the advisory board at a place and time to be decided by the advisory board. Special meetings may be held on call of the local board of health or the chairperson of the advisory board.
9. (9) Meetings of the advisory board are subject to the open public meetings act, chapter 42.30 RCW, and meeting minutes must be submitted to the local board of health.

[ 2021 c 205 s 7.]

Notes:

Finding—2021 c 205: See note following RCW 43.70.675.