53 Pa. Stat. § 56602

Current through P.A. Acts 2023-32
Section 56602 - Members of board; terms; secretary
(a) A board of health appointed by the board of commissioners shall be composed of three or five members, at the discretion of the board, and the following shall apply:
(1) At least one of the board members shall be a reputable professional health care provider of not less than two years' experience in the practice of the respective profession.
(2) If no professional health care provider can be identified to serve on the board, the board of commissioners may appoint an individual at a public meeting who has experience in, or is knowledgeable of, public health issues.
(b) At the first appointment for a board:
(1) With three members:
(i) one member shall be appointed to serve for one year;
(ii) one member shall be appointed to serve for two years; and
(iii) one member shall be appointed to serve for three years.
(2) With five members:
(i) one member shall be appointed to serve for one year;
(ii) one member shall be appointed to serve for two years;
(iii) one member shall be appointed to serve for three years;
(iv) one member shall be appointed to serve for four years; and
(v) one member shall be appointed to serve for five years.
(3) Subsequent terms for board members shall be staggered, and, for a three-member board, a subsequent term shall be three years, and, for a five-member board, a subsequent term shall be five years.
(c) The members of the board of health shall serve without compensation, but if any member of the board shall be elected to the office of secretary, the member shall be entitled to receive a salary fixed by the board for that office.
(d)Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:

"Professional health care provider." An individual who is licensed, certified or registered to practice or operate in the health care field under the laws of this Commonwealth. The term shall include the following:

(1) A physician.
(2) A dentist.
(3) A podiatrist.
(4) A chiropractor.
(5) An optometrist.
(6) A psychologist.
(7) A pharmacist.
(8) A registered or practical nurse.
(9) A physical therapist.
(10) A physician's assistant.
(11) A paramedic.
(12) An administrator of any hospital, nursing or convalescent home or other health care facility.
(13) A veterinarian.

53 P.S. § 56602

1931, June 24, P.L. 1206, art. XVI, § 1602. Amended 1949, May 27, P.L. 1955, § 33; 2020, Oct. 29, P.L. 782, No. 96, § 59, effective in 60 days [Dec. 28, 2020].