To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Administration
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Public Health requests an allocation of a Laboratory Assistant I/II position and requests authorization of Supplemental Budget for Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Enhancing Detection Expansion (4/5 Vote Required)
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the allocation of 1.0 full time equivalent (FTE) 1.0, Laboratory Assistant I/II (salary range 308/349, class 1571A/B) in BU 1175-435; effective the pay period following Board of approval;
2. Approve the attached supplemental budget to supplement Fund 1175, Budget Unit 435 - Public Health Laboratory for Fiscal Year 2020-21 (4/5 vote required); and
3. Approve the attached supplemental budget to supplement Fund 1175, Budget Unit 455010 - ELC Enhancing Detection Expansion for Fiscal Year 2020-21 (4/5 vote required).
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Public Health Fund (1175)
DISCUSSION:
Local Health Jurisdictions are mandated by the state to conduct investigations of certain infectious diseases and report to the state regarding cases and outbreaks. While DHHS - Public Health and other Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs) receive minimal funding for these activities, funding is often specific to certain diseases such as tuberculosis or HIV, limiting the ability to increase infrastructure to respond to a pandemic. Funding for Public Health services in general, including infectious disease investigation, prevention and control has decreased significantly over the last 10 years. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, DHHS - Public Health's Communicable Disease (CD) Unit had one Communicable Disease Investigator and two Public Health Nurses to conduct contract tracing and case investigations for all infectious diseases, including but not limited to sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, norovirus, influenza, pertussis, HIV, ...
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