1997 Minnesota Statutes

     144.05 General duties of commissioner; reports. 

    Subdivision 1.    General duties.  The state 
 commissioner of health shall have general authority as the 
 state's official health agency and shall be responsible for the 
 development and maintenance of an organized system of programs 
 and services for protecting, maintaining, and improving the 
 health of the citizens.  This authority shall include but not be 
 limited to the following: 

    (a) Conduct studies and investigations, collect and analyze 
 health and vital data, and identify and describe health 
 problems; 

    (b) Plan, facilitate, coordinate, provide, and support the 
 organization of services for the prevention and control of 
 illness and disease and the limitation of disabilities resulting 
 therefrom; 

    (c) Establish and enforce health standards for the 
 protection and the promotion of the public's health such as 
 quality of health services, reporting of disease, regulation of 
 health facilities, environmental health hazards and personnel; 

    (d) Affect the quality of public health and general health 
 care services by providing consultation and technical training 
 for health professionals and paraprofessionals; 

    (e) Promote personal health by conducting general health 
 education programs and disseminating health information; 

    (f) Coordinate and integrate local, state and federal 
 programs and services affecting the public's health; 

    (g) Continually assess and evaluate the effectiveness and 
 efficiency of health service systems and public health 
 programming efforts in the state; and 

    (h) Advise the governor and legislature on matters relating 
 to the public's health. 

    Subd. 2.    Mission; efficiency.  It is part of the 
 department's mission that within the department's resources the 
 commissioner shall endeavor to: 

    (1) prevent the waste or unnecessary spending of public 
 money; 

    (2) use innovative fiscal and human resource practices to 
 manage the state's resources and operate the department as 
 efficiently as possible; 

    (3) coordinate the department's activities wherever 
 appropriate with the activities of other governmental agencies; 

    (4) use technology where appropriate to increase agency 
 productivity, improve customer service, increase public access 
 to information about government, and increase public 
 participation in the business of government; 

    (5) utilize constructive and cooperative labor-management 
 practices to the extent otherwise required by chapters 43A and 
 179A; 

    (6) include specific objectives in the performance report 
 required under section 15.91 to increase the efficiency of 
 agency operations, when appropriate; and 

    (7) recommend to the legislature, in the performance report 
 of the department required under section 15.91, appropriate 
 changes in law necessary to carry out the mission of the 
 department. 

    HIST: (5339) RL s 2130; 1973 c 356 s 2; 1977 c 305 s 45; 1986 
 c 444; 1995 c 248 art 11 s 11