SANITARIANS: ADOPT NATIONAL STANDARDS

AND CREATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

House Bill 5664

Sponsor:  Rep. John Stakoe

Committee:  Local Government and Urban Policy

Complete to 4-20-04

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5664 AS INTRODUCED 3-18-04

Part 184 of the Public Health Code regulates sanitarians; that is, individuals who have specialized education and experience in the physical, biological, and sanitary sciences as applied to the educational, investigational, and technical duties in the field of environmental health.  Sanitarians are subject to registration.  The bill would amend Part 184 in the following ways.

The bill would adopt by reference the standards of the National Environmental Health Association on qualifications, education, and examinations.  The Department of Community Health would accept the certification by the association of the successful completion of any education or examination for the purposes of registration under Part 184.  The department could adopt by rule any other or additional appropriate standards and any updates and amendments to the standards of the National Environmental Health Association.

In addition, the bill would create a seven-member advisory committee responsible for making recommendations to the department regarding the qualifications for registration, establishment of education and training standards, and disciplinary proceedings.  The members would be appointed by the governor and serve for a term of three years, and would include four registered sanitarians and representatives from the Michigan Restaurant Association, Michigan Groundwater Association, and Michigan Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association, or their successor organizations.  Initial members would serve staggered terms of one, two, or three years.  Current provisions in Part 184 regarding a nine-member current board of sanitarians (consisting of five registered sanitarians and four members of the general public) would be eliminated.

MCL 333.18401

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Mark Wolf

                                                                                                                       

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.