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2009 SESSION

094088276
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 316
Offered January 14, 2009
Prefiled January 13, 2009
Directing the Joint Commission on Health Care to study the feasibility and value of establishing a State Surgeon General. Report.
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Patron-- Miller, Y.B.
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, in February, 2003, Michigan's Governor Jennifer M. Granholm took an important first step towards revitalizing public health by appointing Kimberlydawn Wisdom, M.D. as Michigan's, and the nation's, first state-level Surgeon General; and

WHEREAS, in 2007, Florida followed suit by naming Ana Viamonte Ross, the Secretary of the Florida Department of Health, its first state Surgeon General; and

WHEREAS, a Virginia Surgeon General could serve as the Commonwealth's chief health educator by providing its citizens with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce the risks of illness and injury; and

WHEREAS, as a nonpaid position, the Commonwealth could reap a great benefit from a state Surgeon General at no additional cost; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Joint Commission on Health Care be directed to study the feasibility and value of establishing a State Surgeon General. The Virginia Surgeon General would serve under the Secretary of Health and Human Services as an unbiased, nonpartisan, evidence-based, best practices advocate for the health of our citizens.

In conducting its study, the Commission shall (i) review other states' surgeon general positions, including their duties, powers, and the effect they are having on public health; (ii) investigate the need for such a position in the Commonwealth; (iii) consider the possibility of combining an existing position within state government with the newly created surgeon general position; and (iv) examine all the possible benefits of such a position to the citizens of the Commonwealth.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission for this study, upon request.

The Joint Commission on Health Care shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2009, and the Chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2010 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the Commission intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.