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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>62873</law_id><section_number>32.1-17</section_number><catch_line>Appointment of Commissioner; qualifications; term</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>32.1-48.05</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="32.1">Health</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="1">Administration Generally</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Department of Health and State Health Commissioner</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> There shall be a State Health <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by each house of the General Assembly. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall be a physician licensed to practice medicine in this Commonwealth and shall be certified by the American <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Preventive Medicine or a recognized <span class="dictionary">board</span> in a primary care specialty as approved by the American <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Medical Specialties, experienced in public health duties, sanitary science and environmental health, and otherwise qualified to execute the duties incumbent upon him by <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-229173" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-17/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall be appointed for a term coincident with that of the Governor and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. <a id="paragraph-229174" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-17/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 32-23, 32-25; 1979, c. 711; 2000, c. 168.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
