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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>64142</law_id><section_number>32.1-19</section_number><catch_line>Duties prescribed by Board</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><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> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall perform such duties as the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may require, in addition to the duties required by <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-233536" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-19/#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, along with the Superintendent of Public Instruction, work to combat childhood obesity and other chronic health conditions that affect school-age children. <a id="paragraph-233537" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-19/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall ensure, in the licensure of health care facilities, that quality of care, patient safety, and patient privacy are the overriding goals of such licensure and related enforcement efforts. <a id="paragraph-233538" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-19/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall coordinate the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>&#x2019;s emergency preparedness and response efforts. <a id="paragraph-233539" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-19/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall ensure that prevention of disease and protection of public health remain the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>&#x2019;s overriding goals. <a id="paragraph-233540" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-19/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall designate a senior staff member of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>, who shall be a licensed physician, to oversee minority health efforts of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>. <a id="paragraph-233541" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-19/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall designate a senior official of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>, who shall be a licensed physician or an advanced practice registered nurse, to coordinate all women&#x2019;s health efforts in the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> including, but not limited to, the &#x201C;Every Woman&#x2019;s Life Program,&#x201D; and other efforts to prevent, detect, and treat breast cancer, cervical cancer, and other diseases that primarily affect women. <a id="paragraph-233542" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-19/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 32-27; 1979, c. 711; 2007, cc. 43, 55, 320, 343, 793, 797; 2023, c. 183.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
