5524

COUNTY LOCAL LAWS

WHEREAS, The enactment of Bill 16-73 followed
several years of careful study, planning and discussion
of comprehensive health planning by the Council, local,
State and regional health officials, professional
organizations, and other interested individuals and
groups concerned with providing and utilizing health
services within the County; and

WHEREAS, Although the purpose and intent as well as
the other provisions stated in Bill 16—73 are meant to,
and should, speak for themselves, the Council finds it
desirable to address further in a separate statement of
legislative intent certain aspects of Bill 16-73 for the
benefit and guidance of all individuals, organizations
and groups concerned with comprehensive health planning
in the County;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the County Council
for Montgomery County, that —

The following is hereby adopted by the Council as a
statement of legislative intent in connection with the
enactment of Bill 16—73.

1. Appointment of members to the Comprehensive Health
Planning Advisory Board.

a. The Council has considered carefully the
request of certain individuals, organizations and groups
to have named representatives designated for membership
on the Advisory Board. The Council fully recognizes that
in order to comply with federal and State comprehensive
health planning requirements the majority membership on
the Board must consist of consumers of health services.
The Council is aware also that providers of health
services, minority groups and other representative
elements of the community likewise must be represented on
the Board. Section 24—23 of the subject bill contains
specific provisions to this effect. The Council also has
provided in the bill that in making appointments to the
Board, the County Executive shall consider nominations
submitted by representatives of the medical, hospital
administration and nursing home administration
professions. The Council believes that, as a minimum,
representation from these categories of health providers
must be included on the Advisory Board if the Board is to
discharge adequately its responsibilities to the
community.

It is the opinion of the Council that it would be
undesirable to have the appointing prerogatives of the
County Executive restricted unnecessarily by the
designation in the bill of named representatives to serve
on the Advisory Board. Consequently, the Council has