(a) In accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, inclusive, the Governor shall appoint a Commissioner of Public Health, who shall be the administrative head of the department. Said commissioner shall either (1) be a physician, graduated by an acceptable medical college, recognized by one of the medical examining boards of this state, experienced in actual practice of his profession, skilled in sanitary science and experienced in public health administration and shall have had a minimum of one year of university graduate instruction in public health administration as evidenced by a certificate of graduation or a degree in public health or (2) hold a graduate degree in public health. He shall not engage in any other occupation.

(b) Notwithstanding the educational requirements of subsection (a) of this section, a commissioner who has been appointed prior to July 1, 1998, may continue to serve as commissioner and may continue to be reappointed and confirmed for consecutive terms after July 1, 1998.

(1949 Rev., S. 3798; 1959, P.A. 148, S. 2; 1972, P.A. 113, S. 2; P.A. 77-614, S. 341, 610; P.A. 85-337; P.A. 93-381, S. 28, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 22, 58; P.A. 98-250, S. 38, 39.)

History: 1959 act deleted requirement that commissioner have had at least five years' experience in practice and added provisions for deputy commissioners; 1972 act reduced number of deputy commissioners from three to two; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner and department of health with commissioner and department of health services, removed reference to appointment of chairman of public health council, made appointment of deputy commissioners optional rather than mandatory, deleted limit of two deputies, referred to “divisions” rather than “offices” of department and deleted provision whereby deputy commissioner for public health is acting commissioner during absence or disability of commissioner, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-2 transferred to Sec. 19a-3 in 1983; P.A. 85-337 permitted the commissioner of health services to hold a graduate degree in public health as alternative qualification for the position; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 19a-3 transferred to Sec. 19a-1d in 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner of Public Health and added Subdiv. (3) re degree and experience, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 98-250 made existing language Subsec. (a), deleted former Subdiv. (3) re requalification option requiring master's degree in public administration, public policy or public health and at least 10 years' management experience in public health and added Subsec. (b) re exception for existing and reappointed commissioners, effective July 1, 1998.

See Sec. 19a-6 re commissioner's duties with respect to control and treatment of lung disease, chronic illness and medical rehabilitation.

Annotations to former section 19-2:

Cited. 140 C. 478; 165 C. 516.

Cited. 15 CS 468.