North Carolina Public Health Law

The 2014 state budget, S.L. 2014-100 (S 744), once again brought an overall reduction for the North Carolina Division of Public Health. While some recurring funds were added, more nonrecurring funds and seven FTEs were earmarked for reduction.

In 2014, the General Assembly enacted omnibus tax legislation that included a new excise tax on vapor products.

Two 2014 bills addressed e-cigarettes and other vapor products in correctional facilities: the 2014 omnibus tax legislation, S.L. 2014-3 (H 1050), and the 2014 technical corrections bill, S.L. 2014-115 (H 1133). These bills prohibit the possession and use of vapor products on the premises of state correctional facilities and generally make it a misdemeanor to furnish vapor products to state or local inmates. However, local (but not state) confinement facilities are specifically authorized to sell or give vapor products to their inmates.

This section of the 2014 Appropriations Act amends G.S. 130A-5(16), the law that authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to charge a fee for analyzing private well water samples sent to the State Laboratory of Public Health by local health departments.

S.L. 2014-2 amends G.S. 87-98.12, the state law establishing education requirements for certified well contractors.

Section 12E.6.(a) of the 2014 Appropriations Act amends G.S. 130A-382, the law that provides for the appointment of county medical examiners.

The 2014 Appropriations Act required the state Department of Health and Human Services to establish an oversight system for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), using some of the funds appropriated to the OCME for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

Several studies of the state medical examiner system were authorized or required by the 2014 Appropriations Act.

Single-use epinephrine auto-injectors (often called EpiPens[1]) are a medical device used to counteract anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction. Several instances in which students have died from anaphylaxis while at school have prompted a national movement to ensure the availability of these devices in schools. North Carolina has had a law permitting students to carry and self-administer EpiPens if certain conditions are met since 2005 (G.S. 115C-375.2, enacted by S.L. 2005-22, summarized here). In addition, students who did not meet the criteria for self-administration could provide an EpiPen to school personnel to administer in an emergency. However, there was no requirement for schools to stock epinephrine devices for students who did not provide their own.

The 2014 Appropriations Act included a provision requiring the state Division of Aging to develop a strategic state plan for Alzheimer’s disease.