What are the options for governance of a consolidated human services agency?

A CHSA can be governed by an appointed CHS board or directly by the board of county commissioners (BOCC).
If the CHSA includes public health and the BOCC assumes the powers and duties of the governing board, the BOCC must appoint an advisory committee for public health. The advisory committee membership must, at a minimum, meet the requirements for a county board of health found in G.S. 130A-35. If the CHSA will include a department of social services, this advisory committee could have a broader scope and include people with social services expertise or interests. The BOCC also has the option of appointing a separate advisory committee for social services, but that is not required by law.
If the BOCC becomes the governing body for a CHSA that includes public health, the BOCC should also keep in mind that it will assume almost all of the responsibilities of the local board of health, including acting as the adjudicatory body for public health, imposing certain fees for public health services, public health rulemaking, and taking on activities necessary for accreditation of the health department. Likewise, if the BOCC becomes the governing body for social services, the BOCC assumes almost all of the responsibilities of a county board of social services.