Rhode Island. Department of Health (1935-)

Earlier/Later Relationship

• Providence (R.I.). Superintendent of Health (Later Form of Related, Organization)

  Dates

  Agent Relation: 1856-1878

• Rhode Island. State Board of Health (1878-1935) (Later Form of Related, Organization)

  Description

  The State Board of Health was established pursuant to Chapter 680 of the Public Laws (passed April 12, 1878). Six members were appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The functions of the board included the investigation of causes of disease and epidemics, sources of mortality and the effects of employments, conditions and circumstances on the public health. The board was charged with disseminating information to the public and to also investigate the causes of disease among cattle and other animals. The re-organiztion of state government in 1935 (Public Law chapter 2188 & 2250) transferred all functions to the Department of Public Health. 1939 Public Law Chapter 660 further codified the department as the Department of Health.

  Dates

  Existence: 1878-1935

• Rhode Island. Board of Pure Food and Drug Commissioners (1908-1935) (Later Form of Related, Organization)

  Description

  This board was created per the 1908 act known as the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1908. Its functions were transferred to the Department of Public Health per 1935 Public Law Chapter 2188.

• Rhode Island. Public Health Commission (1929-1935) (Later Form of Related, Organization)
• Rhode Island. Milk Control Board (1934-1980) (Later Form of Related, Organization)

  Description

  The Rhode Island Milk Control Board was established per 1934 January Session Public Law Chapter 2089 entitled “An Act Creating A Board Of Milk Control And Defining Its Powers And Duties.” The Board was established to address the unregulated (“unfair, destructive and uneconomic”) trade practices of the milk industry and to regulate the production, sale and distribution of milk and cream in the state. Additionally the board was charged with “public supervision and control in accord with proper standards of production, transportation, processing, storage, distribution and sale of milk and cream...” to alleviate any “immediate and impending danger to the public health and welfare…” The Milk Control Board consisted of the director of state public health commission (ex-officio), the commissioner of agriculture (ex-officio), a milk producer, a milk distributor, and a milk consumer all appointed by the Governor. January Session, 1939 Chapter 660 (also known as “the Administrative Act of 1939”) transferred certain duties of the board, such as the inspection of milk, to the jurisdiction of the Department of Health (formerly the Commission of Public Health). The functions of inspection of cattle, milk herds, and the economic control of milk came under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture and Conservation (formerly the Commission of Agriculture). 1939 Chapter 674 further established the board as an independent unit of the Department of Agriculture and Conservation and not subject to the jurisdiction of the director of that department. Chapter 674 also abolishes the board as defined in 1936 Chapter 2310 (“An Act Continuing A Board Of Milk Control And Defining Its Powers And Duties”) and essentially redefines the board’s functions and outlines the membership of the board with the same membership as the previous board. The appointments of the governor now require the advice and consent of the senate. An act in amendment of Chapter 660 further defines the functions of the board as the establishment of minimum wholesale and resale prices of milk within the state (1939 Chapter 731). These minimum prices were to be established after investigations and public hearings. Chapter 80 of the Public Acts of 1962 established a new milk sanitation code and further redefined the responsibilities of the Departments of Health and Agriculture and Conservation. By 1979-1980, the functions of the Milk Sanitation Board were combined with the functions of the Division of Food Protection in the Department of Health.

Associative Relationship

• Rhode Island. Health Planning Council (1965-1985) (Associative with Related, Organization)

  Description

  The Rhode Island Health Planning Council (HPC) was established in 1965 per executive order No. 18 (June 30, 1965) and became operational in 1966. It was located at 520 Howard Building, 10 Dorrance Street in Providence, R.I. 02903. Executive order # 18 created the Advisory Hospital Council in accordance with Chapter 152 of the Public Laws of 1965. This Council also served as the Advisory Licensure Council (Executive Order #19 – Chapter 151 P.L. 1965). 1965 P.L. 152 was an act in Amendment of Title 23, Chapter 15 regarding “Hospital Survey and Construction.”