55 ILCS 5/ Counties Code.

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55 ILCS 5/Div. 5-25

(55 ILCS 5/Div. 5-25 heading) Division 5-25.

County and Multi-county Health Departments

55 ILCS 5/5-25001

(55 ILCS 5/5-25001) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25001)

Sec. 5-25001.

County and multiple-county health departments.

Any county or two or more adjacent counties may, by resolution of
the county board or county boards of the respective counties, as the case
may be, or upon approval by referendum as hereinafter provided, establish
and maintain a full-time health department; provided, that four or more
counties must obtain the approval of the State Department of Public Health
prior to establishing a multiple-county health department. The approval may
be obtained upon application by the county board of any county, containing
such information as may be required by the State Department. Approval shall
be granted if the State Department determines that the establishment of the
multiple-county health department is essential to the health requirements
of the area affected.

A "consolidated health department" shall mean a health department which
has resulted from the merging of two or more adjacent existing county or
multiple-county health departments, as provided in Section 5-25019.

A full-time health department is one whose personnel, other than
consultants and clinicians, devote their full time during regular, standard
working hours to health department duties. Reference hereinafter made to
health departments means full-time health departments unless otherwise
specified.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25002

(55 ILCS 5/5-25002) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25002)

Sec. 5-25002.

Classification of departments.

County and multiple county
health departments established under this Division may be classified by the
Director of Public Health in accordance with standards relating to
programs, and performance. The State Department of Public Health is
authorized to promulgate rules and regulations setting forth minimum
standards for programs and performance, including regulations in which the
State Department of Public Health shall require provision of home
visitation and other services for pregnant women, new mothers and infants
who are at risk as defined by that Department that encompass but are not
limited to consultation for parental and child development, comprehensive
health education, nutritional assessment, dental health, and periodic
health screening, referral and follow-up; the services shall be provided
through programs funded by grants from the Department of Public Health from
appropriations to the Department for that purpose. The Department is further
authorized to prescribe minimum qualifications for the professional,
technical, and administrative staff.

(Source: P.A. 86-962; 86-1377; 87-395.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25003

(55 ILCS 5/5-25003) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25003)

Sec. 5-25003.

Election on establishment of county health
department and annual levy of additional tax. Whenever a
petition signed by voters representing not less than 10% of the
votes cast at the last preceding general election of any
county is presented to the county clerk requesting the establishment and
maintenance of a county health department and the levy therefor, in
excess of the statutory limit, of an additional annual tax of not to
exceed .1% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of
Revenue, of all taxable property of the county, the
county clerk shall certify the proposition for submission at an election
in accordance with the general election law, and the proposition shall be
so submitted. The proposition shall be in substantially the
following form:

--------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall.... county levy
an annual tax of not to              YES
exceed .1% for the purpose      ------------------------------
of providing community health        NO
facilities and services?
--------------------------------------------------------------

If a majority of all votes cast upon the proposition is in favor thereof,
the county board shall immediately proceed to establish a health
department. In any county in which a county health department was
established by a referendum prior to January 1, 1970, the county board may,
by resolution and without subsequent referendum, levy a tax at a rate not
to exceed the rate set forth in Section 5-25010.
However, any levy in excess of .05% shall be approved by at least a
three-fifths vote of the county board.  The foregoing limitations upon
tax rates, insofar as they are applicable to counties of less than
1,000,000 population, may be increased or decreased under the referendum
provisions of the General Revenue Law of Illinois.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25004

(55 ILCS 5/5-25004) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25004)

Sec. 5-25004.

Election on establishment of multiple-county health
department and annual levy of additional tax. Whenever a petition signed by
voters representing not less than 10% of the votes cast at the last preceding
general election in each of two or more adjacent counties is presented to
their respective county clerks requesting the establishment and maintenance
of a multiple-county health department and the levy therefor, in excess of
the statutory limit, of an additional annual tax in each county of not
to exceed .1% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department
of Revenue, of all taxable property of the county, each
county clerk shall certify the proposition to the county clerk of each of the
other counties mentioned in the petition. Each such county clerk in
accordance with the general election law shall make certification to any
board of election commissioners in his county and shall submit the proposition
to the voters at an election. If the petitions are so presented in 4 or
more counties, the approval of the State Department of Public Health as
provided in Section 5-25001, shall be obtained prior to the
giving of notice. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

--------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall.... counties levy an
annual tax of not to exceed .1%          YES
for the purpose of providing health --------------------------
facilities and services in their         NO
respective counties?
--------------------------------------------------------------

If a majority of all votes cast upon the proposition in each county
is in favor thereof, the several county boards shall immediately proceed
to organize a multiple-county health department and shall agree
concerning the conditions governing the organization and operation of
the department and for the apportionment of the cost thereof. In any
county in which a multiple county health department was established and
organized by a referendum prior to January 1, 1970, the county board
may, by resolution and without subsequent referendum, levy a tax at a
rate not to exceed the rate set forth in Section 5-25010. However, any
levy in excess of .05% shall be approved by at least a
three-fifths vote of the county board. The foregoing limitations upon tax
rates, insofar as they are applicable to counties of less than 1,000,000
population, may be increased or decreased under the referendum provisions
of the General Revenue Law of Illinois.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25005

(55 ILCS 5/5-25005) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25005)

Sec. 5-25005.

Canvass of votes.

When the proposition is submitted to
the voters of a county, the ballots shall be counted, the returns canvassed
and the result declared as in the case of a regular county election.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25006

(55 ILCS 5/5-25006) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25006)

Sec. 5-25006.

Canvass of votes in several counties.

When the
proposition is submitted to the voters of two or more
adjacent counties, the ballots shall be counted and the returns made to the
county clerk of each county, respectively, in the same manner as in the
case of returns to the county clerk in a general election. The returns
shall be opened and canvassed by a committee made up of the county clerk of
each county in which the vote on the proposition was cast, and the chairman
of the county board of each county. The committee will convene at the
request of the chairman of the county board of any one of the counties in
which the vote on the proposition was cast. The committee shall elect a
chairman whose duty it will be to see that the returns are opened and
canvassed by the committee and that the result is declared.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25007

(55 ILCS 5/5-25007) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25007)

Sec. 5-25007.

County clerk to record vote.

Each county clerk shall
record the result of the vote upon the proposition in his county, and the
result may be proved in all courts and in all proceedings by the record or
by a certified copy thereof.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25008

(55 ILCS 5/5-25008) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25008)

Sec. 5-25008.

Jurisdiction of department.

Each county and
multiple-county health department has jurisdiction for the purposes of this
Division throughout the entire county or multiple counties, except within:

1.  Any public health district organized under "An Act to authorize the
organization of public health districts and for the establishment and
maintenance of a health department for the same," filed June 26, 1917,
as amended;

2.  Any city, village or incorporated town or combination thereof of less
than 500,000 inhabitants which city, village, incorporated town or combination
thereof or public health district maintains a local health department and
employs a full-time health officer and other professional personnel
possessing such qualifications as may be prescribed by the
State Department of Public Health;

3. Any city, village or incorporated town of 500,000 or more inhabitants.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25009

(55 ILCS 5/5-25009) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25009)

Sec. 5-25009.

Abandonment of city, village or town department.

Any city, village or incorporated town, or combination thereof or
any public health district which maintains its own independent health
department may abandon the same and become integrated in the county or
multiple-county health department. The method of abandonment, unless
otherwise prescribed by law, shall be the same as the method of adoption.
Abandonment shall become effective at the end of the fiscal year of the
city, village, incorporated town or public health district.

Any county which establishes a county health department may unite with
other counties to organize a multiple-county health department, in which
event the county health department shall be dissolved as soon as the
multiple-county health department is organized and all of its records shall
be transferred to the multiple-county health department.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25010

(55 ILCS 5/5-25010) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25010)

Sec. 5-25010. Annual tax levy.

The county board of any county which
has established and is maintaining a county or multiple-county health
department shall, when authorized as provided in Sections 5-25003 or
5-25004, levy annually therefor, in excess of the statutory limit, a tax of
not to exceed .1% of the value plus the additional tax, if applicable,
provided for in Section 5-23002, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, of
all taxable property of the county, which tax shall be levied and collected in
like manner as general county taxes and shall be paid (except as provided in
Section 5-25011) into the county treasury and held in the County Health Fund
and shall be used only for the purposes of this Division.
Where there is a county health department, the County Health Fund
shall be drawn upon by the proper officers of the county upon the
properly authenticated vouchers of the county health department. Where
there is a multiple-county health department, the County Health Fund
shall be drawn upon by the treasurer of the board of health of the
multiple-county health department. In counties maintaining single county
health departments, each county board shall appropriate from the County
Health Fund such sums of money as may be sufficient to fund the approved
budget of the county health department, so long as those sums have been set out
in the annual budget submitted to the county board by the county board
of health and that annual budget has been approved by the county board.
In counties with a population between 700,000 and 3,000,000, the county board
chairman has the power to veto or reduce any line item in the appropriation
ordinance for the county or multiple-county health
department as provided in Section 5-1014.5.
Each county board of counties participating in the maintenance of a
multiple-county health department shall appropriate from the County
Health Fund and shall authorize the county treasurer to release
quarterly or more often to the treasurer of the board of health of the
multiple-county health department such sums of money as are in
accordance with the budget submitted by the multiple-county board of
health and approved by the county board of each of the participating
counties as may be necessary to pay its agreed share for the maintenance
of the multiple-county health department. The treasurer of the board of
health of the multiple-county health department shall request by
voucher, quarterly or more often such sums of money from the county
treasurers of the respective member counties, and shall support such
requests with estimates of anticipated receipts and expenditures for the
period for which sums of money are requested and with statements of
receipts and expenditures for the preceding period. In addition, that
treasurer shall support the requests to the annual budget submitted by
the multiple-county public health board and approved by the county board
of each of the participating counties. No payment may be made from a
County Health Fund except on the basis of a budget item in a budget
submitted by the appropriate public health board and approved by the
county board or boards concerned; however, amended or supplemental
budgets may be submitted and approved and thereby be the basis for such
a payment.

(Source: P.A. 102-587, eff. 1-1-22.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25011

(55 ILCS 5/5-25011) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25011)

Sec. 5-25011.

Disposition of taxes collected.

The entire amount collected from taxes
levied under this Division on property subject to the general
corporate tax of any city, village or incorporated town or combination
thereof or public health district which maintains its own local health
department as provided in this Division, less the amount allowed for
collecting the same, shall be paid over by the county treasurer to the
treasurer of the public health district, city, village or incorporated town
to be used for the maintenance of its local health department.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25012

(55 ILCS 5/5-25012) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25012)

Sec. 5-25012. Board of health.

Except in those cases where a board of 10 or 12 members is provided for as
authorized in this Section, each county health department shall be managed
by a board of health consisting of
8 members appointed by the president or
chairman of the county board, with the approval of the county board, for a
3 year term, except that of the first appointees 2 shall serve for one
year, 2 for 2 years, 3 for 3 years and the term of the member appointed
from the county board, as provided in this Section, shall be one year and
shall continue until reappointment or until a
successor is appointed.  Each board of health which has 8 members, may
have
one additional member appointed by the president or chairman of the county
board, with the approval of the county board.  The additional member shall
first be appointed within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory
Act for a term ending July 1, 2002.

The county health department in a county having a population of 200,000
or more may, if the county board, by resolution, so provides, be managed by
a board of health consisting of 12 members appointed by the president or
chairman of the county board, with the approval of the county board, for a
3 year term, except that of the first appointees 3 shall serve for one
year, 4 for 2 years, 4 for 3 years and the term of the member appointed
from the county board, as provided in this Section, shall be one year and
shall continue until reappointment or until a successor is appointed. In
counties with a population of 200,000 or more which have a board of health
of 8 members, the county board may, by resolution, increase the size of the
board of health to 12 members, in which case the 4 members added shall be
appointed, as of the next anniversary of the present appointments, 2 for
terms of 3 years, one for 2 years and one for one year.

The county board in counties with a population of more than 100,000
but less than 3,000,000 inhabitants and contiguous to any county with a
metropolitan area with more than 1,000,000 inhabitants, may establish
compensation for the board of health, as remuneration for their services as
members of the board of health.  Monthly compensation shall not exceed
$200 except in the case of the president of the board of health whose
monthly compensation shall not exceed $400.

When a county board of health consisting of 8 members assumes the responsibilities of a municipal department of  public  health, and both the county board and the city council adopt resolutions or ordinances to that effect, the county board may, by resolution or ordinance, increase the membership of the county board of health to 10 members.  The additional 2 members shall initially be appointed by the mayor  of the municipality,  with the approval of the city council, each such member to serve for a term of 2 years; thereafter the successors shall be appointed by the president or chairman of the county board, with the approval of the county board, for terms of 2 years.

Each multiple-county health department shall be managed by a board of
health consisting of 4 members appointed from each county by the president
or chairman of the county board with the approval of the county board for a
3 year term, except that of the first appointees from each county one shall
serve for one year, one for 2 years, one for 3 years and the term of the
member appointed from the county board of each member county, as
hereinafter provided, shall be one year and shall continue until
reappointment or until a successor is appointed.

The term of office of original appointees shall begin on July 1
following their appointment, and the term of all members shall continue
until their successors are appointed. All members shall serve without
compensation but may be reimbursed for actual necessary expenses incurred
in the performance of their duties. At least 2 members of each county board
of health shall be physicians licensed in Illinois to practice medicine in
all of its branches and at least one member shall be a dentist licensed in
Illinois.  In counties with a population under 500,000, one member shall
be chosen from the county board or the board of county commissioners
as the case may be. In counties with a population over 500,000, two members
shall be chosen from the county board or the board of county commissioners
as the case may be.  At least one member from each county on each
multiple-county board of health shall be a physician
licensed in Illinois to practice medicine in all of its branches, one
member from each county on each multiple-county board of health shall be
chosen from the county board or the board of county commissioners, as the case
may be, and at least one member of the board of health shall be a dentist
licensed in Illinois. Whenever possible, at least one member shall have
experience in the field of mental health. All members shall be chosen for
their special fitness for membership on the board.

Any member may be removed for misconduct or neglect of duty by the
chairman or president of the county board, with the approval of the county
board, of the county which appointed him.

Vacancies shall be filled as in the case of appointment for a full term.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act to the contrary, a county
with a population of 240,000 or more inhabitants that does not currently have a
county health department may, by
resolution of the county board, establish a board of health consisting of the
members of such board.  Such board of health shall be advised by a committee
which shall consist of at least 5 members appointed by the president or
chairman of the county board with the approval of the county board for terms of
3 years; except that of the first appointees at least 2 shall serve for 3
years, at least 2 shall serve for 2 years and at least one shall serve for one
year.  At least one member of the advisory committee shall be a physician
licensed in Illinois to practice medicine in all its branches, at least one
shall be a dentist licensed in Illinois, and one shall be a nurse licensed in
Illinois.  All members shall be chosen for their special fitness for membership
on the advisory committee.

All members of a board established under this Section must be residents of the county, except that a member who is required to be a physician, dentist, or nurse may reside outside the county if no physician, dentist, or nurse, as applicable, who resides in the county is willing and able to serve.

(Source: P.A. 94-457, eff. 1-1-06; 94-791, eff. 1-1-07.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25013

(55 ILCS 5/5-25013) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25013)

Sec. 5-25013. Organization of board; powers and duties.

(A) The board of health of each county or multiple-county health department
shall, immediately after appointment, meet and organize, by the election
of one of its number as president and one as secretary, and either from
its number or otherwise, a treasurer and such other officers as it may deem
necessary. A board of health may make and adopt such rules for its own guidance
and for the government of the health department as may be deemed necessary
to protect and improve public health not inconsistent with this
Division. It shall:

1. Hold a meeting prior to the end of each operating

fiscal year, at which meeting officers shall be elected for the ensuing operating fiscal year.

2. Hold meetings at least quarterly.

3. Hold special meetings upon a written request

signed by two members and filed with the Secretary or on request of the medical health officer or public health administrator.

4. Provide, equip and maintain suitable offices,

facilities and appliances for the health department.

5. Publish annually, within 90 days after the end of

the county's operating fiscal year, in pamphlet form, for free distribution, an annual report showing the condition of its trust on the last day of the most recently completed operating fiscal year, the sums of money received from all sources, giving the name of any donor, how all moneys have been expended and for what purpose, and such other statistics and information in regard to the work of the health department as it may deem of general interest.

6. Within its jurisdiction, and professional and

technical competence, enforce and observe all State laws pertaining to the preservation of health, and all county and municipal ordinances except as otherwise provided in this Division.

7. Within its jurisdiction, and professional and

technical competence, investigate the existence of any contagious or infectious disease and adopt measures, not inconsistent with the regulations of the State Department of Public Health, to arrest the progress of the same.

8. Within its jurisdiction, and professional and

technical competence, make all necessary sanitary and health investigations and inspections.

9. Upon request, give professional advice and

information to all city, village, incorporated town and school authorities, within its jurisdiction, in all matters pertaining to sanitation and public health.

10. Appoint a medical health officer as the executive

officer for the department, who shall be a citizen of the United States and shall possess such qualifications as may be prescribed by the State Department of Public Health; or appoint a public health administrator who shall possess such qualifications as may be prescribed by the State Department of Public Health as the executive officer for the department, provided that the board of health shall make available medical supervision which is considered adequate by the Director of Public Health.

10.5. Appoint such professional employees as may be

approved by the executive officer who meet the qualification requirements of the State Department of Public Health for their respective positions provided, that in those health departments temporarily without a medical health officer or public health administrator approval by the State Department of Public Health shall suffice.

11. Appoint such other officers and employees as may

be necessary.

12. Prescribe the powers and duties of all officers

and employees, fix their compensation, and authorize payment of the same and all other department expenses from the County Health Fund of the county or counties concerned.

13. Submit an annual budget to the county board or

boards.

14. Submit an annual report to the county board or

boards, explaining all of its activities and expenditures.

15. Establish and carry out programs and services in

mental health, including intellectual disabilities and alcoholism and substance abuse, not inconsistent with the regulations of the Department of Human Services.

16. Consult with all other private and public health

agencies in the county in the development of local plans for the most efficient delivery of health services.

(B) The board of health of each county or multiple-county health department
may:

1. Initiate and carry out programs and activities of

all kinds, not inconsistent with law, that may be deemed necessary or desirable in the promotion and protection of health and in the control of disease including tuberculosis.

2. Receive contributions of real and personal

property.

3. Recommend to the county board or boards the

adoption of such ordinances and of such rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary or desirable for the promotion and protection of health and control of disease.

4. Appoint a medical and dental advisory committee

and a non-medical advisory committee to the health department.

5. Enter into contracts with the State,

municipalities, other political subdivisions and non-official agencies for the purchase, sale or exchange of health services.

6. Set fees it deems reasonable and necessary (i) to

provide services or perform regulatory activities, (ii) when required by State or federal grant award conditions, (iii) to support activities delegated to the board of health by the Illinois Department of Public Health, or (iv) when required by an agreement between the board of health and other private or governmental organizations, unless the fee has been established as a part of a regulatory ordinance adopted by the county board, in which case the board of health shall make recommendations to the county board concerning those fees.  Revenue generated under this Section shall be deposited into the County Health Fund or to the account of the multiple-county health department.

7. Enter into multiple year employment contracts with

the medical health officer or public health administrator as may be necessary for the recruitment and retention of personnel and the proper functioning of the health department.

8. Enter into contracts with municipal health

departments, county health departments, other boards of health, private or public hospitals, and not for profit entities to provide public health services outside of a board of health's own jurisdiction in order to protect the public health in an effective manner.

(C) The board of health of a multiple-county health department may hire
attorneys to represent and advise the department concerning matters that are
not within the exclusive jurisdiction of the State's Attorney of one of the
counties that created the department.

(Source: P.A. 99-730, eff. 8-5-16; 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25014

(55 ILCS 5/5-25014) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25014)

Sec. 5-25014.

Prompt payment.

Purchases made pursuant to this
Division shall be made in compliance with the "Local Government
Prompt Payment Act".

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25015

(55 ILCS 5/5-25015) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25015)

Sec. 5-25015.

Officers and employees.

Each county or multiple-county
health department shall have the exclusive right to employ and discharge
its officers and employees, except as otherwise provided in Section
5-25013; provided that in counties having a civil service system, the
employees of the health department shall be subject to the rules and
regulations of such system.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25016

(55 ILCS 5/5-25016) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25016)

Sec. 5-25016.

Lease or acquisition of property for department.

The board of health of each county or multiple-county health department is
authorized to lease or to acquire by purchase, construction, lease-purchase
agreement or otherwise and take title in its name and to borrow money,
issue debt instruments, mortgages, purchase money mortgages and other
security instruments, maintain, repair, remodel or improve such real estate
as may be reasonably necessary for the housing and proper functioning of
such health department. Money in the County Health Fund may be used for
such purposes.

Upon the discontinuance of a single county health department any such
real estate shall become the property of and title shall be transferred to
the county.

Upon the discontinuance of a multiple-county health department any such
real estate shall be sold and the proceeds distributed pro-rata to the
several counties as their agreed share of the maintenance of such
department may indicate.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25017

(55 ILCS 5/5-25017) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25017)

Sec. 5-25017.

Discontinuance of department.

Any
health department may be discontinued; 1 - by resolution of the
county board or county boards, if established in such manner; or, 2 - if
established by referendum, then by a referendum initiated by petition and
submitted to vote in the same manner as for adoption. The proposition shall
be stated "For the discontinuance of the county (or multiple-county) health
department" and "Against the discontinuance of the county (or
multiple-county) health department." If a majority of the votes cast upon
the proposition in any county is for discontinuance, the board of health
shall proceed at once to close up the affairs of the department. After the
payment of all obligations, the money in the "County Health Fund" shall
become a part of the general funds in the county treasury. All other
property shall be devoted to such county purpose as the county board or
boards determine.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25018

(55 ILCS 5/5-25018) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25018)

Sec. 5-25018.

Board of Health in counties having civil service
qualifications and appointment. When this Division is
adopted by resolution in counties over 500,000 population where Civil
Service Qualifications and appointment on all employees prevail, and where
all funds expended are approved by budget
of the County Board of Commissioners and so paid after approval, by the
County Treasurer, the County Board of Commissioners shall constitute the
Board of Health to carry out the provisions of this Division in
a similar manner to other acts and duties of the County.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25019

(55 ILCS 5/5-25019) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25019)

Sec. 5-25019.

Formation of consolidated health department.

Any county which has established a county health department or any
counties which have established a multiple-county health department may
unite with one or more adjacent counties which have established county or
multiple-county health departments, for the purpose of maintaining and
operating a consolidated health department subject to the approval of the
county boards involved and the Director of the Illinois Department of
Public Health. In the event of approval by the county boards involved and
the Director of Public Health, the chairman or president of each county
board and of each board of health shall meet and immediately proceed to
organize the consolidated health department. At such time as they shall
agree concerning the conditions governing organization and operation, and
the apportionment of the costs thereof, they shall select a date within
60 days on which the consolidated health department
shall be established, and its operation and maintenance shall be in
accordance with all provisions of this Division relating to
county health departments except where otherwise prescribed for
multiple-county health departments. The county or multiple-county health
departments in counties joining together to operate and maintain a
consolidated health department shall cease to function as independent
health departments so long as the consolidation shall exist; shall transfer
all records to the consolidated health department; and shall not withdraw
from this union except in accordance with the provisions of Section 5-25020.

The board of health of each consolidated health department shall consist
of the members of the boards of health of the county and multiple-county
health departments involved except that members from counties which have
previously established single county health departments shall be reduced to
four, including at least one physician and one member of the county board.
New appointments and reappointments shall be made in accordance with the
provisions of Section 5-25012 relating to boards of
health of multiple-county health departments. The consolidated board of
health shall hold its first meeting no later than seven days after the date
of establishment, for the purpose of organizing, electing officers, and
carrying out its responsibilities in connection with the consolidated
health department. Its subsequent meetings shall be held as prescribed in
this Division for multiple-county health departments. Membership and
actions of the consolidated board of health shall become official at its
first meeting or on the date of establishment of the consolidated health
department, whichever occurs at the earlier date. After a consolidated
health department has begun operation, addition of other health departments
to the consolidation may be accomplished with consent of all county boards
of supervisors or commissioners concerned and the Director of Public
Health; participation by such additional counties will be under the
conditions selected in the original consolidation agreement, and date of
entry into the consolidation and other relevant details will be arranged
between the board of health of the consolidated health department, and the
president of the county board and the chairman or president of the board of
health of each county requesting admission to the consolidated health
department.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25020

(55 ILCS 5/5-25020) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25020)

Sec. 5-25020.

Withdrawal from consolidated health department.

Any
county which has established a county health department
or counties which have established a multiple-county health department
may withdraw from a consolidated health department for the purpose of
maintaining and operating an independent county or multiple-county
health department, as the case may be, or for the purpose of joining
with another adjacent county or other adjacent counties in maintaining
and operating a consolidated health department. Withdrawal for such
purposes may be effected by majority vote of the county board of the
withdrawing county which had established a county health department, or
by a majority vote of each county board of the withdrawing counties
which had established a multiple-county health department, before
joining the consolidated health department. In all withdrawals from
consolidated health departments, the county board of each county
proposing withdrawal shall seek the advice and concurrence of the
Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health before taking
action effecting withdrawal. The effective date of withdrawal shall be
June 30 following completion of the withdrawal agreements. The board of
health of the consolidated health department shall meet and the members
of the withdrawing and the remaining counties shall agree upon removal
of records, supplies, equipment and personnel by the withdrawing county
or counties. Withdrawal of any county or counties from the consolidated
health department does not alter the consolidation if the county or
multiple-county health departments remaining party to the union are two
or more. Discontinuance of any county or multiple-county health
department effected under the provisions of Section 5-25017 constitutes
withdrawal from a consolidated health department.

Any county which is a member county of a consolidated health
department may also withdraw from the consolidated health department
upon approval by referendum, the proposition for which shall be placed
on the ballot at any general election by the county clerk on receipt of
a petition signed by not less than 10 per cent of the registered voters
of the county. The proposition shall be certified to the proper election
officials, who shall submit the proposition to the voters at an election
in accordance with the general election law.
The proposition shall read substantially as follows:

--------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall .... county withdraw the county        YES
health department from the ............     ------------------
consolidated health department?                  NO
--------------------------------------------------------------

If a majority of voters favor withdrawal the county shall arrange its
withdrawal effective June 30 following the referendum and shall settle
its affairs in the consolidated health department and resume operation
in the manner hereinbefore prescribed in this section.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25021

(55 ILCS 5/5-25021) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25021)

Sec. 5-25021.

Bonds for permanent improvements; referendum.

Whenever the county board determines that it is necessary to issue
bonds to enable it to provide buildings for or to make permanent
improvements in the community health facilities, the county board shall
so instruct the county clerk. Thereupon, such clerk shall certify  such
determination to the proper election officials, who shall submit the
proposition at an election in accordance with the general election law.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25022

(55 ILCS 5/5-25022) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25022)

Sec. 5-25022.

Form of proposition.

The proposition pursuant to
Section 5-25021 shall be in substantially the following form:

--------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall.... county issue bonds
to the amount of.... dollars for the        YES
purpose of enabling the county to....
(purpose to be stated, which shall be    ---------------------
either to provide buildings for or to
make permanent improvements in the          NO
community health facilities)?
--------------------------------------------------------------

In case a majority of the votes cast upon the propositions shall be
in favor of the issuance of such bonds, the county board shall issue the
bonds not exceeding the amount authorized at the referendum. Such bonds
shall become due not more than 20 years after their date, shall be in
denominations of $100 or any multiple thereof, and shall bear interest,
evidenced by coupons, at a rate not exceeding the maximum rate authorized
by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the
contract, payable semi-annually, as shall be determined by the county board.

With respect to instruments for the payment of money issued under this
Section or its predecessor either before, on, or after the effective date
of Public Act 86-4, it is and always has been the intention of the General
Assembly (i) that the Omnibus Bond Acts are and always have been
supplementary grants of power to issue instruments in accordance with the
Omnibus Bond Acts, regardless of any provision of this Division or "An Act
in relation to the establishment and maintenance of county and
multiple-county public health departments", approved July 9, 1943, that may
appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts, (ii) that
the provisions of this Section or its predecessor are not a limitation on
the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts, and (iii)
that instruments issued under this Section or its predecessor within the
supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts are not invalid
because of any provision of this Division or "An Act in relation to the
establishment and maintenance of county and multiple-county public health
departments", approved July 9, 1943, that may appear to be or to have been
more restrictive than those Acts.

(Source: P.A. 86-962; 86-1028.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25023

(55 ILCS 5/5-25023) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25023)

Sec. 5-25023.

Sale of bonds.

The bonds authorized by this
Division shall be sold and the proceeds thereof
used solely for the specified purpose. At or before the time of delivery of
any bond, the county board shall file with the county its certificates,
stating the amount of bonds to be issued, or denominations, rate of
interest, where payable, and shall include a form of bond to be issued. The
county board shall levy a direct tax upon all of the taxable property
within the county sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the bonds
as and when the same respectively mature. Such tax shall be in addition to
all other taxes and shall not be within any rate limitation otherwise
prescribed by law.

The proceeds received from the sale of the bonds shall be placed in a
special fund in the county treasury to be designated as the "Bond Community
Health Fund" and thereafter the county shall appropriate from such funds
such sum or sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this
Section.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25024

(55 ILCS 5/5-25024) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25024)

Sec. 5-25024.

Submission at same election.

Both the proposition for
the levy of an annual tax pursuant to Sections 5-25003 or 5-25004 and the
proposition for issuance of bonds pursuant to Section 5-25021 may be
submitted to the electors at the same election.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25025

(55 ILCS 5/5-25025) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-25025)
Sec. 5-25025. Mental health program.

If the county board of any county having a population of less than 1,000,000 inhabitants and maintaining a county health department under this Division desires the inclusion of a mental health program in that county health department and the authority to levy the tax provided for in subsection (c) of this Section, the county board shall certify that question to the proper election officials, who shall submit the proposition at an election in accordance with the general election law. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall ...........County include
a mental health program in the                YES
county health department, and
levy an annual tax of not to exceed    ---------------------
.05% of the value of all taxable
property for use for mental health
purposes by the county health                  NO
department?
--------------------------------------------------------------

If a majority of the electors voting at that election vote in favor of the proposition, the county board may include the mental health program in the county health department and may, annually, levy the additional tax for mental health purposes. All mental health facilities provided shall be available to all citizens of the county, but the county health board may vary any charges for services according to ability to pay.

If the county is also subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, then the proposition shall also comply with the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law. Notwithstanding any provision of this Section, any referendum imposing an annual tax on or after January 1, 1994 and prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly that complies with this Section is hereby validated.

When the inclusion of a mental health program has been approved:

(a) To the extent practicable, at least one member of the County Board of Health, under Section 5-25012, shall be a person certified by The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology professionally engaged in the field of mental health and licensed to practice medicine in the State, unless there is no such qualified person in the county.

(b) The president or chairman of the county board of health shall appoint a mental health advisory board composed of not less than 9 nor more than 15 members who have special knowledge and interest in the field of mental health. Initially, 1/3 of the board members shall be appointed for terms of one year, 1/3 for 2 years and 1/3 for 3 years. Thereafter, all terms shall be for 3 years. This advisory board shall meet at least twice each year and provide counsel, direction and advice to the county board of health in the field of mental health.

(c) The county board may levy, in excess of the statutory limit and in addition to the taxes permitted under Sections 5-25003, 5-25004 and 5-25010, an additional annual tax of not more than .05% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, of all taxable property within the county which tax shall be levied and collected as provided in Section 5-25010 but held in the County Health Fund of the county treasury for use for mental health purposes. These funds may be used to provide care and treatment in public and private mental health facilities.

(d) When a mental health program has been included in a county health department pursuant to this Section, the county board may obtain the authority to levy a tax for mental health purposes in addition to the tax authorized by the preceding paragraphs of this Section but not in excess of an additional .05% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, of all taxable property in the county by following the procedure set out in Section 5-25003 except that the proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall.... county levy, in excess
of the statutory limit, an additional        YES
annual tax of not to exceed .05% for    --------------------
use for mental health purposes by the        NO
county health department?
-------------------------------------------------------------

If the majority of all the votes cast on the proposition in the county is in favor thereof, the county board shall levy such tax annually. The levy and collection of this tax shall be as provided in Section 5-25010 but the tax shall be held in the County Health Fund of the county treasury for use, with that levied pursuant to paragraph (c), for mental health purposes.

(Source: P.A. 102-839, eff. 5-13-22; 103-565, eff. 11-17-23.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25026

(55 ILCS 5/5-25026)

Sec. 5-25026. Locally grown foods.

Except in emergency situations, including but not limited to a food-borne disease outbreak, the board of health of a county or multi-county health department may not discourage the purchase or consumption of locally grown foods in relation to foods that are not locally grown.

(Source: P.A. 96-620, eff. 8-24-09.)

55 ILCS 5/5-25027

(55 ILCS 5/5-25027)
Sec. 5-25027. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 97-439, eff. 8-18-11. Repealed internally, eff. 12-31-18.)