Health department would receive fiscal-year funding and staffing authority

The Department of Health would be authorized to spend money for staff, operations, grants, and health programs. The provisions cover the department’s shared services, operations, trauma system, emergency medical services, WIC food instruments, breast care, infectious disease control, health facilities, and other listed programs. Spending would remain subject to the stated funding sources and state fiscal-control, procurement, accounting, and budget laws. The department would be limited to the listed maximum numbers of regular and temporary employees. The funding and staffing authority would apply for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, with the act taking effect July 1, 2026.

The department would have to follow targeted spending and reporting rules and could carry forward up to $3.7 million for specified health purposes. The rules cover parking payments, internal fund transfers, Trauma System carry-forward money, breast care spending and reports, emergency management, and long-acting contraceptive services through local health units. The department would need to explain requested carry-forward amounts and provide the required reports. At least $4.755 million would be budgeted, allocated, and spent for Breast Care Program screening, diagnosis, treatment, and outreach. The Director of Health could use up to $3.7 million in carry-forward funds for an integrated emergency management system or long-acting reversible contraceptives. These special rules would generally apply from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027; the annual breast care report would be due by each January 1 before a legislative session.

Medical providers, law enforcement agencies, emergency medical services providers, and fire departments would accept and protect certain young children voluntarily surrendered by a parent. The provisions cover children 30 days old or younger left without an expressed intent to return, including children placed in an approved newborn safety device; an emergency medical services provider must be licensed and staffed 24 hours a day. Covered providers would keep the parent’s identity confidential, except for investigations or prosecutions involving earlier abuse or neglect. Providers would protect the child and notify the Division of Children and Family Services, which would begin a dependency-neglect case. Facilities installing safety devices would generally pay for installation and maintain alarm and inspection systems; volunteer fire departments would face additional response, location, alert, and video-monitoring rules. The protections would not cover abuse or neglect committed before the child was delivered. A provider or agency would take protective custody for 72 hours after delivery and would immediately notify the child welfare division.