Requirements of the Local Public Health Act
Community health boards are statutory responsibilities under the Local Public Health Act. Compliance consists of two components: statutory requirements and performance-related accountability requirements.
Statutory requirements
Community health boards must meet all of the duties outlined in Minn. Stat. § 145A.03-04.
Specifically, the statutory requirements are:
- Meet the composition requirements specified in Minn. Stat. § 145A.03
- Hold at least two community health board meetings per year
- Have, in place, written procedures for transacting business; and keep a public record of transactions, findings, and determinations, as required by Minn. Stat. § 145A.03, subd. 5
- Employ/contract with a CHS administrator who meets the qualification requirements of Minn. Rule 4736.0110 in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 145A.04, subd. 2.
- Employ/contract with a medical consultant in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 145A.04, subd. 2a
- Identify local public health priorities and implement activities to address those priorities and the areas of public health responsibility Minn. Stat. § 145A.04, subd. 1
- Submit health priorities (as a proxy for the community health assessment) and community health improvement plan (at least every five years) Minn. Stat. § 145A.04, subd. 1 See also Assessment and planning for local public health - MN Dept. of Health;
- Implement a performance management process Minn. Stat. § 145A.04, subd. 1
- Annually report on a set of performance measures Minn. Stat. § 145A.04, subd. 1 (done through Local Public Health Act annual reporting).
Performance-related accountability requirement
The performance-related accountability requirement is a yearly "deep dive" into a single measure to support systemwide progress and improvement (MN Statute 145A.131 Local Public Health Grant Subd. 3. Accountability)
More information on the 2026 measure will be coming soon.
2025 measure
Community health boards demonstrated their ability to meet Measure 2.2.5 Maintain a risk communication plan and a process for urgent 24/7 communication with response partners. This was reported by March 31, 2026.
2024 measure
Community health boards demonstrated their ability to meet Measure 1.3.3 Use data to recommend and inform public health actions. This was reported by March 31, 2025.