DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

El Paso City Code tit. 9, ch. 9.02

in effect

El Paso City Code § 9.02.010 Creation and purpose of the department of public health.

9.02.010 - Creation and purpose of the department of public health. A. There is hereby established the Department of Public Health in the City of El Paso, which shall generally provide for the protection of the public health of the residents of the city and within other areas in the county in which the employees working in the department are authorized to act. B. The primary function of the department shall be the performance of public health functions, including the provision of health related regulatory services, by providing appropriate services, to include services for the payment of fees; the issuance and revocation of licenses and permits; ordinance, statutory and other regulatory enforcement; including inspections of premises and equipment; and to generally perform duties and services relating to areas of public health concerns as to be determined by the city manager. (Ord. 16773 § 2, 2007) (Ord. No. 17634, § 1, 8-30-2011)

El Paso City Code § 9.02.020 Staffing of the department of public health.

9.02.020 - Staffing of the department of public health. A. The department shall be staffed by a department director and such other appropriate positions as are authorized by city council. B. The status of the department director shall be as provided in Section 121.033, Texas Health and Safety Code, and shall, under the city Charter and system of departmental operations, be a department director and hold an unclassified position under Section 6.2-2 H of the city Charter. C. As permitted by Section 121.033(c), Texas Health and Safety Code, and in conformity with the city Charter, the city council delegates its authority to appoint the department director to the city manager, and to approve the director's appointment of a health authority, in the event that the director is not a physician. D. The city manager shall negotiate and establish the terms and conditions of the compensation paid to a separate health authority for the services provided. (Ord. 16773 § 3, 2007)

El Paso City Code § 9.02.030 Effective date.

9.02.030 - Effective date. A. This chapter and the creation of this chapter shall be effective on November 19, 2007. B. On and after November 19, 2007, the city manager and his designees are authorized to administratively set up and create appropriate administrative processes for the implementation of the department, to include establishing appropriate budgets and job classifications for the employees within the department. The city manager and his designees are authorized to make appropriate budget transfers, and to take the necessary steps for the hiring and compensation of all necessary personnel, to enable the department to be fully functional on January 1, 2008. C. The department shall begin operations and the provision of its services on January 1, 2008. (Ord. 16773 § 4, 2007)

El Paso City Code § 9.02.040 Fees—Clinics and laboratory.

9.02.040 - Fees—Clinics and laboratory. A. The department is authorized to charge fees for services provided by its medical, dental, and communicable disease control and prevention clinics, and laboratory. Such fees shall be for the services listed and identified in the adopted budget resolution for the current fiscal year or by other appropriately adopted resolution by the city council. The director of the department of public health is authorized to adjust said fees for services based on any changes that may be made to the Medicaid reimbursement rate. B. The fees to be charged shall be charged for all services provided to a patient seeking diagnosis and treatment. Fees shall not apply to contact investigations. C. For any investigation or inspection which is not a part of a regular license or permit program, whether during regular duty hours or at a time other than regular duty hours, the fee shall be identified in the adopted budget resolution for the current fiscal year or other appropriately adopted resolution by the city council. Said fee may be in addition to any other required fees. D. The director of the department of public health is authorized to adjust fees for services based on any discounts that apply based on the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines in any of the clinics for any of the services offered by the department. In order to apply a discounted fee that is not described in 9.02.040 A. of the El Paso City Code, the director must receive from a person requesting service in a department clinic, proof of income, proof of residency in the city or county, as applicable, and two instruments issued by a state or national government or by a subdivision of either. (Ord. No. 17163, § 1, 8-11-2009; Ord. No. 17334, § 1, 5-25-2010; Ord. No. 18960, § 1, 8-20-2019)

Source: City of El Paso, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/el_paso/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT9HESA_CH9.02DEPUHEFetched: 10/28/2026