KRS 212.245: Powers of local health departments.

County, city-county, and district health departments may:

(1) Utilize available services, facilities, equipment, and personnel of the Cabinet for

Health and Family Services or of the United States Public Health Service upon such

terms of payment or reimbur sement as are agreed on by the department and the

Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the United States Public Health Service;

(2) Contract for services not otherwise available;

(3) Provide for the public health training and instruction of employees and compensate

and defray the reasonable expenses of said employees while they are pursuing

public health training courses approved by the Cabinet for Health and Family

Services;

(4) Establish or contribute to a retirement system or fund for employees of t he

department, including any retirement system for state employees;

(5) Issue and require the heads of families and other persons to execute such orders as it

considers expedient to prevent the outbreak and spread of communicable diseases,

and to this end bring the infected population under prompt and proper treatment;

(6) Issue written orders directed to the owner or occupant of any property, or to any

person, firm, or corporation whatever, commanding, within the time and manner

specified in the order, com pliance with applicable public health laws of this state

and all regulations of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the county

board of health. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section and KRS 212.210,

any health officer may institute and m aintain mandatory or prohibitory injunction

proceedings in the appropriate Circuit Courts of this state to abate nuisances that are

or may be a menace to the health of the people of the state or community, and to

compel compliance with the public health la ws of this state and the rules and

regulations of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the county board of

health and the orders described in this section or in KRS 212.210;

(7) Through its health officers, representatives, and agents, enter upon any premises

when necessary for the purpose of making inspections and investigations and view

evidence and interrogate persons to the extent required in the performance of their

duties and responsibilities. The department or the health officer thereof may issue

subpoenas, subpoena duces tecum, and all necessary process in proceedings brought

before or initiated by the department or board, and such process shall extend to all

parts of the Commonwealth. Service of process may be made by certified mail,

return receipt requested, or in the manner prescribed by the Rules of Civil

Procedure;

(8) Provide administrative, investigative, and clerical services required by the local

board of health;

(9) Cooperate with other health departments, agencies, and organizatio ns in matters

relating to public health;

(10) Elect coverage under the state's workers' compensation laws with the approval of

the Cabinet for Health and Family Services; or

(11) Except as otherwise provided by law, do all other things reasonably necessary to

protect and improve the health of the people.