{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-212.635","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 212.635","heading":"Commissioner -- Appointment -- Qualifications -- Duties.","body":"(1) The board shall appoint a commissioner for the department with the qualifications\nspecified and subject to the provisions set forth under subsection (3) of this section.\n(2) The board shall hear and decide appeals from rulings, decisions, and actions of the\ndepartment or commissioner, where the aggrieved party makes a written request to\nthe board within thirty (30) days after the ruling, decision, or action complained of.\n(3) The com missioner may be a physician, qualified as a public health administrator\nand licensed or eligible for a license as a medical practitioner in the Commonwealth\nof Kentucky, or may be a nonphysician with a minimum of a master's degree in\npublic health or a re lated field and at least five (5) years of experience in public\nhealth or a related field. The commissioner of the health department shall receive an\nannual salary as prescribed by the board subject to the provisions of the\ndepartment's merit system, payab le as other salaries are paid, and shall serve at the\npleasure of the board. If the commissioner is removed by the board he or she shall\nbe notified in writing. Before his or her removal shall become effective, the\ncommissioner shall have fourteen (14) cal endar days within which to make a\nwritten request for a hearing. The board shall not be required to hold a hearing\nunless so requested by the commissioner. If no such request is made the removal\nshall become effective upon the expiration of the fourteen (1 4) day period. If a\nrequest for a hearing is made the hearing shall be held at the office of the board\nwithin fourteen (14) calendar days after the request is received by the board. The\ncommissioner shall not be removed until after a hearing has been held if requested\nand a decision rendered by the board. The board's decision shall be final.\n(4) The commissioner shall serve as secretary to the board and keep full minutes of the\nproceedings of the board. The commissioner shall be the chief administrative\nofficer of the department. The commissioner may employ and fix the compensation\nof, by contract or otherwise, all medical, technical, clerical, professional, and other\nemployees necessary for the maintenance and operation of the department in\naccordance with the merit system as established by the board.","path":["KRS Chapter 212"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=54174","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:52:16Z","sha256":"5844c86ebb33fce6c12a4c912e0635b1796459e5719bb4d7808dc6e68ad5ff4c","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-212.634","next":"us-ky/krs-212.636"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}