(a) The Department of Community Health is created and established to perform the functions and assume the duties and powers exercised on June 30, 1999, by the State Personnel Board solely with respect to the state health benefit plan, the Health Planning Agency, and the Department of Medical Assistance. The department shall also assume powers and responsibility with respect to the expenditure of any funds appropriated to the department including, without being limited to, funds received by the state pursuant to the settlement of the lawsuit filed by the state against certain tobacco companies, State_of_Georgia,_et_al._v._Philip_Morris,_Inc.,_et_al., Civil Action #E-61692, V19/246 (Fulton County Superior Court, December 9, 1998).

(b) The divisions of the department shall be as follows:

(1) The Health Planning Agency, as it existed on June 30, 1999, is continued in existence on and after July 1, 1999, but shall thereafter be the Division of Health Planning within the department;

(2) The Department of Medical Assistance, as it existed on June 30, 1999, is continued in existence on and after July 1, 1999, but shall thereafter be the Division of Medical Assistance within the department;

(3) The Health Benefit Services Division of the State Merit System of Personnel Administration, as it existed on June 30, 1999, is continued in existence on and after July 1, 1999, but shall thereafter be the Division of Public Employee Health Benefits within the department; and

(4) Such other divisions as the board may establish within the department.

(c) The executive director of the Health Planning Agency in office on June 30, 1999, the commissioner of medical assistance in office on June 30, 1999, and the director of the Health Benefit Services Division of the State Merit System of Personnel Administration in office on June 30, 1999, shall become directors of the respective divisions which those predecessor agencies or divisions have become on and after July 1, 1999, and until such time as the commissioner appoints other directors of such divisions.

(d)(1) There is created in the department the Office of Women's Health. Attached to the office shall be an 11 member advisory council. The members of the advisory council shall be appointed by the Governor and shall be representative of major public and private agencies and organizations in the state and shall be experienced in or have demonstrated particular interest in women's health issues. Each member shall be appointed for two years and until his or her successor is appointed. The members shall be eligible to succeed themselves. The council shall elect its chairperson from among the councilmembers for a term of two years. The Governor may name an honorary chairperson of the council.

(2) The Office of Women's Health shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Governor, the General Assembly, the board, the department, and all other state agencies in matters relating to women's health. In particular, the office shall:

(A) Raise awareness of women's nonreproductive health issues;

(B) Inform and engage in prevention and education activities relating to women's nonreproductive health issues;

(C) Serve as a clearing-house for women's health information for purposes of planning and coordination;

(D) Issue reports of the office's activities and findings; and

(E) Develop and distribute a state comprehensive plan to address women's health issues.

(3) The Office of Women's Health shall have a full-time executive director appointed by the commissioner and shall be provided with staff personnel, office and meeting facilities, and other necessary items by the department. The council shall meet upon the call of its chairperson, the board, or the commissioner.

(e) The board of regents is authorized to contract with the department for health benefits for members, employees, and retirees of the board of regents and the dependents of such members, employees, and retirees and for the administration of such health benefits. The department is also authorized to contract with the board of regents for such purposes.

(f) In addition to its other powers, duties, and functions, the department:

(1) Shall be the lead agency in coordinating and purchasing health care benefit plans for state and public employees, dependents, and retirees and may also coordinate with the board of regents for the purchase and administration of such health care benefit plans for its members, employees, dependents, and retirees;

(2) Is authorized to plan and coordinate medical education and physician workforce issues;

(3) Is authorized to convene at least quarterly a state agency coordinating committee comprised of the commissioners, directors, chairpersons, or their designees, of the following agencies involved in health related activities: the Department of Human Resources, including the Division of Public Health, the Division of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse, and the Office of Aging thereof, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Corrections, the Insurance Department, the State Merit System of Personnel Administration, the State Board of Workers' Compensation, and the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget. The board of regents may also designate a person to serve on the coordinating committee. The committee will convene for the purposes of planning and coordinating health issues that have interagency considerations. The commissioner of the department will serve as the chairperson of the state agency coordinating committee and will report to the Governor the activities, findings, and recommendations of the committee;

(4) Shall investigate the lack of availability of health insurance coverage and the issues associated with the uninsured population of this state. In particular, the department is authorized to investigate the feasibility of creating and administering insurance programs for small businesses and political subdivisions of the state and to propose cost-effective solutions to reducing the numbers of uninsured in this state;

(5) Shall study and recommend any additional functions needed to carry out the purposes of the department, including the creation of a consumer medical advocate. Such recommendations shall be made to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 1999;

(6) Is authorized to appoint a health care work force policy advisory committee to oversee and coordinate work force planning activities; and

(7) Is authorized to solicit and accept donations, contributions, and gifts and receive, hold, and use grants, devises, and bequests of real, personal, and mixed property on behalf of the state to enable the department to carry out its functions and purposes.