A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE OFFICE OF MEN'S HEALTH WITHIN THE Department of Health and Human Services, as recommended by the Public Health Study Commission.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 130A of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new Article to read:
"Article 5A.
"Men's Health.
"§ 130A‑131.26.  Office of Men's Health established.
(a)	There is established in the Department the Office of Men's Health. The purpose of the Office is to expand the State's public health concerns and focus to include a comprehensive outlook on the overall health status of men. The primary goals of the Office shall be the prevention of disease and improvement in the quality of life for men over their entire life span. The Department shall develop strategies for achieving these goals which shall include, but not be limited to:
(1)	Developing a strategic plan to improve public services and programs targeting men;
(2)	Conducting policy analyses on specific issues related to men's health;
(3)	Facilitating communication among the Department's programs and between the Department and external men's health groups and community‑based organizations;
(4)	Building public health awareness and capacity regarding men's health issues by providing a series of services, including evaluation, recommendation, technical assistance, and training; and
(5)	Developing initiatives for modification or expansion of health services oriented towards men's health issues with the intent of establishing meaningful public/private partnerships in the future.
(b)	The Office shall study the feasibility of establishing initiatives for:
(1)	Early intervention services for men infected with HIV; and
(2)	Outreach, treatment, and follow‑up services to men at high risk for contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
In conducting the study, the Department shall take into consideration related services already in place in the Department and at the local level."
SECTION 2.  The Department of Health and Human Services shall use funds available for the 2009‑2010 and 2010‑2011 fiscal years to implement this act.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2009.