Local Health Authorities
The City of Irving appoints a physician living in Irving to serve a two-year term as the Local Health Authority. To be qualified, the doctor must be licensed to practice medicine by the State Board of Medical Examiners.
The Local Health Authority will take and subscribe to the official oath and file such oath and appointment with the state board of health and the City of Irving Board of Health. When appointed by the City Council, the Local Health Authority shall follow the rules set forth in Section 121.024 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
Specifically, the Local Health Authority has the following responsibilities:
- Enforce the laws and ordinances to protect the public health.
- Aid the State Board of Health in the enforcement of orders, rules and regulations prescribed by the board.
- Establish, maintain and enforce quarantines in the Health Authority’s jurisdiction.
- Aid the State Board of Health in relation to local quarantine, inspection, disease prevention and suppression, birth and death statistics, and general sanitation in the Health Authority’s jurisdiction.
- Report the presence of contagious, infectious and dangerous epidemic diseases in the city to the State Board of Health, City Council, City Manager, designee of the City Manager and the City of Irving Board of Health in the manner and at the times prescribed by such board.
- Report to the State Board of Health on any subject on which it is proper for such board to direct that a report be made.
- Aid the State Board of Health in the enforcement of sanitation laws, quarantine rules and collections of vital statistics.
- Report to the City of Irving Board of Health on any subject that will assist the board in its advisory role.
- Delegate a power or duties imposed on the Health Authority by this article or state law to a properly qualified physician to act while the Health Authority is absent or incapacitated (Alternate Health Authority).
The City of Irving currently employees Willis L. Starnes, M.D., Ph.D., as its Health Authority. Dr. Starnes resides in Irving and has a medical practice at 3204 North MacArthur Blvd.
The Alternate Health Authority for the City of Irving is Roy Reid, M.D, 1019 Lane St, Irving 75062, (972)-401-2802.