Spread across 351 municipal health departments, the
Massachusetts local health system faces significant structural and financial
challenges meeting responsibilities under current law to safeguard our food,
water, and air quality; ensure safe and healthy housing conditions; and control
communicable diseases. The SAPHE Act will advance the recommendations of the
Special Commission on Local and Regional Public Health by increasing training
opportunities, incentivizing sharing of services across municipalities to
increase efficiency and effectiveness, and laying the groundwork to establish
21st century local public health standards for Massachusetts.