50-1-106. Collaboration and relationships within public health system. (1) In general, the department and local public health agencies shall seek to establish working relationships with federal, tribal, and other state or local public health agencies and with other public sector partners engaged in the provision of public health services and functions within the public health system.

(2) The department may enter an agreement with any federal agency to coordinate the provision of public health services and functions.

(3) The department may enter an agreement with any other state or any agencies in any other state to coordinate the provision of public health services and functions among the states that are parties to the agreement.

(4) Any local public health agency may enter agreements with other local public health agencies in the state to coordinate the provision of public health services and functions consistent with Title 50, chapter 2, and this chapter. The local public health agency shall submit any agreement entered into pursuant to this section to the department.

(5) A local public health agency whose jurisdiction extends to a state border may form an agreement with an adjoining state or a municipality in the other state to coordinate the provision of public health services and functions. The local public health agency shall submit any agreement entered into pursuant to this section to the department for prior approval.

(6) The department or local public health agencies may form agreements with tribes and tribal public health agencies in the state to coordinate the provision of public health services and functions or to promote cooperation in addressing specific public health needs of persons living on Indian reservations or Indians who reside outside the boundaries of Indian reservations.

(7) (a) Public health districts, consisting of two or more local public health agencies, may be created by interlocal agreement, as provided in Title 7, chapter 11, part 1, or as a district board of health under 50-2-107 for the purpose of improving the provision of public health services and functions for the affected population. A public health district created under this subsection (7) may include tribal health agencies.

(b) A public health district created under this subsection (7) must consist of the entire area of the combined local public health agencies and tribal health agencies and must be governed in accordance with state law.