1631 The Colony of Virginia passed an act for the collection of vital statistics.
1639 A Law to regulate the practice of medicine in Virginia was promulgated.
1777 A Law enacted which required persons having smallpox or other contagious diseases to leave the road on the approach of other persons.
1853 A Law was adopted to compel the registration of births and deaths with date as to the nature of the birth and the cause of death.
1872 An Act creating the State Board of Health of Virginia was passed.
1894 Vaccination made a prerequisite to school attendance.
1896 First Appropriation made to the Board of Health -$2,000
1900. Law was passed providing for a State Board of Health consisting of seven members.
1904 First sanatorium treatment of tuberculosis in Virginia begun at Central State Hospital.
1908 State Board of Health was reorganized and State Health Department was established. First State Health Commissioner was appointed. The State Health Department central laboratory was established.
1909 Catawba Sanatorium opened with total bed capacity of 42.
1910 Legislature provided that the State Board of Health could adopt, promulgate, and enforce reasonable rules and regulations for the protection of the public health. Pulmonary tuberculosis made a reportable disease by law. The Bureau of Sanitary Engineering was created--with responsibility for supervision over public water supplies, sewage disposal and treatment plants.
1911 Bureau of Vital Statistics established.
1918 Piedmont Sanatorium opened.
1920 Blue Ridge Sanatorium opened.
1930 An Act was passed to authorize certain cities and/or counties to establish a Mosquito Control District.
1932 Bureau of Rural Health was established, later became the Office of Management for Community Health Services.
1935 The Social Security Act was passed resulting in the establishment of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau and the Crippled Children's Bureau.
1941 Maternal and Child Health Hospitalization Plan begun for medically indigent maternity and infant patients with pathology.
1947 The Hill-Burton Program was started in Virginia.
1948 Division of Alcohol Studies and Rehabilitation established in the State Health Department. Virginia was the first state to have such a program.
Medical Examiner System made a part of State Health Department.
1951 Boarding home care program for convalescent crippled children set up by State Health Department in cooperation with State Welfare Department. Virginia was first state to establish such a program.
1954 Legislation was passed for State-Local Partnership for Local Health Services.
1965 Social Security amendment to initiate Medicaid and Medicare. State Health Department named administrative agency for Medicaid.
1968 The cooperative health planning program was established as a result of Public Law 89-759 known as the Partnership for Health Act.
1969 General Medical Clinics were established in local health departments. Also Medicaid Program started in Virginia.
1970 An Act was passed requiring State Board of Health to regulate the disposal of solid waste. Each city and county required to submit a plan by January 1, 1972.
1972 Operation of Catawba Sanatorium was transferred to the Department of Mental
Hygiene for the care of geriatric patients.
Immunization Law was amended to require each child to be immunized against certain
communicable diseases.
State Labor Law was amended to enable the State Department of Health to carry out health
responsibilities under the new Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
State Law passed providing for the consolidation of laboratory services of nine state
agencies (Health, Water Control Board, Agriculture, Air Pollution Control Board, Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board, Board of Pharmacy, State Police, Conservation and Economic
Development, and Justice and Crime Prevention) and the establishment of a forensic
laboratory for crime detection work. The consolidated laboratory will be placed under the
administration of the Department of Health but will be under an operations board consisting
of representatives of the user agencies.
Law passed requiring a physical examination of all children before entrance to a public
kindergarten or public elementary school. Requires Health Department to define scope of the
physical examination and to perform such examinations without cost for medically indigent
children.
1973 Medical Care Facilities Certificate of Public Need Law adopted; created to
encourage and promote plans and coordinated development of necessary and adequate health,
medical, and surgical care facilities without unnecessary duplication.
State Health Department authorized to establish voluntary program, including screening and
education, for sickle cell anemia and genetically related diseases.
1974 General Assembly authorized Code Commission to initiate study
and recodification of health laws found in Title 32 of the Code of Virginia.
State Board of Health directed to plan and develop, with assistance of advisory committee on
emergency medical services, an emergency medical care system for the Commonwealth.
1977 Division of Consolidated Laboratories transferred to newly created Department of General Services.
1978 Board of Health responsibilities for study and treatment of alcoholism
transferred to new Division of Substance Abuse within the Department of Mental Health and
Mental Retardation.
Virginia Health Services Cost Review Commission established.
Blue Ridge Sanatorium transferred to the University of Virginia; State Department of Health
no longer to operate hospital facilities for treatment of tuberculosis, but, rather, to
contract for such services with the University of Virginia.
Virginia Rescue Squad Assistance Fund established, to be dispensed to rescue squads and
emergency medical services agencies for equipment and training of personnel.
Inauguration of state aid to localities for solid waste planning.
State Board of Health authorized to license home health agencies, such agencies to be
included under Certificate of Need Law.
1979 Recodification of Health Laws completed by passage of new Title 32.1.1980 Perinatal Advisory Council established.
1981 Sterilization laws revised, particularly as these apply to
sterilization of persons incapable of giving informed consent.
Recodification of laws governing hotels, motels, restaurants, summer camps, and campgrounds
completed; new Title 35.1 enacted.
Specific cuts in Medicaid Program directed by General Assembly; a moratorium until July 1,
1982, established on issuance of certificates of need for construction of new nursing homes.
1984 Septic Tank regulations recodified. Enforcement of health of workers transferred to department of labor.
1985 Medicaid split from VDH as a separate agency under the Secretary of Human Services.
1989 Additional Board member (Lay member) added to State Board of Health.
2001 September 11, Terrorism in Northern Virginia, Tracking down Anthrax.
2003 Enhanced Program for Consolidated Laboratories and enhanced training resources in epidemiology from CDC.
2003 Jack O. Lanier, D. PH, Professor of Public Health(VCU) appointed as Chair of State Board of Health.
2005 Board of Health identified prevention of Chronic Diseases as a state major public health objective