(a) The use of the laboratory, and all investigations mentioned in this chapter therein made, except as otherwise provided, shall be available to the people of this State.

(b) Reasonable fees shall be charged to cover the cost of services provided if the service is not requested under the authority of the Commissioner of Health.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of 32 V.S.A. § 603, the Commissioner shall establish fees reasonably related to the cost of the laboratory services. The Commissioner shall have the discretion to change fee amounts or add new fees to respond to new laboratory testing requirements or improvements, except for fee increases charged to municipalities for testing public water systems and supplies and the fee for total coliform testing which shall be not more than $14.00. In determining whether to exercise such discretion, the Commissioner shall consider such factors as newly identified public health needs, changes in technology or methodology which affect cost, changes in testing supply cost, and changes in sample numbers which affect testing costs. Fees collected under this section shall be credited to a special fund and shall be available to the Department to offset the cost of providing the services, and shall be reported in accordance with 32 V.S.A. § 605. (Amended 1985, No. 220 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1991, No. 71, § 5; 1999, No. 49, §§ 187, 188; 2001, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 51, eff. June 21, 2002; 2003, No. 61, § 2.)