(a) The Department of Health shall have general authority and jurisdiction to provide general medical and surgical care of acceptable standards for the people of the Virgin Islands, and, in this connection, shall—
(1) conduct a program of preventive medicine, utilizing the principles of communicable disease, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease control, in an effort to reduce the morbidity rates attributed to contagious and degenerative disease;
(2) in cooperation with the Federal Grant-in-Aid Program, conduct specialized programs in maternal and child health and sponsor a program to aid crippled children;
(3) [Repealed.]
(4) participate in all Federal public health programs for which money is appropriated by the Congress of the United States to improve the quality of services rendered to the citizens of the Virgin Islands;
(5) exercise general control over the enforcement of laws and regulations relating to the health of the people of the Virgin Islands;
(6) administer, operate, and maintain public health standards which it deems necessary to prolong the life span of the people of this area;
(7) recommend rules and regulations governing (a) the operation of public water supplies, (b) inspection of milk and of business establishments, (c) accident and preventive programs, and (d) recreation programs;
(8) conduct studies of bathing areas within the Virgin Islands;
(9) develop a sound community mental health program;
(10) advise the community, through the proper bureau or division of the Department, of programs available to citizens of the Virgin Islands;
(11) recommend the licensing of health facilities or health services;
(12) have charge of the registration of births, deaths, and other vital statistics in the Virgin Islands, and keep all records appertaining thereto;
(13) administer, except as may be otherwise provided therein, the laws relating to vital statistics, and the issuance of certificates of death and permits for the burial, removal, or other disposition of the remains of deceased persons;
(14) administer, except as may be otherwise provided therein, the laws relating to the regulation of the practice of medicine, surgery, dentistry, nursing, and pharmacy, including the examination of applicants for licenses to practice in such fields, and recommendations with respect to the issuance, suspension or revocation of such licenses;
(15) supervise and regulate bakeries, in accordance with law;
(16) inspect and regulate dairy milk depots and suppliers, in accordance with law;
(17) supervise and regulate, in accordance with law, the practice of veterinary medicine;
(18) constitute the state agency of the United States Virgin Islands Government for participation in all programs of the Federal Government relating to the problems of mental health, alcoholism and drug dependency; provided, however, that such programs shall not extend to or deal with, the illegal importation, manufacture, distribution, and possession and improper use of controlled substances, as defined in chapter 29 of this title, and the enforcement of laws relating to said controlled substances.
(19) maintain named perils coverage, including fire, extended coverage, vandalism, malicious mischief, earthquake, and national flood insurance coverage for all government health facilities including, but not limited to, each of the government hospitals and medical clinics, together with all appurtenances thereto and contents therein. Such insurance coverage shall be at least equal to the appraised value of the facilities.
(20) [Repealed.]
(21) [Repealed.]
(22) administer, except as may be otherwise provided therein, the laws relating to the determination of the sanity of persons, and to the admission of patients to mental hospitals.
(b) The Department shall prepare the budget for the Department, for submission to the Commissioner of Finance.
(c) [Repealed.]
(d) Notwithstanding any other law, the Department of Health shall not contract for the construction of any building or any addition for an existing building unless such contract has been approved by the Legislature.