Mr Millar, who is the chairman of the Otago and Southland district health boards community and public health advisory committee, told it this week that if public health staff wished to make a submission they needed to be aware that it would have to go to both boards for approval.
The law commission paper is expected to be published by the end of this month.
This year, several committee members have expressed concerns about alcohol abuse and its effect on health and health workers, suggesting it is time the boards entered the debate on alcohol issues.
Under an Otago board policy, controversial when it was introduced in late 2007, public health submissions in which staff go beyond stating the pros and cons of health and disability impacts of any issue, must go before the board for approval.
The policy attracted criticism from public health academics concerned that it interfered with the legally recognised practice of public health medicine.
It was also not welcomed by many Public Health South staff, the board was told following response to a discussion document on the policy.
