The department of health and human services is responsible for activities to improve and protect the health and well-being of citizens of the state of New Hampshire. A part of such activities is an assessment of the health status of the residents of New Hampshire. The department shall continually conduct such an assessment and shall issue a report thereon to the governor, the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house every 2 years commencing on December 31, 2000. The commissioner shall develop primary preventive health services for low-income and underserved populations, establish a network of primary care and support services for families with children with chronic illnesses, and provide technical assistance to communities, health care agencies and primary care providers developing comprehensive health care services.