General Assembly Committee Bill No. 126 January Session, 2017 LCO No. 4686 *04686SB00126PH_* Referred to Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH Introduced by: (PH) General Assembly Committee Bill No. 126 January Session, 2017 LCO No. 4686 *04686SB00126PH_* Referred to Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH Introduced by: (PH) AN ACT CONCERNING COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2017) (a) As used in this section, "community health worker" means a public health outreach professional with an in-depth understanding of the experience, language, culture and socioeconomic needs of the community who (1) serves as a liaison between individuals within the community and health care and social services providers to facilitate access to such services and health-related resources, improve the quality and cultural competence of the delivery of such services and address social determinants of health with a goal toward reducing racial, ethnic, gender and socioeconomic health disparities, and (2) increases health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of services including outreach, engagement, education, coaching, informal counseling, social support, advocacy, care coordination, research and basic screenings and assessments. (b) The Commissioner of Public Health, in consultation with the Commissioners of Social Services, Developmental Services and Mental Health and Addiction Services shall examine the roles and responsibilities of community health workers in this state. Not later than October 1, 2018, the Commissioner of Public Health shall report in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes on the results of such examination to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and human services. This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: Section 1 October 1, 2017 New section This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: Section 1 October 1, 2017 New section Statement of Purpose: To define community health workers. [Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] Co-Sponsors: SEN. GERRATANA, 6th Dist. Co-Sponsors: SEN. GERRATANA, 6th Dist. S.B. 126