Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06662 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3		-	LCO \\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2021HB-06662-R01-
4		-	HB.docx
5		-	1 of 9
6	3
7		-	General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6662
	4	+
	5	+
	6	+	LCO No. 5542 1 of 8
	7	+
	8	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6662
8	9		January Session, 2021
	10	+	LCO No. 5542
	11	+
	12	+
	13	+	Referred to Committee on APPROPRIATIONS
	14	+
	15	+
	16	+	Introduced by:
	17	+	(APP)
	18	+
9	19
10	20
11	21
12	22
13	23
14	24		AN ACT DECLARING RAC ISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND
15	25		ESTABLISHING THE COMMISSION ON RACIAL EQUITY IN PUBLIC
16	26		HEALTH.
17	27		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
18	28		Assembly convened:
19	29
20	30		Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) It is hereby declared that 1
21	31		racism constitutes a public health crisis in this state and will continue to 2
22		-	constitute a public health crisis until the ~~goal~~ set forth in section 2 of ~~this~~ 3
23		-	act is attained, and the Commission on Racial Equity in Public ~~Health is~~ 4
24		-	terminated pursuant to said section. 5
	32	+	constitute a public health crisis until the goals set forth in section 2 of 3
	33	+	this act are attained, and the Commission on Racial Equity in Public 4
	34	+	Health is terminated pursuant to said section. 5
25	35		Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a 6
26	36		Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health, to document and make 7
27	37		recommendations to decrease the effect of racism on public health. The 8
28		-	commission shall be part of the ~~Legislative~~ Department. 9
	38	+	commission shall be part of the Executive Department. 9
29	39		(b) The commission shall consist of the following members: 10
30		-	(1) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 11
31		-	one who is a representative of a nonprofit organization that focuses on 12
32		-	racial equity issues and one who is a representative of Health Equity 13
33		-	Solutions; 14
34		-	(2) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one 15 Substitute Bill No. 6662
	40	+	(1) The Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's 11 Raised Bill No. 6662
35	41
36	42
37		-	LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2021HB-06662-
38		-	R01-HB.docx }
39		-	2 of 9
40	43
41		-	~~who is a representative~~ of ~~a violence intervention program using a 16~~
42		-	~~health-based approach to examine individuals post-incarceration and 17~~
43		-	~~policies for integration and one who is a representative of the 18~~
44		-	~~Connecticut Health Foundation;~~ 19
45		-	~~(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of 20~~
46		-	~~Representatives, who is a representative~~ of the ~~Katal Center for Equity, 21~~
47		-	~~Health, and Justice~~; 22
48		-	(4) ~~One appointed by~~ the ~~majority leader of the Senate, who is a 23~~
49		-	~~representative~~ of the ~~Connecticut Children~~'s ~~Office for Community 24~~
50		-	~~Child Health~~; 25
51		-	(5) ~~Two appointed by~~ the ~~minority leader~~ of the ~~House of 26~~
52		-	~~Representatives, one who is a physician educator associated with The 27~~
53		-	~~University~~ of ~~Connecticut who has experience~~ and ~~expertise in infant 28~~
54		-	~~and maternal care and who has worked on diversity and inclusion 29~~
55		-	~~policy and one who is a representative~~ of the ~~Partnership for Strong 30~~
56		-	~~Communities; 31~~
57		-	~~(6) Two appointed by the minority leader of the Senate~~, ~~one who is~~ a 32
58		-	~~medical professional with expertise in mental health and one who is a 33~~
59		-	~~representative of the Open Communities Alliance~~; 34
60		-	(7) The ~~chairpersons~~ of the ~~joint standing committee~~ of ~~the General 35~~
61		-	~~Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health~~; 36
62		-	(8) ~~Two members~~ of the ~~Black~~ and ~~Puerto Rican Caucus~~, ~~appointed 37~~
63		-	~~by the caucus chairperson, 38~~
64		-	(9) ~~One appointed by~~ the ~~Governor, who is~~ a ~~representative of~~ the 39
65		-	~~Diversity, Equity,~~ ~~and Inclusion Committee of the Connecticut Bar 40~~
66		-	~~Association; 41~~
67		-	~~(10) The Commissioner of Public Health, or~~ the commissioner's 42
68		-	~~designee; 43 Substitute~~ Bill No. 6662
	44	+	LCO No. 5542 2 of 8
	45	+
	46	+	designee; 12
	47	+	(2) The Commissioner of Children and Families, or the 13
	48	+	commissioner's designee; 14
	49	+	(3) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the commissioner's 15
	50	+	designee; 16
	51	+	(4) The Commissioner of Housing, or the commissioner's designee; 17
	52	+	(5) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's 18
	53	+	designee; 19
	54	+	(6) The Commissioner of Agriculture, or the commissioner's 20
	55	+	designee; 21
	56	+	(7) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, 22
	57	+	or the commissioner's designee; 23
	58	+	(8) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; 24
	59	+	(9) The chief executive officer of the Connecticut Health Insurance 25
	60	+	Exchange, or a designee; 26
	61	+	(10) The executive director of the Commission on Women, Children, 27
	62	+	Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, or a designee; 28
	63	+	(11) The executive director of the Office of Health Strategy, or a 29
	64	+	designee; 30
	65	+	(12) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the 31
	66	+	secretary's designee; 32
	67	+	(13) The Commissioner of A dministrative Services, or the 33
	68	+	commissioner's designee; 34
	69	+	(14) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, or 35
	70	+	the commissioner's designee; 36
	71	+	(15) The Commissioner of Correction, or the commissioner's 37 Raised Bill No. 6662
69	72
70	73
71		-	LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2021HB-06662-
72		-	R01-HB.docx }
73		-	3 of 9
74	74
75		-	(11) The Commissioner of Children and Families, or the 44
76		-	commissioner's designee; 45
77		-	(12) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the commissioner's 46
78		-	designee; 47
79		-	(13) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's 48
80		-	designee; 49
81		-	(14) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, 50
82		-	or the commissioner's designee; 51
83		-	(15) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; 52
84		-	(16) The chief executive officer of the Connecticut Health Insurance 53
85		-	Exchange, or the chief executive officer's designee; 54
86		-	(17) The executive director of the Commission on Women, Children, 55
87		-	Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, or the executive director's designee; 56
88		-	(18) The executive director of the Office of Health Strategy, or the 57
89		-	executive director's designee; 58
90		-	(19) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the 59
91		-	secretary's designee; 60
92		-	(20) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, or 61
93		-	the commissioner's designee; and 62
94		-	(21) The Commissioner of Correction, or the commissioner's 63
95		-	designee. 64
96		-	(c) Any member of the commission appointed under subdivisions (1) 65
97		-	to (8), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the 66
98		-	General Assembly. All initial appointments to the commission made 67
99		-	under subdivisions (1) to (9), inclusive of subsection (b) of this section 68
100		-	shall be made not later than sixty days after the effective date of this 69
101		-	section. Appointed members shall serve a term that is coterminous with 70 Substitute Bill No. 6662
	75	+	LCO No. 5542 3 of 8
	76	+
	77	+	designee; 38
	78	+	(16) At least one person appointed by the Governor who has 39
	79	+	experience with community organizations actively working to address 40
	80	+	racism and related health disparities and inequities; 41
	81	+	(17) At least one person appointed by the Governor who has 42
	82	+	experience with community organizations actively working to address 43
	83	+	the needs of people of color who also identify as LGBTQ+ or as having 44
	84	+	a disability; and 45
	85	+	(18) At least one person appointed by the Governor who has 46
	86	+	experience with community-based nongovernmental organizations. 47
	87	+	(c) All initial appointments to the commission made under 48
	88	+	subdivisions (14) to (18), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section shall 49
	89	+	be made not later than sixty days after the effective day of this section. 50
	90	+	Appointed members shall serve a term that is coterminous with the 51
	91	+	appointing official and appointed members may serve more than one 52
	92	+	term. 53
	93	+	(d) The executive director of the Office of Health Strategy, or the 54
	94	+	executive director's designee, shall serve as chairperson of the 55
	95	+	commission. Such chairperson shall schedule the first meeting of the 56
	96	+	commission, which shall be held not later than sixty days after the 57
	97	+	effective date of this section. 58
	98	+	(e) The commission, by majority vote, shall hire an executive director 59
	99	+	to serve as administrative staff of the commission, who shall serve at the 60
	100	+	pleasure of the commission. 61
	101	+	(f) Members shall continue to serve until their successors are 62
	102	+	appointed. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. Any 63
	103	+	vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the 64
	104	+	balance of the unexpired term. 65
	105	+	(g) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum for the 66
	106	+	transaction of any business and any decision shall be by a majority vote 67 Raised Bill No. 6662
102	107
103	108
104		-	LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2021HB-06662-
105		-	R01-HB.docx }
106		-	4 of 9
107	109
108		-	the appointing official and may serve more than one term. 71
109		-	(d) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the 72
110		-	secretary's designee, and the representative appointed under 73
111		-	subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section as a representative of 74
112		-	Health Equity Solutions, shall serve as chairpersons of the commission. 75
113		-	Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the commission, 76
114		-	which shall be held not later than sixty days after the effective date of 77
115		-	this section. If appointments under subsection (b) of this section are not 78
116		-	made within such sixty-day period, the chairpersons may designate 79
117		-	individuals with the required qualifications stated for the applicable 80
118		-	appointment to serve on the commission until appointments are made 81
119		-	pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. 82
120		-	(e) Members shall continue to serve until their successors are 83
121		-	appointed. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. Any 84
122		-	vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the 85
123		-	balance of the unexpired term. 86
124		-	(f) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum for the 87
125		-	transaction of any business and any decision shall be by a majority vote 88
126		-	of those present at a meeting. The commission may adopt rules of 89
127		-	procedure. 90
128		-	(g) The members of the commission shall serve without 91
129		-	compensation, but shall, within the limits of available funds, be 92
130		-	reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of 93
131		-	their duties. 94
132		-	(h) The commission, by majority vote, shall hire an executive director 95
133		-	to serve as administrative staff of the commission, who shall serve at the 96
134		-	pleasure of the commission. The commission may request the assistance 97
135		-	of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management in hiring the 98
136		-	executive director. The executive director may hire not more than two 99
137		-	executive assistants to assist in carrying out the duties of the 100
138		-	commission. 101 Substitute Bill No. 6662
	110	+	LCO No. 5542 4 of 8
	111	+
	112	+	of those present at a meeting. The commission may adopt rules of 68
	113	+	procedure. 69
	114	+	(h) The members of the commission shall serve without 70
	115	+	compensation, but shall, within the limits of available funds, be 71
	116	+	reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of 72
	117	+	their duties. 73
	118	+	(i) The commission shall have the following powers and duties: (1) 74
	119	+	Support collaboration by bringing together partners from many 75
	120	+	different sectors to recognize the links between health and other issue 76
	121	+	and policy areas and build new partnerships to promote health and 77
	122	+	equity and increase government efficiency; (2) create the comprehensive 78
	123	+	strategic plan to eliminate health disparities and inequities across 79
	124	+	sectors, in accordance with section 3 of this act; (3) obtain from any 80
	125	+	executive department, board, commission or other agency of the state 81
	126	+	or any organization or other entity such assistance as necessary and 82
	127	+	available to carry out the purposes of this section; (4) accept any gift, 83
	128	+	donation or bequest for the purpose of performing the duties described 84
	129	+	in this section; (5) establish bylaws to govern its procedures; and (6) 85
	130	+	perform such other acts as may be necessary and appropriate to carry 86
	131	+	out the duties described in this section. 87
	132	+	(j) The commission shall engage with a diverse range of community 88
	133	+	members, including people of color who identify as members of diverse 89
	134	+	groups of the state population, including on the basis of race, ethnicity, 90
	135	+	sexual orientation, gender identity and disability, who experience 91
	136	+	inequities in health, to make recommendations to the relevant state 92
	137	+	agencies or other entities on an ongoing basis concerning the following: 93
	138	+	(1) Institutional racism in the state's laws and regulations impacting 94
	139	+	public health; (2) racial disparity in the state's criminal justice system 95
	140	+	and its impact on the health and well-being of individuals and families, 96
	141	+	including overall health outcomes and rates of depression, suicide, 97
	142	+	substance use disorder and chronic disease; (3) racial disparities in 98
	143	+	access to the resources necessary for healthy living, including, but not 99
	144	+	limited to, access to adequate fresh food and physical activity, public 100 Raised Bill No. 6662
139	145
140	146
141		-	LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2021HB-06662-
142		-	R01-HB.docx }
143		-	5 of 9
144	147
145		-	(i) The commission shall have the following powers and duties: To 102
146		-	(1) Support collaboration by bringing together partners from many 103
147		-	different sectors to recognize the links between health and other issue 104
148		-	and policy areas and build new partnerships to promote health and 105
149		-	equity and increase government efficiency; (2) create a comprehensive 106
150		-	strategic plan to eliminate health disparities and inequities across 107
151		-	sectors, in accordance with section 3 of this act; (3) study the impact that 108
152		-	the public health crisis of racism has on vulnerable populations within 109
153		-	diverse groups of the state population, including on the basis of race, 110
154		-	ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability, including, 111
155		-	but not limited to, Black American descendants of slavery; (4) obtain 112
156		-	from any legislative or executive department, board, commission or 113
157		-	other agency of the state or any organization or other entity such 114
158		-	assistance as necessary and available to carry out the purposes of this 115
159		-	section; (5) accept any gift, donation or bequest for the purpose of 116
160		-	performing the duties described in this section; (6) establish bylaws to 117
161		-	govern its procedures; and (7) perform such other acts as may be 118
162		-	necessary and appropriate to carry out the duties described in this 119
163		-	section, including, but not limited to, the creation of subcommittees. 120
164		-	(j) The commission shall engage with a diverse range of community 121
165		-	members, including people of color who identify as members of diverse 122
166		-	groups of the state population, including on the basis of race, ethnicity, 123
167		-	sexual orientation, gender identity and disability, who experience 124
168		-	inequities in health, to make recommendations to the relevant state 125
169		-	agencies or other entities on an ongoing basis concerning the following: 126
170		-	(1) Structural racism in the state's laws and regulations impacting public 127
171		-	health, where, as used in this subdivision, "structural racism" means a 128
172		-	system that structures opportunity and assigns value in a way that 129
173		-	disproportionally and negatively impacts Black, Indigenous, Latino or 130
174		-	Asian people or other people of color; (2) racial disparities in the state's 131
175		-	criminal justice system and its impact on the health and well-being of 132
176		-	individuals and families, including overall health outcomes and rates of 133
177		-	depression, suicide, substance use disorder and chronic disease; (3) 134
178		-	racial disparities in access to the resources necessary for healthy living, 135 Substitute Bill No. 6662
	148	+	LCO No. 5542 5 of 8
	149	+
	150	+	safety and the decrease of pollution in communities; (4) racial disparities 101
	151	+	in health outcomes; (5) the impact of zoning restrictions on the creation 102
	152	+	of housing disparities and such disparities' impact on public health; and 103
	153	+	(6) racial disparities in state hiring and contracting processes. 104
	154	+	(k) The commission shall not terminate until the state has attained the 105
	155	+	goal of at least seventy per cent reduction in disparities, as determined 106
	156	+	by the commission using available scientifically-based measurements, 107
	157	+	in the following areas: (1) Kindergarten readiness, third grade reading 108
	158	+	proficiency, scores on the mastery examination, administered pursuant 109
	159	+	to section 10-14n of the general statutes, rates of school-based discipline, 110
	160	+	high school graduation rates and retention rates after the first year of 111
	161	+	study for institutions of higher education in the state, as defined in 112
	162	+	section 3-22a of the general statutes; (2) health insurance coverage rates, 113
	163	+	pregnancy and infant health outcomes, emergency room visits and 114
	164	+	deaths related to conditions associated with exposure to environmental 115
	165	+	pollutants, including respiratory ailments, quality of life, life 116
	166	+	expectancy, and self-reported well-being surveys; (3) rates of 117
	167	+	involvement with the justice system; and (4) rates of poverty, income, 118
	168	+	housing insecurity, lead poisoning and access to adequate healthy 119
	169	+	nutrition. 120
	170	+	(l) Not later than January 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the 121
	171	+	commission shall submit a report to the Secretary of the Office of Policy 122
	172	+	and Management and the joint standing committees of the General 123
	173	+	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and 124
	174	+	appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, in accordance with the 125
	175	+	provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, concerning (1) the 126
	176	+	activities of the commission during the prior year; (2) any progress 127
	177	+	made in attaining the goal described in subsection (k) of this section; (3) 128
	178	+	any recommended changes to such goal based on the research 129
	179	+	conducted by the commission, any disparity study performed by any 130
	180	+	state agency or entity, or any community input received; and (4) any 131
	181	+	recommendations for policy changes or amendments to state law. 132
	182	+	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Commission on Racial 133 Raised Bill No. 6662
179	183
180	184
181		-	LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2021HB-06662-
182		-	R01-HB.docx }
183		-	6 of 9
184	185
185		-	including, but not limited to, access to adequate fresh food and physical 136
186		-	activity, public safety and the decrease of pollution in communities; (4) 137
187		-	racial disparities in health outcomes; (5) the impact of zoning 138
188		-	restrictions on the creation of housing disparities and such disparities' 139
189		-	impact on public health; (6) racial disparities in state hiring and 140
190		-	contracting processes; and (7) any suggestions to reduce the impact of 141
191		-	the public health crisis of racism within the vulnerable populations 142
192		-	studied under subdivision (3) of subsection (i) of this section. 143
193		-	(k) Not later than January 1, 2022, the commission shall determine, 144
194		-	using available scientifically based measurements, the percentages of 145
195		-	disparity in the state based on race, in the following areas: (1) Education 146
196		-	indicators, including kindergarten readiness, third grade reading 147
197		-	proficiency, scores on the mastery examination, administered pursuant 148
198		-	to section 10-14n of the general statutes, rates of school-based discipline, 149
199		-	high school graduation rates and retention rates after the first year of 150
200		-	study for institutions of higher education in the state, as defined in 151
201		-	section 3-22a of the general statutes; (2) health care utilization and 152
202		-	outcome indicators, including health insurance coverage rates, 153
203		-	pregnancy and infant health of outcomes, emergency room visits and 154
204		-	deaths related to conditions associated with exposure to environmental 155
205		-	pollutants, including respiratory ailments, quality of life, life 156
206		-	expectancy, lead poisoning and access to adequate healthy nutrition and 157
207		-	self-reported well-being surveys; (3) criminal justice indicators, 158
208		-	including rates of involvement with the justice system; and (4) economic 159
209		-	indicators, including rates of poverty, income and housing insecurity. 160
210		-	The commission shall not terminate until the commission determines 161
211		-	that the state has attained the goal of at least a seventy per cent reduction 162
212		-	in the racial disparities set forth in subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of 163
213		-	this subsection from the percentage of disparities determined by the 164
214		-	commission on or before January 1, 2022. 165
215		-	(l) Not later than January 1, 2022, and every six months thereafter, the 166
216		-	commission shall submit a report to the Secretary of the Office of Policy 167
217		-	and Management and the joint standing committees of the General 168 Substitute Bill No. 6662
	186	+	LCO No. 5542 6 of 8
	187	+
	188	+	Equity in Public Health, established under section 2 of this act, shall 134
	189	+	develop and periodically update a comprehensive strategic plan to 135
	190	+	eliminate health disparities and inequities across sectors, including 136
	191	+	consideration of the following: Air and water quality, natural resources 137
	192	+	and agricultural land, affordable housing, infrastructure systems, public 138
	193	+	health, access to quality health care, social services, sustainable 139
	194	+	communities and the impact of climate change. 140
	195	+	(b) Such plan shall address the incorporation of health and equity into 141
	196	+	specific policies, programs and government decision-making processes 142
	197	+	including, but not limited to, the following: (1) Disparities in laws and 143
	198	+	regulations impacting public health; (2) disparities in the criminal justice 144
	199	+	system; (3) disparities in access to resources, including, but not limited 145
	200	+	to, healthy food, safe housing, public safety and environments free of 146
	201	+	excess pollution; and (4) disparities in access to quality health care. 147
	202	+	Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 4-9a of the general statutes is repealed 148
	203	+	and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 149
	204	+	(a) The Governor shall appoint the chairperson and executive 150
	205	+	director, if any, of all boards and commissions within the Executive 151
	206	+	Department, except the State Properties Review Board, the State 152
	207	+	Elections Enforcement Commission, the Commission on Human Rights 153
	208	+	and Opportunities, the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, the 154
	209	+	Citizen's Ethics Advisory Board, [and] the Transportation Policy 155
	210	+	Advisory Council and the Commission on Racial Equity in Public 156
	211	+	Health. 157
	212	+	Sec. 5. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Public Health shall 158
	213	+	study the development and implementation of a recruitment and 159
	214	+	retention program for health care workers in the state who are people of 160
	215	+	color. Not later than January 1, 2022, the commissioner shall report the 161
	216	+	results of such study, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a 162
	217	+	of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General 163
	218	+	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health. Such 164
	219	+	report shall include any legislative recommendations to improve the 165 Raised Bill No. 6662
218	220
219	221
220		-	LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2021HB-06662-
221		-	R01-HB.docx }
222		-	7 of 9
223	222
224		-	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and 169
225		-	appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, in accordance with the 170
226		-	provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, concerning (1) the 171
227		-	activities of the commission during the prior six-month period; (2) any 172
228		-	progress made in attaining the goal described in subsection (k) of this 173
229		-	section; (3) any recommended changes to such goal based on the 174
230		-	research conducted by the commission, any disparity study performed 175
231		-	by any state agency or entity, or any community input received; and (4) 176
232		-	any recommendations for policy changes or amendments to state law. 177
233		-	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Commission on Racial 178
234		-	Equity in Public Health, established under section 2 of this act, shall 179
235		-	develop and periodically update a comprehensive strategic plan to 180
236		-	eliminate health disparities and inequities across sectors, including 181
237		-	consideration of the following: Air and water quality, natural resources 182
238		-	and agricultural land, affordable housing, infrastructure systems, public 183
239		-	health, access to quality health care, social services, sustainable 184
240		-	communities and the impact of climate change. 185
241		-	(b) Such plan shall address the incorporation of health and equity into 186
242		-	specific policies, programs and government decision-making processes 187
243		-	including, but not limited to, the following: (1) Disparities in laws and 188
244		-	regulations impacting public health; (2) disparities in the criminal justice 189
245		-	system; (3) disparities in access to resources, including, but not limited 190
246		-	to, healthy food, safe housing, public safety and environments free of 191
247		-	excess pollution; and (4) disparities in access to quality health care. 192
248		-	Sec. 4. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Public Health shall 193
249		-	study the development and implementation of a recruitment and 194
250		-	retention program for health care workers in the state who are people of 195
251		-	color. Not later than January 1, 2022, the commissioner shall report the 196
252		-	results of such study, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a 197
253		-	of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General 198
254		-	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health. Such 199
255		-	report shall include any legislative recommendations to improve the 200
256		-	recruitment and retention of people of color in the health care sector, 201 Substitute Bill No. 6662
	223	+	LCO No. 5542 7 of 8
	224	+
	225	+	recruitment and retention of people of color in the health care sector, 166
	226	+	including, but not limited to, recommendations for the implementation 167
	227	+	of such recruitment and retention program. 168
	228	+	Sec. 6. (Effective from passage) The Department of Energy and 169
	229	+	Environmental Protection shall perform an assessment of racial equity 170
	230	+	within environmental health quality programs administered by said 171
	231	+	department. Not later than January 1, 2022, the department shall submit 172
	232	+	a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general 173
	233	+	statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly 174
	234	+	having cognizance of matters relating to the environment. Such report 175
	235	+	shall include the results of such assessment and any legislative 176
	236	+	recommendations to improve racial equity within such programs. 177
	237	+	Sec. 7. (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section, "cultural 178
	238	+	humility" means a continuing commitment to (1) self-evaluation and 179
	239	+	critique of one's own worldview with regard to differences in cultural 180
	240	+	traditions and belief systems, and (2) awareness of, and active 181
	241	+	mitigation of, power imbalances between cultures. 182
	242	+	(b) The Office of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Board 183
	243	+	of Regents for Higher Education and the Board of Trustees of The 184
	244	+	University of Connecticut, shall evaluate the recruitment and retention 185
	245	+	of people of color in health care preparation programs offered by the 186
	246	+	constituent units of the state system of higher education and the 187
	247	+	inclusion of cultural humility education in such programs. Not later 188
	248	+	than January 1, 2022, the office shall submit a report, in accordance with 189
	249	+	the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint 190
	250	+	standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 191
	251	+	matters relating to higher education. Such report shall include the 192
	252	+	results of such evaluation and any legislative recommendations to 193
	253	+	improve the recruitment and retention of people of color in such 194
	254	+	programs and include additional cultural humility education in such 195
	255	+	programs. 196
	256	+	Sec. 8. Subsection (b) of section 2-128 of the general statutes is 197 Raised Bill No. 6662
257	257
258	258
259		-	LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2021HB-06662-
260		-	R01-HB.docx }
261		-	8 of 9
262	259
263		-	including, but not limited to, recommendations for the implementation 202
264		-	of such recruitment and retention program. 203
265		-	Sec. 5. (Effective from passage) The Department of Energy and 204
266		-	Environmental Protection shall perform an assessment of racial equity 205
267		-	within environmental health quality programs administered by said 206
268		-	department. Not later than January 1, 2022, the department shall submit 207
269		-	a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general 208
270		-	statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly 209
271		-	having cognizance of matters relating to the environment. Such report 210
272		-	shall include the results of such assessment and any legislative 211
273		-	recommendations to improve racial equity within such programs. 212
274		-	Sec. 6. (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section, "cultural 213
275		-	humility" means a continuing commitment to (1) self-evaluation and 214
276		-	critique of one's own worldview with regard to differences in cultural 215
277		-	traditions and belief systems, and (2) awareness of, and active 216
278		-	mitigation of, power imbalances between cultures. 217
279		-	(b) The Office of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Board 218
280		-	of Regents for Higher Education and the Board of Trustees of The 219
281		-	University of Connecticut, shall evaluate the recruitment and retention 220
282		-	of people of color in health care preparation programs offered by the 221
283		-	constituent units of the state system of higher education and the 222
284		-	inclusion of cultural humility education in such programs. Not later 223
285		-	than January 1, 2022, the office shall submit a report, in accordance with 224
286		-	the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint 225
287		-	standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 226
288		-	matters relating to higher education. Such report shall include the 227
289		-	results of such evaluation and any legislative recommendations to 228
290		-	improve the recruitment and retention of people of color in such 229
291		-	programs and include additional cultural humility education in such 230
292		-	programs. 231
293		-	Sec. 7. Subsection (b) of section 2-128 of the general statutes is 232
294		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 233 Substitute Bill No. 6662
	260	+	LCO No. 5542 8 of 8
295	261
296		-
297		-	LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2021HB-06662-
298		-	R01-HB.docx }
299		-	9 of 9
300		-
301		-	passage): 234
302		-	(b) Not later than January first, annually, the executive director of the 235
303		-	commission shall submit a status report, organized by subcommission, 236
304		-	concerning its efforts in promoting the desired results listed in 237
305		-	subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section to the joint standing 238
306		-	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 239
307		-	relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies in 240
308		-	accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. On and after January 1, 241
309		-	2022, such report shall include the status of amendments to the joint 242
310		-	rules of the House of Representatives and the Senate concerning the 243
311		-	preparation of racial and ethnic impact statements pursuant to section 244
312		-	2-24b. 245
	262	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 198
	263	+	passage): 199
	264	+	(b) Not later than January first, annually, the executive director of the 200
	265	+	commission shall submit a status report, organized by subcommission, 201
	266	+	concerning its efforts in promoting the desired results listed in 202
	267	+	subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section to the joint standing 203
	268	+	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 204
	269	+	relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies in 205
	270	+	accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. On and after January 1, 206
	271	+	2022, such report shall include the status of amendments to the joint 207
	272	+	rules of the House of Representatives and the Senate concerning the 208
	273	+	preparation of racial and ethnic impact statements pursuant to section 209
	274	+	2-24b. 210
313	275		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
314	276		sections:
315	277
316	278		Section 1 from passage New section
317	279		Sec. 2 from passage New section
318	280		Sec. 3 from passage New section
319		-	Sec. 4 from passage ~~New section~~
	281	+	Sec. 4 from passage 4-9a(a)
320	282		Sec. 5 from passage New section
321	283		Sec. 6 from passage New section
322		-	Sec. 7 from passage 2-128(b)
	284	+	Sec. 7 from passage New section
	285	+	Sec. 8 from passage 2-128(b)
323	286
324		-	APP Joint Favorable Subst.
	287	+	Statement of Purpose:
	288	+	To declare racism as a public health crisis, establish the Commission on
	289	+	Racial Equity in Public Health and require studies concerning the racial
	290	+	equity of various state programs related to such crisis.
	291	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	292	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	293	+	underlined.]
325	294