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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1537
January Session, 2025
LCO No. 6524
Referred to Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH
Introduced by:
(PH)
AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
WORKING GROUP TO STUDY NONALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER
DISEASE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 10-29a of the general statutes is 1
amended by adding subdivision (118) as follows (Effective from passage): 2
(NEW) (118) The Governor shall proclaim April nineteenth of each 3
year as Connecticut Liver Health Day to raise awareness of issues 4
surrounding liver health, including, but not limited to, metabolic 5
dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and metabolic 6
dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. Suitable exercises may be held in 7
the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the 8
observance of the day. 9
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Commissioner of Public 10
Health shall establish and administer a program to promote liver health 11
in the state and increase public awareness of and education regarding 12
metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and metabolic 13
dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. As part of said program, the 14
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commissioner shall: 15
(1) Provide for the design, plan and implementation of a multiyear 16
state-wide public awareness and educational campaign; 17
(2) Establish and continuously update an Internet web site connected 18
with such public awareness and educational campaign that shall 19
include, but need not be limited to, (A) educational materials (i) 20
regarding the causes and symptoms of metabolic dysfunction-21
associated steatotic liver disease and metabolic dysfunction-associated 22
steatohepatitis, (ii) identifying high-risk populations for the 23
development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, 24
metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis and other liver 25
diseases, and (iii) describing effective screening, treatment and disease 26
management methods for persons living with metabolic dysfunction-27
associated steatotic liver disease and metabolic dysfunction-associated 28
steatohepatitis, and (B) information regarding how and where persons 29
may receive screening and treatment for metabolic dysfunction-30
associated steatotic liver disease, metabolic dysfunction-associated 31
steatohepatitis and other liver diseases; and 32
(3) Conduct targeted outreach regarding liver health to primary care 33
providers, including, but not limited to, pediatricians, community 34
health workers, teachers, school nurses and cafeteria vendors and 35
middle and high school students. 36
(b) Not later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the 37
commissioner shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions 38
of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee 39
of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public 40
health regarding the program. 41
Sec. 3. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Public Health shall 42
develop a plan to provide mobile transient elastography for liver 43
fibrosis in high-risk communities in the state. Not later than January 1, 44
2026, and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall submit a report, 45
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in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 46
to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 47
cognizance of matters relating to public health regarding such plan. 48
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Public 49
Health shall develop and implement a 5-2-1-0 Let's Go! campaign. Such 50
campaign shall promote (1) the consumption of five or more fruits and 51
vegetables per day, (2) two hours or less of screen time per day, (3) one 52
hour or more of physical activity per day, and (4) the consumption of 53
zero sugary drinks per day. Not later than January 1, 2026, and annually 54
thereafter, the commissioner shall submit a report, in accordance with 55
the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint 56
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 57
matters relating to public health regarding such campaign. 58
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 from passage 10-29a(a)(118)
Sec. 2 from passage New section
Sec. 3 from passage New section
Sec. 4 from passage New section
Statement of Purpose:
To (1) designate April nineteenth of each year as Connecticut Liver
Health Day, and (2) require the Commissioner of Public Health to (A)
establish and administer a program to promote liver health in the state
and increase public awareness of and education regarding certain liver
diseases, (B) develop a plan to provide mobile transient elastography for
liver fibrosis in high-risk communities in the state, and (C) develop and
implement a 5-2-1-0 Let's Go! campaign.
[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.]