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S.2 1
Introduced by Senator Lyons 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Health; health equity; Office of Health Equity 5
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to establish the 6
Office of Health Equity within the Department of Health. 7
An act relating to establishing the Office of Health Equity within the 8
Department of Health 9
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 10
Sec. 1. 3 V.S.A. § 5003 is amended to read: 11
§ 5003. DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RACIAL EQUITY 12
(a) The Executive Director of Racial Equity (Director) shall work with the 13
agencies and departments to implement a program of continuing coordination 14
and improvement of activities in State government in order to combat systemic 15
racial disparities and measure progress toward fair and impartial governance, 16
including: 17
(1) overseeing a comprehensive organizational review to identify 18
systemic racism in each of the three branches of State government and 19
inventory systems in place that engender racial disparities; 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.2
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(2) managing and overseeing the statewide collection of race-based data 1
to determine the nature and scope of racial discrimination within all systems of 2
State government; and 3
(3) developing a model fairness and diversity policy and reviewing and 4
making recommendations regarding the fairness and diversity policies held by 5
all State government systems; and 6
(4) temporarily overseeing the establishment of the Health Equity 7
Advisory Commission established pursuant to 18 V.S.A. § 252 until the Office 8
of Health Equity is established. 9
* * * 10
Sec. 2. 18 V.S.A. § 252 is amended to read: 11
§ 252. HEALTH EQUITY ADVISORY COMMISSION 12
* * * 13
(c) Powers and duties. The Advisory Commission shall: 14
(1) provide guidance on the development of the Office of Health Equity, 15
which shall be established based on the Advisory Commission’s 16
recommendations not later than January 1, 2023, including on: 17
(A) the structure, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of the Office; 18
(B) whether the Office shall be independent and, if not, in which 19
State agency or department it shall be situated; 20
(C) how the Office shall be staffed; 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.2
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(D) the populations served and specific issues addressed by the 1
Office; 2
(E) the duties of the Office, including how grant funds shall be 3
managed and distributed; and 4
(F) the time frame and necessary steps to establish the Office; 5
(2) provide advice and make recommendations to the Office of Health 6
Equity once established, including input on: 7
(A) any rules or policies proposed by the Office; 8
(B) the awarding of grants and the development of programs and 9
services; 10
(C) the needs, priorities, programs, and policies relating to the health 11
of individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color; individuals 12
who are LGBTQ; and individuals with disabilities; and 13
(D) any other issue on which the Office of Health Equity requests 14
assistance from the Advisory Commission; 15
(3) review, monitor, and advise all State agencies regarding the impact 16
of current and emerging State policies, procedures, practices, laws, and rules 17
on the health of individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color; 18
individuals who are LGBTQ; and individuals with disabilities; 19
(4) identify and examine the limitations and problems associated with 20
existing laws, rules, programs, and services related to the health status of 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.2
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individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color; individuals who 1
are LGBTQ; and individuals with disabilities; 2
(5) advise the Department of Health and the General Assembly on any 3
funding decisions relating to eliminating health disparities and promoting 4
health equity, including the distribution of federal monies related to COVID-5
19; 6
(6) to the extent funds are available for the purpose, distribute grants 7
that stimulate the development of community-based and neighborhood-based 8
projects that will improve the health outcomes of individuals who are Black, 9
Indigenous, and Persons of Color; individuals who are LGBTQ; and 10
individuals with disabilities; and 11
(7) advise the General Assembly on efforts to improve cultural 12
competency, cultural humility, and antiracism in the health care system 13
through training and continuing education requirements for health care 14
providers and other clinical professionals. 15
* * * 16
Sec. 3. 18 V.S.A. § 254 is added to read: 17
§ 254. OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY 18
(a) There is established the Office of Health Equity within the Department 19
of Health for the purpose of eliminating avoidable and unjust disparities in 20
health among Vermonters. The Office shall use a systemic and comprehensive 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.2
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approach that addresses those social, economic, and environmental factors that 1
influence health outcomes. 2
(b) The Office of Health Equity shall be directed by an Executive Director, 3
an individual who shall be qualified by reason of education, expertise, and 4
experience and who may have a professional degree in public health, social or 5
environmental justice, or a related field. The Executive Director shall serve on 6
a full-time basis and shall be exempt from classified service. 7
Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE 8
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 9