BILL REQ. #:  S-3797.3 

Read first time 01/09/2006.   Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

     AN ACT Relating to the creation of the governor's interagency council on health disparities; amending RCW 43.20.025; and adding new sections to chapter 43.20 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 43.20 RCW to read as follows:
     The legislature finds that people of color experience significant disparities from the general population in education, employment, healthful living conditions, access to health care, and other social determinants of health. The legislature finds that these circumstances coupled with lower, slower, and less culturally appropriate access to needed medical care result in higher rates of morbidity and mortality for persons of color than observed in the general population. Health disparities is defined by the national institute of health as the differences in incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of disease and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the United States. It is the intent of the Washington state legislature to create the healthiest state in the nation by striving to eliminate health disparities in women and people of color. In meeting the intent of this act, the legislature creates the governor's interagency council on health disparities.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.20.025 and 1989 1st ex.s. c 9 s 208 are each amended to read as follows:
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
     (1) "Commissions" means the Washington state commission on African-American affairs established in chapter 43.113 RCW, the Washington state commission on Asian Pacific American affairs established in chapter 43.117 RCW, the Washington state commission on Hispanic affairs established in chapter 43.115 RCW, and the governor's office of Indian affairs.
     (2) "Consumer representative" means any person who is not an elected official, who has no fiduciary obligation to a health facility or other health agency, and who has no material financial interest in the rendering of health services.
     (((2))) (3) "Council" means the ((health care access and cost control)) governor's health disparities coordinating council, convened according to this chapter.
     (((3))) (4) "Department" means the department of health.
     (((4))) (5) "Health disparities" means the difference in incidence, prevalence, mortality, or burden of disease and other adverse health conditions, including lack of access to proven health care services that exists between specific population groups in Washington state.
     (6) "Health impact assessment" means a systematic review of a legislative or budgetary proposal or other public policy, program, or practice completed according to the terms of this chapter that determines the extent to which such proposal, policy, program, or practice improves or exacerbates health disparities.
     (7) "Secretary" means the secretary of health, or the secretary's designee.
     (((5))) (8) "Local health board" means a health board created pursuant to chapter 70.05, 70.08, or 70.46 RCW.
     (((6))) (9) "Local health officer" means the legally qualified physician appointed as a health officer pursuant to chapter 70.05, 70.08, or 70.46 RCW.
     (((7))) (10) "Social determinants of health" means those elements of social structure most closely shown to affect health and illness, including at a minimum, early learning, education, socioeconomic standing, safe housing, sanitary environmental conditions, gender, incidence of violence, convenient and affordable access to safe opportunities for physical activity, healthy diet, clean water, clean air, toxin-free environments, and appropriate health care services.
     (11) "State board" means the state board of health created under chapter 43.20 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 43.20 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) In collaboration with staff whom the office of financial management may assign, and within funds made expressly available to the state board for these purposes, the state board shall assist the governor by convening and providing assistance to the governor's interagency council on health disparities. The council shall include one representative from each of the following groups: Each of the commissions, the state board, the department, the department of social and health services, the employment security department, the department of community, trade, and economic development, the department of corrections, the health care authority, the department of labor and industries, the department of agriculture, the department of ecology, the higher education coordinating board, the department of transportation, the state board for community and technical colleges, the work force training and education coordinating board, and two members of the public who will represent the interests of health care consumers. The governor or the governor's designee shall chair the commission.
     (2) The council shall promote and facilitate communication, coordination, and collaboration among relevant state agencies and communities of color to address health disparities. The council shall conduct public hearings, inquiries, studies, or other forms of information gathering to understand how the actions of state government ameliorate or contribute to health disparities. Within the limits of their resources, all state agencies must cooperate with the council's efforts.
     (3) The council with assistance from the state board, shall assess through public hearings, review of existing data, and other means, and recommend initiatives for improving the availability of culturally appropriate health literature and interpretive services within public and private health-related agencies.
     (4) In order to assist with its work, the council may establish advisory committees to include members from local communities.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 43.20 RCW to read as follows:
     The governor's interagency council on health disparities shall consider in its deliberations an action plan for eliminating health disparities by 2012. The action plan must address, but is not limited to, the following diseases: Diabetes, asthma, infant mortality, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, strokes, breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), mental health, smoking cessation, and immunization rates of children. The action plan shall be updated biannually. The council shall meet as often as necessary but not less than six times per calendar year. The council shall report its progress with the action plan to the governor and the legislature no later than January 15, 2008. A second report shall be presented no later than January 15, 2010, and a final report from the council shall be presented to the governor and the legislature no later than January 15, 2012.