[1](Hartford, Conn., April 24, 2008)–The Appropriations Committee of the Senate voted favorably today on a bill to establish Connecticut's first Minority Health Advisory Commission.
The bill now goes before the Senate, which has until May 7 to vote on the bill.
Under the bill, S.B. No. 681 [2], the Minority Health Advisory Commission would "work to eliminate the disparities in health status among the state's multicultural, multilingual and multiethnic communities."
More than 25 unpaid persons would serve on the commission, which would be housed within the state's Office of the Health Care Advocate.
Among their responsibilities would be to:
• review proposed legislation and regulations that could affect the health of multicultural and multilingual populations
• review the state Department of Public Health's performance measures for health disparities
• advise the Governor and the General Assembly on policies concerning the health of Connecticut's multiethnic and multilingual communities
• serve as a liaison between these communities and state agencies to eliminate health disparities
• evaluate the impact of programs in the Departments of Public Health, Social Services, Children and Families, Developmental Services and Education in elimination of health disparities
• submit to the Governor and General Assembly an annual report regarding (A) past and prospective health disparities and (B) the state's efforts to lessen disparities among multilingual and multiethnic populations of the state
• explore successful programs in other sectors and states and initiate new creative programs that may lead to the elimination of health disparities.
Some of the appointees to the Minority Health Advisory Committee would be from or affiliated with:
• the National Urban League, as appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate
• the NAACP, as appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives
• the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus of the General Assembly, as appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives
• the Native American community, as appointed by the majority leader of the Senate with the advice of the Native American Heritage Advisory Council or the chairperson of the Indian Affairs Council
• an advocacy group for Hispanics, as appointed by the minority leader of the Senate
• a representative of the state-wide Multicultural Health Network, as appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives
• the chairperson of the African-American Affairs Commission or the chair's designee
• the chairperson of the Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission or the chair's designee
• the chairperson of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women or the chair's designee
• eight members of the public, representing diverse multicultural, multilingual, and multiethnic backgrounds, two of whom would be appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, two by the speaker of the House of Representatives, two by the minority leader of the Senate, and two by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.
Several community organizations have been involved in the bill, led by the NAACP of Connecticut.
The NAACP released a "Health Status Report on African Americans in Connecticut [3]" in June, 2007, that concluded that African Americans in the state "continue to suffer and bear the burden of excessive disease, death, disability, and dissatisfaction."
The report led the NAACP - under the leadership of James Rawlings, chair of the health committee for the Connecticut State Conference of NAACP Branches - to push for the creation of a state-level Office of Minority Health last year, as reported by www.newhavenindependent.org [4].
The NAACP, with Speaker of the House James Amann, held a press conference [5]about the minority health report at the Capitol on April 17.
Advocates for the Capitol Region Council of Churches and the Interfaith Fellowship for Universal Health Care, both in Connecticut, participated in the press conference, too, according to www.ctnewsjunkie.com [6].
The rally came one day after the Public Health Committee of the Senate voted in favor of the bill [7].
Early co-sponsors of the bill are Rep. Felipe Reinoso (130th District), Sen. Eric D. Coleman (2nd District) and Rep. Andres Ayala (128th District). None returned phone calls from EthnicNewz.org at press time.
Source: EthnicNewz.org
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