(a) There is established a Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health, to document and make recommendations to decrease the effect of racism on public health. The commission shall be part of the Legislative Department.
(b) The commission shall consist of the following members:
(1) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a representative of a nonprofit organization that focuses on racial equity issues and one of whom shall be a representative of Health Equity Solutions;
(2) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be a representative of a violence intervention program using a health-based approach to examine individuals post-incarceration and policies for integration and one of whom shall be a representative of the Connecticut Health Foundation;
(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a representative of the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice;
(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be a representative of the Connecticut Children's Office for Community Child Health;
(5) Two appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a physician educator associated with The University of Connecticut who has experience and expertise in infant and maternal care and who has worked on diversity and inclusion policy and one of whom shall be a representative of the Partnership for Strong Communities;
(6) Two appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one of whom shall be a medical professional with expertise in mental health and one of whom is a representative of the Open Communities Alliance;
(7) The chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health;
(8) Two members of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, appointed by the caucus chairperson;
(9) One appointed by the Governor, who shall be a representative of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association;
(10) The Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee;
(11) The Commissioner of Children and Families, or the commissioner's designee;
(12) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the commissioner's designee;
(13) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's designee;
(14) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or the commissioner's designee;
(15) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee;
(16) The Commissioner of Housing, or the commissioner's designee;
(17) The chief executive officer of the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange, or the chief executive officer's designee;
(18) The executive director of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, or the executive director's designee;
(19) The executive director of the Office of Health Strategy, or the executive director's designee;
(20) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee;
(21) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, or the commissioner's designee; and
(22) The Commissioner of Correction, or the commissioner's designee.
(c) Any member of the commission appointed under subdivisions (1) to (8), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the General Assembly. All initial appointments to the commission made under subdivisions (1) to (9), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section shall be made not later than sixty days after June 14, 2021. Appointed members shall serve a term that is coterminous with the appointing official and may serve more than one term.
(d) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee, and the representative appointed under subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section as a representative of Health Equity Solutions, shall serve as chairpersons of the commission. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the commission, which shall be held not later than sixty days after June 14, 2021. If appointments under subsection (b) of this section are not made within such sixty-day period, the chairpersons may designate individuals with the required qualifications stated for the applicable appointment to serve on the commission until appointments are made pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(e) Members shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. Any vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term.
(f) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business and any decision shall be by a majority vote of those present at a meeting, except the commission may establish such committees, subcommittees or other entities as it deems necessary to further the purposes of the commission. The commission may adopt rules of procedure.
(g) The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall, within the limits of available funds, be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.
(h) The commission, by majority vote, shall hire an executive director to serve as administrative staff of the commission, who shall serve at the pleasure of the commission. The commission may request the assistance of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management in hiring the executive director. The executive director may hire not more than two executive assistants to assist in carrying out the duties of the commission.
(i) The commission shall have the following powers and duties: To (1) support collaboration by bringing together partners from many different sectors to recognize the links between health and other issues and policy areas and build new partnerships to promote health and equity and increase government efficiency; (2) create a comprehensive strategic plan to eliminate health disparities and inequities across sectors, in accordance with section 19a-133b; (3) study the impact that the public health crisis of racism has on vulnerable populations within diverse groups of the state population, including on the basis of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability, including, but not limited to, Black American descendants of slavery; (4) obtain from any legislative or executive department, board, commission or other agency of the state or any organization or other entity such assistance as necessary and available to carry out the purposes of this section; (5) accept any gift, donation or bequest for the purpose of performing the duties described in this section; (6) establish bylaws to govern its procedures; and (7) perform such other acts as may be necessary and appropriate to carry out the duties described in this section, including, but not limited to, the creation of subcommittees.
(j) The commission shall engage with a diverse range of community members, including people of color who identify as members of diverse groups of the state population, including on the basis of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability, who experience inequities in health, to make recommendations to the relevant state agencies or other entities on an ongoing basis concerning the following: (1) Structural racism in the state's laws and regulations impacting public health, where, as used in this subdivision, “structural racism” means a system that structures opportunity and assigns value in a way that disproportionally and negatively impacts Black, Indigenous, Latino or Asian people or other people of color; (2) racial disparities in the state's criminal justice system and its impact on the health and well-being of individuals and families, including overall health outcomes and rates of depression, suicide, substance use disorder and chronic disease; (3) racial disparities in access to the resources necessary for healthy living, including, but not limited to, access to adequate fresh food and physical activity, public safety and the decrease of pollution in communities; (4) racial disparities in health outcomes; (5) the impact of zoning restrictions on the creation of housing disparities and such disparities' impact on public health; (6) racial disparities in state hiring and contracting processes; and (7) any suggestions to reduce the impact of the public health crisis of racism within the vulnerable populations studied under subdivision (3) of subsection (i) of this section.
(k) Not later than January 1, 2022, and every six months thereafter, the commission shall submit a report to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, concerning (1) the activities of the commission during the prior six-month period; (2) any progress made in attaining the goal described in subsection (c) of section 19a-133b; (3) any recommended changes to such goal based on the research conducted by the commission, any disparity study performed by any state agency or entity, or any community input received; (4) the status of the comprehensive strategic plan required under section 19a-133b; and (5) any recommendations for policy changes or amendments to state law.
(P.A. 21-35, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 21-35 effective June 14, 2021.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 19a - Public Health and Well-Being
Chapter 368a - Department of Public Health
Section 19a-2a. - Powers and duties.
Section 19a-4. (Formerly Sec. 19-2a). - Commissioner to organize department and adopt regulations.
Section 19a-4i. - Office of Injury Prevention.
Section 19a-4j. - Office of Health Equity.
Section 19a-4k. - Advisory Commission on Multicultural Health.
Section 19a-4l. - Office of Oral Public Health.
Section 19a-5. (Formerly Sec. 19-4). - Powers and duties of commissioner.
Section 19a-6d. - Tobacco abuse reduction and health plan.
Section 19a-6e. - Traumatic brain injury patient registry.
Section 19a-6f. - Listing of certified medical assistants.
Section 19a-6i. - School-based health center advisory committee. Members. Duties. Report.
Section 19a-6o. - Palliative Care Advisory Council. Duties. Members. Report.
Section 19a-6p. - School-based health centers. Hours. Services. Reimbursement for services.
Section 19a-6q. - Chronic disease plan.
Section 19a-6s. - Provision of vaccines by clinical medical assistants under supervision.
Section 19a-6t. - Connecticut Rare Disease Advisory Council. Duties. Members. Report.
Section 19a-6u. - School-based health center expansion grant program.
Section 19a-7b. - Health Care Access Commission.
Section 19a-7c. - Subsidized nongroup health insurance product for pregnant women.
Section 19a-7d. - Primary care direct services program.
Section 19a-7e. - Health care for uninsured pregnant women demonstration project.
Section 19a-7g. - Childhood Immunization Advisory Council.
Section 19a-7h. - Immunization information system. Regulations.
Section 19a-7i. - Extension of coverage under the maternal and child health block grant.
Section 19a-7k. - Preventive dental care pilot program.
Section 19a-7o. - Hepatitis C and HIV-related testing.
Section 19a-7p. - Public health fee. Annual reporting requirement. Appeal. Penalties. Overpayment.
Section 19a-7s. - Evaluation of data re exemptions from immunization requirements. Report.
Section 19a-7u. - Pilot program to expand behavioral health care. Grants.
Section 19a-12c. - Professional assistance program account.
Section 19a-13. (Formerly Sec. 19-4n). - Regulated professions; definitions.
Section 19a-14. (Formerly Sec. 19-4o). - Powers of department concerning regulated professions.
Section 19a-14a. - Professional licenses. Investigations and disciplinary action.
Section 19a-14b. - Radon mitigators, diagnosticians and testing companies. Regulations.
Section 19a-14c. - Provision of outpatient mental health treatment to minors.
Section 19a-16e. - Scope of practice review committees. Membership. Duties.
Section 19a-16f. - Report to General Assembly on scope of practice review processes.
Section 19a-17. (Formerly Sec. 19-4s). - Disciplinary action by department, boards and commissions.
Section 19a-17a. - Review of medical malpractice awards and certain settlements.
Section 19a-17m. - Malpractice insurance purchase program.
Section 19a-17n. - Malpractice insurance purchase program. Regulations. Limitations.
Section 19a-18. (Formerly Sec. 19-4t). - Meaning of term “licensed” for insurance purposes.
Section 19a-19. (Formerly Sec. 19-4u). - Regulation of business practices.
Section 19a-21. (Formerly Sec. 19-4w). - Disposition of licensing fees.
Section 19a-22. (Formerly Sec. 19-4x). - Actions by department, boards and commissions; appeals.
Section 19a-23. (Formerly Sec. 19-4y). - Boards and commissions; records.
Section 19a-25a. - Regulations re electronic signatures for medical records.
Section 19a-25b. - Electronic prescribing systems authorized.
Section 19a-25c. - Medical records systems: Electronic and paper formats authorized.
Section 19a-25e. - Connecticut Health Information Network plan.
Section 19a-27. (Formerly Sec. 19-7a). - Test for rubella immunity. Regulations.
Section 19a-28. (Formerly Sec. 19-8). - Toxicology laboratory.
Section 19a-29. (Formerly Sec. 19-9). - Special laboratories.
Section 19a-29a. - Environmental laboratories.
Section 19a-31a. - Microbiological and biomedical biosafety laboratories.
Section 19a-32. (Formerly Sec. 19-10). - Department authorized to receive gifts.
Section 19a-32a. - AIDS research education account. Regulations.
Section 19a-32b. - Breast cancer research and education account.
Section 19a-32n. - Information and education re umbilical cord blood collection programs.
Section 19a-32o. - Short title: Connecticut Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program Act.
Section 19a-32p. - Legislative findings and declaration of policy.
Section 19a-32q. - Connecticut Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Board. Membership. Meetings.
Section 19a-32r. - Board to establish and administer umbilical cord blood collection program.
Section 19a-32t. - Umbilical cord blood collection account.
Section 19a-32u. - Copies of independent audits to be submitted to General Assembly.
Section 19a-32v. - Reports to Governor and General Assembly.
Section 19a-33. (Formerly Sec. 19-10a). - Regulation of traffic at department facilities.
Section 19a-36a. - Regulations concerning food operators.
Section 19a-36g. - Food code. Definitions.
Section 19a-36j. - Food inspectors. Certification. Inspections.
Section 19a-36k. - Food-borne illness or outbreak. Investigation.
Section 19a-36l. - Inspection violations. Appeal process.
Section 19a-37h. - Water companies to provide multilingual tier 1 notices.
Section 19a-38. (Formerly Sec. 19-13b). - Water company to add fluoride to water supply.
Section 19a-39. (Formerly Sec. 19-13c). - Protection of wells.
Section 19a-40. (Formerly Sec. 19-14). - Supervision of vital statistics.
Section 19a-41. (Formerly Sec. 19-15). - Compilation of vital records and statistics. Regulations.
Section 19a-42. (Formerly Sec. 19-15a). - Amendment of vital records.
Section 19a-43. (Formerly Sec. 19-15b). - Reproduction of vital records.
Section 19a-44. (Formerly Sec. 19-15c). - Matching of birth and death certificates.
Section 19a-45b. - Medical home pilot program.
Section 19a-45c. - Evaluation and report required re medical home pilot program.
Section 19a-46. (Formerly Sec. 19-17). - Expert examinations and inspections.
Section 19a-48. (Formerly Sec. 19-19). - Care for children with cerebral palsy.
Section 19a-49. (Formerly Sec. 19-19a). - Services for persons with cystic fibrosis.
Section 19a-51. (Formerly Sec. 19-20a). - Pediatric Cardiac Patient Care Fund.
Section 19a-54. (Formerly Sec. 19-21a). - Registration of children with special health care needs.
Section 19a-54a. - Registry of data on infants exposed to AIDS medication.
Section 19a-55a. - Newborn screening account.
Section 19a-55b. - Information on newborn infant safe sleep practices.
Section 19a-56. (Formerly Sec. 19-21c). - Program for prevention of erythroblastosis.
Section 19a-57. (Formerly Sec. 19-21d). - Loans for purchase of hemodialysis treatment machines.
Section 19a-58. (Formerly Sec. 19-21e). - Pamphlet concerning hearing impairments in infants.
Section 19a-59. - Program to identify infants who are hard of hearing.
Section 19a-59b. - Maternal and child health protection program.
Section 19a-59e. - Media campaign for the reduction of adolescent pregnancies.
Section 19a-59h. - Maternal mortality review program. Confidentiality of information.
Section 19a-59i. - Maternal mortality review committee.
Section 19a-60. (Formerly Sec. 19-22). - Dental services for children.
Section 19a-60a. - Dental services for children of low-income families.
Section 19a-61. (Formerly Sec. 19-22b). - Services for children suffering from diabetes.
Section 19a-62. (Formerly Sec. 19-22c). - Services for children suffering from cancer.
Section 19a-69. (Formerly Sec. 19-27). - Distribution of biologic products.
Section 19a-70. (Formerly Sec. 19-28). - Priority of distribution in emergency.
Section 19a-71. (Formerly Sec. 19-29). - Observation and treatment of certain typhoid germ carriers.
Section 19a-72a. - State-wide stroke registry.
Section 19a-73a. - Establishment of comprehensive cancer plan for state.
Section 19a-73b. - Funding sources for comprehensive cancer program.
Section 19a-74. (Formerly Sec. 19-30). - Cancer.
Section 19a-75. (Formerly Sec. 19-30b). - State aid for health career educational programs.
Section 19a-77. - “Child care services” defined. Exclusions. Additional license.
Section 19a-77a. - Child day care services in retail stores.
Section 19a-79. (Formerly Sec. 19-43d). - Regulations. Exemptions. Waivers.
Section 19a-79a. - Pesticide applications at child care facilities.
Section 19a-80g. - Child care center waiting list fees and deposits.
Section 19a-80h. - Enrollment of certain children in preschool programs.
Section 19a-81. (Formerly Sec. 19-43f). - Hearing on denial of license.
Section 19a-83. (Formerly Sec. 19-43h). - Reports of licensees.
Section 19a-85. (Formerly Sec. 19-43j). - Appeal.
Section 19a-86. (Formerly Sec. 19-43k). - Injunction against illegal operation.
Section 19a-86a. - Accepting voluntary surrender of license as resolution of disciplinary action.
Section 19a-86b. - Validity of license during investigation or disciplinary action.
Section 19a-86c. - Failure to provide written notice of proposed closure. Penalty.
Section 19a-87g. - Notification of emergency situations to licensees of day care centers.
Section 19a-88a. - Regulations concerning retired nurses.
Section 19a-88c. - Regulations re retired dentists.
Section 19a-89. (Formerly Sec. 19-46). - Change of office or residence address.
Section 19a-89a. - Database on nursing personnel.
Section 19a-89b. - Fees for pool design guidelines and food compliance guide.
Section 19a-89c. - Auricular acupuncture pilot program.
Section 19a-89d. - Nurse staffing and patient care data.
Section 19a-89e. - Development of prospective nurse staffing plan by hospitals. Report.
Section 19a-90. (Formerly Sec. 19-47). - Blood testing of pregnant women for syphilis and HIV.
Section 19a-92a. - Regulation of persons engaged in tattooing. Penalty.
Section 19a-92g. - Body piercing.
Section 19a-102. (Formerly Sec. 19-59a). - Regulation of sale of turtles.
Section 19a-102a. - Regulation of sale of turtles.
Section 19a-102b. - Importation of turtles.
Section 19a-103. (Formerly Sec. 19-60). - Control of communicable diseases in institutions.
Section 19a-104. (Formerly Sec. 19-61). - Sale of rags to be used as wiping cloths; cleaning.
Section 19a-105. (Formerly Sec. 19-62). - Public toilets.
Section 19a-106. (Formerly Sec. 19-62a). - “Restroom” defined.
Section 19a-106a. - Customer access to employee restrooms in retail establishments.
Section 19a-107. (Formerly Sec. 19-63). - Towels in hotels and public lavatories.
Section 19a-108. (Formerly Sec. 19-64). - Common drinking cups.
Section 19a-110a. - Regional lead poisoning treatment centers.
Section 19a-111a. - Lead poisoning prevention program. Lead state agency.
Section 19a-111c. - Abatement of lead in dwellings. List of encapsulant products. Regulations.
Section 19a-111d. - Regulations.
Section 19a-111e. - Federal funds for lead poisoning prevention programs.
Section 19a-111g. - Pediatric lead testing and risk assessment. Exemption.
Section 19a-111h. - Review of lead poisoning data. Regulations.
Section 19a-111i. - Report re lead poisoning prevention efforts.
Section 19a-111k. - Applicability of OSHA standards to abatement and remediation of lead hazards.
Section 19a-111l. - Guidelines on mold abatement protocols.
Section 19a-112b. - Services to victims of sexual acts.
Section 19a-112c. - Educational materials for sexual assault victims.
Section 19a-112d. - Sexual assault victims account.
Section 19a-112g. - Sexual assault forensic examiners. Responsibilities.
Section 19a-112h. - Financial assistance for victims of sexual assault.
Section 19a-112i. - Community gun violence intervention and prevention program.
Section 19a-113a. - Cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification of lifeguards.
Section 19a-115. (Formerly Sec. 19-66f). - Regulation of medical test units.
Section 19a-116. (Formerly Sec. 19-66g). - Regulation of facilities which offer abortion services.
Section 19a-121. - HIV and AIDS: Grant program.
Section 19a-121a. - AIDS: Funding to local health departments.
Section 19a-121b. - Regulations.
Section 19a-121c. - HIV and AIDS: Public information program.
Section 19a-121d. - Grants for mass mailing of report on AIDS.
Section 19a-122. - Hospice care for the homeless.
Section 19a-122a. - Hospice care for the homeless. Termination of pilot program.
Section 19a-123. - Nursing pool: Definition.
Section 19a-123b. - Nursing pool: Written agreement with health care institution.
Section 19a-123c. - Regulation of rates charged by nursing pools.
Section 19a-123d. - Aggrievement. Penalties.
Section 19a-124. - Syringe services programs.
Section 19a-124a. - Donation of vans to entities operating needle exchange programs.
Section 19a-125. - Adolescent Health Council.
Section 19a-127l. - Quality of care program. Quality of Care Advisory Committee.
Section 19a-127o. - Patient safety organizations.
Section 19a-127p. - Requirement for hospitals to contract with patient safety organization.
Section 19a-131. - Public health emergency response authority. Definitions.
Section 19a-131a. - Declaration of public health emergency by Governor.
Section 19a-131b. - Orders of quarantine or isolation. Appeal of order. Hearing.
Section 19a-131c. - Enforcement of order of quarantine or isolation.
Section 19a-131d. - Entry into quarantine or isolation premises.
Section 19a-131e. - Orders of vaccination. Appeal of order. Hearing.
Section 19a-131f. - Authorization to administer vaccinations.
Section 19a-131g. - Public Health Preparedness Advisory Committee.
Section 19a-131h. - Registration of deaths.
Section 19a-131i. - Immunity from personal liability.
Section 19a-131k. - Mandatory distribution of potassium iodide.
Section 19a-133. - Declaration of racism as a public health crisis.
Section 19a-133a. - Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health. Membership. Powers and duties.
Section 19a-133d. - Educational materials re pulse oximeters.