Bill Text: HI SB1121 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Relating To The Department Of Health.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-12-01 - Carried over to 2020 Regular Session. [SB1121 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-SB1121-Amended.html

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1121

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines "Health in All Policies" as "a collaborative approach that integrates and articulates health considerations into policymaking across sectors to improve the health of all communities and people.  [Health in All Policies] recognizes that health is created by a multitude of factors beyond healthcare and, in many cases, beyond the scope of traditional public health activities".  The Health in All Policies approach was introduced by the federal government with tools for states and territories to improve health outcomes and is intended to be an effective way to identify gaps in evidence and to achieve health equity.

     The American Public Health Association states the goal of Health in All Policies is to "ensure that decision-makers are informed about the health, equity, and sustainability consequences of various policy options during the policy development process".  The implementation of Health in All Policies requires the following five key strategies:

     (1)  Engaging and visioning;

     (2)  Convening and collaborating;

     (3)  Developing a plan;

     (4)  Investing in change; and

     (5)  Tracking progress.

     The legislature also finds that Act 155, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, added the "[e]limination of health disparities by identifying and addressing social determinants of health" to the State's objectives and policies for socio-cultural advancement-health in section 226-20(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes, and Act 157, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, amended section 321-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by adding that the department of health "shall pursue as a goal, the achievement of health equity.  The department shall consider social determinants of health in the assessment of state needs for health".  These additions are consistent with Health in All Policies goals to achieve health equity across communities and to do so by acknowledging and working collaboratively with governmental and non-governmental sectors.

     However, the legislature finds that further updating the statutory description of the department of health's powers and duties, to describe population-based public health programs and employ multi-sectoral strategies to improve health outcomes, would enhance the department's goal of health equity.  Thus, the purpose of this Act is to require the department of health to establish a working group to evaluate and advise on updating the statutory description of the department of health's statutory powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities, beginning with section 321-31, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to align with population-based approaches to public health and prevention that incorporate Health in All Policies approaches and goals.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of health shall establish a working group to examine and develop recommendations to update the statutory description of the department of health's powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities including incorporating into the statutory description population-based approaches to public health and prevention that recognize that health is affected by numerous factors besides health care and requires a collaborative approach.  The working group may evaluate the health impact assessment tool for purposes of this Act, including the development of scenarios and criteria for which health impact assessments may be conducted for future policies and projects unrelated to the department of health.

     For the purposes of this Act, "health impact assessment" means a systematic process that uses various data sources and analytic methods and considers input from stakeholders to determine the potential effects of a proposed policy, plan, program, or project on the health of a population and the distribution of those effects within the population.

     (b)  The working group shall consist of the following members:

     (1)  The director of health, who shall serve as chairperson;

     (2)  The vice president for research and innovation of the University of Hawaii system, or the vice president's designee;

     (3)  The dean of the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns school of medicine, or the dean's designee;

     (4)  The state sustainability coordinator, or the coordinator's designee;

     (5)  A representative with expertise in health law policy, to be invited by the director of health;

     (6)  A representative with expertise in environmental health law policy, to be invited by the director of health;

     (7)  A representative with expertise in transportation policy, to be invited by the director of transportation;

     (8)  A representative with expertise in agriculture policy, to be invited by the chairperson of the board of agriculture; and

     (9)  A representative from the planning department of each county, to be appointed by the mayor of the respective county.

     (c)  The working group shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the regular session of 2020.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 to support the activities of the working group established pursuant to this Act.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.



 

Report Title:

DOH; Working Group; Health in All Policies; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the Department of Health to establish a working group to examine and advise on amendments that can be made to the statutory description of the Department's powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities.  Authorizes the working group to evaluate the health impact assessment tool.  Appropriates funds to support the activities of the working group.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD2)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

 

 

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