Bill Text: MI SB0944 | 2019-2020 | 100th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Health: other; Michigan coronavirus task force on racial disparities; create. Creates new act.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-05-28 - Referred To Committee On Government Operations [SB0944 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2019-SB0944-Introduced.html
SENATE BILL NO. 944
May 28, 2020, Introduced by Senators BRINKS,
ANANICH, WOJNO, CHANG, BAYER, GEISS, BULLOCK, MCCANN, IRWIN, MCMORROW,
MOSS, ALEXANDER, SANTANA, HERTEL and HOLLIER and referred to the Committee
on Government Operations.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
(a) "Coronavirus" means coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
(b) "Department" means the department of health and human services.
(c) "Director" means the director of the department or his or her designee.
(d) "Task force" means the coronavirus task force on racial disparities described in section 3.
Sec. 3. (1) The coronavirus task force on racial disparities created under Executive Order No. 2020-55 within the department consists of the following members, appointed by the governor:
(a) The lieutenant governor.
(b) The director.
(c) The chief medical executive in the office of chief medical executive created within the department.
(d) Twenty-four individuals reflecting a diverse geographic, economic, racial, cultural, gender, and occupational composition of this state.
(2) If a vacancy occurs on the task force, the governor shall make an appointment for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.
(3) The governor may remove a member of the task force for incompetence, dereliction of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, or any other good cause.
(4) The lieutenant governor shall serve as the chairperson of the task force. The task force shall elect from among its members other officers as it considers necessary or appropriate. The task force shall meet at the call of the chairperson, or more frequently if requested by a majority or more of the members.
(5) A majority of the members of the task force constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the task force. A majority of the members present and serving are required for official action of the task force.
(6) The business that the task force may perform shall be conducted at a public meeting of the task force held in compliance with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.
(7) A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the task force in the performance of an official function is subject to the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.
(8) Members of the task force shall serve without compensation. However, members of the task force may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members of the task force.
Sec. 5. (1) The task force shall serve as an advisory body to the governor and shall do all of the following:
(a) Study the causes of racial disparities related to coronavirus and recommend actions to address the disparities.
(b) Recommend actions on each of the following:
(i) Increasing transparency in reporting data regarding the racial and ethnic impact of coronavirus.
(ii) Removing barriers to accessing physical and mental health care.
(iii) Reducing the impact of medical bias in testing and treatment.
(iv) Mitigating environmental and infrastructure factors contributing to increased exposure during pandemics resulting in mortality.
(v) Developing and improving systems for supporting long-term economic recovery and physical and mental health care following a pandemic.
(c) Perform outreach efforts to ensure that all of the following who are located in areas of this state that are impacted by coronavirus are informed, educated, and empowered:
(i) Community leaders.
(ii) Partner organizations.
(iii) Tribal governments.
(iv) Local government officials.
(v) Elected officials.
(vi) Any other person that the task force considers appropriate.
(d) Perform outreach efforts to ensure that the public is informed about the impact of racial disparities related to coronavirus and the work of the task force.
(e) Identify funding to combat racial disparities related to coronavirus.
(f) Recommend changes to the laws of this state to combat racial disparities related to pandemics and responding to pandemics.
(g) Identify other issues and provide recommendations to the governor on any other matters relevant to addressing racial disparities related to pandemics and responding to pandemics.
(h) Provide other information or advice or take other actions as requested by the governor.
(2) The task force may do 1 or more of the following:
(a) Establish advisory workgroups composed of persons participating in task force activities or members of the public, as considered necessary by the task force to assist it in performing its duties and responsibilities. The task force may adopt, reject, or modify a recommendation proposed by an advisory workgroup established under this subsection.
(b) Make inquires, studies, and investigations, hold hearings, and receive comments from the public.
(c) Consult with experts in performing its duties, including experts in the private sector or representing organized labor, the faith community, government agencies, and institutions of higher education.
(d) Subject to available funding and applicable law, hire or retain contractors, subcontractors, advisors, consultants, and agents, and make and enter into contracts necessary or incidental to the exercise of the powers and duties of the task force as the chairperson considers advisable and necessary.
(e) Subject to applicable law, accept donations of labor, services, or other things of value.
(3) The task force shall report regularly to the governor on its activities and make any recommendations to the governor on an ongoing basis.
(4) Members of the task force described in section 3(1)(b) to (d) shall refer all legal, legislative, and media contacts to the department.
Sec. 7. Except as otherwise provided by law, each department of this state, agency, committee, commissioner, and officer of this state must provide the task force with any assistance requested by the task force in the performance of its duties under this act and provide access to any books, records, or documents in their custody relating to matters within the scope of inquiry, study, or review of the task force.
