Bill Text: NJ SJR100 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates the month of August as "Civic Health Month" in New Jersey.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-07-28 - Approved P.L.2023, JR-13. [SJR100 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-SJR100-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Designates the month of August as "Civic Health Month" in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution permanently designating the month of August as "Civic Health Month" in New Jersey.
Whereas, Civic engagement is a critical opportunity for a voter to shape the policies that affect the health challenges facing the voter's local community; and
Whereas, Civic health describes the capacity of a community to address issues that impact the well-being of community members through participation in elections and other civic engagement activities; and
Whereas, Civic participation gives a voter the ability to shape the policies that affect a voter's personal health outcomes; and
Whereas, Civic health is recognized as a social determinant of an individual's health and an individual who votes as a form of civic participation self-reports better health than an individual who does not vote; and
Whereas, Health outcomes may be determined by non-medical factors including access to food, transportation, and affordable housing; and
Whereas, Medical professionals have made great strides in addressing the underlying social conditions that make their patients sick including hunger, drug addiction, and homelessness; and
Whereas, By checking civic vital signs including voter registration and participation when talking to colleagues and patients, healthcare providers can promote better civic health; and
Whereas, Nonpartisan voter registration in medical settings has been successful in registering patients to vote and expanding the number of engaged voters; and
Whereas, Empowering community members to register to vote and participate in elections is a critical action healthcare institutions can take to improve not only community-level civic health, but also individual-level physical and mental health; and
Whereas, Over 200 hospitals, healthcare associations, and civic engagement organizations unite to celebrate "Civic Health Month" each August; and
Whereas, Given that civic health strengthens democracy and improves health outcomes, it is altogether fitting and proper, to designate August of each year as "Civic Health Month" in New Jersey; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The month of August
shall be permanently designated as "Civic Health Month" in the State of New
Jersey in order to recognize the efforts of advocacy organizations and
physicians Statewide and bring awareness to the importance of civic health.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing the month of August as "Civic Health Month" in New Jersey, and calling upon public officials and citizens of the State to observe this week with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This resolution designates the month of August as "Civic Health Month" in New Jersey.
Civic engagement provides a voter the opportunity to shape the policies that affect the health of a voter's local community. Civic health describes the capacity of a community to address issues that impact the well-being of community members by participating in elections and other civic engagement.
Health outcomes may be determined by non-medical factors, often called social determinants of health, such as access to food, transportation, and affordable housing. Civic health is also recognized as a social determinant of an individual's health. Medical professionals have made great strides in addressing many social determinants of health that affect a patient's health including hunger, drug addiction, and homelessness.
Empowering community members to register to vote and participate in elections improves community-level civic health and individual-level physical and mental health. Over 200 hospitals, healthcare associations, and civic engagement organizations celebrate "Civic Health Month" each August. Therefore, it is altogether and fitting and proper, to designate August of each year as "Civic Health Month" in New Jersey.
