Bill Text: CA AB2204 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 2204 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Health equity index.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-04-23 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. [AB2204 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB2204-Amended.html

BILL NUMBER: AB 2204	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 17, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 29, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Roger Hern�ndez
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Bonilla and Fong)

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2012

   An act to add Chapter 1.6 (commencing with Section 155) to Part 1
of Division 1 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to public
health.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2204, as amended, Roger Hern�ndez. Health equity index.
   Existing law establishes the Office of Multicultural Health within
the State Department of Public Health to, among other things,
perform strategic planning within the department. Existing law
requires the State Department of Health Care Services to develop
departmentwide plans for implementation of goals and objectives to
close the gaps in health status and access to care among the state's
diverse racial and ethnic communities and the lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender communities.
   This bill would require the State Department of Public Health to
develop and utilize a health equity tool as part of the department's
process for making evidence-based decisions regarding goals and
objectives in the department's strategic plan. The bill would require
the tool to reflect all available data and trends to enable the
department to assess the basic needs of individuals, the quality and
sustainability of the environment, adequate levels of economic and
social development, health and social equity, and social
relationships.  It would require the department to annually
report to the Legislature and the public on progress being made
toward decreasing health disparities in the state.  

   The bill would also require the department to align annual budget
decisions and allocations to achieve the measurable goals,
objectives, and benchmarks established in the strategic plan.
 
   The bill would also require each county public health agency to
align its strategic plans and budget decisions with the goals,
objectives, and benchmarks set by the department according to the
healthy community indicators tool. By increasing the duties of local
officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
 
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.  
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program:  yes   no  .


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares the following:
   (a) The National Institutes of Health defines health disparities
as the "differences in incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden
of diseases and other adverse health conditions that exist among
specific population groups in the United States."
   (b) A number of studies show that low-income and ethnic and racial
communities are more likely to experience a poorer quality of health
and health care than their white counterparts.
   (c) Poor health outcomes carry significant individual and societal
cost.
   (d) Access to affordable transportation options, nutritious food,
safe environments, and health care providers improves health outcomes
and reduces the rate of chronic disease.
   (e) Monitoring trends in community health status is an important
public health function.
   (f) In 2007, the State Department of Public Health was
established. The department is the lead entity in California
providing core public health functions and services, including health
information and strategic planning  related to reducing health
disparities  .
   (g) Existing state law authorizes the department to perform
studies and disseminate information relating to the protection,
preservation, and advancement of public health. 
   (h) As set forth in the department's strategic plan for 2008-2010,
the department is a performance-based organization.
Performance-based organizations establish expectations in measurable
terms, collect data on progress, and make decisions with the
collected information to adjust course when necessary.  

   (h) The core activities of the department include preventing
disease, disability, and premature death, reducing or eliminating
health disparities, and producing and disseminating data to inform
and evaluate public health strategies and programs. 
   (i) A goal in the department's strategic plan is to increase
quality and years of healthy life, reduce health disparities, and
promote health equity.
   (j) In order to effectively improve health outcomes and 
address chronic disease   eliminate health disparities
 , a tool that profiles and measures the social, economic, and
environmental conditions that affect population health is necessary.
  SEC. 2.  Chapter 1.6 (commencing with Section 155) is added to Part
1 of Division 1 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 1.6.  HEALTHY COMMUNITIES


   155.  The State Department of Public Health shall develop and
utilize a health equity tool, which shall be known as the healthy
community indicator, as part of the department's process for making
evidence-based decisions regarding goals and objectives in the
department's strategic plan. The healthy community indicator shall
reflect all available data and trends to enable the department to
assess all of the following within a community:
   (a) Basic needs for all individuals, including, but not limited
to, all of the following:
   (1) Safe, sustainable, accessible, and affordable transportation
options.
   (2) Affordable, accessible, and nutritious healthy foods.
   (3) Affordable, high-quality, socially integrated, and
location-efficient housing.
   (4) Affordable, accessible, and high-quality health care.
   (5) Complete and livable communities, including affordable and
high-quality schools, parks, recreational facilities, child care,
libraries, financial services, and other daily needs.
   (6) Access to affordable and safe opportunities for physical
activity.
   (b) The quality and sustainability of the environment, as
indicated by all of the following:
   (1) Clean air, soil, and water, and environments free of excessive
noise.
   (2) Tobacco and smoke-free environments.
   (3) Green and open spaces, including agricultural lands.
   (4) Minimal toxic substances, emissions, and waste.
   (5) Affordable and sustainable energy use.
   (c) Adequate levels of economic and social development, as
indicated by all of the following:
   (1) Living wage and safe and healthy job opportunities for all.
   (2) Support for the healthy development of children and
adolescents.
   (3) Opportunities for high-quality and accessible education.
   (d) Health and social equity.
   (e) Social relationships.
   156.   (a)    The State
Department of Public Health shall  report annually to the
Legislature and the public on progress being made toward decreasing
health disparities in the state   develop voluntary
guidelines for local and regional agencies to incorporate the health
equity tool into local or regional goals and objectives and into
local strategic plans for improving health outcomes and health equity
 . 
   (b) A report submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be
submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
 
   157.  The State Department of Public Health shall align annual
budget decisions and allocations to achieve measurable goals,
objectives, and benchmarks established in the department's strategic
plan.  
   158.  Each county public health agency shall align its strategic
plans and budget decisions with the goals, objectives, and benchmarks
set by the State Department of Public Health in accordance with the
healthy community indicator tool.  
  SEC. 3.    If the Commission on State Mandates
determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs
shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of
Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.