THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

755

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO DISABILITY HEALTH DISPARITY.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that adults having developmental or intellectual disabilities experience disproportionate health disparities when compared to persons without disabilities.  Compared to their non-disabled peers, persons having developmental or intellectual disabilities are more likely to experience fair or poor health, obesity, and diabetes.

     Decades of research has clearly established that, in the United States, people in minority groups often receive poor health care and have poor health outcomes resulting from social determinants of health.  On a national level, racial and ethnic disparities in access to health care and health outcomes are a persistent, pervasive public health problem.  However, less is known about the extent of racial and ethnic health disparities among adults having developmental or intellectual disabilities.

     The legislature further finds that troubling gaps exist in data regarding the health disparities experienced by persons in the State having developmental or intellectual disabilities, and data regarding their social determinants of health.  Further research is needed to address these gaps.  This research will help Hawaii provide culturally appropriate health care, address barriers to health care access, reduce health disparities, and support individuals having developmental or intellectual disabilities in their efforts to live healthy lives in the community.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the state council on developmental disabilities to study the health disparities experienced by persons in the State having developmental or intellectual disabilities.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The state council on developmental disabilities shall submit to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2025, a report focused on the health disparities experienced by persons in the State having developmental or intellectual disabilities.  The report shall include:

     (1)  A definition of the State's developmental or intellectual disability population for public health administration purposes, including the health conditions, duration, and level of severity required to qualify for disability status;

     (2)  A definition of the social determinants of health as used by the United States Department of Health and Human Services;

     (3)  Population-level differences in health indicators and social determinants of health between persons in the State having and not having developmental or intellectual disabilities, including:

          (A)  Social determinants of health and health outcomes, including household income, employment status, education level, access to health information technology tools and systems, access to transportation, and social and community environment;

          (B)  Other indicators and determinants that contribute to an individual's physical and mental health;

          (C)  Prevalence of intellectual or developmental disabilities based on zip code;

          (D)  Ethnicity breakdown based on zip code; and

          (E)  Whether persons having intellectual or developmental disabilities experience worse health outcomes than their non-disabled peers;

     (4)  Any other information that would assist the State in determining safe, equitable, and culturally appropriate public health actions to improve health care and address the health disparities experienced by persons in the State having developmental or intellectual disabilities; and

     (5)  Any proposed legislation, including best practices, for the State to reduce the health disparities experienced by persons in the State having developmental or intellectual disabilities.

     (b)  For purposes of this Act, "health disparities" means population-level differences in health outcomes that are related to a history of social, economic, or environmental disadvantages that are avoidable and not primarily caused by the underlying health conditions that led to the disability.

     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 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the state council on developmental disabilities to compile and submit a report focused on the health disparities experienced by persons in the State having developmental or intellectual disabilities to the legislature prior to the convening of the regular session of 2025.

     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 December 31, 2050.

 

 

Report Title:

Disabled Individuals; Developmental Disabilities; Intellectual Disabilities; Health Disparities; Health Equity; State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Report; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to submit a report focused on the health disparities experienced by persons in the State having developmental or intellectual disabilities to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 12/31/2050.  (SD2)

 

 

 

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