(a) There is established, within the Department of Public Health, an Office of Health Equity. The responsibility of the office is to improve the health of all Connecticut residents by working to eliminate differences in disease, disability and death rates among ethnic, racial and other population groups that are known to have adverse health status or outcomes. Such population groups may be based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, socioeconomic position, immigrant status, sexual minority status, language, disability, homelessness, mental illness or geographic area of residence.

(b) The department may apply for, accept and expend such funds as may be available from federal, state or other sources and may enter into contracts to carry out the responsibilities of the office.

(c) The office shall assist the department in its efforts in the following areas:

(1) Monitor the health status of persons reporting membership in one of the following racial or ethnic groups: Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, black or African American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander and persons reporting more than one race;

(2) Compare the results of the health status monitoring with the health status of persons reporting membership as white, non-Hispanic;

(3) Assess the effectiveness of state programs in eliminating differences in health status;

(4) Assess the health education and health resource needs of ethnic, racial and other population groups listed in subdivision (1) of this subsection; and

(5) Maintain a directory of, and promote culturally and linguistically appropriate health resources in Connecticut.

(d) The office may:

(1) Provide grants for culturally and linguistically appropriate health demonstration projects and may apply for, accept and expend public and private funding for such projects; and

(2) Recommend policies, procedures, activities and resource allocations to improve health among racial, ethnic and other population groups for which there may be health disparities.

(P.A. 98-250, S. 8, 39; P.A. 11-242, S. 31; P.A. 14-231, S. 5.)

History: P.A. 98-250 effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 11-242 deleted former Subsec. (e) re commissioner's annual report and office's responsibility to hold community workshops; P.A. 14-231 replaced “Office of Multicultural Health” with “Office of Health Equity”, substantially revised Subsecs. (a) and (c) re responsibility of office, amended Subsec. (d) by inserting “and linguistically” and deleting “education” in Subdiv. (1) and by replacing “cultural populations in Connecticut” with “other population groups for which there may be health disparities” in Subdiv. (2).