S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  6241

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             March 10, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. WRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Health

AN  ACT  to  amend the public health law, in relation to data collection
  and assessment program concerning minority health

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Subdivisions  3 and 4 of section 241 of the public health
law, as added by chapter 757 of the laws of 1992, such section as renum-
bered by chapter 443 of the  laws  of  1993,  are  amended  to  read  as
follows:
  3.  Together  with  the  minority health council, serve as liaison and
advocate for the department on minority health  matters.  This  function
shall  include  the  provision  of  staff support to the minority health
council and the  establishment  of  appropriate  program  linkages  with
related  federal,  state,  and  local  agencies and programs such as the
office of minority health of the public health service, the agricultural
extension service and migrant health services.   SUCH  PROGRAM  LINKAGES
WITH STATE AGENCIES SHALL INCLUDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROGRAM FOR THE
COLLECTION OF DATA REGARDING RACE, ETHNICITY AND PRIMARY LANGUAGE OF ALL
PARTICIPANTS  BY  EACH  STATE PROGRAM DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN FURNISHING OF
INFORMATION OR THE RENDERING OF SERVICES TO  THE  PUBLIC  WHEREBY  DEMO-
GRAPHIC  INFORMATION OF ANY KIND IS COLLECTED REGARDING ALL PARTICIPANTS
IN SUCH  PROGRAMS.  AGENCIES  AND  DEPARTMENTS  MAY  USE  EXISTING  DATA
COLLECTION  METHODS  TO  AVOID DUPLICATIVE METHODOLOGIES. DATA COLLECTED
SHALL BE AGGREGATED AT LEAST ANNUALLY IN A MANNER THAT PERMITS  UTILIZA-
TION  RATES BY RACE, ETHNICITY, AND LANGUAGE AND COMPILED INTO A REPORT.
UPON COMPLETION, SUCH REPORT SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND  ANNU-
ALLY DISTRIBUTED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE.
  4.  Assist medical schools and state agencies to develop comprehensive
programs to improve minority health personnel supply by promoting minor-
ity clinical training  and  curriculum  improvement,  and  disseminating

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD01891-01-1
              

A. 6241                             2

minority  health  career  information  to  high  school  [and],  college
students AND DIFFERENT STATE AGENCIES.  SUCH DEVELOPMENT  OF  COMPREHEN-
SIVE  PROGRAMS SHALL INCLUDE RESEARCH INTO THE CAUSES AND MAINTENANCE OF
HEALTH DISPARITIES AND PROPOSALS FOR THE REDUCTION AND/OR ELIMINATION OF
SUCH DISPARITIES.
  S  2. Subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 242 of the public health law, as
added by chapter 757 of the laws of 1992, such section as renumbered  by
chapter 443 of the laws of 1993, are amended to read as follows:
  3.  An  analysis  of  the  health  status of minority citizens and the
status of minority health  delivery  systems.  Such  analysis  shall  be
conducted  in  cooperation  with  the  minority health council and other
interested agencies. SUCH ANALYSIS SHALL ALSO INCLUDE AN ANNUAL ANALYSIS
OF DATA COLLECTED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION  TWO  HUNDRED
FORTY-ONE  OF  THIS  TITLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE ARE DISPARITIES BY
RACE, ETHNICITY OR LANGUAGE IN THE UTILIZATION OF STATE SERVICES OR  THE
RECEIPT  OF  FUNDS.  SUCH  ANALYSIS SHALL ALSO BE COMPILED, ANALYZED AND
MADE PUBLIC BY THE OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH.
  4. Any recommended improvements to programs  and/or  regulations  that
would  enhance  the cost effectiveness of the office, POLICY OPTIONS and
programs intended to meet the health care needs of minority citizens AND
TO ELIMINATE IDENTIFIED HEALTH DISPARITIES, INCLUDING  BUT  NOT  LIMITED
TO,  ZERO  COST  AND  LOW  COST OPTIONS AND OTHER SUBSTANTIVE PROPOSALS.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO ENHANCE THE  COST  EFFECTIVENESS  OF
THE  OFFICE SHALL INCLUDE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CAPACITY OF THE OFFICE TO
ADDRESS THE DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, THE ROOT CAUSES OF  HEALTH  DISPARI-
TIES  IN  MINORITY  POPULATIONS  THROUGHOUT  NEW YORK STATE, IN ORDER TO
DECREASE THE BURDEN OF DISEASE AND INJURY, INCLUDING PROGRAMS AND INITI-
ATIVES THAT ARE ALREADY BEING UNDERTAKEN AND AN ANALYSIS OF THEIR EFFEC-
TIVENESS.
  S 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next  succeed-
ing  the  date  on  which it shall have become a law; provided, however,
that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any
rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act  on  its
effective  date  are authorized and directed to be made and completed on
or before such effective date.