S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  2987--A
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 26, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed  to  the  Committee  on  Health  --  committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to said committee
 
 AN ACT to declare racism a public health crisis and to establish a work-
   ing group to promote racial equity throughout the state
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Legislative  findings  and  declarations.  The  legislature
 hereby  finds  and  declares  that racism is a public health crisis that
 poses a threat to the health, safety, and quality of life to as many  as
 forty-seven  million  Americans;  and that racism negatively impacts and
 exacerbates health inequities among historically  marginalized  communi-
 ties. The legislature further finds and declares that racism contributes
 to  a national disparity between black and white infant mortality rates;
 and that racism contributes to inequalities in housing,  education,  and
 employment,  and  that  racism negatively impacts the lives of people of
 color in New York.  The legislature further finds that race is a  social
 construct  not  rooted  in  meaningful  biological differences, and this
 system unfairly  disadvantages  specific  individuals  and  communities,
 while  giving  advantages  to  other  individuals and communities.   The
 legislature further finds and declares that  the  impact  of  racism  on
 public  health deserves action from all levels of government. Therefore,
 this legislation establishes a working group to address  issues  related
 to racism and ensure the health and safety of the citizens of the state.
   §  2.  There  is  hereby established within the department of health a
 working group to be known as the "racial equity working group".
   § 3. The working group shall study  issues  related  to  racism  as  a
 public  health  crisis,  and  develop recommendations for legislative or
 other actions that can be undertaken to reduce or eliminate  racial  and
 ethnic disparities.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD07219-02-1

 S. 2987--A                          2
 
   The work group shall study:
   (a) methods for community engagement and tools for government agencies
 to engage with communities of color regarding healthcare services;
   (b)  partnerships  to eliminate racial or ethnic disparities in educa-
 tion, employment, housing, and criminal justice;
   (c) measures to promote racially equitable  hiring  and  promotion  of
 employees, including in healthcare;
   (d)  support  of  local, state, regional, and federal initiatives that
 advance efforts to reduce or eliminate racism;
   (e) measures to expand understanding of racism and how racism  affects
 individual and population health;
   (f) secure adequate resources to successfully accomplish the aforemen-
 tioned activities; and
   (g)  social  determinants  of  health  and how they impact the health,
 mental health, educational and career opportunities.
   § 4. The working group shall consist of the following:
   (a) the state commissioner of health and his or her designee;
   (b) one member appointed by the state commissioner of health;
   (c) two members appointed by the governor;
   (d) one member appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
   (e) one member appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
   (f) one member appointed by the minority leader of the assembly; and
   (g) one member appointed by the minority leader of the senate.
   Members of the workgroup should  be  representative  of  disadvantaged
 communities  including  those with limited access to healthcare services
 and experts in minority health advocacy.
   § 5. The members of the working group shall  receive  no  compensation
 for  their  services, but shall be eligible to receive reimbursement for
 their reasonable,  actual  and  necessary  expenses,  provided  however,
 members  of  the  working  group representing state agencies may receive
 reimbursement for their actual and necessary expenses from their respec-
 tive agencies.
   § 6.  The working group shall issue a report on its findings,  includ-
 ing any legislative recommendations to the governor, temporary president
 of  the  senate,  and  speaker of the assembly by December 31, 2021, and
 every two years thereafter.
   § 7. For the purposes of this act,  the  commissioner  of  health  may
 conduct  such study and report in conjunction with any other department,
 division, board, bureau, commission, agency, or public authority of  the
 state  he  or  she  deems necessary. To the maximum extent feasible, the
 commissioner of health shall be  authorized  to  request,  receive,  and
 utilize  such  resources  and  data  of  any other department, division,
 board, bureau, commission, agency, or public authority of the  state  as
 he or she may reasonably request to properly carry out his or her powers
 and duties pursuant to this act.
   §  8.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
 have become a law.