* § 243. Health equity council. 1. Appointment of members. There shall
be established in the office of health equity a health equity council to
consist of the commissioner and fourteen members to be appointed by the
governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Membership on the
council shall be reflective of the diversity of the state's population
including, but not limited to, the various underserved populations
throughout the state.

2. Terms of office; vacancies. a. Unless specified otherwise in the
bylaws of the health equity council, the terms of office of members of
the health equity council may be up to six years. The members of the
health equity council shall continue in office until the expiration of
their terms and until their successors are appointed and have qualified.
Such appointments shall be made by the governor, with the advice and
consent of the senate, within one year following the expiration of such
terms.

b. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the governor for the
unexpired terms within one year of the date upon which such vacancies
occur. Any vacancy existing on the effective date of paragraph c of this
subdivision shall be filled by appointment within one year of such
effective date.

c. In making appointments to the council, the governor shall seek to
ensure that membership on the council reflects the diversity of the
state's population including, but not limited to the various underserved
populations throughout the state.

3. Meetings. a. The health equity council shall meet as frequently as
its business may require, and at least twice in each year.

b. The governor shall designate one of the members of the public
health and health planning council as its chair.

c. A majority of the appointed voting membership of the health equity
council shall constitute a quorum.

4. Compensation and expenses. The members of the council shall serve
without compensation other than reimbursement of actual and necessary
expenses.

5. Powers and duties. The health equity council shall, at the request
of the commissioner, consider any matter relating to the preservation
and improvement of health status among the state's underserved
populations, and may advise the commissioner on any recommendations
relating to the preservation and improvement of health equity.

6. Sickle cell disease. a. The health equity council shall consider,
and advise the commissioner regarding sickle cell disease.

b. The council shall issue recommendations to the commissioner to
promote screening and detection of sickle cell disease, especially among
unserved or underserved populations; to educate the public regarding
sickle cell disease and the benefits of early detection; and to provide
counseling and referral services. For purposes of this subdivision,
"unserved or underserved populations" means people having inadequate
access and financial resources to obtain sickle cell disease screening
and detection services, including people who lack health coverage or
whose health coverage is inadequate or who cannot meet the financial
requirements of their coverage for accessing detection services.

c. The council shall consider the feasibility of the following:

(i) the establishment of a statewide public education and outreach
campaign to publicize evidence based sickle cell disease screening,
detection and education services. The campaign shall include: general
community education, outreach to specific underserved populations,
evidence based clinical sickle cell disease screening services, and an
informational summary that shall include an explanation of the
importance of clinical examinations and what to expect during clinical
examinations and sickle cell disease screening services;

(ii) the provision of grants to approved organizations;

(iii) the compilation of data concerning sickle cell disease and
dissemination of such data to the public; and

(iv) the development of health care professional education programs
including the benefits of early detection of sickle cell disease and
clinical examinations, the recommended frequency of clinical
examinations and sickle cell disease screening services, and
professionally recognized best practices guidelines.

* NB There are 2 § 243's