BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 673 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 4, 2011 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Felipe Fuentes, Chair AB 673 (John A. Pèrez) - As Introduced: February 17, 2011 Policy Committee: HealthVote:12-5 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No SUMMARY This bill adds consideration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities to the mission of the Office of Multicultural Health (OMH) within the Department of Public Health (DPH). FISCAL EFFECT Estimated annual ongoing General Fund costs to DPH of $100,000 for an additional position in OMH to perform duties related to the LGBT community. COMMENTS 1)Rationale . Health and social policy organizations report that members of the LGBT population experience worse health outcomes than their heterosexual counterparts. By ensuring LGBT communities are considered by the OMH, this bill intends to highlight and address health disparities experienced by this population. 2)Office of Multicultural Health . OMH was created in August 1993 by Executive Order W-58-93, and in 1999 was established in statute in AB 1107 (Cedillo), Chapter 146, Statutes of 1999. OMH is a shared policy office within the Director's Office of the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and serves as an advisor to both departments and a liaison between DPH, DHCS, and outside stakeholders. The mission of OMH is to increase the capacity of DPH and DHCS programs, health care providers, and ethnic/racial communities to reduce health disparities and improve the provision of and access to health care among AB 673 Page 2 California's diverse population groups. Existing law requires OMH to perform various duties related the racial and ethnic communities it considers, including strategic planning, coordination of pilot projects to improve health outcomes, and communication and consultation with relevant stakeholders groups. OMH is also required to report to the Legislature on a biennial basis. Analysis Prepared by : Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081