BILL ANALYSIS
------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | ACR 29|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|1020 N Street, Suite 524 | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
------------------------------------------------------------
THIRD READING
Bill No: ACR 29
Author: Jones (D)
Amended: 7/2/09 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE : 9-1, 6/10/09
AYES: Alquist, Strickland, Cedillo, Cox, DeSaulnier, Leno,
Maldonado, Negrete McLeod, Wolk
NOES: Aanestad
NO VOTE RECORDED: Pavley
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 78-0, 4/13/09 (Consent) - See last page
for vote
SUBJECT : Health disparities: racial and ethnic
populations
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution requests the Health and Human
Services Agency (CHHS) to provide leadership to ensure
that, within existing resources and programs, departments
within the CHHS implement programs, activities, and
strategies that place a priority focus on preventing,
reducing, and eliminating health disparities among racial
and ethnic population subgroups, and encourages
interdepartmental-collaboration on specified factors that
contribute to health disparity and the consideration of the
diverse health care needs of various ethnic subgroups.
CONTINUED
ACR 29
Page
2
ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
1. Establishes the CHHS, the state agency tasked with
administration and oversight of California's state and
federal programs for health care, social services,
public assistance, and rehabilitation through the
following 12 departments: Department of Aging,
Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, Department of
Public Health, Department of Health Care Services,
Department of Mental Health, Managed Risk Medical
Insurance Board, Emergency Medical Services Authority,
Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development,
Department of Child Support Services, Department of
Community Services and Development, Department of
Developmental Services, and Department of
Rehabilitation.
This resolution:
1. Requests the CHHS to provide leadership to ensure that,
within existing resources and programs, departments
within the CHHS implement programs, activities, and
strategies that place a priority focus on preventing,
reducing, and eliminating health disparities among
racial and ethnic population subgroups, and encourages
interdepartmental-collaboration on specified factors
that contribute to health disparity and the
consideration of the diverse health care needs of
various ethnic subgroups.
2. Encourages interdepartmental collaboration with an
emphasis on the complex social, environmental, and
behavioral factors that contribute to health
disparities, particularly when identifying strategies
aimed at the prevention of chronic diseases, including,
but not limited to, cardiovascular disease.
Background
The CHHS has several initiatives in place to address health
disparities and the unique health needs of special
populations, including:
ACR 29
Page
3
1. The Office of Multicultural Health is a shared policy
office within the Director's Office of the Department of
Public Health and the Department of Health Care
Services. It serves as an advisor on a wide range of
multi-cultural and racial issues and a liaison between
the departments and outside stakeholders working to
improve access to quality health care and eliminate
health disparities among California's diverse
racial/ethnic communities.
2. The Office of Women's Health collaborates with Maternal
Child Health programs to address health disparities in
maternal and infant mortality, and coordinates research
done on women's health issues.
3. The California Diabetes Program provides diabetes
educational resources, tools, and data, and provides
information in 19 languages. The Program has developed
an online portal to include culturally and
linguistically appropriate materials.
4. Project LEAN and School Health Connections are focused
on reducing health disparities by providing technical
assistance and training to low-income high risk
communities, and promoting a coordinated school health
model with a focus on reducing health disparities.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: Yes
SUPPORT : (Verified 7/2/09)
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American Diabetes Association
American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees, AFL-CIO
American Heart Association
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
California Academy of Family Physicians
California Black Health Network, Inc.
California Commission on Aging
California Communities United Institute
California Healthcare Institute
California Medical Association
ACR 29
Page
4
California Pan-Ethnic Health Network
Congress of California Seniors
Daiichi-Sankyo
GlaxoSmithKline
Health Access California
Latino Coalition for Healthy California
Latino Diabetes Association
National Association of Social Workers
Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute
UCI College of Medicine
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : Supporters write that studies show
that members of communities of color are much more likely
to experience poor quality of health and health care than
their white counterparts. Supporters also state that the
resolution is an essential step in the development of a
comprehensive strategy that addresses racial and ethnic
health disparities and improving the overall health status
of Californians.
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Adams, Ammiano, Anderson, Arambula, Beall, Bill
Berryhill, Tom Berryhill, Blakeslee, Block, Blumenfield,
Brownley, Buchanan, Caballero, Charles Calderon, Carter,
Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Coto, Davis, De Leon, DeVore,
Duvall, Emmerson, Eng, Evans, Feuer, Fletcher, Fong,
Fuentes, Fuller, Furutani, Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick,
Gilmore, Hagman, Hall, Hayashi, Hernandez, Hill, Huber,
Huffman, Jeffries, Jones, Knight, Krekorian, Lieu, Logue,
Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza, Miller, Monning, Nava,
Nestande, Niello, Nielsen, John A. Perez, V. Manuel
Perez, Portantino, Price, Ruskin, Salas, Saldana, Silva,
Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Audra Strickland, Swanson,
Torlakson, Torres, Torrico, Tran, Villines, Yamada, Bass
NO VOTE RECORDED: De La Torre, Harkey
CTW:mw 7/2/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
**** END ****
ACR 29
Page
5