Senate Bill 404 (2021) — Office of Minority Health and Health Equity
SB 404
Florida Bills
Florida Senate - 2021 SB 404 By Senator Rouson 19-00434A-21 2021404__ Page 1 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the Office of Minority Health and 2 Health Equity; creating s. 381.735, F.S.; requiring 3 the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity to 4 develop and promote the statewide implementation of 5 certain policies, programs, and practices; requiring 6 one representative from each county health department 7 to serve as a minority health liaison for a specified 8 purpose; requiring the office to use all available 9 resources and pursue funding opportunities to achieve 10 this purpose; specifying duties for the office; 11 requiring the office to maintain on its website 12 specified information; requiring the office to serve 13 as a liaison to and assist certain federal offices; 14 authorizing the Department of Health to adopt rules; 15 providing an effective date. 16 17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 18 19
Section
Section 381.735, Florida Statutes, is created to 20 read: 21 381.735 Office of Minority Health and Health Equity.— 22
(1) The Office of Minority Health and Health Equity 23 established under s. 20.43(9) shall develop and promote the 24 statewide implementation of policies, programs, and practices 25 that increase health equity in this state, including, but not 26 limited to, increased access to and quality of health care 27 services for racial and ethnic minority populations.
One 28 representative from each county health department shall serve as 29 Florida Senate - 2021 SB 404 19-00434A-21 2021404__ Page 2 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. a minority health liaison to assist the office in implementing 30 this section. The office shall use all available resources and 31 pursue opportunities for increased funding to achieve the 32 purpose of this section. 33
(2) The office shall coordinate with agencies, 34 organizations, and providers across this state to do all of the 35 following: 36 (
a) Gather and analyze data regarding disparities in health 37 status, quality of health care, and access to health care 38 services for racial and ethnic minority populations in this 39 state. 40 (
b) Develop mechanisms that support better information 41 dissemination and education about health disparities and improve 42 access to and delivery of health care services to racial and 43 ethnic minority populations in this state. 44 (
c) Support minority health liaisons by facilitating access 45 to and the exchange of information related to health promotion, 46 preventive health services, and education in the appropriate use 47 of care. 48 (
d) Conduct demonstration projects and evaluations to 49 ensure the success and sustainability of policies, programs, and 50 practices that increase health equity in this state. 51 (
e) Promote the use of community health workers to improve 52 the cultural competency of services and build individual and 53 community self-sufficiency. 54 (
f) Gather and analyze data regarding the prevalence of 55 racial and ethnic minority populations at risk of involvement 56 with the criminal justice system, the juvenile justice system, 57 and the foster care system or at risk for homelessness, and any 58 Florida Senate - 2021 SB 404 19-00434A-21 2021404__ Page 3 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. disparities in such involvement or access to appropriate 59 behavioral health services by those populations when compared to 60 other populations in this state. 61 (
g) Promote the creation of or participation in programs 62 that divert individuals with mental health and substance use 63 disorders from the criminal justice system and ensure the 64 availability of quality behavioral health services to the 65 populations specified in paragraph (f). 66 (
h) Develop and implement programs that improve access to 67 health care services for individuals with limited proficiency in 68 the English language by providing access to bilingual providers 69 or interpretive services. 70
(3) The office shall maintain all of the following on its 71 website, updated at least annually: 72 (
a) Current data on health disparities and issues affecting 73 racial and ethnic minority populations in this state. 74 (
b) Information about and links to resources available to 75 racial and ethnic minority populations in this state. 76 (
c) Resources for providers who wish to improve cultural 77 competency, understand health disparities, and increase the 78 quality of and access to health care services for racial and 79 ethnic minority populations in this state. These resources must 80 include, but need not be limited to, minority health literature, 81 research, and referrals; capacity-building and technical 82 assistance services; and training materials for implementing 83 nationally recognized evidence-based practices for culturally 84 and linguistically appropriate health care services. 85 (
d) Contact information for local minority health liaisons. 86
(4) The office shall serve as a liaison to and assist the 87 Florida Senate - 2021 SB 404 19-00434A-21 2021404__ Page 4 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. federal Offices of Minority Health and Regional Health 88 Operations, as appropriate. 89
(5) The department may adopt rules to implement this 90 section. 91