2005 Connecticut Code - Sec. 19a-4k. Advisory Commission on Multicultural Health.

      Sec. 19a-4k. Advisory Commission on Multicultural Health. (a) There is established an Advisory Commission on Multicultural Health. The mission of the advisory commission shall be the elimination of disparities in health status among the state's cultural and ethnic communities and the overall improvement of the health of state residents. The advisory commission shall consist of:

      (1) One member appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who shall be a member of an affiliate of the National Urban League, Inc.;

      (2) One member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be a representative of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People;

      (3) One member appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a member of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus of the General Assembly;

      (4) One member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be a representative of an advocacy group for Native Americans;

      (5) One member appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a representative of an advocacy group for Asian-Americans;

      (6) One member appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be a representative of an advocacy group for Hispanics;

      (7) The chairperson of the Connecticut African-American Affairs Commission;

      (8) The chairperson of the Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission;

      (9) The chairperson of the Statewide Multicultural Health Steering Committee;

      (10) The chairperson of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, or the chairperson's designee; and

      (11) Eight members of the public, representing diverse multicultural and multiethnic backgrounds, two of whom shall be appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, two of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, two of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, and two of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.

      (b) All initial appointments to the advisory commission shall be made not later than November 1, 2000. The term of each appointed member of the advisory commission shall be coterminous with the term of the appointing authority or until a successor is chosen, whichever is later. During the period commencing on the date that all initial appointments to the advisory commission are made and ending on October 31, 2001, the chairperson of the Statewide Multicultural Health Steering Committee shall serve as chairperson of the advisory commission. On and after November 1, 2001, the Commissioner of Public Health shall appoint a chairperson of the advisory commission.

      (c) The advisory commission shall meet quarterly and shall: (1) Advise the Commissioner of Public Health and the director of the Office of Multicultural Health within the Department of Public Health concerning the preparation and implementation of reports and strategic plans and the coordination of issues and policies related to the functions of the Office of Multicultural Health under section 19a-4j; (2) advise the Commissioner of Public Health on the development of a multicultural health promotion plan and monitor the implementation of such plan; and (3) make recommendations to the commissioner and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health concerning multicultural health issues, policies and programs.

      (d) The Office of Multicultural Health within the Department of Public Health shall provide support to the advisory commission within available appropriations.

      (P.A. 00-216, S. 11, 28; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 00-1, S. 14, 46.)

      History: P.A. 00-216 effective July 1, 2000; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 00-1 amended Subsec. (a) to delete member of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus of the General Assembly and substitute member of an affiliate of the National Urban League in Subdiv. (1), to insert new Subdiv. (3) re appointment of member of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus of the General Assembly, renumbering former Subdivs. (3) to (10), inclusive, as Subdivs. (4) to (11), and to delete Governor and substitute majority leader of the Senate in renumbered Subdiv. (6), effective July 1, 2000.