§ 23-64.1-5. Powers and duties. (a) The commission shall be empowered to:

(1) Review and comment on any proposed state legislation and regulations that would affect the health of populations in the state experiencing racial, ethnic, cultural, socio-economic or linguistic disparities in health status;

(2) Educate appropriate state agencies on health disparities, including social factors that play a role in creating or maintaining these disparities;

(3) Advise the director of the department of health on issues relating to health disparities and advocate for the integration and coordination of all activities of the state to achieve health equity. In providing such advice, the commission shall carry on a continuous assessment process to:

(i) Determine the current health status among populations experiencing racial, ethnic, cultural, or socio-economic health disparities;

(ii) Recommend strategies for health promotion and disease prevention;

(iii) Identify problems in service delivery to populations experiencing racial, ethnic, cultural, or socio-economic health disparities; and

(iv) Recommend solutions for improving the operation and efficiency of service delivery programs targeting populations experiencing racial, ethnic, cultural, or socio-economic health disparities;

(4) Advise and provide information to the governor and the general assembly on the state's policies concerning the health of populations in the state experiencing racial, ethnic, cultural, socio-economic or linguistic disparities in health status;

(5) Evaluate policies, procedures, activities, and resource allocations to eliminate health status disparities among racial, ethnic and linguistic populations in the state;

(6) Explore other successful programs in other sectors and states that may diminish or contribute to the elimination of health disparities in the state;

(7) Draft and recommend proposed legislation, regulations and other policies designed to address disparities in health status;

(8) Prepare the biennial disparities impact and evaluation report pursuant to § 23-64.1-6; and,

(9) Have the authority to conduct hearings and interviews, and receive testimony regarding matters pertinent to its mission.

(b) All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this section.

History of Section. (P.L. 2011, ch. 155, § 2; P.L. 2011, ch. 172, § 2.)