Signed by Governor Ned Lamont

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that alleges racism is a public health crisis.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to develop a mental health toolkit to help employers in the state address mental health needs that arise as a result of COVID-19 (Sec. 3).

• Requires the Department of Public Health to conduct a study on the state’s COVID-19 response no later than January 1, 2022 (Sec. 4).

• Establishes racism as a public health crisis in the state of Connecticut (Sec. 6).

• Establishes a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to examine racial disparities in public health by studying the following, including (Sec. 7):

• Institutional racism in the state’s laws and regulations impacting public health;

• Racial disparities in the state’s criminal justice system and the impact of the such disparities on the health and well-being of individual’s and families;

• Racial disparities in access to health care;

• Racial disparities in access to healthy living resources, including:

• Fresh food and produce;

• Physical activity; and

• Clean air and clean water.

• Racial disparities in access to health care, health outcomes and long-term care facilities; and

• The impact of zoning restrictions on the creation of housing disparities and impacts on public health.

• Specifies that the commission shall be made up of the following individuals, including, but not limited to (Sec. 7):

• The executive director of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, or their designee;

• The chairperson and ranking member of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly;

• The Secretary of the oFfice of Policy and Management, or their designee;

• The chairperson of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus of the General Assembly, or their designee;

• 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the House, from the Connecticut Health Foundation and Health Equity Solutions;

• One member appointed by the majority leader in the House of who has experience in infant and maternal care;

• One member appointed by the majority leader in the House who is a representative from the Civilian Corrections Academy with knowledge and experience regarding the issues faced by individuals released from correctional institutions; 

• One member appointed by the minority leader of the House from the Partnership for Strong Communities with knowledge and experience regarding the impact of housing issues on minority communities; and

• One member appointed by the minority leader of the House who is a representative from the Connecticut Bar Association with knowledge and experience regarding health care equity and access.

• Requires that beginning October 1, 2021 every hospital include implicit bias training as part of each hospital’s regularly provided training to staff members that provide direct care to pregnant women or women in the postpartum period (Sec. 11).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that alleges racism is a public health crisis.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to develop a mental health toolkit to help employers in the state address mental health needs that arise as a result of COVID-19 (Sec. 3).

• Requires the Department of Public Health to conduct a study on the state’s COVID-19 response no later than January 1, 2022 (Sec. 4).

• Establishes racism as a public health crisis in the state of Connecticut (Sec. 6).

• Establishes a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to examine racial disparities in public health by studying the following, including (Sec. 7):

• Institutional racism in the state’s laws and regulations impacting public health;

• Racial disparities in the state’s criminal justice system and the impact of the such disparities on the health and well-being of individual’s and families;

• Racial disparities in access to health care;

• Racial disparities in access to healthy living resources, including:

• Fresh food and produce;

• Physical activity; and

• Clean air and clean water.

• Racial disparities in access to health care, health outcomes and long-term care facilities; and

• The impact of zoning restrictions on the creation of housing disparities and impacts on public health.

• Specifies that the commission shall be made up of the following individuals, including, but not limited to (Sec. 7):

• The executive director of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, or their designee;

• The chairperson and ranking member of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly;

• The Secretary of the oFfice of Policy and Management, or their designee;

• The chairperson of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus of the General Assembly, or their designee;

• 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the House, from the Connecticut Health Foundation and Health Equity Solutions;

• One member appointed by the majority leader in the House of who has experience in infant and maternal care;

• One member appointed by the majority leader in the House who is a representative from the Civilian Corrections Academy with knowledge and experience regarding the issues faced by individuals released from correctional institutions; 

• One member appointed by the minority leader of the House from the Partnership for Strong Communities with knowledge and experience regarding the impact of housing issues on minority communities; and

• One member appointed by the minority leader of the House who is a representative from the Connecticut Bar Association with knowledge and experience regarding health care equity and access.

• Requires that beginning October 1, 2021 every hospital include implicit bias training as part of each hospital’s regularly provided training to staff members that provide direct care to pregnant women or women in the postpartum period (Sec. 11).

Full Bill Text