HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2320

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HEALTH.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to establish health equity as a goal of the department of health. 

     Disparities in health outcomes between populations are increasingly costly to the State, financially and socially, but are in large part preventable.  These disparities often have less to do with family medical history, for example, a cancer gene passed on through generations, than to the social determinants of health, or the conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, and age.  These circumstances are in turn shaped by a wider set of forces: economics, social policies, and politics.

     Social determinants of health are created and influenced by fields such as education, childcare, housing, healthcare access, law, justice, media, community planning, transportation, and agriculture.  Addressing these determinants is key to achieving greater equity of opportunity for Hawaii's residents, and thus  codifying health equity as a goal is a first step towards a more unified and comprehensive approach to public health policy.

     SECTION 2.  Section 321-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "(a)  The department of health shall have general charge, oversight, and care of the health and lives of the people of the State., and shall pursue as a goal the achievement of health equity.  The department shall consider social determinants of health in the assessment of state needs for health.  "Health equity" means assuring equal opportunity for all people in the State to attain their full health potential.  "Social determinants of health" are the complex, integrated, and overlapping social structures and economic systems that contribute to health inequities.  These social structures and economic systems include the social environment, physical environment, health services, and structural and societal factors."

SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed. New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

BY REQUEST


 


 

Report Title:

Department of Health Goals; Health Equity; Social Determinants of Health

 

Description:

Establishes health equity as a goal for the Department of Health.

 

 

 

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