2013 -- H 5761

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LC01601

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - RHODE ISLAND PREVENTION,

HEALTH PROMOTION, AND PUBLIC HEALTH COUNCIL

     Introduced By: Representatives Naughton, Diaz, McNamara, Slater, and Palangio

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2013

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

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GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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     CHAPTER 18.2

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RHODE ISLAND PREVENTION, HEALTH PROMOTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH

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COUNCIL

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     42-18.2-1. Establishment of Council. – There is hereby established a Rhode Island

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prevention, health promotion, and public health council (hereafter referred to as “the council”).

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The director of health shall appoint all council, subcommittee, and advisory committee members.

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The department of health shall grant to the council reasonable access to appropriate staff.

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     42-18.2-2. Composition of the Council. – (a) The council shall have twenty-one (21)

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members appointed by the director of the department of health including at least one member

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representing each of the following areas: state government, environment issues, education issues,

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workplace health promotion, health care facilities, mass media communications, municipal

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government affairs, and social service agencies.

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     (b) Nine (9) members shall constitute a quorum.

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     (c) Members from state government shall serve in an ex officio capacity as long as they

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are eligible.

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     (d) The council may establish subcommittees and advisory bodies as deemed necessary

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by the members.

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     42-18.2-3. Meetings of the council. – The council shall meet at the call of the chair, no

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less than quarterly.

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     42-18.2-4. Purpose and Duties. – The council shall:

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     (1) Provide coordination and leadership at the state level, and among all state departments

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and agencies, with respect to prevention, wellness and health promotion practices, the public

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health system, and integrative health care in Rhode Island;

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     (2) Develop a statewide prevention, health promotion, public health, and integrative

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health care strategy that incorporates the most effective and achievable means of improving the

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health status of Rhode Islanders and reducing the incidence of preventable illness and disability

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across the state;

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     (3) Provide recommendations to the governor and the general assembly concerning the

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most pressing health issues confronting the state and changes in state policy to achieve wellness,

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health promotion, and public health goals, including the reduction of tobacco use, sedentary

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behavior, and poor nutrition;

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     (4) Consider and propose evidence-based models, policies, and innovative approaches for

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the promotion of transformative models of prevention, integrative health, and public health on

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individual and community levels across the state;

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     (5) Submit annual reports required under section 6 of this chapter;

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     (6) Carry out other activities determined appropriate by the governor or as requested by

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the general assembly; and

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     (7) Make available to the public all information about activities of the council.

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     42-18.2-5. Rhode Island Preventative Strategy. – Not later than one year after the date

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of enactment of this chapter, the chairperson, in consultation with the council, shall develop and

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make public a Rhode Island prevention, health promotion and public health strategy, and shall

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review and revise such strategy periodically. Such strategy shall:

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     (1) Set specific goals and objectives for improving the health of Rhode Island through

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prevention, health promotion, and public health programs, consistent with ongoing goal setting

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efforts conducted by specific agencies;

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     (2) Establish specific and measurable actions and timelines to carry out the strategy, and

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determine accountability for meeting those timelines, within and across state departments and

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agencies; and

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     (3) Make recommendations to improve staff efforts relating to prevention, health

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promotion, public health, and integrative health care practices to ensure state efforts are

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consistent with available standards and evidence.

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     42-18.2-6. Annual Report. – (a) Not later than January 1, 2015, and annually thereafter,

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the council shall submit to the governor and the general assembly, a report that:

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     (1) Describes the activities and efforts on prevention, health promotion, and public health

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and activities to develop and/or revise the state prevention strategy conducted by the council

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during the period for which the report is prepared;

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     (2) Describes the progress in meeting specific prevention, health promotion, and public

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health goals defined in the strategy and further describes corrective actions recommended by the

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council and taken by relevant agencies and organizations to meet these goals;

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     (3) Contains a list of state priorities on health promotion and disease prevention to

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address lifestyle behavior modification (smoking cessation, proper nutrition, appropriate exercise,

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mental health, behavioral health, substance use disorder, and domestic violence screenings) and

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the prevention measures for the five (5) leading disease killers in Rhode Island; and

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     (4) Contains specific science-based initiatives to achieve the measurable goals of the

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prevention strategy regarding nutrition, exercise, and smoking cessation, and targeting the five (5)

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leading disease killers in Rhode Island.

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     (b) The director of health shall address a joint session of the general assembly during the

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month of January or February of each year, at the invitation of the speaker of the house, to present

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the key findings and recommendations of the annual report.

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     42-18.2-7. Applicability of other laws. – The council, as well as any subcommittees or

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advisory bodies it may establish, shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 38-2, access to

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public records act, and chapter 42-46, open meetings act.

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     42-18.2-8. Severability. – If any provision of this chapter or the application of this

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chapter to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other

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provisions or applications of the chapter, which can be given effect without the invalid provision

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or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01601

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - RHODE ISLAND PREVENTION,

HEALTH PROMOTION, AND PUBLIC HEALTH COUNCIL

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     This act would establish a Rhode Island Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health

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Council. This council would provide coordination and leadership among all state departments

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with respect to prevention, wellness and health promotion practices.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01601

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