2014 -- H 7369

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LC003556

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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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, E Coderre, Kennedy, Ackerman, and Tanzi

     Date Introduced: February 06, 2014

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

CHAPTER 18.2

RHODE ISLAND PREVENTION, HEALTH PROMOTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH

COUNCIL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

government affairs, and social service agencies.

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

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

are eligible.

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

by the members.

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

less than quarterly.

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

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

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

health system, and integrative health care in Rhode Island;

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

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

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

across the state;

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

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

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

behavior, and poor nutrition;

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

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

individual and community levels across the state;

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

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

the general assembly; and

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

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

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

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

review and revise such strategy periodically. Such strategy shall:

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

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

efforts conducted by specific agencies;

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

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

agencies; and

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

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

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consistent with available standards and evidence.

     42-18.2-6. Annual Report. – (a) Not later than January 1, 2016, and annually thereafter,

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

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

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

during the period for which the report is prepared;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

leading disease killers in Rhode Island.

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

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

the key findings and recommendations of the annual report.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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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

***

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

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

with respect to prevention, wellness and health promotion practices.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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