AN ACT relating to the establishment of the Office of Multicultural Health.
     Amend KRS 12.023 to attach the Office of Multicultural Health within the Office of the Governor; create a new section of KRS Chapter 12 to create the Office of Multicultural Health to be headed by an executive director; permit office to apply for, accept, and expend funds from federal, state, or other sources; require office to coordinate efforts statewide to improve the health of all Kentuckians by eliminating health status disparities among racial, ethnic, cultural, and gender groups; require office to identify health status disparities, assess health education and resource needs of affected populations; assess barriers to health care; design and implement strategies to eliminate barriers to access to health care; design and implement strategies to increase public awareness of health status disparities; promote development of multicultural and multiethnic health resources; collaborate with the Office of Women's Physical and Mental Health; coordinate with state universities and colleges the recruitment and retention of minorities into health care professions; recommend policies to improve representation of minorities in medical research; coordinate efforts with Department of Education to stimulate interest in health professions among middle and high school students; stimulate community-based projects; develop strategies to insure that health care is delivered in a culturally sensitive manner; evaluate the effectiveness of state programs or strategies in eliminating health status disparities; facilitate access to public and private resources; work with the Department for Public Health to promote the collection of minority health data; and provide funds for culturally appropriate health education projects; require office to submit written report no later than September 1, 2001, to the Interim Joint Committee on Health and Welfare and to the Governor; require office to minimize duplication of services and seek greatest efficiency; require office to coordinate legislative efforts of the administration related to multicultural health; require office to provide training and consultation to multicultural health programs provided or funded by the state; and permit executive director to serve on other state boards, commissions, or task forces.

     Jan 4-introduced in Senate
     Jan 5-to Health and Welfare (S)