N.Y. Public Health Law § 243*2: Health equity council

* § 243. Health equity council. 1. Appointment of members. There shall

be established in the office of health equity a health equity council to

consist of the commissioner and fourteen members to be appointed by the

governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Membership on the

council shall be reflective of the diversity of the state's population

including, but not limited to, the various underserved populations

throughout the state.

2. Terms of office; vacancies. a. Unless specified otherwise in the

bylaws of the health equity council, the terms of office of members of

the health equity council may be up to six years. The members of the

health equity council shall continue in office until the expiration of

their terms and until their successors are appointed and have qualified.

Such appointments shall be made by the governor, with the advice and

consent of the senate, within one year following the expiration of such

terms.

b. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the governor for the

unexpired terms within one year of the date upon which such vacancies

occur. Any vacancy existing on the effective date of paragraph c of this

subdivision shall be filled by appointment within one year of such

effective date.

c. In making appointments to the council, the governor shall seek to

ensure that membership on the council reflects the diversity of the

state's population including, but not limited to the various underserved

populations throughout the state.

3. Meetings. a. The health equity council shall meet as frequently as

its business may require, and at least twice in each year.

b. The governor shall designate one of the members of the public

health and health planning council as its chair.

c. A majority of the appointed voting membership of the health equity

council shall constitute a quorum.

4. Compensation and expenses. The members of the council shall serve

without compensation other than reimbursement of actual and necessary

expenses.

5. Powers and duties. The health equity council shall, at the request

of the commissioner, consider any matter relating to the preservation

and improvement of health status among the state's underserved

populations, and may advise the commissioner on any recommendations

relating to the preservation and improvement of health equity.

6. Sickle cell disease. a. The health equity council shall consider,

and advise the commissioner regarding sickle cell disease.

b. The council shall issue recommendations to the commissioner to

promote screening and detection of sickle cell disease, especially among

unserved or underserved populations; to educate the public regarding

sickle cell disease and the benefits of early detection; and to provide

counseling and referral services. For purposes of this subdivision,

"unserved or underserved populations" means people having inadequate

access and financial resources to obtain sickle cell disease screening

and detection services, including people who lack health coverage or

whose health coverage is inadequate or who cannot meet the financial

requirements of their coverage for accessing detection services.

c. The council shall consider the feasibility of the following:

(i) the establishment of a statewide public education and outreach

campaign to publicize evidence based sickle cell disease screening,

detection and education services. The campaign shall include: general

community education, outreach to specific underserved populations,

evidence based clinical sickle cell disease screening services, and an

informational summary that shall include an explanation of the

importance of clinical examinations and what to expect during clinical

examinations and sickle cell disease screening services;

(ii) the provision of grants to approved organizations;

(iii) the compilation of data concerning sickle cell disease and

dissemination of such data to the public; and

(iv) the development of health care professional education programs

including the benefits of early detection of sickle cell disease and

clinical examinations, the recommended frequency of clinical

examinations and sickle cell disease screening services, and

professionally recognized best practices guidelines.

* NB There are 2 § 243's