Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHAVONDA E. SUMTER
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle
SYNOPSIS
Requires State agencies to perform racial and ethnic health care impact assessments for proposed rules related to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of COVID-19.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning racial and ethnic impact assessments for proposed rules related to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of COVID-19 and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In proposing a rule for adoption, the agency involved shall issue a COVID-19 racial and ethnic health care impact statement setting forth whether the proposed rule will have an impact on the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of COVID-19 for racial and ethnic minorities in this State and, if so, how the rule would affect racial and ethnic minorities including whether it is likely to have a disproportionate or unique impact, the rationale for the proposed rule, and any anticipated impact upon the delivery of health care to racial and ethnic minorities at doctor’s offices, hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. This statement shall be included in the notice of a proposed rule as required by subsection (a) of section 4 of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-4).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require State agencies to issue a COVID-19 racial and ethnic health care impact statement setting forth whether the proposed rule will have an impact on the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of COVID-19 for racial and ethnic minorities in this State. If a proposed rule will have an impact, the agency is required to disclose how the rule would affect racial and ethnic minorities including whether it is likely to have a disproportionate or unique impact, the rationale for the proposed rule, and any anticipated impact of the rule upon the delivery of health care services to racial and ethnic minorities.
Economic policies, along with public spending and revenue decisions, have enormous impacts—both positive and negative—on different racial and ethnic groups. Racial and ethnic impact assessments are conscious and careful analyses of the effect of public decisions on different racial and ethnic groups. Conducting racial and ethnic impact assessments are a useful tool for understanding the actual or anticipated effects of public policies and budgets in order to identify ways to maximize equity and inclusion and minimize adverse and unanticipated impacts.