SB755

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities experience disproportionate health disparities compared to those without disabilities. When compared to their non-disabled peers, individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities are more likely to have fair or poor health, obesity, and diabetes.

Decades of research has clearly established that people of minority groups living in the United States receive poor health care and have poor health outcomes resulting from social determinants of health. On a national level, racial and ethnic disparities in access to health care and health outcomes are a persistent, pervasive public health problem. However, less is known about the extent of racial and ethnic health disparities among adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities.

The legislature further finds troubling gaps in the health disparities of people with developmental or intellectual disabilities and their social determinants of health in the State. Further research is needed to understand the health disparities of people with developmental or intellectual disabilities and their social determinants of health. This will help Hawai‘i provide culturally appropriate health care, address barriers to health care access, reduce health disparities, and support individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities live healthy lives in the community.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the state council on developmental disabilities to study the health disparities experienced by individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities in the State.

SECTION 2. (a) The state council on developmental disabilities shall submit to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2025, a report focused on the health disparities experienced by individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities in the State. The report shall include:

(1) A definition of the State's developmental or intellectual disability population for public health administration purposes, including the health conditions, duration, and level of severity required to qualify for disability status;

(2) A definition of the social determinants of health as used by the United States Department of Health and Human Services;

(3) Population-level differences in the State between individuals with and without developmental or intellectual disabilities on health indicators and social determinants of health, including:

(A) Access to necessary health care;

(B) Access to preventive health care, including wellness programs and emotional support services;

(D) Health status and outcomes, including the percentage of individuals who are considered obese or diagnosed with chronic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases;

(E) Emergency preparedness, including evacuation planning and ability;

(F) Health insurance coverage;

(G) Social determinants of health and health outcomes, including household income, employment status, education level, access to health information technology tools and systems, access to transportation, and social and community environment; and

(H) Other indicators and determinants that contribute to an individual's physical and mental health;

(4) Factors contributing to the population-level differences, including economic and social disadvantages and discrimination;

(5) A determination of the population-level differences and contributing factors that are preventable or avoidable;

(6) Any other information that would assist the State in determining safe, equitable, and culturally appropriate public health actions that would improve health care and address the health disparities experienced by individuals in the State with developmental or intellectual disabilities; and

(7) Proposed legislation, including best practices, for the State to reduce the health disparities experienced by individuals in the State with developmental or intellectual disabilities.

(b) For purposes of this Act, "health disparities" means population-level differences in health outcomes that are related to a history of social, economic, or environmental disadvantages that are avoidable and not primarily caused by underlying health conditions that led to the disability.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the state council on developmental disabilities to compile and submit a report focused on the health disparities experienced by individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities in the State to the legislature prior to the convening of the regular session of 2025.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	755
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII