Sec. 1. 22 MRSA c. 268 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 268

WOMEN'S HEALTH

§1656.__Office of Women's Health established

1.__Office established.__The Office of Women's Health, referred to in this chapter as the "office," is established effective July 1, 2001.__The office exists within the hierarchy of the Bureau of Health, but includes staff and resources of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.

2.__Office purpose and goals; strategies.__The purpose of the office is to expand the State's public health concerns and focus to include a comprehensive outlook on the overall health status of women.__The primary goals of the office are the prevention of disease and improvement in the quality of life for women over their entire lifespan.

The department and the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services shall develop jointly strategies for achieving these goals within the office that include, but are not limited to:

A.__Developing a strategic plan to improve public services and programs targeting women;

B.__Conducting policy analysis on specific issues related to women's health;

C.__Facilitating communication among the departments' programs and between the office and external women's health groups and community-based organizations;

D.__Building public health awareness and capacity regarding women's health issues by providing a series of services including evaluation, recommendation, technical assistance and training; and

E.__Developing initiatives for modification or expansion of women-oriented services with the intent of establishing meaningful public and private partnerships in the future.

3.__Office duties.__The office shall: