Resolve, To Direct Action on Health Disparities of the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Washington County

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  this legislation directs the development of an action plan to address the health disparities found in Washington County and the Passamaquoddy Tribe; and

Whereas,  work on the plan must begin before the 90-day period expires in order for it to be completed in a timely fashion; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Action plan on health disparities. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, offices of minority health and data, research and vital statistics and a Washington County health organization shall work with the Passamaquoddy health directors to help reduce health disparities between the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the State and the United States and Washington County and the State and the United States and shall:

1. Develop an action plan to address the health disparities;

2. Develop recommendations for data collection methods to address the disparities and for finding all data that has been processed; and

3. Report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters by January 15, 2011 on:

After receiving the report, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters may submit legislation related to the report to the First Regular Session of the 125th Legislature.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.