20-2-103. Powers and duties generally.

20-2-103. Powers and duties generally. (a) The Arkansas Minority Health Commission shall: (1) Establish the commission as the comprehensive commission in this state for: (A) Gathering and analyzing information regarding disparities in health and health care and access to health and healthcare services in this state; (B) Statewide educational programming regarding disparities in health and health care and equal access to health and healthcare services; and (C) Coordinating events regarding disparities in health and health care and access to health and healthcare services; (2)(A) Actively seek out and develop partnerships and collaboration with other appropriate organizations to advance the understanding of and access to programs to remediate disparities in health and health care and access to health and healthcare services in this state. (B) The following health and healthcare-related state entities and divisions of state entities shall collaborate with the commission to achieve healthcare equity in the State of Arkansas: (i) The Department of Health; (ii) The Department of Human Services; (iii) The Division of Environmental Quality; (iv) The Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; and (v) The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement. (C) Partnerships developed by the commission shall connect all experts, agencies, and organizations concerned with minority health issues and minority health events; (3) Address and make specific recommendations relating to public policy issues involving disparities in health and health care and equity to health and healthcare services for minorities to appropriate agencies, the General Assembly, and the Governor; (4) Promote public awareness and public education encouraging Arkansans to live healthy lifestyles through awareness of various health and healthcare issues with an emphasis on factors that disproportionately affect the minority population in this state; (5) Make recommendations to the relevant agencies, to the Secretary of the Department of Health, and to the General Assembly for improving the delivery of and access to health services for minorities; (6) Gather and analyze information and make recommendations as to whether adequate services are available to ensure that future minority health needs will be met; (7)(A) Develop, implement, maintain, and disseminate a comprehensive survey of racial and ethnic minority disparities in health and health care. (B) The commission shall repeat the study every five (5) years to include without limitation disparities arising from geographic location and economic conditions; and (8) Publish evidence-based data, define state goals and objectives, and develop pilot projects for decreasing disparities under subdivision (a)(7)(A) of this section. (b) The commission shall report two (2) times each year to the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor and the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor.