SJ0070

LRB093 21536 RAS 48732 r






1

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION


 

2
    WHEREAS, A disproportionate burden of disease, disability, 
3
and death exists among women and people of color in the State; 
4
and
 
5
    WHEREAS, Infant mortality for American Indians and 
6
African-Americans is more than double the rate for non-Hispanic 
7
whites; and

 
8
    WHEREAS, African-Americans are more than three times as 
9
likely, American
Indians and Alaska Natives are more than twice 
10
as likely, and Hispanics are 1.5 times as likely as 
11
non-Hispanic whites to die from diabetes
; and
 
12
    WHEREAS, The foundations for personal health, academic 
13
success, and professional achievement begin in early 
14
childhood; and
 
15
    WHEREAS, Comprehensive early childhood development 
16
programs foster healthy physical, cognitive, and social 
17
development; and
 
18
    WHEREAS, Long-term benefits include improved high school 
19
graduation rates, decreases in teen pregnancy, decreased 
20
delinquency, and higher rates of employment; therefore, be it
 
21
    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL 
22
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
23
CONCURRING HEREIN, that a task force on health disparities be 
24
created to identify opportunities for improving health care 
25
status and addressing health disparities in communities of 
26
color; and be it further

 
27
    RESOLVED, That the task force consist of 8 members from 
28
committees with jurisdiction over health and committees with 
 


 






SJ0070
- 2 -
LRB093 21536 RAS 48732 r




1
jurisdiction over education: 2 members of the Senate appointed 
2
by the President of the Senate; 2 members of the Senate 
3
appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; and 2 members of the 
4
House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House 
5
of Representatives; and 2 members of the House of 
6
Representatives appointed by the House Minority Leader; and be 
7
it further

 
8
    RESOLVED, That the task force shall:
     (1) Consider the 
9
impact of early childhood development programs on  reducing 
10
health disparities in communities of color, including a review 
11
of information about the sources of critical childhood 
12
interventions that impact health disparities such as family 
13
resources, child care, education, community organizations, 
14
social determinants, and others;
     (2) Consider opportunities to 
15
improve the health status of people of color by addressing 
16
barriers to culturally and linguistically appropriate health 
17
care and health education materials and practices, including a 
18
review of opportunities to increase the number of minority 
19
health providers in the State through development of career 
20
ladder, expanded recruiting, education, and retention 
21
programs, so that the entire health work force more closely 
22
mirrors the people that it serves;
     (3) Address ways to 
23
enumerate the racial and ethnic composition of the health work 
24
force and health career training, education, and career ladder 
25
programs;
     (4) Evaluate the impact of reductions in health care 
26
expenditures on communities of color;
     (5) Request input from 
27
the African-American Family Commission prior to submitting 
28
final review and recommendations to the General Assembly; and
     
29
(6)  Complete its review and submit its recommendations to the 
30
General Assembly by December 31, 2005; and be it further
 
31
    RESOLVED, That the task force is dissolved on January 1, 
32
2006.