Senate Bill 21-181 Summary

• Establishes requirements for state agencies to develop equity strategic plans addressing social determinants of health and health disparities in their respective areas of work by July 1, 2022.

• Expands the Health Equity Commission from 15 to 22 members by adding representatives from 7 additional state agencies including Labor and Employment, Local Affairs, Transportation, Public Safety, Education, Corrections, and Higher Education.

• Renames the "health disparities grant program" to the "health disparities and community grant program" and expands grant eligibility to include community organizations addressing social determinants of health through policy and systems changes.

• Requires the Department of Public Health and Environment to conduct a biennial assessment and publish reports on health disparities and inequities in Colorado, starting by July 1, 2022.

• Appropriates $4,872,818 for fiscal year 2021-22 to the Department of Public Health and Environment, consisting of $4,821,035 from the general fund and $51,783 from the health disparities grant program fund, with 2.3 FTE allocated for program costs and $4,700,000 for health disparities grants.