HB 5614 Summary

• Establishes a Commission on the Disparate Impact of COVID-19 as part of the Legislative Department, effective July 1, 2021, expiring June 20, 2023, or upon a two-thirds vote of membership, whichever is earlier.

• Commission consists of 26 voting members appointed by legislative leadership with expertise in education, housing, human services, public health, small business, nursing homes, higher education, health care delivery, and the hospitality industry, plus one nonvoting ex-officio member from the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity.

• All initial appointments must be made by September 1, 2021, with the first meeting held no later than September 1, 2021; chairperson selected jointly by House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tempore.

• Commission shall analyze disparate COVID-19 impacts on different racial, ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic groups; identify causes; assess federal and state response effects; establish two working groups (one on education/housing/human services, another on labor/commerce/public health); and hold public hearings.

• Commission must submit reports to the Governor and legislative leadership by January 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, detailing analysis results and recommending policy changes and statutory amendments to address disparate impacts and improve future pandemic outcomes.