Ch. 319                                   2004 LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAPTER 319
(House Bill 86)

AN ACT concerning

Maryland Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities

FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to
include certain recommendations in a certain plan; establishing the Maryland
Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities in the Executive Department;
establishing the Director of Minority Affairs as head of the Office Department;
requiring the Director of the Office to report to the Secretary of Health and
Mental Hygiene; establishing the duties and responsibilities of the Office;
establishing a Minority Health Advisory Commission providing for the
membership, chairperson, expenses, and staff of the Commission; establishing
the duties of the Commission; requiring the Director to promote health and
prevention of disease among members of certain groups; authorizing the
Director to distribute certain grants for the improvement of minority health and
health disparities under certain circumstances; authorizing the Director to fund
certain projects; requiring that the Office Department provide a certain report;
declaring the intent of the General Assembly; defining certain terms; and
generally relating to the establishment of the Maryland Office of Minority
Health and the Minority Health Advisory Commission and Health Disparities.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Health - General
Section 20-904(d)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2000 Replacement Volume and 2003 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article - State Government Health - General

Section 9-3A-01 20-1001 through 9-3A-08 20-1007, inclusive, to be under the

new subtitle "Subtitle 3A 10. Office of Minority Health and Health

Disparities"
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1999 Replacement Volume and 2003 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, The cost of racial and ethnic disparities in health care has a
substantial negative economic impact on the State; and

WHEREAS, There is a social and economic benefit to ensuring that minorities
have access to preventive health care; now, therefore,

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