Emergency response advisory working group.

Existing law establishes the Office of Health Equity in the State Department of Public Health for the purposes of aligning state resources, decisionmaking, and programs to accomplish certain goals related to, among others, health equity and protecting vulnerable communities. Existing law requires the office to perform certain functions in connection to multicultural health. Existing law also requires the department to biennially prepare and submit a report to the Legislature on the status of these activities. This bill would, subject to an appropriation of funds, require the Office of Health Equity to convene an advisory working group, consisting of specified stakeholders, to develop tools and protocols for the future allocation of funds to reduce racial disparities in recovery, response, and repair efforts following state and local emergencies. Additionally, the bill would require the advisory working group to submit a report with its findings and recommendations to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2025, and make that report available to the public by posting it on the State Department of Public Health's internet website. The bill would require the advisory working group in preparing the report to evaluate the unmet needs among various communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and with respect to up to five other recent emergency funding allocations stratified by local health jurisdiction, county, and Senate and Assembly legislative district. These provisions would be repealed on January 1, 2029. The bill would also make related findings and declarations.