§ 251. Definitions
As used in this chapter:
(1) “Cultural competency” means a set of integrated attitudes, knowledge, and skills that
enables a health care professional to care effectively for patients from cultures,
groups, and communities other than that of the health care professional. At a minimum,
cultural competency should include the following:
(A) awareness and acknowledgement of the health care professional’s own culture;
(B) utilization of cultural information to establish therapeutic relationships;
(C) eliciting and incorporating pertinent cultural data in diagnosis and treatment;
(D) understanding and applying cultural and ethnic data to the process of clinical care;
and
(E) the ability to recognize the importance of communication, language fluency, and interpretation
in the provision of health care services and assist with access to interpretation
and appropriate communication services.
(2) “Cultural humility” means the ability to maintain an interpersonal stance that is
other-oriented, or open to the other, in relation to aspects of cultural identity
that are most important to the client or patient.
(3) “Health disparity” means differences that exist among specific population groups in
the United States in attaining individuals’ full health potential that can be measured
by differences in incidence, prevalence, mortality, burden of disease, and other adverse
health conditions.
(4) “Health equity” means all people have a fair and just opportunity to be healthy, especially
those who have experienced socioeconomic disadvantage, historical injustice, and other
avoidable systemic inequalities that are often associated with the social categories
of race, gender, ethnicity, social position, sexual orientation, and disability.
(5) “Health equity data” means demographic data, including race, ethnicity, primary language,
age, gender, socioeconomic position, sexual orientation, disability, homelessness,
or geographic data that can be used to track health equity.
(6) “LGBTQ” means Vermonters who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer,
or questioning.
(7) “Non-White” means Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color. It is not intended to reflect
self-identity, but rather how people are categorized in the racial system on which
discrimination has been historically based in the United States and how Vermont typically
disaggregates data solely by White and non-White.
(8) “Race and ethnicity” mean the categories for classifying individuals that have been
created by prevailing social perceptions, historical policies, and practices. Race
and ethnicity include how individuals perceive themselves and how individuals are
perceived by others.
(9) “Social determinants of health” are the conditions in the environments where people
are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age, such as poverty, income and wealth
inequality, racism, and sex discrimination, that affect a wide range of health, functioning,
and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. They can be grouped into five domains: economic
stability, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood
and built environment, and social and community context. Social determinants of health
are systematic, interconnected, cumulative, and intergenerational conditions that
are associated with lower capacity to fully participate in society. (Added 2021, No. 33, § 3; amended 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 346, eff. July 1, 2022.)
§ 252. Health Equity Advisory Commission
(a) Creation. There is created the Health Equity Advisory Commission to promote health equity and
eradicate health disparities among Vermonters, including particularly those who are
Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color; individuals who are LGBTQ; and individuals
with disabilities. The Advisory Commission shall amplify the voices of impacted communities
regarding decisions made by the State that impact health equity, whether in the provision
of health care services or as the result of social determinants of health. The Advisory
Commission shall also provide strategic guidance on the development of the Office
of Health Equity, including recommendations on the structure, responsibilities, and
jurisdiction of such an office.
(b) Membership.
(1) The Advisory Commission shall be composed of the following members:
(A) the Executive Director of Racial Equity established pursuant to 3 V.S.A. § 5001 or designee;
(B) the Commissioner of Health or designee;
(C) the Commissioner of Mental Health or designee;
(D) the Commissioner of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living or designee;
(E) the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access or designee;
(F) the Commissioner for Children and Families or designee;
(G) the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development or designee;
(H) the Commissioner of Economic Development or designee;
(I) the Chief Performance Officer or designee;
(J) the Chief Prevention Officer or designee;
(K) a member, appointed by the Racial Justice Alliance;
(L) a member, appointed by the Rutland Area NAACP;
(M) a member, appointed by the Association of Africans Living in Vermont;
(N) a member, appointed by the Windham County Vermont NAACP;
(O) a member, appointed by the Pride Center of Vermont;
(P) a member, appointed by Outright Vermont;
(Q) a member, appointed by Migrant Justice;
(R) a member, appointed by Out in the Open;
(S) a member, appointed by Another Way Community Center;
(T) a member, appointed by Vermont Psychiatric Survivors;
(U) a member, appointed by the Vermont Center for Independent Living;
(V) a member, appointed by the Elnu Abenaki Tribe;
(W) a member, appointed by the Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe;
(X) a member, appointed by the Koasek Traditional Nation of Missiquoi;
(Y) a member, appointed by the Abenaki Nation of Missiquoi;
(Z) a member, appointed by the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs;
(AA) a member, appointed by Green Mountain Self-Advocates;
(BB) a member, appointed by the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council;
(CC) a member, appointed by Vermont Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health;
and
(DD) any other members at large that the Advisory Commission deems necessary to appoint
to carry out the functions of this section, including ensuring equitable representation
and a balance between impacted communities, and that health care provider perspectives
are represented, based on a majority vote of the members.
(2) The term of office of each appointed member shall be three years, with the exception
that members at large shall each have a term of one year. Of the members first appointed,
who are not designated as at-large members, 10 shall be appointed for a term of one
year, 10 shall be appointed for a term of two years, and nine shall be appointed for
a term of three years. Members shall hold office for the term of their appointments
and until their successors have been appointed. All vacancies shall be filled for
the balance of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.
Members are eligible for reappointment.
(c) Powers and duties. The Advisory Commission shall:
(1) provide advice to the Department of Health and the General Assembly on the continued
development of the Office of Health Equity, including on:
(A) the structure, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of the Office;
(B) how the Office shall be staffed;
(C) the populations served and specific issues addressed by the Office; and
(D) the duties of the Office, including how grant funds shall be managed and distributed;
(2) provide advice and make recommendations to the Office of Health Equity, Department
of Health, and General Assembly once established, including input on:
(A) any rules or policies proposed by the Office of Health Equity or Department of Health;
(B) the awarding of grants and the development of programs and services;
(C) the needs, priorities, programs, and policies relating to the health of individuals
who are Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color; individuals who are LGBTQ; and individuals
with disabilities; and
(D) any other issue on which the Office of Health Equity, Department of Health, or General
Assembly requests assistance from the Advisory Commission;
(3) review, monitor, and advise all State agencies regarding the impact of current and
emerging State policies, procedures, practices, laws, and rules on the health of individuals
who are Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color; individuals who are LGBTQ; and individuals
with disabilities;
(4) identify and examine the limitations and problems associated with existing laws, rules,
programs, and services related to the health status of individuals who are Black,
Indigenous, and Persons of Color; individuals who are LGBTQ; and individuals with
disabilities;
(5) advise the Department of Health and General Assembly on any funding decisions relating
to eliminating health disparities and promoting health equity, including the distribution
of federal monies related to COVID-19;
(6) to the extent funds are available for the purpose, distribute grants that stimulate
the development of community-based and neighborhood-based projects that will improve
the health outcomes of individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color;
individuals who are LGBTQ; and individuals with disabilities; and
(7) advise the General Assembly on efforts to improve cultural competency, cultural humility,
and antiracism in the health care system through training and continuing education
requirements for health care providers and other clinical professionals.
(d) Assistance. The Advisory Commission shall have the administrative, legal, and technical assistance
of the Department of Health.
(e) Report. Annually, on or before January 15, the Advisory Commission shall submit a written
report to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare and to the House Committees on
Health Care and on Human Services with its findings and any recommendations for legislative
action. The Advisory Commission is encouraged to base recommendations on the data
collected and analysis completed pursuant to section 253 of this title.
(f) Meetings.
(1) The Advisory Commission shall select a chair and vice chair at its first meeting and
annually thereafter.
(2) The Advisory Commission shall adopt procedures to govern its proceedings, including
voting procedures and how the staggered terms shall be apportioned among members.
(3) All meetings of the Advisory Commission and any subcommittees of the Advisory Commission
shall be open to the public with opportunities for public comment provided on a regular
basis.
(g) Acceptance of grants and other contributions. The Advisory Commission may accept from any governmental department or agency, public
or private body, or any other source grants or contributions to be used in carrying
out its responsibilities under this chapter.
(h) Compensation and reimbursement. Appointed members of the Advisory Commission shall be entitled to per diem compensation
and reimbursement of expenses as permitted under 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for meetings. These payments shall be made from monies appropriated to the Department
of Health. (Added 2021, No. 33, § 3; amended 2025, No. 27, § E.312.2, eff. July 1, 2025.)