Executive Order No. 3-69 (No. 07-15) [Health in All Policies Task Force]
WHEREAS, the health and well-being of all Vermonters is critical for a prosperous
and sustainable state;
WHEREAS, integrating consideration of health impacts into a variety of state policies,
including those related to air and water quality, natural resources and agricultural
land, housing, infrastructure, public health, sustainable communities, and climate
change can benefit Vermonters’ quality of life and economic prosperity;
WHEREAS, such policies influence the adoption of healthy lifestyles by making it more
or less difficult for individuals to choose behaviors that promote or diminish health;
WHEREAS, largely avoidable chronic illnesses are a growing burden for the State and
its people, and negatively affect Vermonters’ productivity, quality of life, life
expectancy, and health care costs;
WHEREAS, health is an outcome of a wide range of factors, many of which lie outside
the activities of the health sector and require a shared responsibility and an integrated
and sustained policy response across government; and
WHEREAS, to improve health outcomes now and in the future, agencies should collaborate
with each other to ensure that health is considered when policies are developed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED I, Peter E. Shumlin, by virtue of the power vested
in me as Governor of the State of Vermont, do hereby establish the Health in All Policies
(HiAP) Task Force.
I. Composition and Charge.
The Health in All Policies (HiAP) Task Force will identify strategies to more fully
integrate health considerations into all state programs and policies, and promote
better health outcomes through interagency collaboration and partnership.
The Task Force shall be Chaired by the Commissioner of Health and staffed by the Department
of Health (DOH), and shall work with representatives from the following agencies and
departments:
1. Agency of Administration
2. Agency of Agriculture
3. Agency of Commerce and Community Development
4. Agency of Education
5. Agency of Human Services
6. Agency of Natural Resources
7. Agency of Transportation
8. Public Service Department
9. Department of Health
In addition, the Task Force may seek members from any other entity identified by the
Task Force, including but not limited to the Public Service Board, the Natural Resources
Board, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, and the Vermont Housing Finance
Board.
The Task Force shall meet at the call of the Chair.
By January 15, 2016, and thereafter annually, the Task Force will report to the Governor
on:
1. Potential opportunities to include health criteria in regulatory, programmatic and
budgetary decisions;
2. Promising practices in other jurisdictions to identify opportunities for innovation
and coordination across sectors that include consideration of potential positive and
negative health impacts of decisions; and
3. Evidence-based actions and policies to improve the wellness of state employees across
state government, including healthy food procurement policies.
In consultation with the Task Force, DOH shall develop guidance, criteria and analytic
tools to support all branches of government in assessing potential positive or negative
health impacts when proposing new agency rules, budgetary changes, or major programmatic
shifts.
Members of the HiAP Task Force will regularly report internally on their progress
in embedding health impacts in their rulemaking, policies and programs. The Task
Force may establish sub-committees and internal policies as necessary and appropriate
to carry out its work.
II. Effective Date.
This Executive Order shall take effect upon signing.
Dated October 6, 2015