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Senate committee hears plan to move State Office of Health Equity into the Department of Health
Summary
The Department of Health told the Senate Committee on Government Operations on Feb. 6 that the administration supports moving the State Office of Health Equity into the department; the Health Equity Advisory Commission previously recommended the placement and staffing moves are underway.
The Vermont Department of Health told the Senate Committee on Government Operations on Thursday, Feb. 6, that the administration supports locating the State Office of Health Equity within the Department of Health and that positions for the office have already been moved to the department.
Julie Aurel, deputy commissioner at the Vermont Department of Health, said the Health Equity Advisory Commission recommended the placement and that the administration has included related language in the budget bill that would also move administrative support for the advisory commission into the department.
Nut graf: Lawmakers were told the change is intended to give the office access to existing in‑house health‑equity data and administrative infrastructure at the Health Department and to allow the department to support an executive director role and related staffing.
Details
- Commission recommendation and administration support: Aurel said the Health Equity Advisory Commission submitted a report recommending the office be housed at the Department of Health and that both the Department of Health and the administration support the move.
- Statutory language and timing: Witnesses said the change would amend Title 18, Chapter 6, and the administration included language in the current budget bill addressing the location of the advisory commission. Committee discussion noted that the positions have been moved into the department and that hiring for the executive director post has not yet begun.
- Next steps: Committee members asked for a drafter (Katie McGlynn) to appear at a later date to walk through the bill language; Aurel said the Health Department can return as needed and that the effective date under consideration would be this coming July.
Ending
Committee members agreed to schedule staff drafting review and to invite the bill drafter back for technical discussion; no formal committee vote was recorded during the session.
