HB 1901 — An Act providing for the Office of Health Equity; establishing the Health Equity Advisory Committee; and imposing duties on the Department of Health.

PRINTER'S NO.   2370

                   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 1901
                                                  Session of
                                                    2025

     INTRODUCED BY SCOTT, MAYES, CARROLL, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ,
        CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, HOHENSTEIN AND D. WILLIAMS,
        SEPTEMBER 30, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, SEPTEMBER 30, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Providing for the Office of Health Equity; establishing the
 2      Health Equity Advisory Committee; and imposing duties on the
 3      Department of Health.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6   Section 1.   Short title.
 7      This act shall be known and may be cited as the Office of
 8   Health Equity Act.
 9   Section 2.   Definitions.
10      The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
11   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
12   context clearly indicates otherwise:
13      "Advisory committee."     The Health Equity Advisory Committee
14   established under section 5(a).
15      "Commonwealth agency."     As follows:
16          (1)   Any of the following:
17                (i)    The Governor's Office.
18                (ii)    An executive agency.
 1              (iii)    The office of Lieutenant Governor.
 2              (iv)    An independent agency.
 3              (v)    An independent department.
 4              (vi)    An organization established by the Constitution
 5        of Pennsylvania, a statute or an executive order that
 6        performs or is intended to perform an essential
 7        governmental function.
 8        (2)   The term does not include:
 9              (i)    The General Assembly or an office or agency of
10        the General Assembly.
11              (ii)    A court or other agency of the unified judicial
12        system.
13    "Department."      The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
14    "Executive agency."     As follows:
15        (1)   An office, department, authority, board, multistate
16    agency or commission of the executive branch of the
17    Commonwealth that is subject to the policy supervision and
18    control of the Governor.
19        (2)   The term includes:
20              (i)    The Department of Aging.
21              (ii)    The Department of Agriculture.
22              (iii)    The Department of Banking and Securities.
23              (iv)    The Department of Community and Economic
24        Development.
25              (v)    The Department of Conservation and Natural
26        Resources.
27              (vi)    The Department of Corrections.
28              (vii)    The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.
29              (viii)    The Department of Education.
30              (ix)    The Department of Environmental Protection.

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 1                (x)    The Department of General Services.
 2                (xi)    The department.
 3                (xii)    The Department of Human Services.
 4                (xiii)    The Department of Labor and Industry.
 5                (xiv)    The Department of Military and Veterans
 6          Affairs.
 7                (xv)    The Department of Revenue.
 8                (xvi)    The Department of State.
 9                (xvii)    The Department of Transportation.
10                (xviii)    The Insurance Department.
11                (xix)    The Pennsylvania State Police.
12                (xx)    A board or commission of an entity enumerated
13          under this paragraph.
14      "Health disparities."     Preventable differences in the burden
15   of disease, injury, violence or opportunities to achieve optimal
16   health that are experienced by a population in comparison to
17   another population.
18      "Health equity."     The absence of unfair and avoidable or
19   remediable differences in health among population groups,
20   whether those population groups are defined socially,
21   economically, demographically or geographically.
22      "Independent agency."     As follows:
23          (1)   A board, commission, authority, agency or other
24      entity of the Commonwealth that is not subject to the policy
25      supervision and control of the Governor.
26          (2)   The term includes:
27                (i)    The Board of Claims.
28                (ii)    The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
29          Commission.
30                (iii)    The Milk Marketing Board.

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 1                (iv)    The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and
 2          Delinquency.
 3                (v)    The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
 4                (vi)    The Pennsylvania Game Commission.
 5                (vii)    The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
 6          Agency.
 7                (viii)    The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.
 8                (ix)    The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.
 9                (x)    The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
10                (xi)    The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
11                (xii)    The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
12                (xiii)    The State Civil Service Commission.
13                (xiv)    The State Ethics Commission.
14                (xv)    The State Tax Equalization Board.
15                (xvi)    An entity subject to the policy supervision
16          and control of an entity enumerated under this paragraph.
17          (3)     The term does not include:
18                (i)    The General Assembly or an office or agency of
19          the General Assembly.
20                (ii)    A court or other agency of the unified judicial
21          system.
22      "Independent department."     Any of the following:
23          (1)     The Department of the Auditor General.
24          (2)     The Treasury Department.
25          (3)     The Office of Attorney General.
26          (4)     A board or commission of an entity under paragraph
27      (1), (2) or (3).
28      "Municipality."     As defined in 53 Pa.C.S. § 5602 (relating to
29   definitions).
30      "Office."    The Office of Health Equity established under

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 1   section 3(a).
 2      "Personal identifying information."       A document,
 3   photographic, pictorial or computer image of an individual or
 4   fact used to establish identity, including a name, birth date,
 5   Social Security number, driver's license number, nondriver
 6   governmental identification number, telephone number, checking
 7   account number, savings account number, student identification
 8   number, employee or payroll number, residence address, mailing
 9   address, email address or electronic signature.
10      "Private school."     Any of the following:
11          (1)   A private school licensed under the act of January
12      28, 1988 (P.L.24, No.11), known as the Private Academic
13      Schools Act.
14          (2)   A private school accredited by an accrediting
15      association approved by the State Board of Education.
16          (3)   A private school licensed under the act of December
17      15, 1986 (P.L.1585, No.174), known as the Private Licensed
18      Schools Act.
19      "Public entity."     As follows:
20          (1)   Any of the following:
21                (i)    A Commonwealth agency.
22                (ii)    A municipality.
23                (iii)    A school entity.
24          (2)   The term includes a contractor or subcontractor of
25      an entity specified in paragraph (1) that has entered into a
26      contract, purchase order or other procurement arrangement
27      with the entity and has received, is to receive or is
28      receiving public funds from the Commonwealth under the
29      contract, purchase order or other procurement arrangement.
30      "School entity."     Any of the following:

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 1        (1)    A school district of any class.
 2        (2)    A public school as defined in 24 Pa.C.S. § 8102
 3    (relating to definitions).
 4        (3)    A nonpublic school as defined in section 923.3-A(b)
 5    of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the
 6    Public School Code of 1949.
 7        (4)    A private school.
 8        (5)    An intermediate unit as described in Article IX-A of
 9    the Public School Code of 1949.
10        (6)    A charter school as defined in section 1703-A of the
11    Public School Code of 1949.
12        (7)    A cyber charter school as defined in section 1703-A
13    of the Public School Code of 1949.
14        (8)    A regional charter school as defined in section
15    1703-A of the Public School Code.
16        (9)    An area career and technical school as described in
17    section 1841 of the Public School Code of 1949.
18        (10)     An institution of higher education, including the
19    following:
20               (i)    A university within the State System of Higher
21        Education under Article XX-A of the Public School Code of
22        1949.
23               (ii)    The Pennsylvania State University, the
24        University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, Lincoln
25        University or any other institution designated as State-
26        related by the Commonwealth.
27               (iii)    The Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
28               (iv)    A community college under Article XIX-A of the
29        Public School Code of 1949.
30               (v)    A college established under Article XIX-G of the

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 1            Public School Code of 1949.
 2                (vi)    An institution of higher education located in
 3            and incorporated or chartered by the Commonwealth and
 4            entitled to confer degrees as specified in 24 Pa.C.S. §
 5            6505 (relating to power to confer degrees) and as
 6            provided for by the standards and qualifications
 7            prescribed by the State Board of Education under 24
 8            Pa.C.S. Ch. 65 (relating to private colleges,
 9            universities and seminaries).
10                (vii)    A foreign corporation approved to operate an
11            educational enterprise under 22 Pa. Code Ch. 36 (relating
12            to foreign corporation standards).
13      "Secretary."      The Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth.
14      "Social determinants of health."      Nonmedical factors that
15   affect both the average and distribution of health within
16   populations, including distal determinants such as political,
17   legal, institutional and cultural factors, and proximal
18   determinants such as socioeconomic status, physical environment,
19   living and working conditions, immigration status, family and
20   social network, lifestyle or behavior and demographics.
21   Section 3.   Office of Health Equity.
22      (a)   Establishment.--The Office of Health Equity is
23   established within the department to facilitate the advancement
24   of health equity by reducing health disparities and addressing
25   the social determinants of health in this Commonwealth.
26      (b)   Staffing.--The office shall include a director and
27   appropriate legal, information technology, administrative and
28   other support staff, including an epidemiologist and a
29   biostatistician.
30   Section 4.   Powers and duties of office.

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 1      (a)   Responsibilities.--The office shall have the following
 2   powers and duties:
 3            (1)   To collect data from public entities in accordance
 4      with the purpose of the office.
 5            (2)   To seek Federal and State grants and any grants or
 6      money that may be available from private organizations or
 7      entities to carry out the powers and duties of the office.
 8            (3)   To enter into public-private partnerships as
 9      necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the office.
10            (4)   To research, develop, disseminate and advocate
11      public health strategies to address health disparities in
12      this Commonwealth.
13            (5)   To advise the department in matters relating to
14      health disparities and health equity.
15            (6)   To collaborate with State agencies, legislators,
16      policymakers, insurers, health care providers, community-
17      based organizations, academic institutions and other
18      entities, both public and private, to develop and implement
19      policies and programs that result in a measurable and
20      sustained improvement in health care access and health
21      outcomes of underserved and disparate populations in this
22      Commonwealth.
23            (7)   To collect and analyze data to identify and track
24      health disparities in this Commonwealth.
25            (8)   To assist in identifying the conditions and causes
26      of health disparities. The office shall, to the extent
27      practicable or feasible, consider social determinants of
28      health as contributing factors to health disparities.
29            (9)   To coordinate research and scientific studies
30      regarding the epidemiology, sociological impact and strategy

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 1    development relating to health disparities.
 2        (10)    To develop and assist with the implementation of
 3    policies to reduce health disparities.
 4        (11)    To recommend actions to address health disparities
 5    that:
 6               (i)    Are data-driven, evidence-based and culturally
 7        aware.
 8               (ii)    Address subpopulations with the highest levels
 9        of disparity in health care access and outcomes,
10        including ways to reduce and eliminate disparities in
11        access to quality and affordable health care and health
12        outcomes based on race, ethnicity, gender, sex, sexual
13        orientation, national origin, disability status and
14        geographic location.
15               (iii)    Include disparities related to:
16                      (A)   Cancers, including breast, lung, cervical,
17               prostate and colorectal cancer.
18                      (B)   Cardiovascular diseases, including coronary
19               heart disease and stroke.
20                      (C)   Pulmonary diseases, including asthma and
21               chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
22                      (D)   Metabolic diseases, including diabetes,
23               cirrhosis and other diseases of the liver.
24                      (E)   Autoimmune diseases, including lupus and
25               multiple sclerosis.
26                      (F)   Infectious diseases, including COVID-19,
27               influenza, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.
28                      (G)   Maternal morbidity, mortality and infant
29               health.
30                      (H)   Disability status.

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 1                   (iv)    Include disparities in access and outcomes
 2            relating to behavioral health and mental health equity.
 3            (12)    To liaise with public entities and private entities
 4      to engage in collaborative strategies to address health
 5      disparities.
 6            (13)    To disseminate information on programs to reduce
 7      and eliminate health disparities.
 8            (14)    To utilize assessment tools to improve racial and
 9      cultural competency of health care providers.
10            (15)    To increase public awareness of the existence of
11      health disparities.
12      (b)   Reports.--The office shall prepare an annual report on
13   the status of health disparities in this Commonwealth and
14   strategies to address health disparities in accordance with the
15   following:
16            (1)    The report shall be made available through the
17      publicly accessible Internet website of the office.
18            (2)    A copy of the report shall be submitted to:
19                   (i)    The head of each public entity that is subject
20            to this act.
21                   (ii)    The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
22            Health and Human Services Committee of the Senate.
23                   (iii)    The chairperson and minority chairperson of
24            the Health Committee of the House of Representatives.
25                   (iv)    The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
26            Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives.
27            (3)    The report shall not contain personal identifying
28      information or other information that is protected from
29      disclosure under Federal or State law.
30   Section 5.      Advisory committee.

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 1      (a)   Establishment.--The Health Equity Advisory Committee is
 2   established within the office to provide advice and guidance to
 3   the Governor and the secretary on programs, activities and
 4   actions to address health disparities in this Commonwealth.
 5      (b)   Membership.--The membership of the advisory committee
 6   shall be at the discretion of the secretary and shall, at a
 7   minimum, include representatives of academia, the provider
 8   community, community-based organizations and representatives of
 9   disparate populations.
10      (c)   Duties.--The advisory committee shall have the following
11   duties, at a minimum:
12            (1)   To advise the office on strategic priorities for the
13      elimination of health disparities.
14            (2)   To regularly evaluate the effectiveness of actions
15      taken by the office and public entities to address health
16      disparities.
17            (3)   To collaborate with public entities to develop
18      policies designed to eliminate health disparities.
19   Section 6.     Responsibilities of public entities and others.
20      A public entity shall cooperate with the office to enable the
21   office to carry out the powers and duties of the office and
22   provide necessary data to the office, subject to confidentiality
23   standards and the protection of personal identifying information
24   as required by Federal and State law, in accordance with the
25   following:
26            (1)   The head of the public entity shall ensure that the
27      necessary data is provided to the office.
28            (2)   A board, commission, authority, agency or other
29      entity of a public entity need not separately provide data to
30      the office if the head of the public entity is providing the

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 1      same data to the office.
 2   Section 7.     Protected information.
 3      (a)   Unauthorized use of data.--
 4            (1)   A person commits a misdemeanor of the third degree
 5      if the person:
 6                  (i)    intentionally or knowingly releases or otherwise
 7            discloses data under this act to a person not authorized
 8            to receive the data under this act; or
 9                  (ii)   intentionally or knowingly releases or
10            otherwise discloses personal identifying information that
11            is protected by confidentiality standards under Federal
12            or State law.
13            (2)   Except as provided in subsection (b), a person
14      commits a misdemeanor of the third degree if the person is an
15      unauthorized person who knowingly receives or possesses the
16      data or personal identifying information described in
17      paragraph (1).
18      (b)   Return and notice.--If an unauthorized person
19   inadvertently or by error gains access to the data or personal
20   identifying information described in subsection (a)(2), the
21   person shall immediately return the data or personal identifying
22   information, without duplication, and notify the office in
23   writing of the improper receipt or possession.
24   Section 8.     Effective date.
25      This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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