Demographics: ancestry and ethnic origin.

Existing law requires any state agency, board, or commission that directly or by contract collects demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of Californians to use separate collection categories and tabulations for specified Asian groups and Pacific Islander groups, and requires a state agency, board, or commission to include data on specified collection categories and tabulations in every demographic report on ancestry or ethnic origins of California residents that it publishes or releases. Existing law requires specified agencies to use additional separate collection categories and other tabulations for major Asian groups and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander groups. This bill would require those specified agencies to also use additional separate collection categories and other tabulations for specified Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish groups, Caribbean groups, Black or African American groups, Native American groups, and Middle Eastern or North African Groups. Existing law establishes the State Department of Public Health, headed by the State Public Health Officer, and sets forth its powers and duties, including the administration of provisions relating to the prevention and control of communicable disease. This bill would require the department to establish standards, as specified, for the collection and tabulation of demographic information by local health officers and health care providers. The bill would require that the standardized data be used in any state supported efforts to evaluate and address health disparities. Because the bill would require local health officers to provide a higher level of service, it would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also require that only aggregate data be made public, and that individual identifying information would remain confidential. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.