(a)
(1) As used in this section, “Arkansas red counties” means those counties in which Arkansans were born and are living have a life expectancy rate six to ten (6-10) years less than the life expectancy of Arkansans who were born and are living in the county with the highest life expectancy.
(2) “Arkansas red counties” includes on July 27, 2011:
(A) Arkansas;
(B) Chicot;
(C) Crittenden;
(D) Cross;
(E) Dallas;
(F) Desha;
(G) Fulton;
(H) Jackson;
(I) Jefferson;
(J) Mississippi;
(K) Monroe;
(L) Ouachita;
(M) Perry;
(N) Phillips;
(O) Poinsett;
(P) St. Francis;
(Q) Sevier;
(R) Union; and
(S) Woodruff.
(b) The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Health is affected by a wide variety of social factors, including without limitation:
(A) The circumstances in which people are born, grow up, live, work, and age;
(B) Systems for dealing with illness and access to those systems; and
(C) Other factors, such as poverty, substance abuse, working conditions, unemployment, social support, nutritious foods, transportation, and housing;
(2) Complex factors affecting health operate at the levels of individuals, interpersonal networks, organizations, or communities that influence disparities in health and healthcare; and
(3) Collaboration between agencies and organizations is cost effective, increases awareness, and ensures programs and services provided are comprehensive.
(c)
(1) Each state agency, board, and commission whose scope of services encompasses the Arkansas red counties to date are encouraged to work collaboratively in the Arkansas red counties to implement strategies that may include without limitation health screenings, education, awareness, outreach efforts, resource and service navigation, as well as other health and health care access-related initiatives toward achieving systems change.
(2) The following entities without limitation are encouraged to work together to plan, operate, and coordinate a comprehensive initiative to address the health and healthcare needs of the Arkansas red counties:
(A) The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement;
(B) The Arkansas Minority Health Commission;
(C) The Division of Environmental Quality;
(D) The Department of Health;
(E) Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences;
(F) Workforce Development Commission [repealed];
(G) Division of Higher Education;
(H) Arkansas Department of Transportation;
(I) University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences — Partners for Inclusive Communities;
(J) Arkansas Children's Hospital;
(K) University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences — Area Health Education Centers;
(L) Public safety organizations;
(M) Arkansas Optometric Association, Inc.; and
(N) Area Agencies on Aging.
(d)
(1) The Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities is designated to:
(A) Organize, notify, and coordinate planning meetings of the entities encouraged under this section to work together to plan, operate, and coordinate a comprehensive initiative to address the health and healthcare needs of the Arkansas red counties;
(B) Coordinate agreed-upon initiatives in selected counties annually;
(C) Assist in development of a standardized annual report format that will be used to report on the cross-sector comprehensive collaborative initiatives and the outcomes of those initiatives; and
(D) Compile an annual report of comprehensive collaborative initiatives using the standardized format created under this subsection and submit the report to the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor and the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor no later than October 1 of each year.
(2) The first planning meeting under this subsection shall be held no later than October 1, 2011.
(3) The first report under this subsection shall be submitted by October 1, 2012.