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:

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