Wis. Stat. § 250.20 — WI Code / Chapter 250 / Section 250.20
Health disparities reduction or elimination.
Status: in_force

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “African American” means a person whose ancestors originated in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

(b) “American Indian” means a person who is enrolled as a member of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band or who possesses documentation of at least one-fourth American Indian ancestry or documentation of tribal recognition as an American Indian.

(c) “Asian” means a person whose ancestors originated in Asia south and southeast of the Himalayas and west of Wallace’s Line in the Malay Archipelago.

(d) “Economically disadvantaged” means having an income that is at or below 125 percent of the poverty line.

(e) “Hispanic” means a person of any race whose ancestors originated in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central America or South America or whose culture or origin is Spanish.

(f) “Inter-tribal organization” means an organization or association of tribes or tribal agencies.

(g) “Minority group member” means any of the following:

1. An African American.

2. An American Indian.

3. A Hispanic.

4. An Asian.

(h) “Nonprofit corporation” means a nonstock corporation organized under ch. 181 that is a nonprofit corporation, as defined in s. 181.0103 (17) .

(i) “Other agencies and organizations” means agencies of local, state and federal governments and private organizations that are not inter-tribal organizations or tribal agencies.

(j) “Poverty line” means the nonfarm federal poverty line for the continental United States, as defined in 42 USC 9902 (2).

(k) “State agency” has the meaning given in s. 16.70 (1e) .

(L) “Tribal agency” means an agency created by a tribe.

(m) “Tribe” means a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state.

(2) Departmental duties; minority health. The department shall do all of the following:

(a) Identify the barriers to health care that prevent economically disadvantaged minority group members in this state from participating fully and equally in all aspects of life.

(b) Conduct statewide hearings on issues of concern to the health interests of economically disadvantaged minority group members.

(c) Review, monitor and advise all state agencies with respect to the impact on the health of economically disadvantaged minority group members of current and emerging state policies, procedures, practices, statutes and rules.

(d) Work closely with all state agencies, including the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System and the technical college system board, with the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, with the private sector and with groups concerned with issues of the health of economically disadvantaged minority group members to develop long-term solutions to health problems of minority group members.

(e) Disseminate information on the status of the health of economically disadvantaged minority group members in this state.

(f) Encourage economically disadvantaged minority group members who are students to enter career health care professions, by developing materials that are culturally sensitive and appropriate and that promote health care professions as careers, for use by the University of Wisconsin System, the technical college system and the Medical College of Wisconsin in recruiting the students.

(g) Submit a biennial report on the activities of the department under this section that includes recommendations on program policies, procedures, practices and services affecting the health status of economically disadvantaged minority group members, to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3) and to the governor.

(3) From the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (1) (cr) , the department shall annually award grants for activities to improve the health status of economically disadvantaged minority group members. A person may apply, in the manner specified by the department, for a grant of up to $50,000 in each fiscal year to conduct these activities. An awardee of a grant under this subsection shall provide, for at least 50 percent of the grant amount, matching funds that may consist of funding or an in-kind contribution. An applicant that is not a federally qualified health center, as defined under 42 CFR 405.2401 (b) shall receive priority for grants awarded under this subsection.

(4) From the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (1) (cr) , the department shall award a grant of up to $50,000 in each fiscal year to a private nonprofit corporation that applies, in the manner specified by the department, to conduct a public information campaign on minority health.

(5) American Indian health project grants. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (ke) , the department shall award grants for American Indian health projects in order to address specific problem areas in the field of American Indian health. A tribe, tribal agency, or inter-tribal organization may apply, in the manner specified by the department, for a grant of up to $10,000 to conduct an American Indian health project that is designed to do any of the following:

(am) Develop, test or demonstrate solutions for specific American Indian health problems which, if proven effective, may be applied by other tribes, tribal agencies, inter-tribal organizations or other agencies or organizations.

(bm) Fund start-up costs of programs to deliver health care services to American Indians.

(c) Conduct health care needs assessments and studies related to health care issues of concern to American Indians.

(d) Provide innovative community-based health care services to American Indians.

(6) American Indian diabetes prevention and control. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (kf) , the department shall fund activities to prevent and control diabetes among American Indians.

History: 1993 a. 16 ; 1997 a. 27 ; 1999 a. 9 ; 2001 a. 16 ; 2003 a. 33 ; 2007 a. 20 ; 2007 a. 130 ss. 29 to 34 , 36 to 42 , 178 ; Stats. 2007 s. 250.20; 2009 a. 28 ; 2019 a. 9 ; 2021 a. 239 .