GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1820

Short Title:  Min. Infant Mort. Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives H. Hunter; Adams, Green, R. Hunter, Kennedy, Michaux, and Wainwright.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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May 30, 1994

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO PROVIDE DEMONSTRATION GRANTS TO PREVENT MINORITY INFANT MORTALITY.
Whereas, the infant mortality rate for minorities in North Carolina is more than twice that for whites; and
Whereas, the percent of low birth weight babies among minorities is twice that for whites; and
Whereas, this disparity is widening since the rates for whites are falling faster than the rates for other races; and
Whereas, the reason for the disparity is not clearly understood but is believed to be the result of numerous causes; and
Whereas, the General Assembly feels local communities working together may demonstrate means to narrow the disparity;  Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  (a)	The Maternal and Child Health Division of the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources shall allocate five grants in various communities within North Carolina to demonstrate means to lower the infant mortality rates and percent of low birthweight babies among minority populations in order to bring the rates nearer those of the white population.
(b)	The grants shall be in the annual amount of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) each and be for three- year periods.
(c)	The grants shall be awarded by the Division on the recommendation of a review team consisting of representatives of the Division, the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources' Office of Minority Health, and the North Carolina Governor's Commission on Reduction of Infant Mortality.
(d)	The grants shall demonstrate ways in which the community, working with private and public health organizations and other governmental and private organizations, can lower the rate of infant mortality and the percent of low birthweight babies within the minority population of the community.
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Maternal and Child Health, the sum of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal year to fund the grants.
Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1994.