Bill > SR50

Introduced Session

This resolution declares racism a public health crisis in the State of New Jersey. It is widely understood that systemic racism is a driver of health inequity and is manifested in differential access by race to opportunities, resources, conditions, and power within the medical and public health systems. Black people contend with disproportionately high death rates for chronic health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer, and these racial health disparities have myriad causes such as lack of health insurance, failures of the medical system, and inadequate access to health care. Physical or verbal violence between law enforcement officers and the public is a communal violence, particularly among black and brown communities where these incidents are more prevalent and pervasive, that significantly drives unnecessary and costly injury and death. The trauma of violence in a person's life course is also associated with chronic stress, higher rates of comorbidities and lower life expectancy, all of which bear extensive care and economic burden on healthcare systems while sapping the strength of affected families and communities. Studies have shown that implicit biases and internalized racism has led to black and brown people having less access to health care, preventive care, and quality education, and suffering from higher incarceration and increased mortality rates throughout this country and State. The foregoing findings demonstrate the prevalence of systemic racism, racism's role as a driver of health inequity, and the detrimental effects that racism has on the citizens of the State of New Jersey and this country.

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Angela Mcknight (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document