Bill > S1505

This bill requires various state agencies and educational institutions to collect voluntary self-identification data about sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) to address health disparities in the LGBTQ+ community. Specifically, the executive office of health and human services, public school districts, and higher education institutions will collect this demographic information from individuals aged 16 and older during service provision or through federal surveys. The office of health equity will develop training guidelines for collecting this data sensitively and with cultural competence. Agencies must submit annual aggregate, deidentified reports to the office of health equity, detailing the data collected and any resulting service modifications. The collected information can only be used for demographic analysis, care coordination, service improvement, research, reporting, and policy guidance. Strict privacy protections are built into the bill, ensuring that personal identifying information remains confidential and that data reporting prevents individual identification. The bill is designed to help state agencies better understand and address health disparities within the LGBTQ+ community by gathering more comprehensive demographic information. The implementation of these provisions will be phased in over 12-18 months following the act's enactment.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1505