Bill > H2501

This bill requires various state agencies and educational institutions to collect voluntary, self-identified demographic data on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) to help reduce health disparities for LGBTQ+ individuals. Specifically, the executive office of health and human services, public school districts, and higher education institutions will collect this data from persons 16 years and older during service provision or through federal surveys, with strict privacy protections to ensure individual anonymity. The office of health equity will develop training guidelines for collecting this information sensitively and distribute these guidelines to other state agencies. Each year, these agencies must submit aggregate, deidentified data to the office of health equity, along with any program modifications resulting from the data analysis. The collected information can only be used for demographic analysis, care coordination, service improvement, approved research, reporting requirements, and policy or funding decisions. The bill includes staggered implementation timelines, with different sections taking effect one and 18 months after the act's enactment, and emphasizes that participation is voluntary and data will be kept confidential to protect individual privacy.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2501