California Code, Health and Safety Code - HSC § 123630.1

(a) Every person should be entitled to dignity and respect during and after pregnancy and childbirth. Patients should receive the best care possible regardless of their race, gender, age, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, language proficiency, nationality, immigration status, gender expression, or religion.

(b) The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world. About 700 women die each year from childbirth, and another 50,000 suffer from severe complications. In California, since 2006, the rate of maternal death has decreased 55 percent, in contrast to the steady increase in the United States as a whole.

(c) However, for women of color, particularly Black women, the maternal mortality rate remains three to four times higher than White women. Black women make up 5 percent of the pregnancy cohort in California, but 21 percent of the pregnancy-related deaths.

(d) Forty-one percent of all pregnancy-related deaths had a good to strong chance of preventability. California has a responsibility to decrease the number of preventable pregnancy-related deaths.

(e) Pregnancy-related deaths among Black women are also more likely to be miscoded. Thirty-five percent of pregnancy-related deaths among Black women in California were miscoded, misidentifying pregnancy-related deaths as other deaths.

(f) Access to prenatal care, socioeconomic status, and general physical health do not fully explain the disparity seen in Black women's maternal mortality and morbidity rates. There is a growing body of evidence that Black women are often treated unfairly and unequally in the health care system.

(g) Implicit bias is a key cause that drives health disparities in communities of color. At present, health care providers in California are not required to undergo any implicit bias testing or training. Nor does there exist any system to track the number of incidents where implicit prejudice and implicit stereotypes have led to negative birth and maternal health outcomes.

(h) It is the intent of the Legislature to reduce the effects of implicit bias in pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care so that all people are treated with dignity and respect by their health care providers.

(a) The Council on Development Finance is hereby established and shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Director and shall consider matters relating to the financing and modernization of agricultural, industrial, commercial, emerging technologies and other facilities in the State and such other matters as may be referred to it by the Governor, or by the Director. The Council may study research, plan and advise the Director and the Governor on matters relating to economic development and strategic opportunities. The Council may consider projects and initiatives proposed by a Public/Private Partnership and make recommendations to the Division.

(c) The Council shall be composed of 9 members who are Delaware residents. The Governor shall appoint 7 members: 2 members from New Castle County, 1 member from Kent County, 1 member from Sussex County and 3 at-large members. The President Pro Tempore of the state Senate shall appoint 1 member of the Senate and the Speaker of the state House of Representatives shall appoint 1 member of the House of Representatives. Council members shall serve for 3-year terms and may be reappointed. Council members appointed after July 1, 2018, may be reappointed for only 1 additional 3-year term.

(d) At least 3, but no more than 4 members of the Council shall be affiliated with 1 of the major political parties and at least 2, but no more than 3 of the members shall be affiliated with the other major political party; provided however, that there shall be more than a bare majority representation of 1 major political party over the other major political party. Any person who declines to announce a political affiliation shall also be eligible for appointment as a member of the Council.

(e) In making appointments to the Council, the Governor shall appoint professionals possessing 1 or more of the following designations: a member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the State, an officer of a bank or trust company located in the State, an expert in private equity or a venture capital expert.

(f) Members of the Council shall serve without compensation, except that they may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incident of their duties as members in accordance with state law.

(g) Chairperson of the Council shall be appointed by the Governor. Such Chairperson shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

(h) Any appointment, pursuant to this section, to replace a member whose position becomes vacant prior to the expiration of the member's term shall be filled only for the remainder of that term. However, a person who is appointed to fill such a vacancy may be reappointed. Any person appointed to fill such a vacancy after July 1, 2018, may be reappointed for only 2, 3-year terms.

(i) The Council shall conduct its business only when a quorum is present. A quorum shall consist of 5 of the 9 members being present in person, by telephone, or by videoconference. The consent of a majority of the quorum is required for approval on any vote. Upon written request from the Council, the Governor may declare a vacancy for any member who is absent from 4 consecutive Council meetings. The Council Chair should schedule meetings so that they are centrally located and geographically balanced in number.