MAP Advocate Vol. 6 No. 3

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MAP Advocate

AIDS Advocacy Update
Vol. 6 No. 3 (February 17, 2000)

In this issue:

STD Prevention BillWaiting for Hearings
Custody Planning for HIV-Affected Families
Committees Consider Funding for AIDS Camp
Occupational Exposure a Persistent Concern
MAP Pushes for Health Care Protections
Take Action! Help get hearings scheduled for STD prevention bill

STD Prevention Bill Waiting for Hearings

Sen. Pat Piper (DFL-Austin) and Rep. Lee Greenfield (DFL-Mpls) introduced bills (SF2505/HF2853) calling for $2.6 million to break the link between STDs and HIV. A hearing in Sen. Don Samuelson's (DFL-Brainerd) Senate health finance committee is expected within the next few weeks. It is less clear if influential health policy and finance committee chairs in the House, Rep. Fran Bradley (R-Rochester) and Rep. Kevin Goodno (R-Moorhead) will even give the bill a hearing.

Custody Planning for HIV-Affected Families

A "standby guardian" bill was introduced by Sen. Jane Ranum (DFL-Mpls) and Rep. Darlene Luther (DFL-Brooklyn Park). SF3018/HF3318 propose ways for parents to choose who will be responsible to care for their children in the event of serious illness or death. It revises the stand-by guardian bill enacted in 1996. The Minnesota Bar Association is backing the bill. Questions can be addressed to MAP legal staffer, Caroline Palmer at 612-341-2060 or 1-800-243-7321.

Committees Consider Funding for AIDS Camps

House and Senatecommittees held hearings to consider appropriating up to $1 million for improvements to Lutheran Social Services' Camp Knutson (SF2321/HF2682). The camp is located on Cross Lake north of Brainerd, and hosts two weeks of summer camp for Minnesota families affected by HIV. Authors are Sen. Don Samuelson (DFL-Brainerd) and Rep. Kris Hasskamp (DFL-Hackensack).

Occupational Exposure a Persistent Concern

The MN Nurses Association, along with MAP and other health employee advocates want to encourage use of so-called "safe needles" in occupational settings. The aim is to reduce significant exposures to blood borne pathogens, including HIV. SF2397/HF2639 were introduced by Sen. Linda Higgins (DFL-Minneapolis) and Rep. Dennis Ozment (R-Rosemount). . . Conference committee action has been stalled on bills passed last year to address occupational exposure by emergency medical services (EMS) workers (SF1202/HF1631). Bill authors Sen. Allan Spear (DFL-Mpls) and Rep. Kevin Goodno (R-Moorhead) are in disagreement over a plan by Minnesota Association of Public Employees to unnecessarily expand the proposed EMS protocols to employee groups already covered by federal standards.

MAP Pushes for Health Care Protections

Along with other disability health advocates, MAP is coordinating introduction of a bill to strengthen patient protections. It will require health plans to provide direct access to specialists, and continued access to that same doctor even if the health plan changes. Authors are Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Mpls) and Rep. Kevin Goodno (R-Moorhead). . . As MAP pushes for stronger consumer protections, we are closely watching bills that threaten to unravel health care access and affordability. Of particular concern is a bill from last year that has been called back into action in the House. Rep. Bill Hass' (R-Champlin) HF1757 would undue restrictions on lifetime coverage caps and on how much health plans can charge for co-payments and deductibles. MAP is also monitoring various privacy bills relating to medical records.

Take Action! Help get hearings scheduled for STD prevention bill

First. Contact Sen. Samuelson (1) to thank him for co-authoring the STD prevention bill (SF2505), and (2) to inquire about when his committee will be holding a hearing on the bill.

651-296-4875 651-296-6511 (fax)
sen.don.samuelson@senate.leg.state.mn.us

Then. Contact Rep. Fran Bradley and Rep. Kevin Goodno (1) to let them know you support using part of the budget surplus to address the long-neglected need for statewide STD prevention, and (2) to encourage them to schedule hearings for the STD prevention bill (HF2853)

Rep. Fran Bradley
651-296-9249 651-296-2080 (fax)
rep.fran.bradley@house.leg.state.mn.us

Rep. Kevin Goodno
651-296-5515 651-296-1186 (fax)
rep.kevin.goodno@house.leg.state.mn.us

Last Updated: Friday, March 30, 2007
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