MAP Advocate
AIDS Advocacy Update
Vol. 6 No. 7
April 17, 2000
In this issue:
Legislative Logjam Jeopardizes STD Prevention
Sex Ed Showdown in Ed Finance Bill
Occupational Exposure Bill Passed
CARE Act Debate Shapes Up in Congress
Contact the Gov...
Minnesota's great tri-partisan experiment sees the Senate, House and Governor in a three-way showdown over abortion and tax politics. While it makes for good political theater, funding to increase STD prevention becomes one of many "expendable" legislative initiatives traded off or ignored so deals can be cut on the big issues. The betting money at the Capitol is the Miscellaneous Supplemental Bill (HF2699) will be one of the stalemate casualties. The scenario is stacking up just like last year with the Senate supporting STD prevention funding, the House opposing it, and the Administration presenting no barriers but failing to advance or back the funding request. In the end, the State fails to move ahead in preventing STD infections.
The Education Finance Omnibus Bill includes provisions intended to restrict sexual health education and services for young people. If passed, they would effectively reduce school and public health sexual education messages to "abstinence-only," and school-based health clinics would be out of the business of providing access to contraceptives. On April 11, conferee Sen. Pat Piper (DFL-Austin) pushed to have the bill's conference committee strike these provisions. Her motion was blocked by committee co-chair Rep. Alice Seagren (R-Bloomington). The only desirable outcome is complete rejection of this language. Compromise language would have a silencing effect that would be just as damaging. MAP is calling upon Senate conferees to hold tight in opposing adoption of any restrictive language, and for the Governor to weigh-in as an opposing voice.
The Senate and House passed SF1202 that revises procedures for handling occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens in emergency medical service, corrections and secure treatment facility settings. Work on the bill took place during the 1999 legislative session, but it was held in conference committee for the past year. Lead authors Sen. Allan Spear (DFL-Mpls) and Rep. Kevin Goodno (R-Moorhead) released the bill for a vote once agreement was achieved to include MAP-backed provisions ensuring protections for individuals who might face being tested in such situations. This was contingent on adding employees working in secure treatment facilities to the bill.
The Senate Health and Labor Committee approved a bill to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act. MN Sen. Paul Wellstone is among the bill's authors. Advancing a reauthorization proposal in the House is Rep. Tom Colburn (R-OK) whose past legislative proposals have consistently stood at odds with proven strategies for effective HIV prevention and care. His reauthorization proposals include use of CARE Act funds for partner notification. Typically, partner notification services have been supported through federal prevention grants. Colburn would shift resources from primary health care and community-based social services to partner notification. MAP, as a member of AIDS Action Council, will continue work on CARE Act Reauthorization through the summer and fall. For current information about reauthorization, check-out AIDS Action Council's web site at www.aidsaction.org.
Protect Comprehensive Sexual Health Education
Calls, e-mails and letters are needed now to urge the Governor to oppose restrictions on comprehensive sexual health education and services for minors.
Governor Ventura
Room 130 State Capitol
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-0504 (Metro)
1-800-657-3717 (Toll Free)
1-880-234-1216 (TDD)
E-mail: governor@state.mn.us
MESSAGE TO VENTURA
"I urge you to oppose restrictions on comprehensive sexual health education and services for young people proposed in the Education Finance Omnibus Bill. "
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