Bill Tracker

AIDSLine, HIV information and referral service

Updated: May 30, 2007

Legislature Funds MAP AIDSLine, but Governor Vetoes

Funding for the MAP AIDSLine was included in the final Health and Human Services funding bill at $80,000 per year. Unfortunately, this provision was line item vetoed by Governor Pawlenty. The Minnesota AIDS Project will continue to seek out ways to fund this vital service, as it is critical to the infrastructure in Minnesota for HIV prevention and services. Many legislators deserve to be thanked for their steadfast work in moving the AIDSLine funding through the legislative process, including bill authors Sen. Scott Dibble and Rep. Jim Davnie and Health Committee chairs Sen. Linda Berglin and Rep. Karen Clark.

Updated: May 16, 2007

The Health and Human Services Conference Committee has included funding for the AIDSLine in the conference committee report in the amount of $80,000 per year. The original request was to fund the AIDSLine at $160,000 per year.

Governor Pawlenty vetoed this bill last week. The Governor’s veto will result in changes to the bill. Stay tuned to the MAP Advocate for future updates on the AIDSLine and Foreign-born HIV prevention funding.

Updated: April 27, 2007

TAKE ACTION: Contact Your Elected Official Today!

Support Funding for the AIDSLine

The Health and Human Services Conference Committee will decide whether or not to include funding for the AIDSLine in the Final Health Omnibus bill. This bill will be sent to Governor Pawlenty. Call conference committee members and ask them to support the AIDSLine funding!

Sample Message:
Hi Representative/Senator _________. Please adopt the Senate position of funding for the AIDSLine at $160,000 per year in the Health and Human Services Conference Committee. If you have any questions, you can contact me at _________. Thank you for your time!

Updated: April 25, 2007

AIDSLine Funding Passes Off the House Floor

The MAP AIDSLine bill was included in the House floor discussion on Friday, April 20 as part of the House Health Omnibus Bill. An amendment was proposed by Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Delano) to redirect the funding from the MAP AIDSLine to the Education Now and Babies Later (ENABL) Program - an abstinence-only program that is targeted at teens and has been proven to be ineffective. Emmer's amendment failed 49-82. Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis), the bill’s author, as well as Rep. Ron Erhardt (R-Edina) spoke against the Emmer amendment. The bill will now be heard in conference committee, where 5 members from both the House and the Senate will get together to work out the differences between the versions of the bill that passed in the Senate and the House.

Updated: April 5, 2007

AIDSLine Funding Legislation Update

The AIDSLine legislation has been included in the Senate Health Omnibus bill at the $320,000 requested and the House Health Omnibus bill at a reduced appropriation of $160,000 for the biennium (every two years). This is very good news, however, there are still quite a few steps left in this process, including two floor votes, conference committee, and the Governor.

TAKE ACTION: Senator Linda Berglin—612-296-4261
Call Senator Linda Berglin [DFL-MPLS] and thank her for including full funding for the AIDSLine in the Senate Health Omnibus bill.

Updated: March 26, 2007

AIDSLine Bill Included in the Senate Health Omnibus Bill

The AIDSLine is included the Senate Health Omnibus bill but not yet in House Omnibus bill.

Updated: March 22, 2007

The AIDSLine legislation has been heard in the House and the Senate Health Finance Committees. This legislation will now be considered for inclusion in the House and Senate’s Health Omnibus bill (huge bill).

Updated: March 8, 2007

House Committee Hearing Update—AIDSLine Legislation
On Wednesday, March 7 the AIDSLine bill was heard in the House Public Health Finance Committee. The AIDSLine will now be considered for inclusion in the final House Health bill. There is still a lot of work to do so keep contacting your legislators about this legislation.

Updated: March 1, 2007

MAP AIDSLine Legislation to be Heard in the House Public Health Finance Committee on March 7

Legislation to restore funding for the MAP AIDSLine has been introduced in the Minnesota Legislature. The AIDSLine is a critical piece of Minnesota’s HIV prevention system. It provides vital HIV prevention information over the phone, in person, and online. The Minnesota AIDS Project thanks Senator Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) and Representative Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis) for authoring this legislation (Senate File 678, House File 942). The AIDSLine will be heard in the House Public Health Finance Committee hearing on Wednesday, March 7.

Take Action:
Contact the Committee Members and ask them to support the AIDSLine legislation.
Attend the House Public Health Finance Division Committee hearing at 10 am in Room 5 at the State Office Building.

Updated: February 23, 2007

Senate Committee Hearing Update
On Wednesday, February 21 the AIDSLine bill was heard in the Senate Health Budget Committee. It passed on a voice vote and will now be considered for inclusion in the final Senate Health bill. There is still a lot of work to do so keep contacting your legislators about this legislation.

Updated: February 20, 2007

AIDSLine Legislation Will Be Heard Wednesday in the Senate Health Budget Committee

Tomorrow the Senate Health and Human Services Budget Division will be hearing testimony on a bill that would provide state funding to support the AIDSLine. The AIDSLine has experienced funding cuts in recent years due to unfortunate cuts in federal HIV prevention dollars. This legislation would restore cuts to the AIDSLine.

Help the AIDSLine legislation advance by taking action.

Take Action: 
Contact the Committee Members and ask them to support the AIDSLine legislation.

Updated: February 14, 2007

AIDSLine Legislation Introduced in the House and Senate

Legislation to restore funding for the AIDSLine in Minnesota has been introduced in the state Senate and House. The AIDSLine is a critical piece of Minnesota’s HIV prevention system. It provides vital HIV prevention information over the phone, in person, and online. The Minnesota AIDS Project thanks Senator Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) and Representative Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis) for authoring this legislation. As stated in the section above, the AIDSLine will be heard in the Senate Health Budget Committee tomorrow morning. Currently there is not yet a committee hearing scheduled in the House. Stay tuned to the MAP Advocate for future updates. Read more about the AIDSLine.

Track the Bills
Senate File 678
House File 942

Last Updated: Wednesday, November 28, 2007
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