| MAP
Advocate |
Vol.10 No. 6
February 9, 2004
Make Sure You're Heard! Register NOW for AIDS Action Day, February 18.
Legislators went back to work last week and we've seen bills dealing with health care reform and comprehensive sex ed already entered into the debate. Between now and AIDS Action Day on February 18, the debate is bound to heat up. It is up to you to make sure that HIV issues don't get lost in the shuffle. Throughout the session, the MAP Advocate will tell you lots of ways you can do that, but the biggest one is to come to AIDS Action Day on Feb. 18. Register now. Legislators' schedules are filling up, but there is still time to make sure you, the constituent, can get a few minutes to tell them what role they need to play in Minnesota's fight against HIV. We'll give you the tools you need to be a lobbyist for the day. You just need to come to the Capitol - it's that easy. But first, you have to register.
[Please note, the date for AIDS Action Day has been changed from February 12 to February 18.]
Minnesota Precinct Caucuses Set for March 2
Make plans to join your neighbors for precinct caucuses on March 2. Caucuses are much more than a step in the election of a president. The precinct caucuses are how we endorse candidates for the Minnesota Legislature (all members of the House of Representatives are up for reelection this year) and how the major parties set their platforms. Check the Vote section of the public policy page of mnaidsproject.org for more on how you can get involved.
Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Advocates Ready for Session
MAP will be involved with introducing the Comprehensive Family Life and Sexuality Education Act this year as part of its partnership with Sex Ed For Life-MN. The bill aims to ensure that students in Minnesota will have receive information that is current, medically-accurate using strategies that science has shown work in helping young people to make responsible decisions. Watch for introduction the week of February 16, in time for AIDS Action Day. This past week, Sen. John Marty has introduced SF1665, the Unintended Pregnancy and Abortion Prevention bill encompassing many aspects of sexual health education in addition to family planning grants. MAP and Sex Ed For Life-MN support this bill. Rep. Connie Bernardy (DFL-Fridley) has introduced HF 1931 reinstating the health requirement to Minnesota's graduation standards that quietly got eliminated last year when the State's Profiles of Learning standards got tossed out. MAP and Sex Ed For Life also support this bill. As you can see, advocates for sound information around sexual health already have many positive bills they can support, but should keep an eye out for attacks on sex ed as well as attempts to promote abstinence-only until marriage curriculum. Check the Bill Tracker on the public policy page of mnaidsproject.org to stay informed.
Minor's Consent In Jeopardy This Session
Last year's efforts to repeal a minor's assurance of confidentiality when seeking health care dealing with sexual health, chemical dependency and mental health are still alive going into the 2004 session. Although they did not get a hearing last year, HF352/SF570 are still pending and, according to several lawmakers, have a real chance of passing into law this year. Advocates of youth health are very concerned about this as minor's consent serves as an important gateway to get young people health care that they may not seek if there was no guarantee of confidentiality. Studies show that without confidentiality, only 15 percent of young people would seek medical care for STDs. 80 percent of unmarried adolescent females would not seek birth control, while less than 1 percent would discontinue sexual activity. For health care providers, minor's consent getting young people into the clinic often serves as the bridge necessary to get the parents involved with their teen. MAP Facts contains talking points you need on minor's consent. Keep checking the Bill Tracker on the public policy page of mnaidsproject.org for more information on what you can do.
Twenty-one percent of the new HIV infections in Minnesota during 2002 were among African-born residents. Of those infections, over half were among women. The global epidemic is very much in our very own backyard. Yet, "no new taxes" governance resulted in reductions in state spending for HIV prevention in 2002 at the very time when the epidemic is expanding to affect yet another community vulnerable to health disparities. The Minnesota Department of Health STD/HIV Health Education and Risk Reduction team is trying to respond. They have taken a few extra dollars from the annual grant they get from the feds to put into funding a handful of Minnesota African community groups with grants of $10,000 or less to promote awareness about the expanding HIV epidemic. But, this is hardly enough when a major public awareness campaign targeting Minnesota's African communities is really what is needed. MAP is working with lawmakers in the Minnesota House and Senate to secure a one-time, $300,000 special appropriation during the 2004 legislative session. The funding would be used during 2004 and 2005 to support a major public awareness campaign targeting Minnesota's African communities. A consortium of community-based organizations will come together to implement a campaign intended to promote general knowledge and awareness about HIV and dispel misperceptions, encourage HIV testing, and link people living with HIV to HIV health care and prevention services. MAP is working toward having this bill introduced the week of February 16. Learn more by visiting the Bill Tracker on the public policy page of mnaidsproject.org.
While sexual health education debates may be all the rage in the political arena, Americans by and large have their minds made up - teaching young people a comprehensive message around sexuality is the right thing to do. A report commissioned by the Kaiser Family Foundation, National Public Radio and the Kennedy School found that 93 percent of Americans support sex education in schools. Although there is some disagreement on what should be taught, only 15 percent support an abstinence-only message, while a huge majority support teaching either abstinence-plus or sex ed without the abstinence message that instead focuses on decision making . But in spite of the preferences of most Americans, yet another "gift" from Texas will be included in the budget this year. President Bush has called for an increase in funding for abstinence-only until marriage programs similar to what has been tried - and is failing - in Texas. Read the News & Views on the public policy page of mnaidsproject.org to find out more about the survey's findings.
Youth health advocates can mark their first battle of the year after the community came together to save the Minnesota Student Survey. Last week, Education Commissioner Sherri Pearson Yecke issued an over-reaching decision that school districts administering the survey needed to obtain active parental permission before a student could take the survey. Such action would have invalidated the results, wasting resources and rendering the survey useless. Why does it matter? The Minnesota Student Survey is the one tool we have to measure the health and behavior of young people in this state. It was the Minnesota Student Survey that allowed us to report to you that sexual activity was down in young people and contraceptive use was up since Minnesota started doing HIV education, as well as other information on alcohol and tobacco use, violence and other areas critical to youth health. A coalition of youth health advocates, school superintendents and researchers rallied around this issue, forcing the Pawlenty administration to back down on their ruling, allowing the survey to go forward. Check News and Views on the public policy page of mnaidsproject.org for more information.
Should AIDS drug treatments continue to be the cost of a new car every year? What is really driving up the cost of health care? Is it malpractice insurance? A 400 percent increase in AIDS drugs? How much did your premiums go up last year? What about your co-pay? On Wednesday, a Minnesota Senate committee heard a bill introduced by Sen. Linda Higgins (DFL-Minneapolis) that would attempt to control rising costs by creating joint purchasing pools to increase leverage in negotiating drug prices. Also last week, a House committee heard Rep. Fran Bradley's (R-Rochester) bill that focused on cutting costs by limiting malpractice insurance awards. Added to the debate will be a series of specific recommendations expected to come out of a special task force the Governor appointed that is being chaired by former U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger. Controlling health care costs is an issue that will be in play during this legislative session. Where do you think you'll stand?
MAP Advocate is published by the Minnesota AIDS Project every two weeks while the Minnesota Legislature is in session, and monthly during the rest of the year. It is available through the MAP web site mnaidsproject.org and through email list service. If you wish to order the MAP Advocate, visit our Join the Action Network page, or contact MAP Public Policy by phone or email.
MAP Public Policy
Minnesota AIDS Project
1400 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-341-2060
800-373-2437
publicpolicy@mnaidsproject.org
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