May 21, 2008 Vol. 14. No. 17

In This Issue:

1. Minnesota Update: Session Wrap Up

2. Federal Update: PEPFAR Update
   
   

Minnesota Update: Session Wrap Up

Back in February, the Minnesota AIDS Project laid out a legislative agenda focused on HIV prevention, with a commitment to preserving any existing HIV prevention and service funds. While the final outcome of the session had mixed results, we were successful overall in continuing the strong presence for HIV policy at the Capitol.

Responsible Sex Ed Bill:
The Coalition for Responsible Sex Ed, of which the Minnesota AIDS Project is a founding member, set out this session to get a bill passed and to the Governor. While we didn’t quite reach that goal, we keep inching forward. The sex ed bill passed off both the House and Senate floors and was included for the first time in both sides going into conference committee. Unfortunately, sex ed legislation was not included coming out of conference committee, after failed negotiations with the Department of Education staff, the Governor’s staff, and the Minnesota Family Council. The sex ed bill authors, Sen. Sandy Pappas and Rep. Neva Walker, attempted to pass a stand alone bill with compromise language. The proposed compromise was an attempt to improve the current STD education statute, but because this compromise was still met with opposition from the Minnesota Family Council, a final bill was not sent to the Governor.

We couldn’t continue to move this issue forward without our authors and advocates Senator Sandy Pappas (Use Mail Form) and Representative Neva Walker (rep.neva.walker@house.mn). Please join us in thanking them for their strong voices in support of Minnesota youth receiving the complete and accurate information they need to make safe and healthy decisions.

The Minnesota AIDS Project supports this legislation because we know that responsible sex ed programs can help to prevent HIV infection.

HIV Education Bill:
Rep. Paul Thissen and Sen. Scott Dibble introduced legislation to require the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health to conduct an ongoing public education campaign, providing the general public with basic HIV education about HIV transmission and ways to prevent HIV infection. While this bill didn’t advance this session, its introduction provided us with a good opportunity to educate legislators about the need for basic HIV education. Look for more legislation of this kind in the future.

Budget Resolution:
After learning of the budget deficit last November and the updated budget deficit numbers released in February, we knew that one of our revised goals for the session would need to be protection of any HIV prevention programs or services from cuts. All in all, in spite of a $935 million budget deficit, we were successful. In the final budget deal, Departments of Human Services and Health grants took a 1.8 percent cut. It’s not yet clear what this might specifically mean for HIV programs. One other important element in the budget fix was a restructuring of the way Department of Human Services’ HIV grants are funded. A one-time shift of dollars from the General Fund to a special drug rebate fund was included in the final budget deal. The Legislature and Governor approved this with the commitment that these general fund dollars will be re-funded next year. However, because legislators will likely face a large budget deficit again next year, this “re-funding” may not be an easy battle. It does look like this particular DHS program may not be subject to the 1.8 percent cut because of the temporary restructure of the funding source.

Health Care Reform Bill:
A bill passed the Legislature in the final hours that would expand the number of individuals eligible for Minnesota Care and will change some of the ways people with chronic illnesses manage their conditions. We’re still sorting through the details of this bill, but it appears that it could have some positive implications for people living with HIV in accessing health care resources.

Other Bills Supported by the Minnesota AIDS Project:
The Legislature passed and the Governor signed a bill that would allow individuals who test positive for Chlamydia or Gonorrhea to receive a prescription for treatment, but also to take one home for their partner. This bill was buried in a larger bill regulating pharmacies.

Legislation allowing local government entities the ability to modify the definition of dependent passed the Legislature, but was vetoed by Governor Pawlenty.

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Federal Update: PEPFAR Update

The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has passed the U.S. House but has been stalled in the Senate. A group of seven Senators have signed a hold letter, effectively preventing any action on the PEPFAR legislation. It is possible that the PEPFAR legislation will be shelved until next year for reauthorization because of this action. A “dear colleague” letter has been circulated to the seven Senators who are holding up the PEPFAR reauthorization to try to convince them to remove the hold letter. Senator Norm Coleman has signed on to this letter to influence his Republican counterparts. Please Thank Senator Coleman for working with his colleagues to pass PEPFAR.

Sample message
Thank you for working to influence your Republican colleagues to pass PEPFAR.

Contact Senator Coleman
Email Form
D.C. Office: 202-224-5641
St. Paul Office: 651-645-0323

The PEPFAR reauthorization bill would authorize $50 billion over five years for HIV, TB, and Malaria efforts and provide support for health workforce and systems strengthening.

Stay tuned to the HIV Action Network for future updates.

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Visit the HIV Action Network archive to see what you missed.

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For more information about what's of interest to you at the Minnesota State Capitol, visit the Web sites of our allies at OutFront Minnesota and Coalition for Responsible Sex Education .

The HIV Action Network email is published by the Minnesota AIDS Project every week while the Minnesota Legislature is in session, and bi-monthly during the rest of the year. It isavailable through the MAP web site mnaidsproject.org and through email list service. If you wish to receive the HIV Action Network email, visit our Join the HIV Action Network page, or contact MAP Public Policy by phone or email.

MAP Public Policy
Minnesota AIDS Project
1400 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404

612-373-2437
1-800-248-2437

public.policy@mnaidsproject.org

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Last Updated: Tuesday, June 17, 2008
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