All the legislative committees have big long agendas this week – as the deadline for bills to be head in their house of origin committees is rapidly approaching. So, this will be a busy week.
Our policy interns Tim Giblin and Annissa Biggane have been doing a great job tracking all the bills that we’re signed up for and against and monitoring amendments and the like. Here’s their detailed summary of all the various public health related bills and where they are in the system right now.
We have an Action Alert this week regarding some bills that will have a detrimental effect on vaccination rates- so please follow through on that this week- you can see more about that below.
Bills to Be Heard in Committee This Week
Monday
HB 2597 School Safety Plan Task Force (Hernandez) AzPHA Position: Yes
This well-researched bill came out of a workgroup established by students at Mountain View High School. It takes a proactive approach to prevent school violence. The Bill asks schools to develop plans to outline how teachers and staff will respond to crisis situations, how they respond to warning signs of emotional or behavioral distress among students, partnerships with agencies to refer students to support services, and what services they’ll provide after a violent incident. This important bill will be heard in the House Education Committee on Monday, February 18 at 2pm. We’re signed up in favor of the bill.
Tuesday
SB1399 School Health Pilot Program (Pace) AzPHA Position: Yes
This bill charges the AZ Department of Education with conducting a 3-year physical and health education professional development pilot program to improve the ability of physical and health educators in this state to provide high quality physical and health education to students in this state, improving student health and reducing Arizona health care cost containment 10 system and other health-related costs. Appropriates $9.5M for planning, implementing, and evaluating the pilot. This important bill will be heard in the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, February 18 at 2pm. We’re signed up in favor of the bill and I’ll be speaking in Committee.
Wednesday
SB 1165 Texting and Driving Prohibition (Brophy McGee) – AzPHA Position: YES
This bill prohibits using a hand-held cell phone while driving. There are some common-sense exemptions for example if the person is using it hands free etc. Penalties are a civil penalty (no driving points) with the first offense being between $75- $150 and the 2nd offense between $150 and $250. We are signed up in support of this bill. Will be heard in Senate Transportation Wednesday at 9 am. We’re signed up in favor of the bill and I’ll be speaking in Committee.
Thursday
HB 2471 Informed Consent (Barto) – AzPHA Position: Opposed
This bill would add a requirement that physicians provide to parents and guardians the full vaccine package insert and excipient summary for each vaccine that will be administered. Physicians already provide a Vaccine Information Summary to parents and guardians for each vaccine administered, which is noted in the medical record.
This new requirement would mandate provision of the 12-15 page insert, which is not presented in a format that incorporates health literacy principles. Hearing will be Thursday, February 21 at 9 am in the House of Representatives Health and Human Services Committee. We’re signed up opposed to the the bill and I’ll be speaking in Committee.
HB 2472 Vaccinations- Antibody Titer (Barto) – AzPHA Position: Opposed
These bills would mandate that doctors inform parents and guardians that antibody titer tests (which involve a venous draw) are an option in lieu of receiving a vaccination and that there are exemptions available for the state requirements for attending school. Hearing will be Thursday, February 21 at 9 am in the House of Representatives Health and Human Services Committee. Hearing will be Thursday, February 21 at 9 am in the House of Representatives Health and Human Services Committee. We’re signed up opposed to the bill and I’ll be speaking in Committee.
HB 2470 Vaccination Religious Exemptions (Barto) – AzPHA Position: Opposed
This bill would add an additional exemption to the school vaccine requirements into state law. Currently there are medical and personal exemptions. The bill doesn’t include any verification of the religious exemption from a religious leader, just a declaration from the parent that they are opposed to vaccines on religious grounds. Hearing will be Thursday, February 21 at 9 am in the House of Representatives Health and Human Services Committee. We’re signed up opposed to the bill and I’ll be speaking in Committee.
ACTION ALERT: Please contact the following Representatives and let them know that you oppose HB 2470, HB 2471 & 2472 as they will decrease immunization coverage and jeopardize herd immunity.
Please focus your attention on the lawmakers in bold- especially those of you that know them!
John Allen
Nancy Barto
Kelli Butler
Gail Griffin
Alma Hernandez
Jay Lawrence
Becky A. Nutt
Pamela Powers Hannley
Amish Shah
Bills Heard in Committee Last Week
SB 1247 Residential Care Institutions (Brophy McGee) AzPHA Position: Yes
This good bill will require more robust staffing background checks for facilities that provide services for children and will remove the “deemed status” designation for child residential behavioral health facilities. Under current law, facilities in this category (e.g. Southwest Key) can be accredited by a third party (e.g. Council on Accreditation) and avoid annual surprise inspections by the ADHS.
This intervention will provide more oversight to ensure background checks are done and that the facilities are compliant with state regulations. This bill passed through the Senate Health & Human Services this week and will be moving to the floor.
SB 1211 Intermediate Care Facilities (Carter) AzPHA Position: Yes
Like SB 1247, this bill closes a licensing loophole. This good bill will require more robust staffing background checks for facilities that provide services to people with disabilities at intermediate care facilities. These facilities would also require a license to operate from the Arizona Department of Health Services beginning on January 1, 2020.
Under current law these facilities (Hacienda de los Angeles and similar facilities run by the ADES are exempt from state licensing requirements. This Bill passed the Senate Health & Human Services this week and will be moving to the floor.
SB 1088 Dental Care During Pregnancy (Carter) AzPHA Position: Yes
This bill would expand AHCCCS covered services to include comprehensive dental coverage during pregnancy and appropriate the required state match funding. Passed the Senate Health & Human Services Committee on 1/23. This Bill passed through the Senate Appropriation Committee this week and will be headed to the floor next.
HB 2073 Vapor Products; Regulation (Shope) – AzPHA Position: Opposed
This bill would basically set up a quasi-regulatory program at the ADHS to license electronic cigarette manufacturers in Arizona and specify that only licensed electronic cigarette manufacturers can sell products in Arizona. It gives no regulatory authority to the ADHS to enforce that vape shops get licensed and they only must do it every 5 years. There are no penalties for noncompliance and penalties are against the purchaser instead of the retailer. This bill passed the House Health Committee by a 5-4 vote this week.
Bills that Have Passed a Chamber
SB 1009 Electronic Cigarettes, Tobacco Sales (Carter) – AzPHA Position: YES
Expands the definition of tobacco products to include e-cigarettes. Among other things, it’ll make it clear that it’s illegal to sell e-cigarettes to minors. The penalty for selling to minors remains at $5K. Unanimously passed in the full Senate and was transmitted to the House this week.
SB 1040 Maternal Mortality Report (Brophy-McGee) – AzPHA Position: YES
This bill would require the Child Fatality Review Team subcommittee on maternal mortality to compile an annual statistical report on the incidence and causes of “severe maternal morbidity” with recommendations for action. The current law requires a review of the data but no report.
