AAP-CA Legislative Advocacy - Year-End Summary for 2008
In this update:
For questions, please contact Kris Calvin (aapkris@mac.com or 626-825-7444)
An essential component of our state AAP-CA advocacy is the leadership and efforts of the State Government Affairs (SGA) Committee. In 2008, the SGA Committee reviewed hundreds of bills and advised the AAP-CA as to position and actions to take.
Each California Chapter has representation on this important committee. Chapter representatives met on advocacy issues via this committee 6 times during 2008, either by conference call or in-person meetings.
In 2008 the AAP-CA actively worked on 46 bills. Despite a dismal state budget year in California, which meant that most bills that required any state funding languished, AAP-CA successfully saw 22 of its 32 supported bills achieve final passage. Further, battling bad legislation can be every bit as important as enacting something new. 12 of the 14 bills opposed by AAP-CA were defeated. In total, 74% of AAP-CA bill objectives were achieved!
AAP-CA- supported measures that were successfully enacted include:
- Establishment of an umbilical cord blood collection program (AB 34)
- A Safe Routes to School construction program to support walking to school as part of childhood obesity prevention (AB 57)
- Ban on transfats in restaurants (AB 97)
- Restrictions on youth use of tanning facilities (AB 105)
- Passage of The Children‘s Breathing Rights Act (AB 233)
- Increased homeless assistance for families (AB 335)
- A resolution in support of increased SCHIP funding at the federal level (AJR 054)
- Whistleblower protections for health care facilities (AB 760)
- Firearm safety: microstamping (AB 1471)
- Foster children: extracurricular activity support (AB 2096)
- Teen dating violence prevention (ACR 6)
- Second-hand smoke: Ban on smoking in cars when children present (SB 7)
- Drag Racing prevention (prevalent among teens) (SB 67)
- Crisis nurseries (SB 104)
- Foster children: mental health services (SB 785)
- Nutritional posting - obesity prevention (SB 1420)
- Child Abuse Prevention Month (SCR 8)
The AAP-CA co-sponsored the following important legislation:
AB 2580 (Arambula) Middle School Pertussis Requirement. AAP-CA was a co-sponsor of AB 2580, along with the California Coalition for Childhood Immunization (C3I). This bill would require pertussis vaccination for middle school entry. Outcome: the bill died in the fiscal committee and will likely be reintroduced in the future. The strong coalition that was put into place to support it is an important step to future enactment of the bill.
The four California Chapters had active representation at the state-level through one or more dedicated AAP-CA representatives on each of the following advocacy coalitions:
- California Premature Infant Health Coalition Project: This coalition provides a setting where stakeholders can come together to jointly support policy, programs and resources necessary to serve the health and well-development of premature babies and their families.
- The Medical Leadership Council (MLC) on Cultural Proficiency: This is a statewide organization of physician and medical society leaders, health systems representatives, and advocates convened by The California Endowment to improve language access, workforce diversity, and cultural proficiency in health care.
- California Coalition for Childhood Immunization (C3I): C3I is a public/private partnership of leaders from various statewide organizations that are working together for improved levels of childhood immunization. The Coalition is dedicated to achieving and maintaining full immunization protection for all Californians to prevent disease, disability and death.
- Health Network for Clean Air (HNCA): This network of health organizations in California are committed to advocating for clean air legislation and regulations.
- Children‘s Roundtable: This is a Sacramento-based coalition of over 100 organizations committed to advocating for the well-being of children in health, education and foster care.
The four California Chapters provided strengthened advocacy communication to membership in 2008 through direct updates, the California Pediatrician magazine, and through the advocacy section of the aap-ca.org website. Communications include:
- February 25th Director‘s Update: California Budget: Health Care Takes Major Hits
- May 15th Director‘s Update: May Budget Revise
- July 10th Director‘s Update: Budget Update: Conference Committee Actions
- July 24th Director‘s Update: Budget Impasse: State Wages Temporarily Cut?
- August 11th Director‘s Update: AAP-CA Sponsored Bill: AB 2580 — Middle School Pertussis requirement
- November 6th Director‘s Update: Governor's Special Budget Session
- Fall 2008 California Pediatrician Director‘s Report: The Budget and AB 2580
The California Chapters also increased participation in their Annual Legislative Day in The Capitol in April 2008, gathering over 50 pediatricians, residents and medical students for advocacy training and visits with their legislators. Further, Chapters hosted advocacy trainings on-site for residents to ensure their understanding of AAP-CA's commitment to advocacy on those issues that mean most to pediatricians of the future.
To support the priority of advocacy on behalf of children and pediatricians, the Chapters retain a professional lobbyist on contract in Sacramento. In addition, the Chapters retain a District-Level full-time Executive Director/CEO, who works extensively to support the Chapters and their EDs in legislative advocacy and education.
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