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Dear  , 

This is YOUR MAP Advocate Update!

MAP Advocate

Your AIDS Advocacy Update 

Vol. 9 No. 11 - May 1, 2003

 

* Take Action! Call your State Senator

* House Acts to Limit Minors Consent

* Senate Omnibus Bills Take Shape this Week 

* House Approves Abstinence-only Curriculum Mandate

* House Rejected "No Promo Homo" Amendment 

* Hyde Bill for African Aid Passes

 

Take Action!  Call Your Senator

 

In a late, late night move, the House adopted an amendment to the
health and human services budget bill that eliminated minors' access
to confidential health care.  This amendment is very likely to be
introduced in the Senate.  Advocates should contact their State
Senators and urge them to oppose ANY effort during its debate on the
health and human services budget bill to change the State minors
consent law.

 

While you have them on the phone, tell then you support comprehensive
sexual health education.  Perhaps the most crucial vote on sex
education is going to take place on the floor of the Minnesota Senate
on May 2nd or 3rd. While Senate education committee leaders support
clearly establishing comprehensive, technically accurate curriculum as
the standard for HIV and STI prevention education, others backed by
the Minnesota Family Council will try to get the full Senate to accept
an abstinence until marriage/condoms don't work approach. Now it the
time to place a phone call or click and e-mail to your State Senator
urging them to hold firm in support of Minnesota's current mandate for
comprehensive, technically accurate sexual health education in
schools, and to oppose abstinence-until-marriage mandates. [Updated:
05.01.03]

 

To identify your state senator, go to MAP's Talk to Your Legislator
page.

http://www.mnaidsproject.org/policy/talkleg.htm

 

House Acts to Limit Minors Consent

 

Under a provision introduced by Mary Ellen Otremba (DFL- Long
Prairie), the Minnesota House approved an amendment to the health and
human services bill that eliminated minors' access to confidential
health care.  Providers would still be able to provide treatment for
sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, and alcohol and drug abuse
on the consent of a patient who is a minor, but cannot extend
confidentiality to the treatment.  A minor's parent would have access
to the medical records.  Rep. Davnie (DFL-Mpls) introduced an
amendment that would have limited parental access to records only if
the minor had given consent.  The Davnie amendment was not adopted. 
It is expected opponents to the minors' consent law will attempt add
the amendment to the Senate's health and human services bill when it
is debated on either May 2nd or 3rd.  It is critical that the Senate
NOT adopt this amendment, and leave the issue to be resolved as part
of end-of-session conference committee deliberations.

 

Senate Omnibus Bills Take Shape this Week 

 

They're called "omnibus bills" because they include almost everything
the legislature has been working on this session in terms of policy
changes and budgeting. MAP is watching the E-12 omnibus bill to make
sure it includes a provision clearly establishing inclusive and
comprehensive sexual health education as the standard for teaching in
the schools about preventing HIV and sexually transmitted infections. 

 

Senate Education Committee leaders are recommending $250,000 to
reinstate funding for the five HIV/STI regional training sites that
serve school districts throughout the state. This provision was
originally in the E-12 budget bill, which has now been folded into the
Senate's tax bill. The Senate's economic development and jobs bill
also includes $75,000 in renewed funding for HIV workplace education.
Big questions still hang over how the Senate will address managing the
impact of escalating health care costs on the state's health and human
services budget. [Updated: 05.01.03]

We'll keep up-to-date information on the MAP Web site as committees
finish work on these bills through the coming week; please check this
site frequently.

 

House Approves Abstinence-only Curriculum Mandate

 

The Minnesota House approved the E-12 education finance bill that
included an abstinence-until-marriage curriculum mandate for all
school districts. In addition to offering a comprehensive sexual
health curriculum to teach about HIV and STD prevention, schools will
also have to offer courses or teach health ed sections based on an
abstinence-until-marriage/condoms-don't work curriculum. The bill
contains no additional funding for schools to implement this costly
new mandate. Throughout the process advocates of comprehensive sexual
health education raised their voices to protest the cost of this
mandate, along with the fact that this curriculum has never been shown
to be effective in delaying sexual activity or reducing HIV, STIs or
unplanned pregnancies. This is sure to be an issue in conference
committee and advocates will once again be needed to contact
legislators and encourage them to do the right thing for young people
in Minnesota. [Updated: 05.01.03] The health and human services
funding bill includes numerous provisions that will reduce access to
health coverage for low-income individuals and families. The bill also
includes provisions that may limit access to pharmaceutical
treatments. [Keep an eye on the MAP Web Site "Bill Tracker" for more
information. This bill is scheduled for debated by the full House
during the evening 05.01.03. In the past, the bill has been a target
for "no promo homo" amendments.] 

 

Despite efforts by Rep. Karen Clark [DFL-Mpls] to continue funding for
HIV workplace education, no dollars were included for this service in
the jobs and economic development committee. The House approved the
final version of this bill. Its next stop is conference committee.
[Updated: 05.01.03]

 

House Rejected "No Promo Homo" Amendment

 

Rep. Dan Severson (R-Sauk Rapids) attempted to add an amendment to the
House E-12 Budget Bill stating that nothing in state law should be
interpreted to allow homosexuality to be "promoted as an acceptable
lifestyle". The amendment specifically targeted schools, and was
specifically designed to prohibit schools from addressing
homosexuality through curriculum used to satisfy the HIV and STD
prevention education mandate.

During the floor debate, the author refused to offer examples of what
activities would be prohibited under his amendment, or examples of any
problems in Minnesota schools. The House narrowly approved an
amendment by Rep. Karen Clark (DFL-Minneapolis) that stated tolerance,
violence prevention, discrimination prevention, and supportive
counseling would not prohibited under the Severson amendment. Rep. Ron
Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park) offered another amendment intended to
prohibit schools from "promoting" any sexual activity. The process
started to bog-down, and frustrated by the amendments, Severson
withdrew is proposal.

 

Advocates need to thank Rep. Clark, Rep. Phyllis Kahn
(DFL-Minneapolis), Rep Michael Paymar (DFL-St. Paul), Rep. Jim Davnie
(DFL-Minneapolis) and Rep. Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park) for
courageously and articulately speaking out in an effort to stop this
otherwise harmful attack on health for GLBTQ youth and effective
HIV/STD prevention. [Updated: 05.01.03]

 

Hyde Bill for African Aid Passes 

 

Rep. Henry Hyde [R-IL] recently led a bi-partisan effort in the U.S.
House of Representatives to craft a plan for implementing the $15
billion African AIDS initiative announced by the President in January.
The bill authorized allocations of $3 billion annually, with $1
billion appropriated through the Global AIDS Fund. Half of the funding
will be used to provide access to HIV drug treatments and a third for
prevention. Unfortunately, amendments were added to the bill requiring
a third of the prevention money be set aside for
abstinence-until-marriage initiatives, and organizations receiving
money were allowed to refuse to offer services such as condom
distribution based on "conscience objections." The bill had come under
fire by conservatives because it does not press an abstinence
education focus and promotes US collective action through the Global
AIDS Fund. Representative Betty McCollum [D-MN] helped draft the Hyde
Bill. 

 

On the Senate side, US Senator Norm Coleman [R-MN] serves on the
committee responsible for drafting a Senate plan. It is MAP's hope
that the bipartisan, results-oriented plan set forth in the Hyde bill
and not ideology-driven proposals will be reflected in the bill that
comes out of the Coleman committee. [Updated: 05.01.03]


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<html>
<head>
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<P><IMG alt=3D"" src=3D"http://register.mnaidsproject.org/images/content/pa=
gebuilder/10797.jpg" border=3D0></P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>Dear&nbsp; ,&nbsp; </P>
<P>This is YOUR MAP Advocate Update!</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3><STRONG>MAP Advocate</STRONG></FON=
T></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3><STRONG>Your AIDS Advocacy Update =
</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3><STRONG>Vol. 9 No. 11 - May 1, 200=
3</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>* Take Action! Call your State Sen=
ator</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>* House Acts to Limit Minors Conse=
nt</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>* Senate Omnibus Bills Take Shape =
this Week </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>* House Approves Abstinence-only C=
urriculum Mandate</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>* House Rejected "No Promo Homo" A=
mendment </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; TEXT-=
ALIGN: justify; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: .2in"><SPAN style=
=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT siz=
e=3D3>* Hyde Bill for African Aid Passes</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; TEXT-=
ALIGN: justify; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: .2in"><SPAN style=
=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT siz=
e=3D3></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3><STRONG>Take Action!<SPAN style=3D=
"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Call Your Senator</STRONG></FONT></SPAN><=
/P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt"><SP=
AN style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>=
In a late, late night move, the House adopted an amendment to the health an=
d human services budget bill that eliminated minors' access to confidential=
 health care.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>This amendment=
 is very likely to be introduced in the Senate.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun:=
 yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Advocates should contact their State Senators and urge =
them to oppose ANY effort during its debate on the health and human service=
s budget bill to change the State minors consent law.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt"><SP=
AN style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>=
</FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>While you have them on the phone, =
tell then you support comprehensive sexual health education.<SPAN style=3D"=
mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Perhaps the most crucial vote on sex educa=
tion is going to take place on the floor of the Minnesota Senate on May 2nd=
 or 3rd. While Senate education committee leaders support clearly establish=
ing comprehensive, technically accurate curriculum as the standard for HIV =
and STI prevention education, others backed by the Minnesota Family Council=
 will try to get the full Senate to accept an abstinence until marriage/con=
doms don't work approach. Now it the time to place a phone call or click an=
d e-mail to your State Senator urging them to hold firm in support of Minne=
sota's current mandate for comprehensive, technically accurate sexual healt=
h education in schools, and to oppose abstinence-until-marriage mandates. [=
Updated: 05.01.03]</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>To identify your state senator, go=
 to MAP's Talk to Your Legislator page.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 0in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in">=
<SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt=
"><FONT size=3D3><A href=3D"http://www.mnaidsproject.org/policy/talkleg.htm=
">http://www.mnaidsproject.org/policy/talkleg.htm</A></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3><STRONG>House Acts to Limit Minors=
 Consent</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3><STRONG></STRONG></FONT></SPAN>&nb=
sp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>Under a provision introduced by Ma=
ry Ellen Otremba (DFL- Long Prairie), the Minnesota House approved an amend=
ment to the health and human services bill that eliminated minors' access t=
o confidential health care.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>=
Providers would still be able to provide treatment for sexually transmitted=
 diseases, pregnancy, and alcohol and drug abuse on the consent of a patien=
t who is a minor, but cannot extend confidentiality to the treatment.<SPAN =
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>A minor's parent would have acces=
s to the medical records.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Re=
p. Davnie (DFL-Mpls) introduced an amendment that would have limited parent=
al access to records only if the minor had given consent.<SPAN style=3D"mso=
-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>The Davnie amendment was not adopted.<SPAN st=
yle=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>It is expected opponents to the min=
ors' consent law will attempt add the amendment to the Senate's health and =
human services bill when it is debated on either May 2nd or 3rd.<SPAN style=
=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>It is critical that the Senate NOT ado=
pt this amendment, and leave the issue to be resolved as part of end-of-ses=
sion conference committee deliberations.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none">&nbsp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3><STRONG>Senate Omnibus Bills Take =
Shape this Week</STRONG> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>They're called "omnibus bills" bec=
ause they include almost everything the legislature has been working on thi=
s session in terms of policy changes and budgeting. MAP is watching the E-1=
2 omnibus bill to make sure it includes a provision clearly establishing in=
clusive and comprehensive sexual health education as the standard for teach=
ing in the schools about preventing HIV and sexually transmitted infections=
. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>Senate Education Committee leaders=
 are recommending $250,000 to reinstate funding for the five HIV/STI region=
al training sites that serve school districts throughout the state. This pr=
ovision was originally in the E-12 budget bill, which has now been folded i=
nto the Senate's tax bill. The Senate's economic development and jobs bill =
also includes $75,000 in renewed funding for HIV workplace education. Big q=
uestions still hang over how the Senate will address managing the impact of=
 escalating health care costs on the state's health and human services budg=
et. [Updated: 05.01.03]</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>We'll keep up-to-date information =
on the MAP Web site as committees finish work on these bills through the co=
ming week; please check this site frequently.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3><STRONG>House Approves Abstinence-=
only Curriculum Mandate</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3><STRONG></STRONG></FONT></SPAN>&nb=
sp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>The Minnesota House approved the E=
-12 education finance bill that included an abstinence-until-marriage curri=
culum mandate for all school districts. In addition to offering a comprehen=
sive sexual health curriculum to teach about HIV and STD prevention, school=
s will also have to offer courses or teach health ed sections based on an a=
bstinence-until-marriage/condoms-don't work curriculum. The bill contains n=
o additional funding for schools to implement this costly new mandate. Thro=
ughout the process advocates of comprehensive sexual health education raise=
d their voices to protest the cost of this mandate, along with the fact tha=
t this curriculum has never been shown to be effective in delaying sexual a=
ctivity or reducing HIV, STIs or unplanned pregnancies. This is sure to be =
an issue in conference committee and advocates will once again be needed to=
 contact legislators and encourage them to do the right thing for young peo=
ple in Minnesota. [Updated: 05.01.03] The health and human services funding=
 bill includes numerous provisions that will reduce access to health covera=
ge for low-income individuals and families. The bill also includes provisio=
ns that may limit access to pharmaceutical treatments. [Keep an eye on the =
MAP Web Site "Bill Tracker" for more information. This bill is scheduled fo=
r debated by the full House during the evening 05.01.03. In the past, the b=
ill has been a target for "no promo homo" amendments.] </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>Despite efforts by Rep. Karen Clar=
k [DFL-Mpls] to continue funding for HIV workplace education, no dollars we=
re included for this service in the jobs and economic development committee=
. The House approved the final version of this bill. Its next stop is confe=
rence committee. [Updated: 05.01.03]</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3><STRONG>House Rejected "No Promo H=
omo" Amendment</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>Rep. Dan Severson (R-Sauk Rapids) =
attempted to add an amendment to the House E-12 Budget Bill stating that no=
thing in state law should be interpreted to allow homosexuality to be "prom=
oted as an acceptable lifestyle". The amendment specifically targeted schoo=
ls, and was specifically designed to prohibit schools from addressing homos=
exuality through curriculum used to satisfy the HIV and STD prevention educ=
ation mandate.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>During the floor debate, the autho=
r refused to offer examples of what activities would be prohibited under hi=
s amendment, or examples of any problems in Minnesota schools. The House na=
rrowly approved an amendment by Rep. Karen Clark (DFL-Minneapolis) that sta=
ted tolerance, violence prevention, discrimination prevention, and supporti=
ve counseling would not prohibited under the Severson amendment. Rep. Ron L=
atz (DFL-St. Louis Park) offered another amendment intended to prohibit sch=
ools from "promoting" any sexual activity. The process started to bog-down,=
 and frustrated by the amendments, Severson withdrew is proposal.</FONT></S=
PAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>Advocates need to thank Rep. Clark=
, Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Minneapolis), Rep Michael Paymar (DFL-St. Paul), R=
ep. Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis) and Rep. Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park) for=
 courageously and articulately speaking out in an effort to stop this other=
wise harmful attack on health for GLBTQ youth and effective HIV/STD prevent=
ion. [Updated: 05.01.03]</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3><STRONG>Hyde Bill for African Aid =
Passes </STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>Rep. Henry Hyde [R-IL] recently le=
d a bi-partisan effort in the U.S. House of Representatives to craft a plan=
 for implementing the $15 billion African AIDS initiative announced by the =
President in January. The bill authorized allocations of $3 billion annuall=
y, with $1 billion appropriated through the Global AIDS Fund. Half of the f=
unding will be used to provide access to HIV drug treatments and a third fo=
r prevention. Unfortunately, amendments were added to the bill requiring a =
third of the prevention money be set aside for abstinence-until-marriage in=
itiatives, and organizations receiving money were allowed to refuse to offe=
r services such as condom distribution based on "conscience objections." Th=
e bill had come under fire by conservatives because it does not press an ab=
stinence education focus and promotes US collective action through the Glob=
al AIDS Fund. Representative Betty McCollum [D-MN] helped draft the Hyde Bi=
ll. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; mso-l=
ayout-grid-align: none"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; ms=
o-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: bl=
ack; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3D3>On the =
Senate side, US Senator Norm Coleman [R-MN] serves on the committee respons=
ible for drafting a Senate plan. It is MAP's hope that the bipartisan, resu=
lts-oriented plan set forth in the Hyde bill and not ideology-driven propos=
als will be reflected in the bill that comes out of the Coleman committee. =
[Updated: 05.01.03]</FONT></SPAN></P>
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