WE NEED YOUR HELP

Please, PLEASE forward to all your contacts in Washington state.

From Dawn Winkler of Health Advocacy in the Public Interest and a co-director of NVIC Advocacy in Colorado    www.hapihealth.com

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5005%20SBA%20HEA%2011.pdf

There are two bills in WA state that threaten the personal beliefs and religious exemptions. Both bills will mean that parents claiming a personal belief or religious exemption have to have a statement signed by a medical practitioner. Although the bills proposed allow state licensed naturopathic doctors to sign an exemption statement, the change would mean a paid visit to a naturopath for a non-medical exemption, in effect adding a "tax" to those choosing to forgo state mandated vaccines for school or daycare. This proposed law change will make it more difficult for parents making a conscientious choice to exempt their child/children from state mandates, and is just one more step in the direction of taking exemptions away. If we allow these bills to pass, we are allowing the state to tell us that we must

SB5005 is going to the Senate floor for a second reading, but will then have to go to the House. There will be opportunity for public testimony in a committee hearing on that side.

HB1015 is sitting in the House Rules Committee. If it gets out, it will go to the Senate. And, again, there will be opportunity for public testimony in the committee hearing.

There was testimony in opposition at one committee hearing, but none in the other hearing. My understanding is that this is the THIRD year this bill has been attempted. It was killed the prior two years but some of the key people responsible are gone. We need to get people to start contacting their legislators and figure out who might be able to go testify. These bills will make it through if there is no public testimony in opposition when they go through committee hearings again.  

I will put together the necessary information and get it on the NVIC's state portal, but in the meantime I am putting feelers out for those who are willing and able to testify in Olympia; no hearing dates have been set. There is a chance to kill HB1015 in Rules committee right now if enough people can call those members. That would be ideal so that it won't make it over to the Senate. Then there would only be one bill to fight instead of two.

This is the House Rules Committee List. Here's the link http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/RUL/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx

Representative Room Phone

Chopp, Frank (D) Chair LEG 339C (360) 786-7920

DeBolt, Richard (R) * LEG 335C (360) 786-7896

Angel, Jan (R) MOD A 105 (360) 786-7964

Armstrong, Mike (R) LEG 425B (360) 786-7832

Dahlquist, Cathy (R) MOD D 203 (360) 786-7846

Eddy, Deb (D) LEG 132D (360) 786-7848

Frockt, David (D) MOD D 104 (360) 786-7886

Goodman, Roger (D) MOD E 101 (360) 786-7878

Green, Tami (D) LEG 122H (360) 786-7958

Johnson, Norm (R) MOD G 103 (360) 786-7810

Kelley, Troy (D) MOD D 106 (360) 786-7890

Kretz, Joel (R) LEG 335A (360) 786-7988

Maxwell, Marcie (D) MOD D 103 (360) 786-7894

Moeller, Jim (D) LEG 429B (360) 786-7872

Orwall, Tina (D) MOD E 201 (360) 786-7834

Pettigrew, Eric (D) LEG 434B (360) 786-7838

Probst, Tim (D) MOD E 103 (360) 786-7994

Rivers, Ann (R) MOD A 203 (360) 786-7850

Ryu, Cindy (D) MOD F 106 (360) 786-7880

Schmick, Joe (R) MOD A 103 (360) 786-7844

Short, Shelly (R) MOD A 204 (360) 786-7908

Springer, Larry (D) LEG 132E (360) 786-7822

Sullivan, Pat (D) LEG 339A (360) 786-7858

Van De Wege, Kevin (D) LEG 434A (360) 786-7916

Warnick, Judy (R) MOD C 201 (360) 786-7932

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In Health and Liberty,

Dawn Winkler

Executive Director

Health Advocacy in the Public Interest (HAPI)

www.hapihealth.com

hapi.vaxinfo@gmail.com

970-641-7413

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have a state licensed doctor to back up our ability to make independent healthcare choices for our families. This will be a HUGE change to Washington State's exemption process.