Advocacy Morning Report

Friday February 24th, 2012

What is advocacy?
Community pediatrics- a perspective that enlarges the pediatrician s focus from one child to all children in the community
From Current Diagnosis & Treatment Pediatrics 20th ed.

How does one advocate?

We will focus on the policy level but there are many other ways to advocate for kids

Trip to the Capitol

Let s Review
House 75 members, Senate 29 members Bill can begin either chamber Bill introduction = first reading Rules committee Then to standing committee (assigned by House Speaker or Senate President)

And some more review

2nd reading in House is acceptance of standing committee report 2nd reading in Senate is a debate and vote If passed then goes to 3rd reading Must pass by majority (15 Senate, 38 House) Goes to governor for veto or sign

2012 Legislation
HB 245- Definitions of smoking SB21- Department of Environmental Quality Boards Revision SB41- Tanning Salons SB111- Health amendments for legal immigrant children SB128- Teen cell phone use while driving Immunizations

HB245- Definition of Smoking

Amends definition of smoking in Utah Clean Air Act to prohibit hookah and e-cigarette use in public places Purpose is to protect Utahns from involuntary exposure to second hand smoke in public places

Definition of e-cigarette
Definition of e-cigarette: any electronic oral device that provides a vapor of nicotine or other substance and which stimulates smoking through it s use or through inhalation of the device Includes any device that is composed of a heating element, battery, or electronic circuit and marketed as e-cigarette et cetera.

More on HB245
Without this bill, hookah and e-cigarettes allowed in all indoor public places This bill doesn t ban their use, just use in public places Although there is not an overwhelming amount of data, the data does show that hookah and e-cigarettes are not safe

State of this bill?

Just passed out of the House and into the Senate We had the opportunity of speaking with some of the Senators about this on Wednesday.

SB 21- Department of Environmental Quality Boards Revisions

This bill changes the composition of each board created under Title 19, Environmental Quality Code, requires specific qualifications for a board member, subjects a board member to certain requirements, transfers some powers and duties from the boards to the executive director or division directors, and gives rulemaking authority to the department

SB21 AAP position

Loss of balance, removal of environmental rep, physician and engineer seats optional More environmental regulation will occur out of public view Agency already underfunded and loss of volunteer board members (often experts) will be felt

SB41- Tanning Salons

Amends Utah Health Code provisions regulating tanning facilities Posted warning signs about health risks Minors must have physicians order OR Be accompanied by parent/guardian each time who provides written consent Passed Senate and into House

SB111-Health amendments for legal immigrant children

This bill amends the Medical Assistance Act and the Utah Children's Health Insurance Act to provide Medicaid coverage and health insurance coverage to a legal immigrant child, regardless of the length of time that the child has been in the United States. Current 5 year residency requirement to be eligible for Medicaid or CHIP Killed in Senate Rules Committee

SB128- Teen cell phone use while driving

Modifies the Motor Vehicles Code by prohibiting a person younger than 18 from using a wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle Max $50 fine, not a reportable violation, no points against driving record

Cell phone fun facts

According to Utah Dept. Public Safety 2010 crash data Cell phone use accounts for 17.5% of the 20,885 distracted driving crashes from 20072010 Crashes involving cell use 1.5X as likely to have injuries 9.7% of 15-19 yo in crash were on cellphone comp to 0.8 % of all drivers in crash

More cell phone facts

Study by U of U found that cell phone users just as impaired as drunk drivers with 0.08 BAC 50% of high school students who drive admit to talking on cell phone daily (2011 youth risk behavior survey)

Immunizations
Federal cutbacks in CDC 317 funds to states As of Jan 1st underinsured children can no longer get vaccines at medical home or local health department Must go to 1 of 19 federally qualified health centers scattered across Utah Often very difficult for these families to get to these places 11% of Utah kids underinsured

Immunizations
AAP is urging lawmakers to appropriate $2.2 million in Social Services Appropriations subcommittee budget to adequately immunize the underinsured children Would cost about $0.75 per citizen One time funding for FY 2012-2013

SB208-Health Care Compact

Joins interstate Advisory Health Care Commission to return the authority to regulate health care to the member states of the health care compact The legislatures of the member states would have responsibility to regulate health care in their respective states Interstate advisory health care commissionmake recommendations to the states

How to become involved

Know who your legislators are www.votesmart.org www.le.utah.gov