PI Action alerts & updates ... 1998

AB 1663 (Migden) Passes State Legislature

Massive grassroots effort needed to ensure Governor Wilson’s signature!

September 10, 1998 — On August 28, the California State Legislature approved AB 1663 (Carole Migden, D-San Francisco) and sent it to Governor Wilson for his signature or veto.

This bill would implement a non-names based HIV reporting system in California. Currently, AIDS cases are reported to public health officials, while HIV infections are not. However, recent changes in the epidemic have increased the need to gather better data on HIV infection. Because new treatments are slowing and/or stopping disease progression in many individuals, they are not progressing to AIDS, and therefore not being reported to public health officials. Collecting better data on HIV infections should allow for more effective planning of prevention programs, allocating resources, and having a better “snapshot” of the epidemic in California.

While some states have responded by passing legislation in support of a names reporting system, AB 1663 requires that California’s HIV reporting system be non-names based. The legislation would develop a uniform, statewide system that would be based on a unique identifier (code) or other method that does not report the names of individuals infected with HIV.

This legislation is supported by a broad coalition of public health officials, HIV/AIDS advocates, and the California Medical Association, as it would improve data collection without deterring individuals from testing or seeking treatment. Studies have shown that many individuals—especially those at highest risk for infection—would not test for HIV if they knew that their names would be reported to the government.

AB 1663 passed the Legislature after a major lobbying effort against the bill by right-wing forces, some physicians, and the author of the New York state bill that mandates names reporting and partner notification. The same opposition is actively encouraging Governor Wilson to veto the bill. If that happens, there will be no HIV reporting in California. The Governor has until the end of September to act on the bill. Your efforts are needed to allow California to develop and implement its own HIV reporting system!

Action Needed:
Call or write Governor Wilson immediately and urge him to sign AB 1663 into law. Enclosed is a sample phone message and letter.

Sample phone message:

“I urge Governor Wilson to sign AB 1663 by Assembly Member Carole Migden into law. This bill would provide better information on the HIV epidemic in California without deterring people from testing and treatment. Without this bill, there would be no HIV reporting in the state.”

Sample letter:

The Honorable Pete Wilson
Office of the Governor
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Wilson:

I am writing to urge you to sign AB 1663 by Assembly Member Carole Migden into law. This bill would implement a non-names based HIV reporting system in California.

Recent changes in the epidemic have increased the need to gather better data on HIV infection. Because new treatments are slowing and/or stopping disease progression in many individuals, they are not progressing to AIDS, and therefore not being reported to public health officials. Collecting better data on HIV infections should allow for more effective planning of prevention programs, allocating resources, and having a better overview of the epidemic in California.

However, it is not necessary to collect the names of individuals to implement such a system. Studies have shown that many individuals—especially those at highest risk for infection—would not test for HIV if they knew that their names would be reported to the government.

Insert personal statement here. If you have a personal or professional opinion about the impact a names-based reporting system would have on HIV testing in your community, mention that here.

AB 1663 is sound public health policy for obtaining improved data on HIV disease while minimizing the negative public health implications of a names based system. I strongly urge you to support this bill.

Sincerely,
Your name

Contact information:
Governor Pete Wilson
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-445-2841 phone
916-445-4633 fax
Email: Pete.Wilson@ca.gov

Please spread the word and ask others to write and call Governor Wilson. It is also very important to get letters from doctors and those who are involved with HIV testing.

Please fax / email us (415-558-0684 / tan@projectinform.org) copies of any letters you write so we can evaluate our efforts. Thank you for your quick response!