PI Action alerts & updates ... 1999

Governor’s Signature Needed to Implement
Non-Names Based HIV Reporting in California

Background:
Last week, the California State Legislature approved AB 103, authored by Assemblywoman Carole Migden from San Francisco. The bill has been sent to Governor Davis for his signature or veto. He is expected to make his decision in the next ten days.

AB 103 would implement a coded 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 as quickly 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, allocation of resources, and the creation of a “snapshot” of the epidemic in California.

Under AB 103, public health officials would collect information on HIV without receiving the names of those infected. Instead, the state would develop a uniform, statewide system that would be based on a unique identifier, or code. Studies have shown that many individuals would not seek HIV testing and/or treatment if they knew that their names would be given to the government. Therefore, AB 103 would allow us to meet the goal of improving HIV data collection without the negative effects of a names-based system.

Finally, this bill leaves in place California’s voluntary partner counseling and referral services and does not in any way prohibit or restrict these efforts. The legislation recognizes that names-based HIV reporting is not necessary for effective partner notification.

Your help is needed now to make sure this important bill is signed into law!

Action needed:
Fax or call Governor Davis’ office immediately and urge him to sign AB 103 into law. He does not have an email address. Letters are the most effective form of contact, so if you have the time and access to a fax machine, please write a brief letter. However, phone calls are also extremely effective.

You can use the following sample letter and/or phone message to help craft your message. Please encourage your friends, family, co-workers, etc. to do the same!

Sample letter

(Please FAX due to timeliness!)
FAX: 916-445-4633

The Honorable Gray Davis
Governor of California
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: AB 103—Support

Dear Governor Davis:

I am writing to urge you to sign AB 103 (Migden) into law. This bill would implement a coded HIV reporting system in California.

Recent changes in the epidemic have made it necessary 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.

In addition, I would like to note that California currently provides voluntary partner counseling and referral services for people living with HIV. AB 103 does not in any way prohibit or restrict these efforts.

AB 103 is sound public health policy for obtaining improved data on HIV disease while minimizing the negative public health implications of a names based system. Without this legislation, there will be no HIV reporting system in California. I strongly urge you to support this bill.

Sincerely,
Your name

Sample phone message:

“I urge Governor Davis to sign AB 103 into law. This bill would provide better information on the HIV epidemic in California without deterring people from testing and treatment.”

Contact information:
You can call the Governor’s office at:

916-445-1455 or
916-445-2841