Reconciling United Methodists of NE and friends: We need your help writing and calling your senators and the senators in NE with emails below on the Judiciary committee! Please pass this on to friend and neighbors! Writing personal notes
and letters, emails, calls to senators are always very effective! Always be respectful! Thank you NAP! The Hearing is Feb 8 - so contact senators before that date!
See information on LB 226 below!
Maureen Vetter and Wendy Smith, NE RMN Email Contacts, see our new blog: www.nebraskarum.blogspot.org
PS Info on SING A NEW SONG CONVO sponsored the Reconciling Ministries Network and MFSA on the latest Flashnet for RMN website.. sign up today to be an RUM (Reconciling United Methodist) TEN NEW RECONCILING COMMUNITIES the last two mos with RMN! www.RMNetwork.org Group FACEBOOK: Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network
Hello all,
I’m sure some, if not all, of you are aware of LB 226 (the Assault with Bodily Fluid bill) in the Nebraska Legislature. The bill is designed to protect law enforcement and public safety officers from getting attacked with a person’s bodily fluids. The protection of law enforcement officers is a worthy cause, HOWEVER the bill singles out HIV and Hepatitis as well as dramatically increases the penalty for individuals living with HIV or Hep. No other “assault with bodily fluid” statute in any other state singles out specific pathogens or conditions. The specific naming of HIV only increases fear and stigma which will give people a disincentive to get tested for HIV. The bill was introduced by Senator Gloor of Grand Island, on behalf of Attorney General Bruning. The hearing for this bill is fast approaching, February 8th.
I’ve been working with Senator Gloor’s office and they have been VERY helpful, especially his legislative aide Margaret. Through working with her there is a very small possibility of amendments that remove the language targeting and increasing the penalty for people living with HIV or Hepatitis for broader language that does not increase stigma. Again, a very small possibility.
I am writing you today to ask that you activate your personal networks to contact Senators and voice opposition to this bill. Let’s be clear, we are all in favor of the protection of law enforcement and public safety officers, but the way this bill is written and the way it targets HIV causes more harm than good, especially since already existing assault statutes (like those in other states) are more than adequate in dealing with this issue.
We need to make special efforts to voice our opinions to Senator Gloor, as well as the Senators on the Judiciary Committee. Phone or email works. You will probably speak to one of their staff. Please remember to be respectful in voicing your opinion.
Senator Gloor, Grand Island (introducer): (402) 471-2617, mgloor@leg.ne.gov
Senator Ashford, Omaha (Chair of Judiciary): (402) 471-2622, bashford@leg.ne.gov
Senator Colby Coash, Lincoln (Judiciary): (402) 471-2632, ccoash@leg.ne.gov
Senator Brenda Council, Omaha (Judiciary): (402) 471-2612, bcouncil@leg.ne.gov
Senator Burke Harr, Omaha (Judiciary): (402) 471-2722, bharr@leg.ne.gov
Senator Tyson Larson, O’Neill/Randolph (Judiciary): (402) 471-2801, tlarson@leg.ne.gov
Senator Steve Lathrop, Omaha (Judiciary): (402) 471-2623, slathrop@leg.ne.gov
Senator Scott Laughtenbaugh, Omaha/Blair (Judiciary): (402) 471-2618, slaughtenbaugh@leg.ne.gov
Senator Amanda McGill, Lincoln (Judiciary): (402) 471-2610, amcgill@leg.ne.gov
Here is a copy of the bill: http://www.
(I’ve already voiced to them concerns about confusing language and that the named “acquired immunodeficiency virus does not exist”)
Some basic talking points 1) Criminalizing spitting and biting of HIV positive persons flies in the face of all established science; 2) It codifies discrimination and the exceptional treatment of HIV (and in this case Hepatitis) which encourages stigma; 3) In light of the actual risk of harm to police and correctional officers, the punishment is draconian; 4) The proposed language puts serious strain on the relationship between doctors and HIV positive patients and undermines the hard work that public health professionals do; and 5) The proposed bill contradicts the National AIDS Strategy.
The biggest point to communicate is: we are all in favor of the protection of law enforcement and public safety officers, but the way this bill is written and the way it targets HIV causes more harm than good, especially since already existing assault statutes (like those in other states) are more than adequate in dealing with this issue.
Please send this out to people interested. Remember the hearing is scheduled for Feb 8. Please contact your Senators before then!
Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns!
Best,
Jordan Delmundo MPA, MSW
Grants and Public Policy Manager
Nebraska AIDS Project
250 S. 77th St. Suite A
Omaha, NE 68114
(402) 552-9260 x115
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