April 2009 TIP at the Capitol

Once again, TIP will be coordinating immunization policy work at the Texas Capitol. Thanks to our efforts to build a statewide network these last few months, we now have hundreds of Texans in every corner of the state working together to improve immunization rates and Immunization Information Systems. We may be stronger than ever, but we have more work to do than ever before to promote immunizations at the Capitol and to dispel ungrounded myths about the dangers of immunizations.

 

We know how hard it can be to keep tabs on Austin, while you're doing your work every day to protect the public health. TIP is committed to making public policy and advocacy easy for all Texans interested in improving immunization rates. Check our website frequently for updates on legislation and alerts on what you can do to help tell the positive story about immunizations at the Capitol. Most importantly, please subscribe to our regular e-mail updates.

• Latest News
• Primary Bills to Watch
• How to Get Involved

Latest News (04/07/2009)

Chair Nelson's Senate Bills 346 and Chair Kolkhorst's companion House Bill 2382 will allow adult Texans to opt-in to a lifespan immunization registry. The bills are progressing well with Senate Bill 346 already voted out of the Senate as of last week. Chair Nelson's Senate Bills 347 and Chair Kolkhorst's House Bill 2383 will allow the State of Texas to share critical immunization information with other states in the event of a disaster or terrorist attack. Amazingly in this hectic session of the Texas Legislature, Senate Bill 347 has also already passed the Senate and is on its way for review at the Texas House of Representatives.

These bills are expected to move forward due to the strong support from our partners in the House and Senate. We will be in touch with you to let you know how to get involved as these bills move towards becoming law. This looks to be a very positive session for immunizations.

Thanks again for the amazing support and encouragement that you have provided to help accomplish so much for immunizations this session.

Primary Bills to Watch

TIP is already working the halls of the Texas Capitol, meeting with members of the Texas Senate, Texas House of Representatives, and staff at the office of Texas Governor Rick Perry. We have carefully reviewed the myriad of bills already filed and recommend that you pay particular attention to these three bills.

Senate Bill 346 by Senator Jane Nelson: Senate Bill 346 is a simple, common sense public health measure that will allow adults to maintain their immunizations in the state registry, ImmTrac, after adulthood. It accomplishes the following:

• Expands ImmTrac to a lifespan registry
• Allows parents/guardians to consent for their children up to age 18
• Allows 18 year olds (or their guardians) to consent to storing their immunization records in ImmTrac after their 18th birthday for use in public health emergencies, for entry into health care professions and the military and for college enrollment.
• Allows ImmTrac to safeguard immunization data until a person reaches 19 years of age in a separate database that is inaccessible to providers until consent has been obtained.
• Directs DSHS to educate the providers of care to 14-18 year olds about the importance of storing their immunizations in ImmTrac.

Not only will SB 346 protect public health, it will also facilitate college admission, enlistment in the armed forces, or attending nursing or medical training. TIP strongly supports Senate Bill 346.

Senate Bill 347 by Senator Jane Nelson: Senate Bill 347 will protect Texans in the event of a natural disaster or bioterror attack by allowing the state to transfer immunization records to another state should Texans be evacuated. TIP strongly supports Senate Bill 346.

Senate Bill 466 by Senator Judith Zaffarini: Senate Bill 466 pertains to the requirement for consent to be included in ImmTrac. Quite simply it turns Texas into a Voluntary Exclusion state meaning that parents do not have to go through the process of consenting to the registry. Consent will be assumed unless the parent or guardian actively chooses not to be in the registry. Studies show that approximately 95% of people who are approached, choose to safeguard their children's immunization records in ImmTrac. This bill would make it easier for parents to protect these important records by automatically storing them in ImmTrac unless the parent requests that the records are not stored there. It would also improve data quality and completeness of data in ImmTrac, for use during outbreaks and other public health emergencies. TIP strongly supports Senate Bill 466.

TIP has prepared easy to understand Talking Points for Senate Bill 346 and Senate Bill 347  so that you have the information you need to contact your legislators and ask that they support these critical immunization registry and disaster preparedness bills.

Please see this update for a summary of other important immunization bills that have been filed. If you have questions about any of these other bills, please contact us.

How to Get Involved

Once you've had a chance to review the talking points document above, it's time to take the next step toward becoming an effective advocate. Making your ideas heard at the Capitol is easy, fast, FREE, and fun.

First, find out the names of your state legislators.

Second, pick your targets. As you can see, the bills listed above originated in the Texas Senate. That means that the first people who need to be contacted are your Texas state Senators.

Third, make "The Ask". With your talking points document in hand, you have the information you need to make your point effectively and ASK for something specific. Pick up the phone and call the number you found at the web site above. Call your Senator's office and ask to speak to the staffer who handles health care issues. Tell them who you are and where you live. If you want to, tell them about your work protecting the public health and explain the important role of immunizations. Finally, make the ask: "Would you please ask the Senator to co-author Senate Bills 346 and 347?" They are simple measures to protect the state and we'd appreciate the support." If you don't ask, they won't help. Be sure to make the specific ask.

Fourth, follow up. Legislative staffers work for you. Before you hang up, ask the staffer to call you in one week to discuss the progress of your request. Record staffers' names and if you don't hear back in a week, call back to politely check on the status of your request. The (nice) squeaky wheels get the grease.

Finally, keep checking back to immunizehouston.org for the latest updates. Again, please subscribe to our regular e-mail updates.