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(posted August 24, 2007)
Dear Supporter
I think this year we get AB 110 related to syringe exchange funding signed.
Below is a draft organization letter for you to copy and paste, and quickly edit and get to the Governor in support of AB 110.
Make sure to mail a cc to
Assemblymember John Laird
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA
As you may know, Mr. Laird as chair of Assembly Budget will be key to our success in the future.
While CHI and CalHep will not take a position on AB 110, your orgnaization should by all means do so.
Furtehrmore, CHI will be releasing our report on Syringe Exchagne in CA the first week of Sept, and will likely do some press with Mr. Laird, further cementing our relationship.
Please take a few minutes now to copy the letter below to your text editor (i.e., Word), and put it on your letterhead, edit if you like and get it out to the Gov and Mr. Laird. Thanks!
glenn
Glenn Backes, MSW, MPH
Public Policy Research & Consulting
916-202-2538
glennbackes@sbcglobal.net
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August 24, 2007
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol
Sacramento, California
RE: AB 110 (Laird) Syringe Exchange
Position: Support
Dear Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger;
On behalf of NAME OF ORGANZIATION, I am writing in strong support of AB 110 by Assembly member John Laird. With your signature, and under your leadership, AB 110 will provide counties, local health jurisdictions and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) with greater flexibility in dealing with the epidemics of hepatitis, HIV and drug addiction in our state.
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF YOUR ORGANIZATION
Due to a reading by attorneys of state Department of Public Health, local jurisdictions are not currently authorized to use state HIV prevention funds to purchase syringes to be distributed by legally authorized syringe exchange programs. AB 110 would provide discretion to local jurisdictions and the CDPH to use HIV prevention dollars provided to them from state General Funds to support syringe exchange programs, if local conditions warrant such an allocation. This would give greater control to local governments and your own disease prevention specialists to slow the spread of diseases using a cost-effect methodology.
Over 200 studies from the United States and abroad collectively attest to the efficacy of syringe exchange programs in slowing the spread of HIV and other diseases. Syringe exchange programs provide other needed heath services to a hard-to-reach population and are in many areas the leading source of referral to drug treatment. The overwhelming evidence suggests that the state should facilitate the creation of more syringe exchange programs statewide, especially in areas with high rates of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine injection. While AB 110 won’t necessarily ensure rapid expansion of such programs, it will at least remove an inappropriate barrier to creating or stabilizing life-saving programs.
We are a member organization of CalHep-the California Hepatitis Alliance, and look forward to working with your office to advance public health approaches to promoting liver health and preventing hepatitis and liver cancer, such as AB 110. Please feel free to call me with any questions at XXX XXXX. Thank you for your promotion of a healthier California.
Respectfully,
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