CPA News July 2003

YOU'RE INVITED...

CPA Events at the NCSL Annual Meeting - July 22 -25, Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA CPA staff are heading to San Francisco for NCSL's annual meeting. If you're attending, please be sure to stop by our booth (# 311) in the exhibition hall. When visiting our booth and other progressive organizations that are members of the State Issues Forum (SIF), be sure to ask how you can win a pair of airline tickets from Continental Airlines. SIF members are planning three panel sessions: Promoting Women's Reproductive Health, States as Laboratories for Health Care Reform, and From Poverty to Self Sufficiency: Preserving Postsecondary Education for Low-Income Women. SIF members will also co-host the reception at the close of the AFL-CIO's Workers' Voice Conference, on Monday, July 21 at the San Francisco Marriott. To learn more about the State Issues Forum and SIF-sponsored activities at NCSL's meeting, visit the SIF website here.

PROGRESS ON POLICY...

Ten States Improve Unemployment Insurance Systems in 2003 So far in 2003, 10 states have improved their unemployment insurance systems to better assist laid-off workers during the current economic downturn. New Jersey, New Mexico and Indiana increased their state's maximum weekly benefits. New Hampshire, Oregon and Utah passed bills to extend benefits for unemployed workers who had exhausted their benefits. Part-time workers in Maine, New Mexico and North Carolina will now be eligible to apply for unemployment. New Jersey made eligibility requirements more favorable to a greater number of part-time workers, while New Mexico did the same for all workers by creating an alternative base period. Indiana, New Mexico and North Carolina passed legislation to ensure that women who are forced to leave their jobs due to domestic violence will have access to unemployment benefits. Finally, North Carolina expanded eligibility by covering individuals who leave work to care for a sick or disabled family member and also made benefits more generous for those who leave work to accompany a relocating spouse. To learn more about unemployment insurance reform options, click hereto access CPA's policy summaries, model legislation and related resources.

2003 Marks a Major Sea Change in State Criminal Sentencing Policies Six states reduced or shifted criminal sentences for nonviolent crimes due to the state budget crisis and recognition that drug addiction should be addressed as a public health issue. Alabama lowered penalties for some theft and property crimes by increasing the monetary levels for prosecuting those crimes as felonies. Nebraska passed a bill that diverts nonviolent drug offenders from prison to drug treatment programs, and imposes a cap on the state's prison population. Missouri expanded the discretion of judges in sentencing, encouraging the use of alternative sentences especially for nonviolent, first-time offenders. Washington will now allow some low-level, nonviolent offenders to earn early release from prison. Kansas lowered criminal penalties for the possession of illegal drugs and allowed the diversion of nonviolent first-time drug offenders to substance abuse treatment programs in lieu of incarceration. Tennessee created a fund to provide grants encouraging the establishment and expansion of drug court treatment programs to divert nonviolent drug offenders from incarceration to substance abuse treatment programs. To view CPA's Drug Treatment Instead of Incarceration policy summary, model legislation and related resources, click here.

Arizona, Kentucky & New Mexico Extend Anti-Discrimination Protections to Gays and Lesbians NM Sen. Cisco McSorley, at the request of Gov. Bill Richardson, sponsored legislation to extend the state's prohibition against discrimination in employment, housing or public accommodations to sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill was based on CPA-recommended legislation. AZ Gov. Janet Napolitano and KY Gov. Paul Patton both issued Executive Orders requiring equal employment opportunity for state employees regardless of sexual orientation. The orders eliminate all barriers to employment that artificially restrict hiring, promotion, recruitment, compensation and tenure on the basis of any status or characteristic that is not directly related to job performance. Patton's order also includes gender identity in its list of protected categories. To view CPA's Gay & Transgender Anti-Discrimination policy summary, model legislation and related resources, click here.

Mental Health Parity Laws Enacted in Hawaii, Indiana Two states recently moved to curtail discrimination against the mentally ill in insurance coverage. In May, IN Gov. Frank O'Bannon signed HB 1135, which requires insurance policies to cover treatment for substance abuse and addiction when it is necessary in the treatment of some mental illnesses. HI Gov. Linda Lingle signed SB 1321 in June, a bill to make permanent Hawaii's requirement that health insurance policies cover treatment of mental illness.

CPA LEGISLATOR OF THE MONTH...MONTANA SEN. JIM ELLIOTT

Montana Senator Jim Elliott describes the story of his innovative prescription drug legislation as a saga, but one devoid of romance. His passion, as well as a campaign promise to address the rising cost of prescription drugs, motivated Elliott to sponsor SB 473. Read more...

YOU SHOULD KNOW...

CPA Manager Speaks at Institute for Women's Policy Research Conference "Women Working to Make a Difference"- June 23, Washington, DC Jennifer Woolley, Senior Manager of CPA's Women Leaders Network, recently spoke on the "Women Affecting Policy: Lessons from the Grassroots" panel held at the Institute for Women's Policy Research biannual research and policy conference. Woolley discussed opportunities for women leaders to get more involved on issues at the state and local level and the impact of grassroots women leaders on state policy. The conference brought together policymakers, advocates, researchers, and practitioners to discuss new research findings, current trends, and policy strategies to address a range of issues related to women's economic, political, health, and social status.

CPA Presents Special Policy Workshop for Illinois Women's Institute for Leadership - July 11, Washington, DC Last week, CPA State Action Director Jen Ray and Policy Director Bernie Horn led a training session on innovative state policy initiatives for the Illinois Women's Institute for Leadership (IWIL). The IWIL is a program that encourages and trains women to become effective leaders in Illinois government. Ray and Horn provided information to the 13 members of the Institute's 2003 class, a distinguished and diverse group of emerging leaders and future political candidates.

CPA Convenes 2003 Fellows of the Flemming Leadership Institute, June 19-June 22 Airlie Conference Center, Warrenton, VAThe Institute, which provides values-based leadership training to state legislators, recently organized the second retreat for members of its 2003 class. At the retreat, Common Cause President & CEO and Flemming Institute Alumni Chellie Pingree spoke to the current Fellows about values and leadership. The Institute is currently accepting applications for the 2004 class. For more information, contact Maura Hutchens at (202) 956-5138.

Support Progressive Policy? Support CPA! Help CPA continue its work advancing progressive public policy and supporting progressive state legislators. You can make a tax-deductible, secure donation to the Center for Policy Alternatives via Network for Good here.

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH...www.nccp.org

With almost 12 million children living in poverty in the United States, the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) has taken on no small task. Founded in 1989, NCCP focuses on developing policies that prevent child poverty and better the lives of low-income families. Its website features publications and fact sheets on a range of issues, including child care subsidies, welfare reform, earned income tax credits, and immigrant children in poverty. NCCP is host to the Research Forum, which contains a searchable database of over 300 research projects relating to TANF, child and family well-being and community issues. While much of NCCP's own research is national in scope, the database provides access to projects with city, county and state information. Sign up for the monthly newsletter or the listserv and get involved in helping 5 million American children out of extreme poverty.

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