Join CPA and national progressive advocacy groups who are members of the State Issues Forum (SIF) at NCSL's annual meeting in Seattle from August 15-20, 2005. Featured policy workshops hosted by SIF include Voting Reform, Stopping TABOR Amendments, and Environmentally Friendly Transit Solutions. CPA and SIF will also host exhibitor booths 326 and 328, so don't forget to come see us! Click here for more details.

The deadline for the 2006 application is September 30, 2005. You may download the application online or contact Quinta Martin at (202) 956-5132 or qmartin@cfpa.org for more information.

Legislators in the Rhode Island legislature voted to allow the medical use of marijuana by seriously ill people in their state. The legislation they approved, H 6052, protects patients, their doctors, pharmacists and caregivers from arrest and prosecution under state drug laws if a doctor, certified to the state Health Department, determines that a patient might be helped by marijuana. Sponsors Rep. Thomas Slater and Sen. Rhoda Perry named their bill after Perry’s nephew, Edward O. Hawkins, who died painfully from AIDS, and Rep. Slater himself, who has battled cancer. Gov. Donald Carcieri’s veto was overridden by the Senate. Read CPA’s Medical Marijuana policy brief and model legislation.

Massachusetts legislators approved a bill which permits pharmacists who have undergone training to dispense emergency contraception (EC) without a prescription. The bill, SB 2073, also requires that hospitals provide the drug promptly to rape victims, along with medically accurate information about it. Sen. Pamela Resor and Rep. Douglas Peterson sponsored the bill. Gov. Mitt Romney has not yet announced whether he will sign it, but it passed by margins large enough to indicate the override of a veto. Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey has announced her support for the legislation. Read CPA's EC for Sexual Assault Victims policy brief and model legislation. Additionally, New York's legislature has passed a bill making EC available over-the-counter to women of all ages. Gov. George Pataki has not revealed whether he will sign A 116/S 3661, which was sponsored by Asm. Amy Paulin and Sen. Nicholas Spano. Read CPA's Collaborative Practice policy brief and model legislation.

Gov. Tom Vilsack issued an executive order that automatically restores the voting privileges of people who have completed their felony sentences. Before the order, the right to vote was not guaranteed: to regain the vote, ex-offenders had to apply to the governor, who would approve or deny requests based on the recommendations of the Department of Corrections and parole board. Read CPA's Voting Rights Restoration policy brief and model legislation.

A bill sponsored by Sen. Colleen Hanabusa to raise Hawaii's minimum wage has become law without Gov. Linda Lingle's signature. SB 294 increases the minimum wage to $6.75 on January 1, 2006 and $7.25 on January 1, 2007. Read CPA's Minimum Wage policy brief and model legislation.

Rep. Terrance Carroll and Sen. Dan Grossman sponsored HB 1014, which extends Colorado's hate crime protection to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens. The bill became law without the signature of Gov. Bill Owens. Meanwhile, Gov. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois signed two hate crime bills into law. SB 287, by Sen. Ira Silverstein and Rep. Lou Lang, makes it a felony hate crime to harass, threaten or aggravate someone via telephone or electronic communication. The new law applies to hate crimes committed on the basis of race, ancestry, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender. In addition, HB 917, sponsored by Rep. Karen Yarbrough and Sen. Carol Ronen, makes it a civil rights violation to interfere with another person's right to fair housing. Read CPA's Hate Crime Prevention policy brief and model legislation.

The Supreme Courts of California and Wisconsin handed down two major progressive victories. In California, a domestic partnership law signed in 2003 by then-Gov. Gray Davis was allowed to stand. The law extends to registered domestic partners many of the same rights and protections granted to married couples. Read CPA's Marriage Equality policy brief and model legislation. Wisconsin's highest court ruled that misdemeanor and felony interrogations of juveniles must be electronically recorded. Their decision was influenced by several confessions by juveniles who were later proven to be innocent. Read CPA's Electronic Recording of Interrogations policy brief and model legislation.

Gov. Richard Codey signed four progressive election reforms into law. A 32/S 30 requires the posting of a voter's bill of rights in all polling places. A 36/S 2396 requires the development and distribution of training and educational materials for poll workers and voters. A 39/S 2393 increases the penalties associated with the crimes of voter fraud and intimidation. S 1387/A 3392 requires the improvement of accessibility of polling places for the elderly and disabled. Sen. Wayne Bryant was the primary sponsor for several of the new laws; Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula (2003 Flemming Fellow) sponsored the bill pertaining to poll worker training materials. Read CPA's Voting Reform policy brief and model legislation.

Oregon became the latest state to set minimum efficiency standards for certain products manufactured or sold in the state. Rep. Jackie Dingfelder sponsored HB 3363, which affects commercial refrigerators and freezers, traffic signals, illuminated exit signs, torchieres and several other common products. AZ, MD, NJ, NY and RI have passed similar laws; The same law was passed but vetoed in CO. Read CPA's Energy Efficiency Standards policy brief and model legislation.

In 2005, CPA will be one of only 50 organizations to receive contributions from Working Assets! Beginning this month, Working Assets and Shop For Change customers who make long distance calls and wireless calls through Working Assets or use Working Assets credit cards will be able to support CPA and our work. By shopping or calling using Working Assets, you will build the pool of donations given to groups such as CPA. Also, by going online to the 2005 ballot, you can tell Working Assets to direct an increased share of this CPA, or whatever group you prefer. The best part is that you can help us simply by using these services to make purchases you ordinarily would make. More details are available at http://www.workingassets.com. We hope you will be able to take part.

Currently, no federal law and few state laws explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. However, Nevada Assemblyman David Parks used this legislative session to pass a bill that aims at protecting GLBT citizens and visitors against unfair treatment. The Assembly Government Affairs Committee proposed AB 5, which was subsequently approved by both houses of the state legislature. Parks, Nevada's only openly gay legislator, is chair of the committee. Read more...

NARAL Pro-Choice America's website contains a wealth of information for those interested in the status of reproductive health policy across the country. The newly-released "Who Decides?" for 2005 is a powerful resource that lists proposed and enacted legislation, analysis of access to reproductive health care, and the positions on choice of elected officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Also featured are facts and issue briefs, up-to-date news and tips on how to take action to protect the constitutional right to choose. In addition, the website addresses the upcoming selection of a new Supreme Court justice, an historic event that will affect the future of reproductive health in the nation.