Progress in the States: A Report on Proactive, Progressive Victories in 2005 has just been released. About 60 percent of the progressive laws enacted so far this year are similar to CPA model bills. Nearly 20 percent are sponsored by Flemming Fellows. Read the report.

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 Apollo Alliance, a coalition of labor, environmental, business, urban and faith communities, will be holding a seminar in Seattle on Tuesday, August 16 at 9:30 a.m at the Seattle Labor Temple, Hall 8, 2800 1st Avenue in Seattle. The event will focus on Apollo's efforts to encourage states to invest in clean, diverse energy sources that curtail America's dependence of foreign oil while generating good jobs.

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.

A law that protects car buyers from misleading advertising, hidden costs, and unfair loan fees was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. AB 68, sponsored by Asm. Cindy Montanez, imposes the nation's strictest rules for car dealers. Used-car sellers must now offer buyers the option to pay a fee that would allow them to return a car purchased within two days, and may not label a car that has had major damage repairs as "certified." The Car Buyer's Bill of Rights also requires used car dealers to inform customers of their credit score, which is used to determine price and terms of loans. The profit sellers can earn from the sale of a loan is capped at 2.5 percent for loans up to 60 months and 2 percent for longer loans. Additional products and services included in the cost of a car must be itemized and given to buyers.

Juveniles under 17 may not waive their right to an attorney in a judicial proceeding under a new law passed by the Illinois legislature. SB 1953, sponsored by Sen. Kwame Raoul, also prevents minors from forgoing legal counsel in delinquency proceedings. Read CPA's Juvenile Waiver of Counsel policy brief and model legislation.

In order to simultaneously prevent medical errors and alleviate a nursing shortage, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed SB 201, sponsored by Sen. Donne Trotter. The new law prohibits mandatory overtime for nurses and mandates that work schedules must be posted at least one month in advance and may not be changed except by mutual agreement between nurses or health care workers and the hospital. SB 201 also provides that when a nurse or health care worker works 12 consecutive hours, they must be allowed at least 8 consecutive hours of off-duty time immediately following the completion of the shift. Read CPA's Safe Staffing for Hospitals policy brief and model legislation.

In Minnesota, Sen. Ellen Anderson (Flemming Fellow 1994) and Rep. Karen Clark sponsored SF 1984, which will protect migrant workers against labor abuses. The new law requires employers who recruit migrant workers from outside Minnesota to provide a written contract that includes job description, work conditions, wages and benefits. The law establishes penalties for employers who violate the contract and requires that workers be paid severance wages within two days of employment termination. Illinois also passed a new law protecting workers. HB 1480 will allow people involved in labor disputes to picket, post temporary signs, park vehicles and set up tents or other temporary shelter areas on public rights of way without a permit. The new law, sponsored by Rep. Brandon Phelps and Sen. Debbie DeFrancesco Halvorson, aims to prevent cities—which are often employers with whom unions have labor disputes—from using public safety issues to suppress a union's right to picket during a dispute.

Recent undergraduate and graduate students who agree to work at state, county or state-contracted nonprofit mental health or developmental disability facilities in New Jersey can have up to $20,000 in loans forgiven over four years thanks to a new law. S 2334/A 3756 allows students to sign a contract with the state in which the state agrees to forgive up to $5,000 in student loans each year for up to four years of service. By covering student loan costs for new social workers, the state is working to level the playing field between the private and public sectors and prevent debt from acting as a barrier to pursuit of social service careers. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Fred Madden and Asm. Neil Cohen.

All handguns sold or traded in Illinois must include a safety lock of some kind to comply with SB 1832, which was signed into law by Gov. Blagojevich. Locks can be either an external device that attaches to the handgun with a key or combination lock or an integrated mechanical safety, disabling, or locking device that is built into the handgun. Either method is designed to prevent the handgun from being discharged without first deactivating the lock. The new law was sponsored by Sen. Don Harmon and Rep. Deborah Graham. Read CPA's Gun Violence Protection policy brief and model legislation.

A new law passed in Illinois will require state, county and local governments to fuel their diesel vehicles with 2 percent biodiesel. HB 112 also applies to school districts, universities and community colleges and mass transit agencies. Rep. Sara Feigenholtz and Sen. John Cullerton sponsored the law, which promotes usage of the renewable fuel typically made from soybeans. Read CPA's Renewable Energy policy brief and model legislation.

Gov. Bob Riley signed HB 11, which requires landfill operators to guarantee that they can pay for cleanup and monitoring after the landfill closes. Rep. Jeff McLaughlin sponsored the bill to protect taxpayers from the expense of landfill cleanup.

Rep. Lou Lang and Rep. Patricia Bellock sponsored HB 59, which requires health insurers that provide medical benefits to cover mental illness in an equivalent manner. Thirty-five states already have some type of mental health parity law in place. Read CPA's Mental Health Parity policy brief and model legislation.

New Jersey will allow workers to form unions without fear and intimidation by granting those not covered by the National Labor Relations Act the right to use a majority sign-up, or card-check, procedure. A 1820/S 194, by Asm. Joseph Egan and Sen. Bob Smith, mandates that workers win union representation once a majority signs authorization cards stating their support for the union. Gov. Richard Codey signed the bill into law.

A bill establishing a fund that will develop permanent supportive housing, community residences and other supportive housing arrangements for people with special needs—including mental illness and physical or developmental disabilities—has been signed into law by Gov. Codey. A 4143 by Asm. Robert Gordon will help to ensure that individuals with special needs have access to meaningful housing alternatives to avoid institutionalization and homelessness. Read CPA's Affordable Housing policy brief and model legislation.

In 2005, CPA is one of only 50 organizations to receive contributions from Working Assets! All year, Working Assets and Shop For Change customers who make long distance calls and wireless calls through Working Assets or use Working Assets credit cards are 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.

New Jersey's election process underwent sweeping reform last month when a package of bills sponsored by Senator Wayne R. Bryant was signed into law by Governor Richard J. Codey. The election reform package includes measures designed to protect voter's rights and ensure that all eligible voters are able to participate in the voting process. Read more...

American Apparel—a Los Angeles-based manufacturer, distributor, and retailer of T-shirts and other garments—is working to establish new ways of doing business that are efficient and profitable without exploiting workers or the environment. The average sewing floor employee at AA earns over $12.50 an hour, and all employees have access to company-subsidized health insurance for $8 per week. AA also offers benefits such as dental insurance, subsidized public transportation, free massages on-site, and a unique "bike-lending" program. The AA website features detailed description of their progressive vision as well as listing store locations and allowing customers to shop online.