Register today! In just over two weeks, CPA will hold its 9th annual Summit on the States at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. This year's Awards Luncheon will honor Hodding Carter, III, Earl Graves, Sr., and Texas State Senator Leticia van de Putte. This week is your last chance to make flight reservations within the 14-day limit for cheap fares, so don't wait until the last minute. Summit and Awards Luncheon details and online registration are available here.

CPA invites you to attend a pre-Summit meeting hosted by Catholics for a Free Choice. "Progressive, Pro-choice and Catholic – An Endangered Species?" will be a facilitated strategy session that includes presentations from Catholic pro-choice members of Congress, national media commentators, experts on Canon Law, national opinion leaders in the choice movement, and pollsters who focus on the intersection of religion and reproductive rights. This half-day strategy session for Catholic Pro-Choice Legislators and their allies will be held on Friday, December 2 from 10:00 - 5:00, at the Capital Hilton Hotel prior to the start of the Summit on the States. Contact Roger Limoges, at (202) 986-6093 or rlimoges@catholicsforchoice.org for more information.

A bill that addresses the growing phenomenon of pharmacists who refuse to fill prescriptions for birth control and emergency contraception on "moral" grounds was signed into law by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. SB 644, sponsored by Sen. Deborah Ortiz (see Legislator of the Month below), compels pharmacies to fill any legal prescription in a timely manner.

Sen. Daniel Clodfelter sponsored SB 1048, which allows victims of identity theft to place a security freeze on their credit reports. The bill, signed into law by Gov. Mike Easley, also requires that businesses destroy unnecessary documents that contain consumers' personal data and notify consumers of security breaches.

Gov. Richard Codey signed A 3643, which increases the maximum penalty for a company that spills oil into New Jersey's rivers to $50 million. The law, sponsored by Asm. Douglas Fisher, Asm. John Burzichelli and Sen. Stephen Sweeney, was introduced as a response to a November 2004 tanker accident in which 265,000 gallons of crude oil spilled into the Delaware River. The spill harmed 214 miles of coastline, killed over 200 birds, and halted commercial traffic.

A high school senior who is at least 17 years old and meets the requirements for poll workers in the state may be excused from school to act as a precinct officer on Election Day, under a law signed by Gov. Bob Taft. HB 234, sponsored by Rep. Larry Wolpert, authorizes the state board of elections to work with schools to develop additional criteria. Read CPA's Time Off for Democracy policy brief and model legislation.

Sen. John Cullerton and Rep. Annazette Collins sponsored SB 92, which creates a new juvenile justice agency separate from the Department of Corrections. The new department will provide medical, educational, vocational, social and emotional services to the state's youngest offenders. Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed the bill into law. Read CPA's Juvenile Detention Reform policy brief and model legislation.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed HB 806 into law, which makes Illinois the first state to provide affordable health insurance coverage to every child. Unlike private insurance, rates for the new All Kids program will be based on a family's income. All Kids coverage will also be available to middle-income families at below-market rates. Families USA released a new report this week finding that the Blagojevich's All Kids program could generate $87 million in new business activity and nearly $31 million in new wages statewide in its first year of implementation.

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.

Senator Deborah Ortiz was disturbed by a report of four cases of pharmacists who refused to fill a prescription for Plan B, an emergency contraceptive pill, even though it was in stock. She penned SB 644 soon after the study to firmly establish women's basic health rights in California.Read more...

Eminent domain is one of the hottest issues facing states today. The Castle Coalition's website provides a wealth of information on the eminent domain issue, including model legislation, state and federal bill tracking, success stories, and news from around the country. Warning: the Castle Coalition's parent organization, the Institute for Justice, is very libertarian.