May luncheon to feature State Treasurer Kate Marshall

State Treasurer Kate Marshall will be our featured guest speaker at the May 3 luncheon. (Many thanks to Economist Elliot Parker, Ph.D., for stepping in to speak at our April luncheon when Kate Marshall had a scheduling conflict.) The State Treasurer will talk about Nevada's economic outlook -- a hot topic in our state's current budget crisis.

Date: May 3
Time: 11:30 am - 1 pm
Place: Rapscallion's Seafood House and Bar
1555 S. Wells Ave. (Reno)

*Seating is limited!*

RSVP required to Rosemary French by email: desertrosef44@yahoo.com or call (775) 828-1346.

For more details please click here.

Stay in the loop on all the busy legislative session happenings -- hearings, bills to watch, and all the latest news -- by following us on Facebook and Twitter!

Founded in 1988, The Nevada Women's Lobby is a statewide organization supported solely by paid membership and donations. Help us continue our important work by donating today. (Donations are not tax deductible to 501(c)(4) organizations.) We ask that you stand up and be counted by becoming a paid member of the Lobby. Donations and membership dues can be mailed to NWL, P.O. Box 5565, Reno, NV 89513 or paid online on our website.

Celebrating Women's Equality Day August 26, 2009

Today, August 26, 2009, marks the 89th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted full voting rights to women in the U.S. Fun fact: NV granted voting rights to women in 1914, a full six years before it would become a federal constitutional amendment. Today, on your commute, remember Anne Martin and other suffragists, traveling in a Model T across NV, making about 15 miles per day in their quest for the vote.

NWL 2009 Legislative Session Update

We’re in the home stretch, with June 1 just around the corner. The budget deficit and tax structure continue to dominate every conversation- all policy issues are affected by the unprecedented decline in available funding to support vital human services, fund education and preserve public safety. NWL set out last fall with a handful of top legislative priorities, including the aforementioned budget and tax issue, plus child welfare and child support legislation, and our proactive bill creating a study of incarcerated women in Nevada.

As always, any bill that would impact our core NWL advocacy issues (reproductive health and civil rights) becomes a priority issue as well. A couple of examples:

Equal Rights Amendment/Equal Pay Day: NWL was a key proponent of AJR 3, Assemblywoman Kathy McClain’s resolution to ratify the ERA in Nevada. When the bill did not come up for a hearing, NWL joined with other women’s organizations and Assemblywoman McClain to recognize the hard work of women by designating April 28, 2009 as Equal Pay Day. Assemblywoman McClain has said that she will continue the ERA fight in Nevada.
Domestic Partnership Registry: Additionally, NWL has been working with bill sponsor Senator David Parks and many partner organizations and individuals to secure long-overdue rights for same-sex couples (it so happens this bill also accords rights to unmarried heterosexual partners). SB 283 made it out of the Senate several weeks ago and recently passed out of Assembly Judiciary. It next goes to the Assembly floor, for a vote of the full Assembly. We know we have enough votes to get it out of the Assembly and we’re working on securing enough votes in both houses for a veto override. Wish us luck and contact your assemblyperson to urge their support!

Budget/Taxes:

First, the budget situation: The governor submitted his recommended budget just prior to the session. His budget came in at about $6.1 billion, with recommendations to cut vital human services, including the capping of Nevada Checkup, the closure of rural mental health clinics, cuts in autism services, and the elimination of the Office of Consumer Health Assistance. Since February, lawmakers have been culling through each departmental budget to determine which cuts to support and which cuts are simply unacceptable, and, while they have chosen to add back in some of the recommended cuts, everything (including the add backs) is still on the table. Legislators have had extremely tough choices to make and at the end of the day, many families will be (and already are) making sacrifices. The bottom line is that even with federal stimulus funding and new revenues, we still have a budget hole and painful cuts are inevitable.

What about taxes? NWL was an early supporter of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada’s (PLAN) tax study and report (available at http://www.planevada.org/). We have spoken with legislators and attended press conferences and rallies to bring awareness and encourage support for changing Nevada’s current tax structure. The fact is that we are simply not bringing in enough revenue to support current levels of service or anticipated need and we must explore other sources of revenue. To be clear, our state needs tax solutions that bring short-term relief and long-term stability and we must address these issues NOW.

Upcoming Deadlines:

May 15- With the exception of bills with an “Exempt” status, bills currently assigned to committees in the second house must be passed out of committee by May 15. Bills that made it out of the Assembly are now in Senate committees and vice versa.

May 22- Bills that passed out of committee must pass out of the second house (floor vote) by this date.

NWL Active Bills:

All of the bills listed are available for review at http://www.leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/Reports/; type in the bill number for status, bill language, committee assignment and more. The list below is not an exhaustive list of bills NWL is tracking, but a summary of key bills. The list includes NWL’s position (SUPPORT/OPPOSE/MONITOR). For more information, please contact NWL’s lobbyist, Julianna Ormsby, at 702-493-5030 or juliannaormsby@yahoo.com. We encourage you to contact your legislators on the bills that are of interest to you and/or register your opinion at https://www.leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/opinions/Poll/?CFID=1787333&CFTOKEN=40707731.

Assembly Bills:

AB 56 revises provisions governing pupils with disabilities--SUPPORT
AB 76 revises provisions governing the placement of children who are in the custody of an agency which provides child welfare service--SUPPORT
AB 101 revises provisions governing the support of children--SUPPORT
AB 114 makes changes concerning compensation to victims of crime--SUPPORT
AB 116 contributory conduct in domestic violence and sexual assault claims for victims of crime--SUPPORT
AB 120 makes changes concerning orders for protection of victims of sexual assault--SUPPORT
AB 139 creates housing database for people who are low-income, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, seniors and more--SUPPORT
AB 162 requires certain policies of health insurance and health care plans to provide coverage for screening for and treatment of autism--SUPPORT
AB 165 revises the provisions governing the Fund to Stabilize the Operation of the State Government--SUPPORT
AB 190 creates a study to review the death penalty in Nevada--SUPPORT
AB 227 revises provisions relating to the provision of foster care--SUPPORT
AB 243 requires certain employers to grant leave to parents, guardians and custodians of children to participate in certain school activities--SUPPORT
AB 337 creates the Office of Statewide Coordinator for Children Who Are Endangered by Drug Exposure in the Office of the Attorney General--SUPPORT
AB 364 makes various changes concerning the protection of children--SUPPORT
AB 544 revises provisions governing the State Plan for Medicaid--SUPPORT

Senate Bills:

SB 3 creates the Legislative Committee on Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice--SUPPORT
SB 4 requires the establishment of a system for the electronic submission of applications for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program--SUPPORT
SB 14 makes various changes to fees relating to a marriage license that fund the Account for Aid for Victims of Domestic Violence--SUPPORT
SB 131 revises provisions governing mental health consortiums that provide mental health services to children with emotional disturbance--SUPPORT
SB 207 revises provisions relating to unlawful discrimination in places of public accommodation--SUPPORT
SB 283 revises provisions governing domestic relations contracts--SUPPORT
SB 293 Establishes procedures for authorizing the administration of certain medication for children in the custody of certain agencies--SUPPORT
SB 341 revises the list of qualifications for relatives to receive supportive assistance from a program to provide supportive assistance to qualifying relatives of children who provide care for and obtain the legal guardianship of those children--SUPPORT
SB 342 expands the relatives who receive preference when a child is placed in the custody of a person other than the parent of the child by a court, an agency which provides child welfare services or other person--SUPPORT
SB 343 makes various changes concerning the application for and provision of certain treatment or services to a person involved in the child welfare system--SUPPORT
SB 344 authorizes the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services to create an interagency committee to evaluate the child welfare system--SUPPORT
SCR 4 urges certain agencies which provide child welfare services to develop a standardized practice model and to address certain issues related to child and family services--SUPPORT


Dead Bills (key bills that NWL followed but didn’t make through deadline)

Assembly Bills:

AB 43 revises provisions prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations--MONITOR
AB 68 provides for the issuance of a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth--OPPOSE
AB 70 designates English as the official language of the State of Nevada--OPPOSE
AB 83 makes various changes concerning the reporting and investigation of allegations of child abuse and neglect--OPPOSE
AB 91 authorizes the State Treasurer to securitize the revenue stream produced by the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement--OPPOSE
AB 157 provides that the head of a household which receives Temporary Assistance for Needy Families must accept certain employment--OPPOSE
AB 184 prohibits discrimination with regard to gender identity or expression--SUPPORT
AB 245 revises certain provisions relating to voter identification--OPPOSE
AB 347 makes various changes concerning foreign nationals--OPPOSE
AB 485 revises provisions governing the program to provide Temporary Assistance for Needy Families--SUPPORT
AJR 3 ratifies proposed constitutional amendment relative to equal rights for men and women--SUPPORT
ACR 5 directs the Legislative Commission to conduct an interim study of issues relating to women incarcerated in Nevada--SUPPORT

Senate Bills:

SB 181 makes various changes regarding governmental administration--OPPOSE
SB 289 establishes a tax credit for certain businesses that donate money to school tuition organizations--OPPOSE
SB 297 revises provisions relating to the credentialing of mental health professionals from other states--SUPPORT
SB 315 revises certain provisions concerning voter identification--OPPOSE

HHS and Education budget meetings 1/23,1/26,1/27

Please spread the word and attend if you can. The Legislative Commission's Budget Subcommittee will be reviewing the Governor's proposed budgets in depth. These are open meetings, with opportunity for public comment. The meetings are being held in Carson at the Legislature, but you can attend at the Grant Sawyer building in Vegas or follow online. Link to the budget agendas included here (HHS is on the 23rd and 26th; higher ed and ed are on the 27th). If you are planning on speaking during public comment, you may want to share your remarks in writing with the members of the subcommittee, also at the same link.www.leg.state.nv.us. To view the proposed budget, click here: http://nevadaspending.com/OpenGov/ViewExecutiveBudget.aep.

Rally to protest budget cuts a success!

Advocates, service providers, parents and clients turned out today to call attention to the devastasting cuts in a press conference and rally organized by the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. Those who turned out included the Nevada Women's Lobby, League of Women Voters, AAUW, High Sierra Industries, AFSCME, Nevada PEP, Washoe ARC and numerous parents and others who are directly affected by cuts. The turnout was inspiring and we're looking forward to follow-up rallies as we move into the regular session. We heard from a lot of people who could not make it in person who said they will be contacting their legislators- this is equally effective. To find your legislator's contact information, go to http://www.leg.state.nv.us/. To learn more about Nevada Women's Lobby, go to our website at http://www.nevadawomenslobby.org/ or visit us on Facebook or MySpace!

Nevada Women's Lobby to join other advocates and providers in rally against budget cuts

The Nevada Women's Lobby (NWL) has long been an advocate for Nevada's women, children and families. We have been pleased to have your support and we ask that you speak out at this critical time in our state's history. As you may know, Governor Gibbons is convening a special session next Monday, Dec 8 and Tuesday, Dec 9, to address the budget shortfall. NWL is joining the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada and an array of human services providers and advocates (from education, mental health, reproductive health, seniors' services, the disabled, homeless, civil rights, child welfare and more) for a press conference and demonstration Monday, December 8 at noon at the Capitol and 12:30 at the Legislature. In these economic times, the need for key human services only increases. These disastrous cuts either shift the burden to already overburdened community agencies or they aren't taken care of at all. We are calling for an open, bipartisan dialogue to consider all possible solutions to this fiscal crisis in order to secure the future of our state. You can help by attending the press conference and rally to speak out on the cuts. If you cannot attend in person, you can still be effective by contacting your legislators and the Governor and sharing how the cuts are affecting or will affect you. Your letters and calls are needed between now and the regular session in February. Please see below for additional information. If you have any questions, please contact me via email or at 702-493-5030. Please share this with others as well. Thank you in advance for anything you can do.


NEWS CONFERENCE/DEMONSTRATION
Every three or four months, legislators address Nevada’s chronic budget shortfall by making more cuts. Do we want to keep cutting into to the next biennium? We’re tired of “band-aid” solutions to our hemorrhaging budget crisis.

Join us as we speak out against additional cuts!

When/Where
Monday, December 8 (first day of Special Session)
12:00 Capitol Building in Carson City
12:30 Legislature Building (right next door)
Bring signs and band aids!

**If you cannot be there in person, you can still speak out. Your legislators and the Governor need to hear from you- how are the budget cuts affecting you, or how will they affect you down the road? Go to www.leg.state.nv.us for legislator contact information and www.gov.state.nv.us for the Governor. Mail, email, fax or call their offices now.

Why
• To ask Governor Gibbons if he has a plan to deal with cutting 34% of Nevada’s budget, and to tell him “No New Taxes” is a recipe for disaster, NOT a plan.
• To deliver "Nevada Budget Planning and Policy Toolkits” (packages of band-aids) to the Governor and Legislators.
• To demand the Governor and the Legislature invest in Nevada’s families to bolster the state’s economy, an economy which depends on well-educated Nevadans, safe communities, a sound transportation infrastructure and affordable health care and housing.
With the economy tanking, now is not the time to cut spending. Economists left, right and center support increased government spending to prime the economy. Nevada is going in exactly the opposite direction, cutting spending more and more, making Nevada's economic slowdown even worse.
Nevada’s revenue crisis will plunge the state into deeper economic ruin unless courageous and comprehensive measures are taken immediately. The problem is not now, nor has it ever been, primarily about spending. If you lose your job and can’t pay the bills, you don’t have a spending problem. You have an income problem. Similarly, Nevada state government has an income problem that can no longer withstand the vicissitudes of boom and bust that result in worsening education for our kids and further cuts to an already shredded safety net.

UMC's life-threatening budget cuts and action letter

As you may know, University Medical Center (UMC) in Las Vegas has just approved additional cuts on an array of critical services.

From Nancy Whitman, Health Care Reform Project:

"I just returned from the Clark County Commissioners meeting on the UMC
program closures. The Clark County Commission approved the closure of
the following programs:

1. High risk O.B. unit (acute partum testing)
2. Outpatient Oncology
3. Coumadin Outpatient Clinic
4. Mammography
5. Outpatient Dialysis
6. Women's Center (pre-natal care program)
7. Hand Clinic

Some of these programs are the only ones available in Clark County and
we did not hear of the capacity of other providers to pick up those who
will no longer be able to receive services at UMC. The Clark County
Commission suggested that UMC convene a group to discuss the health
issues impacting providers and to discuss solutions. Unfortunately,
there were few individuals testifying at the public comment portion of
the meeting and it was all around oncology since we did not know about
the other closures."

Please see below for more information from the Susan G. Komen folks on action planned to address the oncology cuts:

Dear Cancer Community Leaders:

As you know, our community is very unique in that we have only one county hospital, University Medical Center (UMC) and this hospital provides the majority of oncology care to the uninsured and low-income women and men diagnosed with cancer in Southern Nevada . Through the generosity of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure grantees and their programs, we have always been able to find assistance for the women that have fallen through the cracks, but UMC has been the only option for most. In the past month we have seen UMC start to turn away patients and now we know that UMC will be closing their doors to out-patient oncology services and we must act now.

As UMC is now refusing new oncology patients, we have realized that this situation needs immediate attention before the crisis grows. We are asking our key community leaders to come together and help find both short term and long term solution(s) to this situation.

Here are ways you can help:
We will be holding a meeting for key stakeholders in the cancer community on Friday, November 21 at 10:00am at the College of Southern Nevada, West Charleston Campus, 6375 W. Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89146, Building I (new library), Room 108, (enter off W. Charleston between Jones and Torrey Pines, past Building C on the right). Please attend if these cuts will directly affect your programs.
Finally, I have also attached a letter we have sent out to our supporters and elected officials and would suggest that you send something similar to your supporters.
This situation cannot be ignored! If you have any concerns or issues, please call me at the Komen office at 702-822-2324. On behalf of Jackie Brown, Executive Director, and myself, thank you for your support and advocacy steps to action in our Southern Nevada community. Together, we will save lives!

-- Stacey A. Gross, MPH, CHES
Community Programs Manager
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Southern Nevada Affiliate
P: 702.822.2324 F: 702.877.2455
4850 W. Flamingo Rd, Suite 25
Las Vegas , NV 89103
www.komensouthernnevada.org

P.S. The action letter is available at the Komen website, listed above.