| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 4/6/2005 12:05:48 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Colorado--Calls Needed to Senate Today to Stop Immunization Tracking Bill |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== April 6, 2005 Colorado--Calls Needed to Senate Today to Stop Immunization Tracking Bill Dear HSLDA members and friends: Senate Bill 87 needs to be defeated. Please call your state senator today and ask him to vote against S.B. 87. Your calls are making an impact. If we do not defeat this bill in the legislature, we will urge you to call the governor and ask him to veto S.B. 87. Although there are some worthwhile aspects to the bill, the drawbacks outweigh the benefits. The most blatant problem is the threat to our privacy and freedom since the Department of Public Health will be given the power to hire a "contractor" who "may directly contact the parent. . . if immunizations are due or overdue." A government agency will be calling, or potentially visiting your home, in order to determine the status of your child's immunizations. The current law only allows the parent to be contacted if there is an outbreak of a disease. Please call your senator today and ask them to vote against SB 87. We join together with Treon Goossen of Concerned Parents of Colorado and Christian Home Educators of Colorado in opposing this bill. In particular, we extend our thanks to Treon, who has worked tirelessly against this bill via personal lobbying at the Capitol. ACTION REQUESTED Call your senator and give him this message: "Please vote against Senate Bill 87. It violates our right to privacy. We do not want the government acting as the nanny of our children. Parents should be trusted to act in the best interests of their children." To contact your state representative, call the Capitol at 303-866-2904 or use HSLDA's Legislative Toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox . BACKGROUND The current law gives parents the opportunity to declare an exemption from any or all immunizations based on a religious or personal belief or for health reasons. The current law requires doctors to inform parents of their right to not have their children immunized for these reasons. The current law also gives parents the right to opt-out of the Immunization Tracking System (ITS). The law states, "A parent or legal guardian who consents to the immunization of an infant, child, or student...shall have the option to exclude such information from the immunization tracking system. The parent or legal guardian shall have the option to remove such information from the immunization tracking system at any time." Current law also requires doctors to inform parents of their right to opt out of the tracking system. Although Colorado parents have these safeguards, testimony at the hearing revealed inconsistencies if this new law is passed. The Department of Public Health will be able to contact parents even if they opt out. The ability to contact parents and track their responses effectively abolishes the "opt out." S.B. 87 does provide two positive amendments. They require the contractor hired by the Department to notify parents of their right to be exempt from immunizations for religious and personal belief reasons. Also, social service agents are prohibited from investigating a family merely because they choose not to immunize. HSLDA has regularly represented members who were harassed by social workers for not immunizing their children. Nonetheless, I believe the overall negative effects of this bill warrant its defeat. Please call your senator today. Sincerely, Chris Klicka HSLDA Senior Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> "I saved my entire membership fee with one discount" "We've been a Liberty Mutual customer for over 12 years. 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Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
