AB 659, the HPV Vaccine Bill,
has been Amended to Remove the Mandates!

But it still needs your Activism! 

Bill Update:  AB 659, which originally required the HPV vaccine for California public and private school 8-12th graders, and then was amended to require it of all public higher education establishment enrollees in California, has been amended again to remove all these mandates.  What remains in the bill is a statement of expectation that all under 26 year olds get the HPV vaccine in order to enter 8th grade in California public or private schools and all public higher education establishments.  

This is a HUGE WIN for A Voice for Choice Advocacy and our movement.  Since AB 659 was introduced, AVFCA has been in communication with Asm Aguiar-Curry and her Chief of Staff to share our concerns with the bill.  They listened to our concerns and AVFCA very much appreciates their open door policy, which has not been the case with legislators in the past.  AVFCA spent the past two weeks contacting all 116 California Community College Presidents and Trustees, as well as UC Regents and CSU Trustees.  AVFCA believes that our unrelenting effort caused many of them to reach out to Asm Aguiar-Curry's office to share their concerns with the bill and its potential enrollment and financial ramifications, which caused her to amend the bill and remove the mandates.  Please take a moment with us to Celebrate this WIN!

Action Alert: AVFCA still opposes the bill in its current form because the language stating that the HPV vaccine is expected, is confusing and does not make it clear that it is not required for 8th grade or college/university entry.  Therefore AVFCA is asking Asm Aguiar-Curry to further amend the bill, so that the language specifically states the HPV vaccine is "expected, but not required".  AVFCA asks you to reach out to your Assembly Member, your school board members and principals  and Community College, UC and CSU leadership and ask them to make the same request to Asm Aguiar-Curry.

Over the past 8 years, A Voice for Choice Advocacy has established itself as the leading legislative organization lobbying in the California Capitol for your health rights.  While A Voice for Choice Advocacy's lobbying activity in the Capitol is important, your positive constituent relationships with your CA State Senator and Assembly Member and their staff are critical to assisting with A Voice for Choice Advocacy's efforts in the Capitol.  

If you found this information helpful and appreciate the work A Voice for Choice Advocacy is doing, please support us by making a donation today.

Together we can make change happen!

C

Christina Hildebrand
President/Founder
A Voice for Choice Advocacy, Inc.
[email protected]
www.AVoiceForChoiceAdvocacy.org