WASAVP supports the following bills currently being considered by the state legislature.
o HB 2014 Concerning liquor licensing fees.
o HB 6166 - Concerning cigarette tax revenue for tobacco prevention and treatment programs.
WASAVP is not in favor of the following bills currently being considered in the state legislature.
o SB 6060 - Allowing day spas to offer or supply without charge wine or beer by the individual glass to a customer for consumption on the premises
o HB 2573 - Transferring Programs to the office of the Attorney General
Following is a list of bills that are under review by the WASAVP Board.
o HB 2179 - Concerning objections to liquor licenses by local governments
o HB 2426 - Prohibiting the issuance of spirits retail licenses to certain membership organizations
o HB 2558 - Establishing a theater license to sell beer, including strong beer, or wine, or both, at retail for consumption on theater premises
o HB 2454 - Protecting qualifying patients of medical marijuana from prosecution for impaired driving when there is no actual impairment
o SB 6007 - Placing certain synthetic cannabimimetics and certain substituted cathinones into schedule I of the uniform controlled substances act
o SB 6265 - Addressing the medical use of cannabis
o SJR 8218 - Amending the state Constitution to limit certain initiatives placed on the ballot
Friday, January 20, 2012
Secure medicine return legislation would reduce youth prescription drug abuse
During the current state legislative session, two bills are being considered that would establish a statewide system for the secure return of leftover prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Following is a brief summary of SSB 5234 and HB 1370:
• Help stop the epidemic of abuse and poisonings, and protect our water quality.
• Requires no state funds; budget-neutral to the state. Primarily financed by all drug producers selling medicines in Washington, as part of doing business. Removes financial burden from Sheriffs, police, and local governments.
• Not a government-run program. Establishes the non-profit WA Medicine Return Association that will be managed and financed by drug producers so they can control their own funds and operate the program efficiently.
• Total annual costs of the program to drug producers collectively cannot exceed $2.5 million – or about 1 penny for every $16 in sales of medicines annually in Washington.
• Sheriffs, police, local govt’s, and pharmacies in 17 counties are operating take-back programs at limited locations, but are struggling for funding. Most WA communities cannot afford to start a take-back program.
• The federal Drug Enforcement Agency is coordinating some one-day take-back events; however these rely on local resources and will end in 2012 when the DEA finalizes new regulations for take-back of controlled drugs such as narcotics without involvement of law enforcement.
During the 2011 legislative session, the Senate bill was one vote short of being passed out of committee. Although many legislators support these bills, the powerful pharmaceutical lobby was successful in thwarting them. More information about the proposed legislation may be found on the Take Back Your Meds website.
• Help stop the epidemic of abuse and poisonings, and protect our water quality.
• Requires no state funds; budget-neutral to the state. Primarily financed by all drug producers selling medicines in Washington, as part of doing business. Removes financial burden from Sheriffs, police, and local governments.
• Not a government-run program. Establishes the non-profit WA Medicine Return Association that will be managed and financed by drug producers so they can control their own funds and operate the program efficiently.
• Total annual costs of the program to drug producers collectively cannot exceed $2.5 million – or about 1 penny for every $16 in sales of medicines annually in Washington.
• Sheriffs, police, local govt’s, and pharmacies in 17 counties are operating take-back programs at limited locations, but are struggling for funding. Most WA communities cannot afford to start a take-back program.
• The federal Drug Enforcement Agency is coordinating some one-day take-back events; however these rely on local resources and will end in 2012 when the DEA finalizes new regulations for take-back of controlled drugs such as narcotics without involvement of law enforcement.
During the 2011 legislative session, the Senate bill was one vote short of being passed out of committee. Although many legislators support these bills, the powerful pharmaceutical lobby was successful in thwarting them. More information about the proposed legislation may be found on the Take Back Your Meds website.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Register today for Prevention Policy Day 2012
Registration is very important. Register you or your group today at TOGETHER!'s website. Additional information and driving directions are available during registration.
Date: Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 20, 2012
Time: 9:00am-5:00pm
Location: Governor Hotel, 621 South Capitol Way, Olympia, WA
*****
Agenda:
9:00am: Welcome and Event Kick-Off
12:00pm: Rally in the Capitol Rotunda
1:15pm - 2:30pm: Lunch (Networking and Youth Presentations)
2:30pm - 5:00pm: More Policy Maker Meetings
*****
All participants are strongly encouraged to set appointments with their policymakers at any point possible throughout the day. Ideal times for appointments are between 10:00am and 11:30am or 2:45pm and later. We encourage you taking appointments as they are available.
Prevention Policy Day is brought to you by WASAVP, Voicing Our Ideas Challenging Everyone (VOICE), TOGETHER!, SAFE St., Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council (GSSAC), and the Snohomish County Federated Health and Safety Network.
New state legislative session off to a busy start
There are many important hearings set for this week in Olympia where the voice of prevention needs to be heard. The following links to bill information include scheduled hearing date and location/committee. Bill information may be viewed at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/.
Public Hearings:
1. HB 2443 - Increasing accountability of persons who drive impaired.
2. HB 2176 - Extending the time to enforce civil judgments for damages caused by impaired drivers.
3. HB 2301 - Concerning boxing, martial arts, and wrestling.
4. HB 2302 - Concerning being under the influence with a child in the vehicle.
5. HB 2405 - Ordering offenders convicted of vehicular homicide due to alcohol or drugs to pay child support for the victims' minor children.
6. HB 2432 - Promoting local intervention and prevention programs for reducing gang violence.
7. HB 2454 - Protecting qualifying patients of medical marijuana from prosecution for impaired driving when there is no actual impairment.
8. HB 2216 - Increasing penalties for vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.
9. SB 5789 - Addressing workplace bullying by making it an unfair practice to subject an employee to an abusive work environment.
10. S-3377 (Draft) - Addressing the medical use of cannabis.
Public Hearings:
1. HB 2443 - Increasing accountability of persons who drive impaired.
2. HB 2176 - Extending the time to enforce civil judgments for damages caused by impaired drivers.
3. HB 2301 - Concerning boxing, martial arts, and wrestling.
4. HB 2302 - Concerning being under the influence with a child in the vehicle.
5. HB 2405 - Ordering offenders convicted of vehicular homicide due to alcohol or drugs to pay child support for the victims' minor children.
6. HB 2432 - Promoting local intervention and prevention programs for reducing gang violence.
7. HB 2454 - Protecting qualifying patients of medical marijuana from prosecution for impaired driving when there is no actual impairment.
8. HB 2216 - Increasing penalties for vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.
9. SB 5789 - Addressing workplace bullying by making it an unfair practice to subject an employee to an abusive work environment.
10. S-3377 (Draft) - Addressing the medical use of cannabis.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Medicine take-back bills still alive
Both medicine return bills that were considered by the Washington State Legislature last year, SSB 5234 and HB 1370, will be re-introduced in the 2012 session. A summary of the bills may be viewed on the Take Back Your Meds campaign website.
During the 2011 session, the Senate bill was supported by 24 Senators at the “cut-off” deadline. Support from at least one more Senator is needed to pass the bill during the 2012 session.
The Senate bill will start in Rules Committee. This means there will not be a hearing. Instead, advocates need to communicate directly with Senators about the problem of prescription drug abuse and the role medicine return programs can play in preventing prescription drug abuse. While it is important to communicate with House members, the first priority is educating Senators.
Legislators are hearing a lot from the pharmaceutical industry -- they do not want to be responsible for funding a medicine return program in our state. It is likely that the Legislature won’t act to approve the bills unless they hear from the many advocates of medicine return programs.
During the 2011 session, the Senate bill was supported by 24 Senators at the “cut-off” deadline. Support from at least one more Senator is needed to pass the bill during the 2012 session.
The Senate bill will start in Rules Committee. This means there will not be a hearing. Instead, advocates need to communicate directly with Senators about the problem of prescription drug abuse and the role medicine return programs can play in preventing prescription drug abuse. While it is important to communicate with House members, the first priority is educating Senators.
Legislators are hearing a lot from the pharmaceutical industry -- they do not want to be responsible for funding a medicine return program in our state. It is likely that the Legislature won’t act to approve the bills unless they hear from the many advocates of medicine return programs.
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