Midwestaffiliate

IllinoisOn tobacco issues, advocates in Illinois worked to defeat several bills which would have stripped away pieces of the landmark Smoke Free Illinois Law. With the support of the governor and Senate president, a future increase in the state’s tobacco tax remains a viable option for a cash-strapped state. AHA helped pass a bill amending the Good Samaritan Act to cover liability for hands-only CPR, paving the way for a future push for a state-wide graduation requirement. While two bills which would have limited trans fats in schools and restaurants were defeated, dialog has been opened with opponents on trans fats paving the way to work together to explore mutually acceptable solutions. AHA was involved in protecting physical education by forestalling efforts to repeal Illinois’ physical educa-tion mandate. The past year also saw progress on the implementa-tion of Illinois’ recent stroke law, as well as significant region-by-region progress towards establishing STEMI systems of care in Chicago and throughout the state.

IndianaThe association worked diligently toward a smoke free Indiana by advocating for the passage of legislation that would make public places, enclosed areas of places of employment, certain state vehicles and areas within 12 feet of public entrances to public places all smoke free. While this action did not pass, advocates hope to see similar legislation passed into law next session.

As of July 1, 2011, Indiana state law will require teaching license applicants to be trained and certified in the use of AEDs. After June 30, 2012, complete training and certification in cardiopul-monary resuscitation (CPR), removing foreign bodies causing airway obstruction, Heimlich maneuver and the use of AEDs

will also be required for the renewal of teaching licenses after July 30, 2012.

IowaAn agriculture appropriation bill passed with an allocation of $75,000 and a cost sharing agreement with Iowa State University for a local food and farm pro-

gram initiative. This legislation will help expand production of local foods includ-ing fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts as well as other local food products.

The association continues to work with partners on the Stroke Task Force to implement the legislation passed last year regarding the Iowa Stroke Triage System and Stroke Registry. The final implemen-tation plan created by the Iowa Depart-ment of Public Health was shared with key legislators and AHA will work on the next steps to implement this plan in Iowa.

Staff and volunteers successfully defended the state’s CPR high school graduation requirement. Iowa is currently only one of two states that includes qual-ity CPR as part of high school graduation requirements.

The association worked on a dis-solvable tobacco products bill that would restrict the sale of some dissolvable tobacco or nicotine products. This bill was created because some of the newer products seem to be marketed to youth

because of their appearance (similar to candy or gum) and flavor (cherry, straw-berry, orange, etc.) The association will continue to work with legislators to get it passed this session.

KansasThe recently concluded 2011 session of

the Kansas Legislature provided several victories for the state of Kansas. Although budgetary chal-lenges provided a tough climate for any program with state fund-ing, most key health programs and laws were maintained.

The 2010 Kansas Clean Indoor Air law remained intact despite attempts to weaken and repeal it. This law makes most public places in Kansas smoke free. The 2010 Kansas Clean Indoor Air law granted an exemp-tion to the gaming floor of any casinos built in Kansas. Unfor-tunately the issue got tangled up with other vital health bills includ-

ing a very important EMS bill. Eventually lawmakers decided the other health bills were too important and the bill eliminat-ing the casino exemption was dropped. The association was also successful in protecting the $1 million appropriation for vital tobacco prevention and cessation initiatives.

The legislature approved changes that will allow the Kansas EMS community to be more closely aligned with national standards and allow EMS personnel to conduct a wider variety of pre-hospital services and thus provide a higher level of care. An overhaul of the 9-1-1 system was approved that will allow the state’s system to keep up with fast-paced technological changes such as increased use of texting and satellite services. The bill also modi-fies the 9-1-1 fee, reducing the land-line fee from 75 cents per line per month to 53 cents. The fee will also apply to cell phone subscribers and a 9-1-1 fee will be collected on pre-paid wireless accounts as well. The collected fees will be used to

Illinois advocates and staff prepare for an advocacy event with their mascot.

allow the call centers to upgrade equip-ment to enable them to handle calls made from newer technology and handle increased call volume.

MichiganThe Michigan Legislature remains in ses-sion and all introduced legislation remains under consideration until December 31, 2012. Once again this year, the association addressed potential cuts to the Healthy Michigan Fund. The fund supports the chronic disease prevention programs in Michigan, including programs working to prevent heart disease, tobacco use, stroke and diabetes. Despite the state budget deficit, advocates were successful in get-ting $5 million dedicated to prevention in the state budget that starts on October 1, 2011. Legislation was also passed to fund the state trauma system. The passage of the trauma legislation was vital to efforts in putting together stroke and STEMI sys-tems of care.

MinnesotaA shared-use law passed with strong bipartisan support. This legislation clari-fies the limits of liability for school dis-tricts when they open their facilities to the public for recreational use. Clarifying the law provides the assurance that many school districts need to feel comfortable opening their facilities to community members. AHA led the charge to make sure these community resources are maxi-mized. In addition, a bill to strengthen CPR training in daycare settings passed unanimously. This law sets forth stronger CPR training requirements for child-care providers in the state. The measure, known as Hannah’s Law, is named after a four-year-old child who tragically died after choking on a grape at a Minnesota daycare center. AHA helped strengthen the legislation by clarifying its intent and assuring current AHA CPR guidelines and practices were reflected in the language.

Efforts to roll back the state’s smoke free law were defeated. Health care coverage for low-income Minnesotans was maintained and funding for obesity, tobacco prevention, and health equity pro-grams were defended.

MissouriAlthough there were significant budget cuts at the state level, none of the pro-grams impacting the association’s key heart screening programs were affected in the Health and Senior Services Depart-ment budget.

AHA spearheaded the lobbying effort and worked closely with the Mis-souri Council for Activity and Nutrition to build support for the Farm-to-Table Bill, which will create a Farm-to-Table Advisory Board assigned to explore and create opportunities to enable farmers to more easily provide fresh fruits and veg-etables to Missouri’s Public Schools, as well as other state institutions. The board will also promote healthy communities and healthy lifestyles throughout the state of Missouri. The bill is currently awaiting the governor’s signature.

Several bills were successfully defeated including an amendment that would have provided businesses through-out Missouri with the option to purchase a smoking permit. This law would have undermined all of the progress made at the local level related to smoke free public places. The state tobacco cessation pro-gram has expanded to cover all Missouri Medicaid recipients. The current fund-ing is $3.2 million and the program will receive a $5.3 million federal match. This funding will assist in helping Missourians on Medicaid quit smoking.

AHA continues to make significant strides in the area of complete streets poli-cies at the state and local levels. The asso-ciation worked with the Missouri Bicycle Federation to pass a resolution declaring support for Complete Streets Policies throughout Missouri and urging the state government to create roads, streets, and communities where all road users can feel safe and secure, while encouraging residents to get more physical activity by using them.

Provisions to allow Missouri high school students to obtain physical educa-tion credit through participating in ball-room dance, was defeated in several bills this session. Advocates stressed that some of the valuable lessons students learn in a physical education classes related to healthy eating and appropriate physical activity. This type of instruction cannot

be duplicated or substituted by ballroom dance.

The Show Me Healthy Women Pro-gram is set to receive $500,000. This program funds Missouri’s WISEWOMAN program that helps underinsured and low-income women obtain life-saving screen-ings to help them prevent against heart disease and stroke. The budget bills are currently in the governor’s office, await-ing final approval.

NebraskaThe association strongly supported a bill increasing the cigarette tax by $1.35. This bill did not pass but remains alive and will be carried over to the 2012 session. A bill establishing a children’s health advisory council was introduced and supported by AHA. It did not pass, but as with the ciga-rette tax, the bill will be carried over to the 2012 legislative session.

At the community level volunteers and staff supported increasing physi-cal education graduation requirements for Lincoln Public Schools. Fortunately, graduation requirements for physical education were increased and an increase in physical activity time for elementary students was also approved.

North DakotaNorth Dakota advocacy efforts resulted in more than $1 million in state appropria-tions for heart disease and stroke. The biggest win this session in North Dakota was the $600,000 appropriation towards a match goal to qualify for a Mission Lifeline STEMI initiative. That victory resulted in additional match contributions to qualify for Helmsley Charitable Foun-dation funding for a $7.1 million state-wide initiative.

Also this session, $473,324 was allo-cated out of the general fund for contin-ued support of a statewide stroke registry.

Legislation passed which clarifies “recreational immunity” laws in the state. AHA quickly engaged in efforts to help pass this bill, and testimony shared as to the value to shared-use of school grounds. With passage of this stronger language, AHA advocates can now encourage extended use of school buildings and grounds during non-school hours.

The association defended two and a half staff positions within the Chronic Disease Division, which could have been targeted for elimination or transfer to other programs. The division includes tobacco prevention and the heart disease and stroke program programs.

For the first time the legislature approved funding for rural EMS services. $4.2 million was allocated. Next session (2013) funding will need to double to cover two-year years of funding, assur-ing that rural EMS substations are able to provide EMS service in rural areas of the state. AHA is credited with helping to gain a high first year funding due to the mock STEMI event held in both chambers.

South DakotaThe highlight of South Dakota’s year was the successful passage of a compre-hensive smoke free law. While the 2009 Legislature passed this law, opponents successfully referred it to the November 2010 ballot. Thanks to the hard work of

You’re the Cure volunteers and the help of other partner organizations, nearly 65 percent of voters supported this action. The You’re the Cure network mobilized again during the 2011 legislative session to defeat attempted amendments to the smoke free law and to ensure protection of state funding for tobacco prevention and cessation efforts.

After seeing the introduction of a bill designed to remove sales tax exemp-tions for some non-profits without “brick-and-mortar” locations in the state, we worked with the taxation commit-tee chairman and department of revenue staff to ensure the bill would not have any negative impact on the association, which does not have a stand-alone office in South Dakota but rather is affiliated with a regional office in Jamestown, ND. The bill was passed with no impact on the operations of the association in South Dakota.

WisconsinDuring a contentious legislative session, AHA staff and volunteers focused on saving current programs. These included securing funding for a staff person to coordinate the state’s Farm to School program, saving the Buy Local Buy Wisconsin program which connects local farmers who sell produce to grocery stores and restaurants, and securing $1 million in federal funds for state bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

The governor vetoed a “weight-based” tobacco tax policy that would have made smokeless tobacco cheaper. Wisconsin’s statewide smoke free law was also protected from changes that would have resulted in weaker regulations.

Advocates worked against a physi-cal education waiver bill to let students waive out of the entire 1.5 credit gradua-tion requirement for physical by partici-pating in extracurricular sports. The bill is still active in the legislature.