California's needle exchange bill, AB 518, has passed the state Senate and is now headed to the Governor's desk. Gov. Davis has threatened to veto the bill. DEATH BY INFECTIOUS DISEASE SHOULD NOT BE A PUNISHMENT FOR DRUG USE. A VETO OF AB 518 WILL KILL MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN BY INCREASING THE SPREAD OF AIDS AND HEPATITIS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA AND OUR NATION. Passage of AB 518 will not force any community in California to have needle exchange, but will reassure them that they can have public or private needle exchange programs without violating state law. Please call Gov. Davis NOW and urge him to sign AB 518! The Governor's phone number is (916) 445-2841; press "2" to speak with a staff member. (If you are calling after office hours, you can press "2" to leave a message, including your opinion and your zip code.)
The following is a sample phone script, from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation:
"I am calling in strong support of AB 518, which would provide clear legal protection to localities that choose to implement needle exchange programs. Science shows that needle exchange decreases the spread of HIV, hepatitis, and other diseases without increasing drug use. The Governor should sign AB 518 into law. Needle exchange saves lives and is a critical public health tool in the fight against AIDS and other diseases."
Last week, 21 members of California's Congressional delegation sent an open letter to Davis, urging him to support AB 518. Please call Gov. Davis and help to pass this historic law!
(Please send an e-mail to alert-feedback@drcnet.org to let us know that you took action, and please forward this alert to as many interested parties as you can! To learn more about needle exchange, visit http://www.projectsero.org.
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