April 27, 2001

TO: AAPS Members and Supporters in Illinois

URGENT ACTION ALERT!

Two important bills will be heard on Wednesday, May 2, before the Human Services Committee: SB1305 removes the Department of Children and Family Services� regulation that vaccination delay, failure or refusal is medical neglect. SB1305 passed the Illinois Senate 53-0 with DCFS support.

SB1305 will stop DCFS harassment, intimidation, scare tactics and threats against parents who can choose legally-allowed medical or religious vaccination exemptions for their children.

SB 1304 prevents conflicts of interest for members of the Immunization Advisory Committee.

Human Services Committee Members:

Chairperson, Sara Feigenholtz (D)
1051 W. Belmont
Chicago, IL 60657
773-296-4141 FX 773-296-0993
217-782-8062 FX 217-782-0927

Vice Chairperson, Jeff Schoenberg (D)
1000 Skokie Blvd. Suite LL33
Wilmette, IL 60091
847-853-0130 Fx. 847-853-0135
217-782-0499 Fx 217-789-6250

Spokesperson Patti Bellock (R)
630 S. Cass
Westmont, IL 60559
630-852-8633 Fx 630-852-6530
217-782-1448 Fx 217-782-0595

Rep. Mary Flowers (D)
2539 W. 79th St.
Chicago, IL 60652
773-471-5200 Fx. 773-471-1036
217-782-4207 Fx. 217-782-1130

Rep. Connie Howard (D)
8949 South Stoney Island
Chicago, IL 60617
773-356-6210 Fx 773-356-6217
217-782-6476 Fx 217-782-0952

Rep. Rich Myers (R)
331 Lafayette
Macomb, IL 61455
309-836-2707 Fx. 309-836-2231
217-782-0416 Fx 217-782-7211

Rep. Cynthia Soto (D)
2615 W. Division
Chicago, IL 60622
773-252-0401 Fx 773-395-0416
217-782-0150 Fx 217-557-7210

Rep. David Winters (R)
3600 N. Main, Northtown Mall
Rockford, IL 61103
815-282-0083 Fx 815-282-0085
217-782-0455 Fx 217-782-1139

Rep David Wirsing (R)
155 N. Third St., Suite 400
Dekalb, IL 60115
815-748-3494 Fx 815-748-4630
217-782-0425 Fx 217-557-7205

PLEASE CALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND YOUR OWN REPRESENTATIVE AND EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS ON THIS LEGISLATION.

For further information, see www.vaccineawareness.org.

Jane M. Orient, M.D., Executive Director

Illinois SB1304

Provides that a person is ineligible to serve on the Immunization Advisory Committee if the person or his or her spouse is an officer, employee, or agent of, or has any ownership or other financial interest in, a pharmaceutical company that manufactures or produces vaccines. Prohibits members or their spouses from soliciting or accepting anything of value or any other economic benefit from a pharmaceutical company that manufactures or produces vaccines unless it is offered and available generally to licensed physicians or to the public. Provides that the prohibitions do not apply to an officer, employee, or his or her spouse of a governments or non-profit entity that solicits vaccines for the governmental or non-profit entity. Effective immediately.

Illinois SB1305

Provides that a child shall not be considered neglected or abused for the sole reason that the child's parent or other person responsible for the child's welfare failed to vaccinate, delayed vaccination, or refused vaccination for the child whether due to a waiver on religious or medical grounds as permitted by law or otherwise.