ALERT: Proposed Bill Removes Philosophical Exemption From Vaccines

UPDATE: [April 7, 2015]

The text to House Bill 883 is finally available for viewing. Our goal is still to kill the bill. Representatives Corbin and Schlossberg's goal to pass it is first, to get it voted out of committee.

Right now, our main focus is to contact all 26 members of the Health Committee, especially Chair and Representative Matt Baker. If we can get a simple majority dissent, they will not put it for a vote. If we can get Rep. Baker to see the danger in this bill, and hear enough outcry from the State, he will not put it in the agenda.

Should it make it out of Health Com, our work will be much harder. We will need to reach out to all 203 members of the House next. Add to that, bills that get voted out of committee gain significant momentum.

When the memorandum was circulated and based on what they said at the press conference attended by CHAP's legislative coordinator, Corbin and Schlossberg only wanted to eliminate the philosophical exemption. Now that the bill text is out, this legislation clearly makes religious exemption more difficult to secure. Personal experience and those of many others we've heard from prove that getting a medical exemption is not that simple either.

We need to STOP the growing usurpation of parental rights from the government whose job is to secure our liberties. Call and email them now. All you have to say is, "Please vote NO on HB883." You may state a fact or a personal story but keep it brief and to the point. We should also demand that they hold a public hearing before they vote it out of committee. 

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In February 2015, action was taken by members of the Pennsylvania legislature to remove the option of "Philosophical Exemption" from vaccines from the PA Code.

We are asking everyone to help. The former pharmaceutical chemist, Rep. Becky Corbin, and her co-sponsor from across the aisle, Rep. Mike Schlossberg, is pushing to pass the bill behind the scene - distributing texts in the absence of a bill.

Even now, they are trying to see if they have enough votes; and I suspect that once they feel confident with the numbers, they will quickly try to get a committee vote so their opponents don't get enough warning.

CALL EVERY REPUBLICAN MEMBER of the HEALTH COMMITTEE. Tell them to vote against removing the philosophical exemption for vaccines. Then, ask them: "Is it customary practice for you to vote an *idea* out of committee? because there is no *bill text* on the General Assembly's website!!!"  or "Is this typically how you do business?"

They are working surreptitiously and we need to show them that accountability in the light of day is the best antiseptic.

The list of the members of the Health Committee is here. Please call and email them today.

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Lawmakers should take parental rights and public health into account when crafting laws that deal with immunizations. All states allow for some form of medical exemption, and many states allow for some form of religious or philosophical exemptions. HSLDA sent out a timely article today: Should Vaccinations be Mandatory?

OPPOSE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION BILL

ACTION: Oppose House Bill 754. It will lower compulsory age from 8 to 6. Although attendance is not mandatory at this time, it will require all school districts to establish all-day kindergartens for children between the ages of 3 and 5 years old.

MEMORANDUM
Posted: February 10, 2015 10:57 AM
From: Representative Michelle Brownlee
To: All House members

Subject: Amending the Public School Code to provide for full-day kindergarten

In the coming days, I plan to introduce legislation that, among other things, would amend the Public School Code to provide for full-day kindergarten.

Briefly, this legislative proposal would require the board of school directors of each school district to establish and maintain kindergartens for children between the ages of three and five years on a full-time basis by the 2018-2019 school year.

To facilitate the establishment of full-day kindergarten programs, the proposal outlines the powers and duties of the Department of Education (Department) and provides for the creation of a Full-Day Kindergarten Implementation Advisory Committee. The advisory committee would assist the Department with the development and implementation of a State Plan for full-day kindergarten, advise school districts on how to implement full-day kindergarten, and provide technical assistance and other resources to such school districts.

The State Plan for full-day kindergarten must include, among other things, a description of the full-day kindergarten program that will be developed; a statement of program goals; a description of how the Department will coordinate with existing State-funded and Federal-funded early-learning programs, such as Pre-K Counts and Head Start; a description of how the Department will involve representatives of approved providers of early-learning programs, and a comprehensive financial analysis.

As provided in the proposal, a school district would not be prohibited from offering full-day kindergarten jointly with another school district in the same intermediate unit or with an approved provider. Consequently, the State Plan would also outline the methodology school districts could use to develop strategies for partnering with philanthropic and private sector investors to secure private-sector capital to fund full-day kindergarten programs.

Numerous studies have concluded that early childhood education is essential to ensuring school readiness and enhances the cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. That is the primary reason I believe that full-day kindergarten should be implemented as a formal component of basic education. Accordingly, I thank you in advance for joining me as a sponsor of this legislative proposal.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me in my Harrisburg Office at (717) 787-3480.

Introduced as HB754

STUDIES debunking the idea that this will help advance our children's academic skills and prepare them for a better future are found here.

TALKING POINTS to help you are available here. 

CHAP HELP DAY 2015

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN!

CHAP HELP DAY (Home Education Lobby Program)

[UPDATE: Due to the number of legislations stacked against parental rights which will significantly change our homeschool laws, we invited the media to cover the event. The first part of the hour will be a press conference, followed by the training, and then we will disperse to visit the office of our legislators. Register NOW and we'll email you additional information. Thank you for helping us help you.]

Register NOW to attend this exciting family civics opportunity! 

Tuesday, April 21, 2015
10:00 AM
at the Main Rotunda of the Capitol

We will divide our time between training and visiting our legislators. 

This year, we are proud to have as our speaker:

WILL ESTRADA, Director of Federal Relations at HSLDA


along with some of our friends in the Pennsylvania General Assembly

Our focus will be on the following four areas:

- Tips for effective lobbying and how to talk to your legislators

- Visiting our state legislators and developing a relationship with them 

- Learning how to pro-actively advocate for home education

- Hear brief updates on bills that may effect homeschoolers in the near future

With team work, planning and networking, we can promote the protection of our rights over our children and family. 

Each family is encouraged to bring a homemade pie or plate of cookies as a gift for each Senator and Representative that they visit (at least 2). 

We will provide CHAP Lobby Packets with pertinent information that you can share to each of the legislators 

Encouraging them with our respect and honor, every family will try to visit their own or an assigned legislator - to thank them for their public service, and to show them faces of real homeschooling families. 

Many of our leaders need to hear that we do not ask for anything from our government; only that we be left alone, our burdens lightened, so we can focus on the job God entrusted to us. 

After the training, you will be able explain to lawmakers our current homeschool laws, why you teach your children at home, and show them scientific evidence why parent-led education works. 

To sign up send an email to chaphelpdayregister@gmail.com include your name, complete address, your legislative district (if known), and the number of adults and children attending.

CHAP will issue a Certificate of Attendance to affidavit-reporting students. 
We appreciate your assistance in the preparations. 

R E G I S T E R   T O D A Y !

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