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It’s CrossOver Week at the Arizona Legislature! Cross Over Week is when bills must be heard in their chamber of origin because committees will only consider bills from the other chamber moving forward. Meaning the House will only hear Senate bills and vice versa.
That means there was lots of committee action this week, notably on SB 1586 (provider liability). This measure is unnecessary and perpetuates misleading myths about transgender patients, while burdening their healthcare providers.
Read on to learn more and find out how YOU can take action on SB 1586.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE
SB SB 1586 (Provider Liability), sponsored by Sen. Shamp, proposes a 25-year liability window for patients who received gender-affirming care to sue their providers if they regret their care.
Key Concerns:
This does not apply to other medical procedures, making it an unfair precedent.
It would make malpractice insurance unaffordable, effectively restricting access to care.
This is a workaround to ban gender-affirming care by making it financially unsustainable.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Contact your Senator! Here is a listing of Arizona Senators’ email and office phone numbers.
Key Things to Highlight About SB 1586
This is not how we handle anything else in healthcare, and it sets a troubling precedent. We don’t set 25-year liability burdens on other providers who care for patients (cardiologists, psychiatrists, podiatrists, etc.).
This would also raise malpractice insurance rates for anyone providing this care, which is a de facto ban.
They want to ban gender affirming care but haven’t had success with that, so they’re willing to break how provider liability works to get around that, but this will limit care for everyone.
Request To Speak (RTS) Registration - sign in and OPPOSE SB 1586!
To activate your account through our friends at Civic Engagement Beyond Voting, click here!
Sign in and OPPOSE SB 1586 in the RTS system.
Bill Tracker - Check out the bills we’re tracking this legislative session!
SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE
The Peoria Unified School District Board (PUSD) recently debated removing mental health supports from schools, an issue that has been repeatedly challenged. School counselors and social workers play a critical role in a student’s well-being. Keeping these resources intact ensures students receive the support they need.
Stay involved: Monitor school board meetings and advocate for policies that prioritize a student’s well-being.
WHAT'S IN THE NEWS?
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