SB577 signed into law by Governor Davis!

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SB577 signed into law by Governor Davis!

WE DID IT. With your help, the California legislature has now passed landmark health freedom legislation that guarantees health freedom not only for our state, but changes the health freedom climate nationwide.

Today is the day to pay a debt of gratitude to those who have worked hard for your freedom to use alternative health care and your right to practice alternative therapies. The CHFC still has over $65,000 in debts to pay. Please dig deep and send a contribution today to the CHFC to show your appreciation.

From our press release:

California has passed landmark health freedom legislation – Senate Bill 577. In fact, the bill passed the legislature without a single “no” vote.

Today, Senate Bill 577 was signed into law by Governor Davis. As he said when he signed the bill, SB 577 “will ease access to alternative and complementary health care options for all Californians.” He also stated that “the bill provides adequate safeguards for California consumers and enables them to make an informed choice regarding their personal health care.”

SB 577, authored by Senate Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco), provides that a person is not in violation of certain provisions of the Medical Practice Act (that prohibit the practice of medicine to anyone who is not a licensed physician) as long as that person does not engage in certain specified medical acts. It also requires specified disclosures to each client about practitioner training and method of treatment. Client receipt of disclosure materials must be acknowledged in writing.

The California Health Freedom Coalition (CHFC), sponsor of the Bill, expects that SB 577 will change and improve the culture of health care in California by enhancing access to alternative forms of health care. Since the law also requires unlicensed alternative and complementary health care practitioners to provide basic information to consumers about themselves, their training, and their work, it also serves to enhance consumer safety.

SB577 will become effective January 1, 2003.

SB577 PASSES THE ASSEMBLY!!!

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Well, folks, we’ve done it. With your help, SB577 has now passed both the California Senate and the California Assembly! Celebrations are definitely in order!!

But we’re not quite done yet. First the bill must return to the Senate floor for a quick vote to OK the various amendments that were added by the Assembly health committee. Then it’s off to Governor Gray Davis for signature.

We anticipate that Governor Davis will have SB577 on his desk next week.

It’s not too late for those of you who haven’t already, to fax and call the Governor to ask for his signature on SB577. You will soon receive an email with all pertinent information in this last campaign.

We’re almost there folks! This is a historic moment for American health freedom rights. All of the state health freedom movements have their eyes on us in California. Minnesota passed in 2000, Rhode Island passed earlier this year, and with all of your help, California will be next!

Finally, please show your gratitude for all the hard work done to make SB577 a reality. Dig deep and send a contribution today to the CHFC. We still have over $70,000 in debts to pay! Your financial support is essential.

Looking at the brass ring! The Assembly will vote very soon.

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Looking at the brass ring! The Assembly will vote very soon.

With your help, the CHFC has entered the final stretch in its quest to win health freedom for all Californians. The California Assembly will vote on SB577 in the next few days. Send SB577 your positive thoughts!

Thanks to all of you who have already contacted your Assembly representative. There is still time to send a letter to the Governor, if you have not already done so. Please send a fax, letter, or call the governor in Sacramento. Tell him that you are a constituent, that you support the right to use alternative medicine, and ask him to vote in favor of SB577, California’s health freedom bill. His contact information is:

Governor Gray Davis
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-445-4633

After the Assembly vote, the bill must return to the Senate floor for a quick vote to OK the various amendments that were added by the Assembly health committee. Then it’s off to Governor Gray Davis for signature.

We anticipate that Governor Davis might have SB577 on his desk as early as August 20th.

It’s still not too late to tell all your friends to sign up here at www.californiahealthfreedom.com.

We’re almost there folks! This is a historic moment for American health freedom rights. All of the state health freedom movements have their eyes on us in California.

SB577 on the final stretch — the Assembly and the Governor in August 2002

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SB577 on the final stretch — the Assembly and the Governor in August 2002!

SB577 rounded the difficult bend of the Assembly health committee and passed with flying colors! Now we head into the full Assembly vote, which will take place in August, most likely before August 15.

Thanks to all of you who have already contacted your Assembly representative. If you have not already done so, please send a fax, letter, or call your representative at their Capitol office in Sacramento. Tell them that you are a constituent, that you support the right to use alternative medicine, and ask them to vote in favor of SB577, California’s health freedom bill.

After the (hopefully successful!) Assembly vote, SB577 must return to the Senate floor for a quick vote to OK the various amendments that were added by the Assembly health committee. We anticipate no problems there. Then it’s off to Governor Gray Davis for signature.

We anticipate that Governor Davis could have SB577 on his desk as early as August 15 and no later than the middle of September.

Now is the time for you to begin writing, faxing, and calling the Governor to ask for his signature on SB577. You will soon receive an email with all pertinent information in this last campaign. And it’s still not too late to ask all your friends to sign up at www.californiahealthfreedom.com.

We’re almost there folks! This is a historic moment for American health freedom rights. All of the state health freedom movements have their eyes on us in California. Minnesota passed in 2000, Rhode Island passed earlier this year, and with all of your help, California will be next!

Finally,please dig deep and send a contribution today to the CHFC. We still have over $70,000 in debts to pay! Your financial support is essential in helping us win health freedom for all Californians.

SB577 must be considered by the Assembly Health committee by June 28 (update)

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SB577 must be considered by the Assembly Health committee by June 28.

We are on now on the final stretch in our quest for health freedom for California!

And our toughest and most critical battle lays before us.

SB577 must be voted on by the Assembly Health Committee by June 28. The support of this committee is by no means assured. If they do not pass SB577 (or if they do not take it up for a vote), our bill (and your chance to protect your right to freely access alternative forms of health care in California) will be killed.

NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD.

If you haven’t already, please contact either your Assembly representative (if that representative happens to be on the Health committee – see list) or Health committee chair, Helen Thomson. Please send them a short letter or postcard (emails are not so helpful), asking for their support of SB577, and then follow that up with a phone call to their Sacramento office.

It would also be helpful if you cc’d your letter to Senator John Burton, to let him know that you have contacted your Assembly representative or Ms. Thomson.

Thanks for your support at this critical time for SB577.
Financial contributions are also truly welcomed right now.

Here’s to success for SB577!

THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE CHFC!

SB577 must be considered by the Assembly Health committee by June 28

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SB577 must be considered by the Assembly Health committee by June 28.

We are on now on the final stretch in our quest for health freedom for California!

And our toughest and most critical battle lays before us.

SB577 must be voted on by the Assembly Health Committee by June 28. The support of this committee is by no means assured. If they do not pass SB577 (or if they do not take it up for a vote), our bill (and your chance to protect your right to freely access alternative forms of health care in California) will be killed.

NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD.

If you haven’t already, please contact either your Assembly representative (if that representative happens to be on the Health committee – see list) or Health committee chair, Helen Thomson. Please send them a short letter or postcard (emails are not so helpful), asking for their support of SB577, and then follow that up with a phone call to their Sacramento office.

It would also be helpful if you cc’d your letter to Senator John Burton, to let him know that you have contacted your Assembly representative or Ms. Thomson.

Thanks for your support at this critical time for SB577.
Financial contributions are also truly welcomed right now.

Here’s to success for SB577!

THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE CHFC!

SB577 to pass through Assembly Health Committee

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SB577 to pass through Assembly Health Committee.

As you all know, SB577 passed the Senate unanimously on January 22. We now begin our more difficult journey through the Assembly, starting with a vote by the Assembly’s Health Committee. A date has not yet been set, but the vote will most likely take place within the next two months.

  • Now is the time to contact your State Assembly representative. Your voice truly needs to be heard! Let them know that you are a constituent and that you want them to support SB577, California’s health freedom bill.
  • The CHFC needs your financial support. Our expenses have been mounting. Please make health freedom a priority and contribute as generously as you can.
  • Continue to encourage family, friends, and clients to visit this web site and show their support by signing up. It is particularly helpful if people give us their phone number so that we can call them when key votes come up. We especially need more contacts in Hispanic areas of Los Angeles where key Assembly representatives are located.

SB577 passes the state Senate by a vote of 33-0!

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SB577 passes the state Senate by a vote of 33-0!
Next: the Assembly.

On Tuesday, January 22, SB577 won approval by the California State Senate
by a unanimous vote of all present: 33 to 0. Thanks to all of you who called your Senator.

Now comes the hard part.

SB577’s passage through the Assembly will be a MUCH tougher battle. The power of the California Medical Association is much more keenly felt in this body. We need your help now, both financially and personally.

a) The California Health Freedom Coalition needs your financial support
to complete its quest for health freedom in California. Please remember
that California is a trendsetter state — your contribution will help
win health freedom not only in our state, but all across America. Make checks payable to California Health Freedom Coalition or CHFC.

b) Please continue to encourage family, friends, and clients to visit this site and show their support. We especially need supporters in Hispanic areas of Los Angeles where we have few supporters and where key Assembly representatives are located. If you have links to the Hispanic alternative healing communities, please contact our office.

SB577 has passed its first committee!

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SB577 has passed its first committee!
Next: the Senate floor — before the end of next week!

SB577 has passed its first hurdle — the Senate Business and Professions Committee. But our journey to health freedom for all Californians has only just begun.

Within the next 9 days (either on Thursday January 17, Tuesday January 22, or Thursday January 24) SB577 will come before the full Senate.

NOW is the time to call or fax your Senator.

By now you should have received an email from the CHFC with contact information for your Senator. Those of you who have provided us with your phone number will also be receiving a call over the next 2 days.

Please call or fax or at least write to your Senator immediately. And tell all of your friends and relatives to do so as well. Your voice makes a REAL difference. Calls to your Senator will give them the extra push they need to stand up for health freedom. Already the CMA has come out in opposition to SB577. We need your voice to be heard.

Our health freedom bill, SB577, will pass through its first committee vote on January 14! We need your faxes now!

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We expect SB577 to pass through the entire legislative process in the first half of 2002. Now is the time for SB577 supporters to start contacting their representatives.

Our first hurdle is the Business and Professions Committee of the State Senate. They will vote on SB577 on JANUARY 14, 2002.

Action Item: Write or (preferably) fax the state senators on the Business and Professions committee today. Here are suggested sample letters.

What’s Next?

Depending on the outcome of the January 14 vote, SB577 will either move through other Senate committees or move directly to a complete Senate vote — possibly by the end of January.

Action Item: By mid January, every SB577 supporter should write their own state Senator. Contact information and a suggested sample letter are supplied. (Link to sample letter and contact info for all senators). Direct email reminders will also be sent out.

After the Senate votes are complete (and hopefully successful!), SB577 will move into the Assembly. This will be an even tougher battle. So stay tuned!

THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE CHFC!