UPDATE:

TIME CHANGE for House Health & Welfare Hearing at the Capitol for Bill 1270! 

Bill 1270 will now be heard at 8:30 am MST, TOMORROW (Tuesday) morning in the House Health & Welfare Committee at the Capitol in Boise (NOT 9 am). Most of us will not make it over to see in person. If you would like to watch online here is the link! You scroll to the bottom and tomorrow you will see a link next to Tuesday, March 8th that will be live and you can click on it and watch!

 House Health & Welfare Committee Stream

Call or email Mary Murray with any questions (208-520-9900 or marymurrayd@yahoo.com)

Thank you,
TVDSA and the Idaho Down Syndrome Council Board

We Need Your Help ASAP with Bill 1270 – Down Syndrome Diagnosis Information Act

As you may be aware, the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Information Act is important legislation that will ensure parents and providers get accurate information about Down syndrome. We have been working hard with our partners at IDSC to get this act to legislation and the time is here!

As most of you probably saw, Bill 1270 passed through the Senate with flying colors! It is now going to be heard in the House Health & Welfare Committee. So… we need your help again ASAP!!!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, contact your Representative, and help spread the message about Bill 1270.

This Tuesday, March 8th, a hearing is scheduled to hear our bill in the House Health & Welfare Committee at 9 am (Mountain Time). We need your help in contacting the Representatives on the Health & Welfare committee to let them know the importance of passing Bill 1270. Please contact the Representative on the Health & Welfare committee that lives closest to your home address, or you can email all of them! Here is a list of the Representatives on the Health & Welfare committee (13 Representatives):

Chair: Representative Fred Wood: FWood@house.idaho.gov
Vice-Chair: Representative John Vander Woude: JVanderWoude@house.idaho.gov
Representative Marc Gibbs: MGibbs@house.idaho.gov
Representative Megan Blanksma: MBlanksma@house.idaho.gov
Representative Mike Kingsley: MKingsley@house.idaho.gov
Representative Chad Christensen: CChristensen@house.idaho.gov
Representative Laurie Lickley: LLickley@house.idaho.gov
Representative Marco Erickson: MErickson@house.idaho.gov
Representative Greg Ferch: GFerch@house.idaho.gov
Representative Brandon Mitchell: BMitchell@house.idaho.gov
Representative Sue Chew: SChew@house.idaho.gov
Representative Ilana Rubel: IRubel@house.idaho.gov
Representative Ned Burns: NBurns@house.idaho.gov

Here is a map and bubbles to show you who is closest to you! https://legislature.idaho.gov/legislators/whosmylegislator/

The Legislature is in session so call their “Statehouse number” OR use their email.

If you need help figuring out which senator to contact please call or email Mary Murray (208-520-9900 or marymurrayd@yahoo.com).

Below is a phone script and an email template that you can use as you contact your Senator. You do not have to use either of these. They are just to help you if you want to use either of them.

Thank you SO much for your help. Please call, text, or email Mary Murray with any questions (208-520-9900 or marymurrayd@yahoo.com).

Thank you,
TVDSA Board and the Idaho Down Syndrome Council 

———————————————————————————————————–
Phone Call Script 
Intro 
Hello, my name is [Name]. I’m a resident of [Town, State].
I am contacting you to please ensure that Bill 1270, the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Information Act, is passed.

Talking Point 1
The ultimate goal of Bill 1270 is to ensure that parents receiving a Down syndrome diagnosis for their baby are provided timely, accurate, and complete information about Down syndrome. 

Talking Point 2
Too many Idahoans have gone through traumatic Down syndrome diagnosis experiences where incorrect or a lack of information was shared. 

Talking Point 3
Research shows that a parent’s experience of receiving a diagnosis of Down syndrome is very impactful and the memory of fear OR hope stays with the parent for a lifetime. 

Talking Point 4
Bill 1270 is legislation requiring that health care practitioners provide written information about Down syndrome, resources, and support groups to parents receiving a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome for their baby. 

Talking Point 5
Bill 1270 is one way to share information with parents and health care professionals so babies with Down syndrome are not feared or disregarded but instead seen as valuable contributing citizens of Idaho.

Talking Point 6
Share a personal testimony or experience (this is not required) 

Closing 
Thank you for your time. Please support Bill 1270.
If you have more questions please contact Mary Murray at 208-520-9900.

[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address and zip code to ensure your call is tallied]
———————————————————————————————————————

Email Template 

[Date]

Dear [insert Senator’s name],

Hello, this is [Your Name]. I’m a resident of [Town, State].

I am writing to you to please ensure that Bill 1270, the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Information Act is passed.

The ultimate goal of Bill 1270 is to ensure that parents receiving a Down syndrome diagnosis for their baby are provided timely, accurate, and complete information about Down syndrome. 

Too many Idahoans have gone through traumatic Down syndrome diagnosis experiences where incorrect or a lack of information was shared. 

Research shows that a parent’s experience of receiving a diagnosis of Down syndrome is very impactful and the memory of fear OR hope stays with the parent for a lifetime. 

Bill 1270 is legislation requiring that health care practitioners provide written information about Down syndrome, resources, and support groups to parents receiving a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome for their baby. 

Bill 1270 is one way to share information with parents and health care professionals so babies with Down syndrome are not feared or disregarded but instead seen as valuable contributing citizens of Idaho.

[Share a personal testimony or experience (this is not required)] 

Thank you for your time. Please support Bill 1270. If you have more questions please contact Mary Murray at marymurrayd@yahoo.com or 208-520-9900.

Sincerely, 
[Your Name]
[Your street address]
[Your City, ST, Zip code]

Join Us at the Capitol Building to show your support AND Thank You For Your Help With Bill 1270 

As you have seen recently with the email and Social Media posts, it is officially GO TIME on Bill 1270, the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Information Act.
Thank you to everyone that has called or sent emails to Senators. Please keep the support coming! 
We wanted to invite you all to the hearing in Boise to show the Senate how important this bill is to our community and our state! We wanted you to know you are welcome! IDSC has ordered 40 shirts with the IDSC logo on them in various sizes. We will hand them out until they are, hopefully, all gone. We are encouraging everyone to wear blue and yellow to show unity in our cause. Here are the details:

What: Senate Health and Welfare Committee Hearing on Bill 1270
When: Monday, February 14th at 3 pm MST (please arrive at 2:30 pm)
Where: The Capitol building on the Garden Level in West Wing Room 54 (WW54) 
Where to go when you arrive for the hearing: We will all meet at the Rotunda on the Garden Level of the Capitol at 2:30 pm and then around 2:45 pm walk to West Wing Room 54 (the Garden Level is the lowest level of the Capitol)
Parking: There are no specific plans or requirements to meet in a specific area.  To find available parking in the Capitol area refer to this link – Capitol Mall Parking. Normal street parking is also available in the area.
COVID Precautions: There are currently no published requirements on the Capitol visitor website, however, we encourage you to come prepared – bring a mask.

Let’s fill the hearing room on Monday, February 14th! 

Call or email Mary Murray with any questions (208-520-9900 or marymurrayd@yahoo.com)
Please email president@idahodownsyndrome.org If you plan to attend including the number of people attending.

Thank you,
TVDSA and The Idaho Down Syndrome Council Board

Stay Positive, Stay Healthy and Stay Safe