Dear Neighbor,
Here is some information that I hope you will find helpful, including updates and news from your state government. If you have any questions about these updates or a state-level issue, please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone at (517) 373-8900 or by sending a message to KaraHope@house.mi.gov. I look forward to hearing from you.
Contraceptive Equity Package Moves to the Senate
Last week, the Contraceptive Equity bill package passed the House. This legislation will improve access to birth control. My bill (House Bill 5436) allows pharmacists to prescribe and dispense all forms of self-administered hormonal contraceptives, including the pill, ring and patch. Pharmacists would be required to complete a Pharmacy Board-approved training program before prescribing birth control. Patients must complete a self-screening risk assessment before receiving birth control prescribed by a pharmacist.
Another bill in the package, House Bill 5435, requires insurance companies to cover pharmacist-prescribed birth control like other prescriptions, making birth control more affordable. And House Bill 5013 requires insurers to cover a 12-month supply of contraception all at one time upon request.
Free Birth Control, STI Prevention Supplies Available at Over 300 Locations
Birth control and sexually transmitted infection prevention supplies are available for free at designated sites across the state of Michigan throughout November. Condoms, over-the-counter emergency contraception and over-the-counter oral contraceptive pills will be available while supplies last. Insurance information is not required. Learn more about the program and view a map of pick-up locations here.
House Ethics and Oversight Committee Passes Transparency Reforms
My bill to prohibit legislators and state officers from lobbying for one year after their term of office ends passed out of the House Ethics and Oversight Committee last week.
House Bill 5586, which is part of the BRITE Act, a package that improves government transparency, seeks to curtail the influence of lobbying and corrupt financial interests and increases the penalty for violating a statutory “cooling off” period. House Bill 5581, which was also voted out of committee last week, would include legislative staff as “lobbyable” individuals, thus applying the same lobbying expenditures and gift limitations upon interactions between lobbyists and legislative staff. Additionally, lobbyists would be required to include spending on legislative staff in their financial reports.
Legislation Introduced to Remove Barriers to Youth Mental Health Services
Michigan law currently requires the state to provide mental health services for children in the state’s custody. The scarcity of inpatient mental health care in Michigan forces many parents to make the harrowing choice between taking their ill child home or giving up custody so their child can be cared for by the state. The latter decision results in a finding of parental unfitness, which affects the legal parent-child relationship after the child is discharged from inpatient care.
Last week, I introduced legislation to allow the state to provide care and services to children without the parent sacrificing custody and acquiescing to a finding of parental neglect. It’s crucial that we remove these unnecessary barriers for families trying to obtain mental health services for their children.
Office Closed for Thanksgiving
My office will be closed Nov. 25 through Nov. 29 for Thanksgiving. If you are in need of emergency food, housing or utility assistance during this period, please call 211. They may be able to help.
I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving filled with good food, friends and family.
Sincerely,
Kara Hope
State Representative