The Positive Justice Project Works with Advocates in Nebraska to Fight Against Proposed HIV Criminal Statute (2011)

The Center for HIV Law and Policy and its Positive Justice Project has been closely following the proposed Legislative Bill 226 in Nebraska, as well as assisting Nebraska advocates in organizing a response. The Assault with Bodily Fluids Bill would criminalize striking any public safety officer with any bodily fluid (or expelling bodily fluids toward them) and includes a specific increase of penalty to a felony (up to five years and/or $10,000 fine) if the defendant is HIV positive or has Hepatitis B or C. CHLP has prepared talking points summarizing the bill's provisions and analyzing the key issues. CHLP drafted these talking points at the request of the Nebraska AIDS Project (NAP).

The hearing for the bill has been set for Friday, February 4th, 2011.

Jordan Delmundo, Public Policy Manager at NAP has asked CHLP to help distribute the talking points widely in preparation for the hearing.

CHLP and NAP ask all to forward these talking points on to Nebraska-based friends and networks and encourage them to contact their representatives.  Key people Nebraskans should contact include:

1) Their state representative

2) State Senator Mike Gloor, who introduced the Bill.
District 35
Room #1523
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2617
Email: [email protected]

3) Sandra Klocke
State AIDS Director
Office of Disease Control and Health Promotion
Nebraska Department Health and Human Services
301 Centennial Mall South, 3rd Floor
P.O. Box 95026
Lincoln, Nebraska, 68509-5044
Phone: 402-471-9098-
Fax: 402-471-6446
[email protected]

and/or

Heather Younger
State Prevention Manager
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
HIV Prevention
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
301 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, Nebraska, 68509
Phone: 402-471-0362
[email protected]

We appreciate your enthusiastic mobilization. Be sure to check back with CHLP for updates on this matter.