Here's where we are as of now... I was originally going to be told by Delegate Kominar if Cameron's Law was going to be on the B&I Agenda for this coming Wednesday (2/6) or the following Wednesday (2/13). However, as of close of business today, Delegate Kominar still did not know. As Insurance Chairman, he must execute the appropriate due diligence for each bill before putting a bill in an agenda, and at this point this has not been completed. His words to me were that he was putting the bill through, he just didn't know if it would be this Wednesday or the week after - and that I would have an answer on Monday. He has even briefed his intentions to the Speaker of the House, Delegate Thompson, and received approval to move it forward. So, as of now, no one knows if this will be on the B&I agenda this Wednesday or not...
During this time frame, I was again contacted by Carol Spann and she informed me that her best friend, who just happens to have a background in media relations, wants to get involved and help us promote Cameron's Law with a media blitz (radio, newspapers, and TV stations) leading up to and on the day of the B&I committee meeting when Cameron's Law will be discussed!!! Also wanting to do everything possible to help this bill, one of the Delegates (not sure if this person wants mentioned, so out of respect of the Delegate I will not mention the name) informed Carol and I what needed to be done to make sure this passes this session.
The biggest suggestion was to get the list of all Banking and Insurance Committee members (phone numbers and email addresses) and make this available for everyone. Then to develop a short, but personal/emotional message we can all leave on their voice mail or send to them via email to get their attention and gain their support. However, this is only effective if it is done in mass... One or two people will not make an impact, and it may actually make them think that since only a few people are actually contacting them about this bill, it is likely not that important to the state... We need to let our elected officials know, now more than ever, what this means to us and that our children need, and DESERVE, full coverage for autism spectrum disorders. So now is the time to get involved, to let your voice be heard, and to right the wrongs done to our children for far too long...
On top of this, we are also planning a rally at the capitol the day Cameron's Law goes before the committee. With all of the media coverage that we will be getting, it is imperative that we get a large turnout for this. I know we have no idea if this bill is coming out this Wednesday or next, but I believe that we should all start planning as if it will be discussed this Wednesday. I also know many of you don't live a hop, skip, and a jump away from the capitol, and that it is not that easy to simply show up - But again I will say that this is the opportunity that many of us have been waiting for, so no matter what day this falls on (this Wed. or next) please do everything that you can to be there.
Tell everyone you know and whoever you can to come to the capitol on this day to show the entire Legislature what this truly means to us all... I am hoping to see parents, their children, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, therapists, teachers, principals, doctors, psychologists, many members of Birth to Three, members of the Developmental Disability council, friends, work associates and everyone else whose lives have been touched by a child with Autism come to this rally and then go through the House and the Senate (because after it passes the House Floor, it goes right over to the Senate for the same process and we will need their support too) urging everyone to get this bill passed as soon as possible.
It has been very easy for us all to complain about the problems we have all faced when it comes to lack of insurance coverage... Well, now is the time to stop the complaining and to take some action!!!
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