Maryland Delegates Ana Sol Gutierrez and Salima Siler Marriott sponsored legislation entitled, Public Schools: Graduation Rate Formula - Collecting, Maintaining, Analyzing, and Reporting (HB 71), “requiring county boards of education to collect, maintain, and analyze graduation rates by dividing the number of students who graduate on time by the number of students in a four-year cohort; requiring county boards to report these rates in the aggregate and disaggregated by specified subgroups; requiring county boards to report graduation rates to the public and to the State Department of Education; and requiring the Department to compile graduation rates and calculate a graduation rate for the State.”

Bob Wise, former governor of West Virginia and President of the Alliance for Excellent Education testified at the hearing held on February 14, before the Maryland House of Delegates’ Ways and Means Committee. In his testimony, Wise said, “The importance of this bill is that now legislators will be joining with governors to guarantee accurate measurement of how many high school students are really graduating. With good data, states can better see where the problems are and where precious education dollars should be spent.”

Delegate Gutierrez's introduction of this bill is a part of a joint NHCSL and NBCSL “Closing the Achievement Gap” Campaign and she encourages similar legislation in other states. A model template of the legislation is available on www.nhcsl.org.

Elizabeth Burgos, Executive Director of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators was named the recipient of the John S. Martinez Leadership Award at the Seventh Annual Southwestern Fatherhood and Families Conference hosted by the Arizona Fathers & Families Coalition, Inc. As Executive Director of NHCSL for more than five years, Burgos is credited with increasing the profile and visibility of the organization, which represents its membership of 300 Hispanic state legislators. Arizona Fathers & Families Coalition (AZFFC) created in 1994 is dedicated to promote the advancement of developing healthy family relationships and increasing the involvement of responsible fatherhood. For more information about Arizona Fathers & Families visit www.azffc.org

NHCSL 4th National Summit
November 16-19, 2006

Senator Juan Pichardo (RI) who co-chairs the Predatory Lending Commission of Rhode Island, released the findings from a report from the Legislative Commission to Study Predatory Mortgage Lending Practices. The findings were announced at a February press conference. The final report is the culmination of nine months of investigation, research, and analysis of predatory mortgage lending practices. “This Commission was created to protect families and individuals from irreparable financial damage caused by predatory lending practices, while also attempting to empower homeowners,” said Senator Pichardo.

“We have dedicated the past nine months to providing recommendations that will continue to support home lending that builds wealth among our families and strengthens our communities.” The final report contains seven findings that outline initiatives and tested solutions to prevent predatory lending. The final report of the Legislative Commission to Study Predatory Mortgage Lending Practices is available on the website of the RI Attorney General. To see the report visit http://www.rilin.state.ri.us

Representative Amanda Aguirre (AZ) has introduced HB 2668 to appropriate $1 million in fiscal year 2006-07 to the Department of Health Services for diabetes prevention, education and outreach. At a February 8 hearing the bill passed the House Health Committee and is now going to Appropriations. “Diabetes is a growing problem in the Yuma area and across Arizona,” Rep. Aguirre said. “This bill will go a long way toward preventing people from developing this debilitating disease.” Healthcare has been one of Rep. Aguirre’s focuses during her tenure at the Arizona House of Representatives. “Treating diabetes is very expensive,” Rep. Aguirre said. “The disease also takes a toll on the family. Arizona needs to address this issue now before it gets worse.”

In one year alone, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System spent more than $211 million for diabetes screening and treatment from Oct. 1, 2003 to Sept. 30, 2004. In addition, AHCCCS spent almost $20 million on diabetes-related pharmacy costs from Oct. 1, 2003 to Sept. 30, 2004. During that same year, AHCCCS spent $87.5 million on Caucasian/White patients for diabetes screening, treatment and pharmacy-related costs and $65.8 million for Hispanic patients. Rip Wilson, lobbyist for American Diabetes Association-Arizona chapter, said he supports additional funding for prevention and education.

“As lobbyist of American Diabetes Association-Arizona chapter, we absolutely would support additional funding because diabetes is one disease where a patient’s self-management is the only way to reduce costs of complications and human suffering that come with more advanced cases of diabetes,” Wilson said.

For more information about Representative Aguirre’s bill call 602-926-4430 or visit www.azleg.state.az.us.
 

Applications for the 2006 Henry Toll Fellowship Program are available now!
The Henry Toll Fellowship Program is the premier leadership development program for state government officials. The program equips talented state policymakers from all three branches of government with the skills and strategies to meet the challenges ahead. Although members come from a variety of backgrounds, they share the common goal of improving state governments as well as their personal effectiveness as public servants. Visit The Council of State Governments for more information. Completed applications must be submitted by March 31 (NEW Deadline). Apply today!

The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) is the preeminent organization representing the interests of 300 Hispanic state legislators from all states, commonwealths, and territories of the United States. Founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)3, NHCSL is a catalyst and advocate for joint action on issues of common concern, such as health, education, immigration, homeownership and economic development to all segments of the Hispanic community. NHCSL also works to design and implement policies and procedures that will impact the quality of life for Hispanic communities; serves as a forum for information exchange and member networking; an institute for leadership training; a liaison with sister U.S. Hispanic organizations; a promoter of public/private partnerships with business and labor; and a partner with Hispanic state and provincial legislators and their associations representing Central and South America.