CAP: This year's legislative agenda: abortion, school choice, & religious liberties

In this issue:
	(1) CAP at the Capitol (2) CAP Guide to Family Issues Now Available

(1) CAP at the Capitol

Each Friday, I'm planning to update you on what's going on at the state capitol. Our priorities this session include: State Ban on Partial-Birth Abortion. Patterned after the federal law upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, SB 1099/HB 2769 places a ban on partial-birth abortion in Arizona statute. I will be testifying on SB 1099 in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, February 11, 1:30 PM. You're welcome to attend this hearing and see CAP and your legislators in action. You also can watch it on the Internet by going to www.azleg.gov and clicking on "Live Proceedings." Parental Consent for Abortion. This legislation will codify guidelines from an appellate court's opinion for judges considering granting permission for a minor to have an abortion without parental consent. The bills passed in the House Health Committee and the Senate Public Safety and Human Services Committee this week. In opposing these bills, Planned Parenthood continues to allege that the legislation would add additional burdens to a minor seeking an abortion. That simply isn't accurate. In my testimony before both committees, I stressed that this opinion doesn't add any new burdens. Rather, it simply puts into state law for all to see the guidelines a court already has ordered be followed. These bills may see further action in their respective houses next week. School Choice. HB 1098 to extend the corporate tax credit program for tuition scholarships has passed the House Ways and Means Committee and awaits further action. HB 2100 to facilitate individual scholarship tax credit donations through payroll deductions also has passed House Ways and Means and awaits further action. As always, our priority is to expand school choice opportunities for students and their parents. Students' Religious Liberties Act. HB 2713 enumerates the constitutional rights that students in public schools have to express religious viewpoints in class, in academic work, and through clothing or jewelry. This legislation is needed desperately to avoid the many situations arising in schools over whether students can make announcements about a prayer service, have yearbook pages acknowledging God, etc. For CAP's full legislative agenda, Fact Sheets on each issue, and current bill status, visit our website at www.azpolicy.org.

(2) CAP Guide to Family Issues Now Available

CAP's newly revised and updated 2008 edition of the Guide to Family Issues is now available. The Guide condenses 45 family issues into 2-3 page briefs on each topic. It's an excellent way to get a quick overview of current issues. Whether you are a pastor looking for statistics for a sermon, a student writing a research paper, or a citizen wanting to keep up to date on the latest information on family issues, the Guide is written for you! To order a CD of the Guide, send a request to info@azpolicy.org.