Date:         Tue, 13 Sep 1994 15:59:01 -0400

[ Send all replies to mamurphy@igc.apc.org ONLY ]


AB 2610 has made it Governor Pete Wislon's desk.
Letters are needed to be sent to him encouraging him to sign it into law.
Governor Wilson fax number is (916)445-4633.

OR Fax directly from the internet to Pete Wilson
Send a regular e-mail message to:
        faxline@rabbit.rgm.com
For the subject line, use his local 7-digit fax number 445-4633
Then just do the body of your e-mail message as you normally would.
The faxline info came from Rex Wockner,rwockner@netcom.com


Following is a sample letter you can use or modify.
Please let me (mamurphy@igc.apc.org) know is you send a letters.





                                                          September 12, 1994


The Honorable Pete Wilson, Governor
The State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Wilson:

I urge you to sign AB 2610 or to allow it to become law without
your signature. In order to halt the spread of HIV among
injection drug users (IDUs) in California, AB 2610 establishes a
clean needle and syringe exchange pilot project.

Injection drug users are the second largest group at risk of
becoming infected with HIV, and they are the primary source of
heterosexual, female and perinatal transmission of HIV in
California. The lack of sterile needles on the streets promotes
needle sharing, and the spread of HIV from IDUs to their non-drug
using sexual partners and children in utero.

When viewed as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention program
targeting IDUs, needle exchange is an effective intervention. In
late 1993, after reviewing numerous studies of needle exchange
programs in the United States and abroad, the National Commission
on AIDS urged the elimination of regulations and laws that block
the implementation of needle exchange programs. According to the
Commission, "Fears that needle and syringe exchange and
distribution programs might encourage drug use, and a new class
of drug injectors, have not materialized."

Needle exchange is supported by most of the major public health
groups in California including the California Medical
Association, The California Nurses Association, The California
Conference of Local Health Officers, County Drug Program
Administrators, The California Pharmacists Association and
numerous HIV service and drug treatment organizations across the
state.

Because it is a local option bill, only those communities with
significant local support would be able to apply for
authorization from the Department of Health Services. Thus AB
2610 represents a modest, but significant, step forward in our
state's fight against the spread of HIV.

I hope that you see the logic of my  position and sign AB 2610
into law or that you will allow it to become law without your
signature. In the process you will be saving both the lives of many
Californians and our shrinking state health care dollars.

Very truly yours,