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NDHSA Christian Home Educators’ Convention(Legislative Watch follows these announcements!)

The links below contain home school radio announcements developed by John and Rebecca Nyberg (Jamestown, ND) to advertise the NDHSA Christian Home Educators’ Convention (March 2-3).  Please spread them around as you see fit, including your local radio stations, email lists, blogs, and groups.  They are also linked at: http://ndhsa.org   

"George Washington on freedom and home education." (885KB MP3) http://ndhsa.org/GeorgeWashington2007.mp3    "Colleges are seeking homeschool graduates." (461KB MP3) http://ndhsa.org/CollegesHomeEd2007.mp3

Poster available at: http://ndhsa.org/POSTERChurches.pdf) to print out and share with friends, hang up at church or a local neighborhood bulletin board. We would like it if the word could get out into each and every church represented by this e-mail list. Ask your Pastor to make an announcement from your church pulpit and put it into the church bulletin.The church announcement could say:1.  The North Dakota Home School Association is hosting its 19th annual convention at the Fargo Civic Auditorium and Centennial Hall on  March 2-3, 2007.  Features 20 informative workshops,5 inspiring keynote speeches more than  75 vendor booths with information, curriculum and supplies for home education. 2.   If you are considering home schooling or have been home schooling for years, you will be blessed by attending this Christian convention. Join hundreds of other families who come annually for information, fellowship and encouragement.  3.   There is a one-day or two-day registration fee. See the poster on the bulletin board for more information, or log onto  http://ndhsa.org to download a convention booklet. You may also call the  NDHSA office at 701.263.3727 or email to convention@ndhsa.org. Reach out to your church and community with this home school message.  Consider yourselves sent on behalf of the NDHSA.  It is probably best to not assume that someone else will reach your church and or community!   "And how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent?"   Romans 10:14 Home school families please note that ND Legislators are invited to attend the Fargo convention at no charge. Please consider inviting your legislators to learn more about home education at this convention.  You might even meet them at the Fargo Civic Center and give them a little orientation. Details at http://ndhsa.org

 Legislative Watch Issue 7, February 23, 2007

presented by the North Dakota Home School Association to home educating families for educational and instructional purposes. Nothing contained herein is to be construed as partisan in nature. Given accurate information recipients can make up their own minds about steps they can take to affect legislation in North Dakota in a respectful manner which promotes personal liberty, responsibility and freedom.  All comment is the opinion of Gail Biby unless otherwise noted.  Nothing contained herein is to be construed as legal advice and is included for educational purposes only.Arranged in numerical order with House bills listed first. It is our goal to send the Legislative Watch every Friday during the Session. If you have input on any of these, or others of interest, please contact me at: billbiby@msn.com  Some of the following are included for your information, some for action, and some for the sheer joy of it.Quick links added to NDHSA website. Go to www.ndhsa.org and click on any of the quick links to read the bills, find out when they will be heard in committee, to contact your legislator and much more.

WATCH those in red!HOUSE BILLS 2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

HB 1074 - Will make special event promoters and organizers responsible to provide a complete list of all vendors. Violators may be fined $250.

·          House Second reading, passed, Y 48, N 44. Introduced in Senate and referred to Finance & Taxation Committee.

This bill makes event organizers, such as our convention coordinator, act as policing agents for the State Tax Commissioner. The vote was close so maybe it could still be defeated in the Senate. It’s just not right to draft event organizers into gratis work for the State Tax Dept. HB 1136 - Will increase the number of immunizations required for entrance into public, private, parochial or home school, day care centers, child care facilities, head start programs and nursery schools. Added to the already  lengthy list of mandated immunizations are: pneumococcal disease, meningococcal disease, rotavirus, hepatitis A.

·          Passed House Y 87, N 4 1/12. Introduced in the Senate and referred to the Education Committee.

Health care decisions ought to be left to parents and their physicians. There are many legitimate concerns about the constant attack on immature immune systems by this mandated plethora of immunizations. Just Google ‘immunizations’ to read up on the subject in order to make intelligent choices. North Dakotans still have the right to opt out of any or all mandated immunizations based on philosophical, religious or moral beliefs.HB 1158 - Allows a child to take his driver’s test with someone else’s car.

·          Passed the House, Y 91, N 0.  Introduced in Senate and referred to Transportation Committee 2/8.

Thank you to the House; hoping to thank the Senate.HB 1169 - Allows the Supt. of Public Instruction to be elected without a current ND professional teaching license.

·          Second reading, passed, Y 60, N 33.

In this position we need someone with common sense, good administrative skills, a genuinely humble person with integrity.  A government-issued certificate won’t guarantee that the Superintendent possesses such attributes. HB 1172 - This legislation will mandate the teaching of ND history.

·          Scheduled for Senate Education Committee hearing 2/27 10:15 a.m.

Since home educators “shall include instruction in those subjects required by law to be taught to public school students” (15.1-23-04) this would apply to them. One might oppose the bill because he is opposed to the government determining what shall be taught.HB 1232 - Provides for umbilical cord blood donation.

·          Scheduled for Senate Human Services Committee hearing 2/27 10:00 a.m.

The goal of storing cord blood is to provide stem cells for the possible future use of the child. This should easily pass.HB 1319 - Provides for sensible laws regarding the use of deadly force.

·          Second reading, passed, Y 50, N 44. Received from House 2/13.

Sneeringly called by some in the media the “Shoot the Burglar Bill” Allows an individual threatened by a ne’er-do-well to use force to protect his home and family without having to think of every possible alternative.HB 1357 - Prohibits the possession of child pornography.

·           Second reading, passed, Y 90, N 1.  Senate received from House 2/15.

Changes the penalty for possessing child porn from a misdemeanor to a class C felony period! HB 1376 - Relating to corrupt election practices.

·          Scheduled for Govt. and Veterans Affairs Committee hearing 2/23 9:00 a.m.

This legislation would add web sites to places where you cannot sponsor lies about a candidate. No-brainer.HB 1434 - Related to the viral hepatitis education and vaccination program.

·          Second reading, passed, Y 86, N 7. Received from House 2/14.

This appears to be geared toward high risk groups and mandates that the Department of Health conduct a surveillance  regarding the impact of Hepatitis C. HB 1435 - Relates to childhood immunizations.

·          Second reading, passed, Y 91, N 1. Received from House 2/15.

Adds varicella (chicken pox) and meningococcal vaccines to the lengthy list. Provides $3.5 million to provide the program to public health units. For a complete list of all currently mandated and suggested vaccines visit the ND Department of Health’s website. I could find no place on the website that clearly stated parents have the right to opt out.HB 1466 - Relates to the prohibition of the performance of abortions, except to save the life of the mother.

·          House Second reading, passed, Y 61, N 26. Introduced in Senate and referred to Judiciary Committee 2/7.

Considered a ‘trigger bill’ and would outlaw abortion if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe vs. Wade. Pray for this!HB 1471 - Relates to the human papilloma virus.

·          Second reading, passed, Y 81, N 12.  Received from House 2/14.

Mandates a public education program on the availability of an HPV vaccine. According to a recent article in the Fargo Forum (2/21/07) Merck & Co. is suspending its lobbying campaign aimed at persuading state legislatures (via Women in Government) to require this additional vaccine for young girls. Apparently the outrage across the country at this attempt by a manufacturer of the product to coerce the mandate has had some effect on Merck. Since the vaccine has only been tested on about 1200 children the long term affects are clearly not known and there are apparently some rather nasty side effects. Google Gardasil and read all about this current brouhaha.HCR 3011 - Requires 60% of voters approve increase in income, sales, use, gross receipts or motor vehicle excise taxes.

·          Heard in committee 1/17. No further action as of 2/22.

In my opinion....at least 60%!HCR 3032 - Urges passage of the Equal Rights Amendment and declares Friday, March 9, 2007 as North Dakota Equal Rights Amendment Recognition Day.

·          Second reading in House, adopted by motion 2/13. Senate received from House 2/14.

You have to appreciate their persistence. I’m going to be baking cookies and doing laundry that day! HCR 3052 - Relates to establishing an in-state lottery.

·          Heard in House Constitutional Revision Committee 2/21.

Great! An in-state lottery! Years ago when I worked on this issue with the North Dakota Family Alliance many of us said at the time that gambling would increase incrementally and that’s why it should be resisted at every step. Well, it has done just that and this is the latest. HCR 3054 - Relating to session of the legislature.

·          Heard in House Constitutional Revision Committee  2/22.

Instead of meeting every odd- numbered year this would change the ND Constitution so that the Legislative Assembly would meet up to 60 days in odd-numbered years and up to 25 days in even-numbered years. Would require a vote of the people.  Again, we only have 640,000 people in the whole state, do we really need to have annual sessions?

To find House members go to:http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/60-2007/house/members/To find out who sits on what committee in the House go to:http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/60-2007/house/standing-comm/

 SENATE BILLS 2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

SB 2181 - Related to consent for certain health care services provided to minors.

·           House, first reading, referred Human Services Committee 1/31.

Allows a minor to obtain prenatal care, medical, mental or other health care services without parental consent (not an abortion). Apparently parents will be billed for the services but will not be privy to the services rendered under HIPPA. MOST parents have the best interests of their children in mind and this shows disrespect for parental rights.SB 2248 - Deals with computer luring of minors.

·          Scheduled for House Judiciary Committee hearing 8:00 a.m. 2/28.

I can’t see how anyone could oppose this bill on any grounds. SB 2309 - Deals with high school graduation requirements increasing them to 24 by school year 2011-2012. Also changes the specific credit requirements.

·          Senate Second reading, passed, Y 44, N 3. Received from Senate 2/8.

Another bill changing graduation requirements starting in 2009-2010. Some serious concerns about this as voiced by a Legislative Watch Team member: SB 2309 states, “NO STUDENT may graduate from a high school in this state OR BE ADMITTED TO AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER  EDUCATION IN THIS STATE unless the student demonstrates successful completion of the following” (various increased credit requirements increasing to 24 by 2014-2015) (emphasis added). My reading is that, while homeschoolers may be able to design their own curriculum, the state would now require that the credits needed for graduation must be the same as the requirements for admission to a state college, so even if we get a dispensation regarding credits required for our diploma, our students could be barred from attending a ND college because they don’t have the particular credits the state wants.SB 2312 - An abortion bill which requires the Dept. of Human Services to disburse funds from Title IVA (Fed. Program) to non-governmental alternatives-to-abortion programs and mandates the DoHS spend funds to inform the public that this program exists.

·          Scheduled for House Human Services Committee hearing 10:30 a.m. 2/26.

Would there be government strings attached to monies given to private groups?  I think that is a rhetorical question.SB 2347 - NEW LISTING! Relates to the creation of the North Dakota promise grant program for students enrolled in institutions of higher education in North Dakota.

·          Passed the Senate Y 40, N 7  2/14.

Interested home educators have asked their Representatives to add home educated students to those allowed these grants. Grants would be given to students based on residency, high school curriculum (strong emphasis on higher math) and ACT scores. They must also be full-time students in an associate or baccalaureate program and maintain a 3.0 GPA. Program would begin with the 2012-2013 school year.  Proponents believe it is only fair if public and non-public school students are entitled to consideration then home schooled students ought to be also. Some opponents may have philosophical beliefs that preclude them from supporting taxpayer funded ‘gifts’ to fund education in any form. Some believe that subsidies/grants/welfare still consists of the taking from one and the giving to another without consent of the donor. (Any editorializing is the product of the author of the LW and  does not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the Legislative Watch Team, the Executive Director of the NDHSA or the NDHSA Board of Directors.)SB 2371 - Allows grandparents to home school·          Introduced in House and referred to House Education Committee 2/21.If you haven’t already contacted your Senators to thank them for their votes on this bill, do so today. The tussle isn’t over. The bill will now be heard in the House Education Committee on Feb. 28 at 9:00 a.m. Contact Dr. Bartlett if you will be testifying. Arrive early enough to coordinate your testimony with him.SB 2377 - Provides for a legislative council study of midwifery.

·          Reported back amended, do pass, Y 6, N 0. Second reading passed, Y 45, N 1. Introduced in House and referred to Human Services committee 2/21.

This bill does not outlaw midwifery. The original was completely gutted and turned into a mandate to the Legislative Council to study the subject during the 2007-08 interim. Study bills are usually precursors to legislation so look for more on this in the 2009 session.From a Legislative Watch reader:  Hello! My name is Karla Wiegrefe. I am a ND homebirthing mom. I have started a list to keep those who are interested in keeping midwifery legal in ND updated on current and future legislation.  This is a notice-only list (you will only receive notices from the moderators so it will be low volume). Please spread the word to other supporters. We want to reach as many people as possible to keep us all current. ourwiefamily@catholicweb.com has invited you to join the NDBirthAction group!  Thank you! ~Karla SB 2400 - Relates to the North Dakota’s state policy on abortion and childbirth.

·          Reported back, do not pass, Y 4, N 2. Laid on table 2/15.

Adds this language:  “The state of North Dakota recognizes the full right of citizenship and the commensurate protections of all applicable laws to all citizens, born and preborn, with no prejudice of chronology within the human lifespan  continuum.”  SB 2415 - Prohibits implanting microchips and provides a penalty.

·          Second reading, passed, Y 44, N 1 2/9. Received in House 2/12.

Prevents anyone from implanting a microchip containing a radio frequency identification device into anyone. 

To find the Senate members go to:http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/60-2007/senate/members/To find out who sits on what committee in the Senate go to:http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/60-2007/senate/standing-comm/To read any bills currently in the hopper go to:http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/60-2007/leginfo/index.htmlTo find your Legislative District and members go to:http://web.apps.state.nd.us/hubexplorer/legislativedist/viewer.html

 During a legislative session, a legislator can be reached at the State Capitol through e-mail or by leaving a message with the legislative telephone message center at 1-888-NDLEGIS (635-3447) or 701-328-3373 (local). Otherwise, a legislator can be reached by mail, telephone, or e-mail at the address listed in the legislator's bio under Legislative Assembly.For more on the issues of the day
Major Issues Facing The Church TodayAbortion, immigration, homosexuality, crime, war, education, welfare, inflation, free market, self defense, taxes, environment, voting, divorce, zoning, private roads, drugs, term  limits, post offices, prisons, arts & sciences, United Nations. Critical Issue: Source of a state's laws is the God of that state...research, polls, constituency v. God's Word and Constitution.  Christian Response to the Critical Issues of the 21st Century.  Joe Morecraft III  http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonsspeaker&sermonID=42906233130