Newsletter

February 1, 2023

This Issue's Contents

• Legislative Update
• 2023 Action Campaign Update
• Legislative District Action Teams - Join Today!
• Upcoming (and Past) Events
  
• Donate for Dignity

Legislative Update

By Leesa Stevens, Legislative Advocacy Leader

We Have a Bill!

"End of Life Decisions, Terminally Ill Individuals"

Senate Bill 1646                         House Bill 2583

We have also secured our sponsors, and we know the make-up of the Senate and House Health committees. We do not know if our bills will be assigned by Senate President Warren Peterson or Speaker of the House Ben Toma to the Health committees, but that is our hope. Our newly hired legislative strategist is helping to make that happen.

Let me introduce you to our 2023 Medical Aid in Dying legislative bill sponsors.

New to the Arizona Legislature this year, is our Senate sponsor, EVA BURCH from LD 9 in Mesa. Senator Burch studied nursing at Pima Medical Institute in Mesa and began a nursing career in emergency nursing in 2012. She subsequently returned to school and obtained her nurse practitioner credentials and became dedicated to improving the lives of Arizonians through compassionate and comprehensive healthcare. She has been assigned to sit on the Senate Health Commitee.

Back for a second year in the Arizona Legislature, our House sponsor is CHRIS MATHIS, from LD 18 in Tucson. Representative Mathis has a degree in Public Administration from the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government and a Master in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health as well as law and undergraduate degrees from the University of Illinois. He practices elder law and is a Professor of Practice at the U of A College of Law, teaching classes on Health Care Law and Policy and Aging. He has been assigned to sit on the House Health commitee.

Complete rosters of the 2023 Health Committees:

Senate Health Committee

Senator Shope, Chair, LD 16

Senator Shamp, V. Chair, LD 29

Senator Borrelli, LD 30

Senator Burch, LD 9

Senator Gonzales, LD 20

Senator Hatathlie, LD 6

Senator Wadsack, LD 17

House Health Committee

Rep Montenegro, Chair LD 29

Rep Parker, V. Chair LD 10

Rep Bliss, LD 1

Rep Mathis, LD 18

Rep Pingerelli, LD 28

Rep Gress, LD 4

Rep Shah, LD 5

RepHernandez, LD 20

Rep Contreras, LD 12

Look for an Action Alert this month when we will be asking you to contact these members to persuade them to first hear and then vote to move our bills to the full assemblies.

2023 Action Campaign Update

By Mark Savan

Our campaign has two phases.  In the first, current, phase we are asking all AZELO supporters to write to their lawmakers and request to speak with them about MAID.  So far, we’ve had over 200 letters written and are in the process of scheduling and conducting follow-up conversations.

For all of you who have already written to your legislators – thank you.  The number of letters written this year represents a significant increase over prior years.  You are making your voice heard!

If you have not received either of our emails on Phase 1, please check your spam folder.  The emails will come either from me (Mark Savan) or “AZ End of Life Options.”  You can help ensure that you receive our emails by adding actadmin@azendoflifeoptions.org to your contacts and/or to your verified sender list.

You can access Phase 1 of the Letter Campaign directly by clicking here.

In Phase 2 of our campaign, we will be asking all supporters to write to the members of the House and Senate Health Committees and ask them to bring our bill to a hearing.  You will be receiving an Action Alert on this via email shortly.

One of the conversations that we have had because of our Phase 1 actions was with Sen J.T. Shope, who is the Chair of the Senate Health Committee.  In that conversation we stressed the strong public support for MAID and how this argues for committee hearings on the bill.  Your participation on Phase 2 will be critical to carrying this message to the rest of the members of the committees.

Now is the time for Action!  This is our opportunity to make a significant impression on our lawmakers and ask them to consider, and eventually pass a bill legalizing MAID.  Thank you all for your participation in the Campaign – it is absolutely essential to our mission!

Arizona is divided into 30 Legislative Districts (LD), each one represented by one state senator and two house representatives.

These are the leaders who can pass our medical aid in dying bill into law.

At Arizona End of Life Options (AZELO), we have formed our Action Teams along these same lines, so if you are in LD 1, for example, you'll be in Action Team 1.

Getting a bill passed in the Legislature takes a groundswell of public pressure, so ALL our voices are needed. If you haven't done so already, click the link below to join your action team, and then look for your monthly action alerts which will enable you to write your representative urging them to pass our bill.

The 2023 Legislative Session has begun. Now is the time to make our voices heard!

Upcoming Events

 Six Choices at the End of Life: Real Patients, Real Stories

Presented by AZELO Chair, Dr Dwight Moore, this zoom presentation describes the six choices people have about how they will exit this life and makes a case for considering Medical Aid in Dying as one of the choices. Audience participation is encouraged!

Register by clicking this link

Your zoom link will be emailed to you, so check your spam folder if you don't see it!

How to Advocate for Medical Aid in Dying

in Arizona

This webinar can be described as MAID 101. We will take a detailed look at what the medical aid in dying (MAID) law is all about: the qualifications and the safeguards. We'll debunk the misconceptions and confirm the facts surrounding this topic which is often misunderstood by voters and lawmakers alike. 

Want to feel comfortable talking to friends and family about MAID? By the end of this class, you will feel confident advocating for a MAID law in Arizona.

Monday, February 20th from 6:00 - 7:00 pm Arizona Time

Register by clicking this link

Your zoom link will be emailed to you, so check your spam folder if you don't see it!

Sunday, April 16th is

National Healthcare Decision Day

AZELO will host non-profits and local businesses to explore end-of-life

issues. Enjoy speakers, tabling, raffle prizes and a “Before I Die” project.

A surprise local celebrity will be there in person too!

Where: Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway, Tucson

When: Sunday, April 16th from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Free and open to the public with a $5 suggested donation.

Email BeforeIDieTucson@gmail.com to help with this event.

Sponsored, in part, by our national partners:

Past Event

Thank you

Roots & Roads Community Hospice Foundation

for inviting AZELO Dr. Tom Fitch and Mary Ganapol to present for their End-of-Life Virtual Conference Series “Bridging the Divide”.

Entitled “Dying in America:  Care Options Near the End of Life” it was a great opportunity to reach Arizona voters and lawmakers on these important topics, including the option we’re fighting for in Arizona.  The attendees presented great comments and questions during the 90-minute program.

Here’s the link and while you’re there check out all the good work Roots & Roads (formerly Casa de la Luz Foundation) does in Southern Arizona:  https://rootsandroads.org/dying-in-america/

If you have an idea for a speaking engagement, contact info is on our website:  Contact – Arizona End-of-Life Options (azendoflifeoptions.org)

Click on this blue box to be taken to our donation form. If you have used this online form in the past, you may need to clear your cache/browser history if you get an error message. Then try again.

However, if you'd rather mail in a check, please send it to:

Death with Dignity Political Fund
Attn: AZ C4

PO Box 2009

Portland, OR 97208

Please note on the check memo line "AZ C4" to ensure that it is properly accounted for.