Deep Reform: RFK, Jr. to Host Health Policy Roundtable

Deep Reform: RFK, Jr. to Host Health Policy Roundtable Online Tuesday, June 27, 2023, 7:00 pm

June 16, 2023 Team Kennedy

Mr. Kennedy will meet with leading critics of prevailing health policy including Dr. Joe Mercola, Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, Dr. Pierre Kory, Dr. Patrick Gentempo, Maureen McDonnell, Del Bigtree, Mikki Willis, Sayer Ji and others. Anticipate a lively give-and-take involving topics rarely addressed in mainstream policy conversations.

Mr. Kennedy is known for his controversial and courageous stand for truth and freedom from government overreach in health policy.

We invite you to join Mr. Kennedy and these health leaders to witness part of the process of formation of a new health system to reduce chronic disease, cut costs, and allow the people of this country to thrive. 

Here’s how you can participate:

1. Join us on Zoom by RSVPing below

2. Join or create a local watch party

Please join this event to find out how we can transform America’s health and reduce the chronic health epidemics that plague this nation.

When:
June 27th at 7:00PM EST

Where:
Online Zoom Webinar

https://www.kennedy24.com/health-policy-roundtable?

CALL TO ACTION: Trojan horse bills are on Senate Floor!

Trojan horse bills (AB 223, AB 665, AB 957) will be eligible for a vote on the Senate floor as early as June 26th. Under the guise of gender affirmation for minors, several bills that remove parental rights have been steamrolling through the legislature.

It’s time to take action now!
Do not let up on contacting legislators on these bills via phone, and our Action campaigns. They can be voted on floor at anytime this week.

AB 665 (Asm. Wendy Carrillo, Senator Scott Wiener)

Would strip parents from their right to care for their child without any allegations – let alone proof – of abuse, incest, or dangers, as is currently required by law.

Action Steps:

1. Contact the Senate Members*

2. To oppose use the AB 655 One Click Action Link

3. Submit your letter of opposition to legislative portal today.

4. Call the Senate members.

Sample script: AB 665 intentionally removes the “danger guardrails” of Family Code 6924, which require an allegation of danger to a minor before the minor may consent without parental consent to residential shelter. What facts or public policy support the removal of those specific danger guardrails from Family Code 6924, enacted in 1979? I urge you to either vote no or have the author gut and amend AB 665. Leave Family Code 6924 alone. Instead, amend Welfare & Institutions 14029.8 to remove the word “not.”  This will immediately enable Medi-Cal benefits for disadvantaged kids to receive counseling for any reason under Health & Safety Code 124260.  You can preserve your goal without removing safety guardrails.

or Please oppose or abstain on AB665. AB665 intentionally removes the “danger guardrails” of Family Code 6924, which require an allegation of danger to a minor before the minor may consent without parental consent to residential shelter. What facts or public policy support the removal of those specific danger guardrails from Family Code 6924, enacted in 1979? I urge you to either vote no or have the author gut and amend AB 665. Leave Family Code 6924 alone. Instead, amend Welfare & Institutions 14029.8 to remove the word “not.”  This will immediately enable Medi-Cal benefits for disadvantaged kids to receive counseling for any reason under Health & Safety Code 124260.  You can preserve your goal without removing safety guardrails.

AB 957 (Asm. Wilson, Sen. Wiener)

Codifies (makes law) that affirming a child’s self-selected gender identity is always part of a child’s health, safety and welfare. AB957 would compel courts, in deciding custody awards, to view affirming the child’s gender identity is in the best interests of the child.

Action Steps:

1. Contact the Senate Members.*

2. To oppose use the AB 957 One Click Action Link

3. Submit your letter of opposition to legislative portal today.

4. Call the Senate Members

   Sample Script: Please oppose or abstain on AB 957. What if the child is not prepared to publicly announce his or her transition? What if the child is not able to do so in a court or during an official judicial proceeding? How is this in the best interests of the child, especially when this bill applies to children of all ages, not just, e.g. 12 and up?

   or

   Please oppose or abstain on AB957. Affirming a child’s self-selected gender identity cannot physically, logically, or possibly be in the best interests of every child of the 9+M living in California, or support every one of those children’s health, safety or welfare. There must be at least one child who should not be affirmed. This is especially true considering these are children in the throes of a divorce, where there is a custody battle being waged over them. Isn’t it possible that, in this context, the child’s entire identity is being shattered and the gender dysmorphia is the result of some other stressor or pressure, not a sincere desire to change sexes? Mandating affirmation means that a parent will be precluded from investigating these other issues and providing their child potentially life-saving treatment and care. Please vote no on this horrible bill.

   Talking points:

   • California would become the first state in the nation to criminalize and penalize parents who do not affirm their children.

   • Changes the Family Law creating a path for CPS (Child Protective Services), law enforcement, and the courts to award custody to the parent who affirms gender identity. 

   • If a parent does not affirm their child’s gender it may be considered abusive, cutting off this parent from all ties with the child and no control to change this.

   • There is NO age limit for which this bill applies.  If a 5-year-old believes he or she is in the wrong body, this law will make it child abuse not to affirm the child’s gender identity.

   • The bill redefines and amends the Family Code Family Code, section 3011, exploiting custody battles to redefine “health, welfare, and safety.”

   • This bill essentially makes it illegal to NOT give minors sex changes, gender affirming treatment, and surgeries in California making it so that parents would lose custody if they don't go along.

AB 223 (Asm. Christopher Ward, Senator Scott Wiener)

Will allow any adult in custody of a minor child to change the child’s name, sex identifier, and/or gender in secret.

Action Steps:

1. Contact the Senate Members.*

2. Submit your letter of opposition to legislative portal today.

3. To oppose use the one click action link AB 223

   Sample Script: Please oppose or abstain on AB 223 Change of gender and sex identifier bill. By removing due process of sealing minor's records. This opens the doorway to child trafficking by allowing any adult to file the petition to erase minors legal identifiers.

   or

   Please oppose or abstain on AB 223. Allowing adults to file petitions on behalf of minors confidentially, opens the doorway to kidnapping by the consenting parent, abuse and even trafficking.

SB407 (Senators Wiener, Low, Lee) - going to Assembly Appropriations

Will disqualify over 60% of eligible foster families due to their religious beliefs, which preclude them from affirming a child’s gender issues.

Action Steps:

1. Contact Assembly Appropriations*

2. Submit your letter of opposition to legislative portal today.

3. To oppose use the AB 407 One Click Action Link

Sample Script:
SB407 is a bill that would make affirmation of a self-selected gender a determining factor regarding foster care placement. With limited availability of candidates to provide foster care and with the overwhelming rate of foster children being people of color and at risk youth, limiting the pool of candidates who can foster a child will have negative consequences for these children. Please oppose SB407.

or

Please oppose or abstain on SB407. The law already requires foster parents to receive training on sexual orientation and gender identity. SB407 takes existing law a step further by requiring candidates to swear their allegiance to gender affirmation, even before they know their foster child’s age or unique physical, psychological and/or emotional needs. With limited numbers of eligible foster care candidates, requiring a majority to act contrary to their faith - or even personal moral, philosophical beliefs - is dangerous and unwarranted. Additionally, the overwhelming rate of foster children are people of color and at risk youth. Limiting the pool of candidates will unfairly and disproportionately impact these vulnerable communities, while simultaneously discriminating against candidates based upon their religious beliefs. SB407 is an unconstitutional, unnecessary, cruel and dangerous bill.

Committee Members District Office & Contact Information

Chris Holden (Chair) Dem - 41 Contact Assembly Member Chris Holden

Capitol Office, 1021 O Street, Suite 5650

P.O. Box 942849-0041; (916) 319-2041

Megan Dahle (Vice Chair) Rep - 01 Contact Assembly Member Megan Dahle

Capitol Office, 1021 O Street, Suite 5710

P.O. Box 942849-0001; (916) 319-2001

Isaac Bryan Dem - 55 Contact Assembly Member Isaac Bryan

Capitol Office, 1021 O Street, Suite 5630

P.O. Box 942849-0055; (916) 319-2055

Wendy Carrillo Dem - 52 Contact Assembly Member Wendy Carrillo

Capitol Office, 1021 O Street, Suite 8140

P.O. Box 942849-0052; (916) 319-2052

Diane Dixon Rep - 72 Contact Assembly Member Diane Dixon

Capitol Office, 1021 O Street, Suite 5330

P.O. Box 942849-0072; (916) 319-2072

Mike Fong Dem - 49 Contact Assembly Member Mike Fong

Capitol Office, 1021 O Street, Suite 5230

P.O. Box 942849-0049; (916) 319-2049

Lisa Calderon Dem - 56 Contact Assembly Member Lisa Calderon

Capitol Office, 1021 O Street, Suite 4650

P.O. Box 942849-0056; (916) 319-2056

Gregg Hart Dem - 37 Contact Assembly Member Gregg Hart

Capitol Office, 1021 O Street, Suite 6230

P.O. Box 942849-0037; (916) 319-2037

Josh Lowenthal Dem - 69 Contact Assembly Member Josh Lowenthal

Capitol Office, 1021 O Street, Suite 5130

P.O. Box 942849-0069; (916) 319-2069

Devon Mathis Rep - 33 Contact Assembly Member Devon Mathis

Capitol Office, 1021 O Street, Suite 5530

P.O. Box 942849-0033; (916) 319-2033

Diane Papan Dem - 21 Contact Assembly Member Diane Papan

Capitol Office, 1021 O Street, Suite 4220

P.O. Box 942849-0021; (916) 319-2021

Gail Pellerin Dem - 28 Contact Assembly Member Gail Pellerin

Capitol Office, 1021 O Street, Suite 6310

P.O. Box 942849-0028; (916) 319-2028

Robert Rivas Dem - 29 Contact Assembly Member Robert Rivas

Capitol Office, 1021 O Street, Suite 5110

P.O. Box 942849-0029; (916) 319-2029

Kate A. Sanchez Rep - 71 Contact Assembly Member Kate A. Sanchez

Capitol Office, 1021 O Street, Suite 4340

P.O. Box 942849-0071; (916) 319-2071

Akilah Weber, M.D. Dem - 79 Contact Assembly Member Akilah Weber, M.D.

Capitol Office, 1021 O Street, Suite 4130

P.O. Box 942849-0079; (916) 319-2079

Lori Wilson Dem - 11 Contact Assembly Member Lori Wilson

Capitol Office, 1021 O Street, Suite 5150

P.O. Box 942849-0011; (916) 319-2011

*You can leave anonymous professional tone opposition message after hours.

AB 659- Cancer Prevention Act will be heard June 28th. Take action now!

AB 659- Cancer Prevention Act is misleading parents to think that HPV vaccine will be required for attendance in schools and colleges.

Status: Sen Health Committee Hearing Date: 06/28/23

AB 659 co-author ASM Friedman essentially admitting the bill’s intent is to mislead people into thinking you are required to receive HPV vaccine for school.

Action Steps:

Contact Senate Health Committee to demand they amend the bill by removing the “expected” language or remove the school notice section altogether.

1. To oppose use AB 659 Health Committee One click Action link

2. To oppose use AB 659 Latino Caucus One Click Action Link

3. Submit your letter of opposition to legislative portal today.

4. Call Senate Latino Caucus and Senate Health Committee

   Sample Script: Please oppose or abstain on Ab 659, unless amended to take out the word "expected".  This bill declares a state policy that it is "expected" for attendance leaves it open to misinterpretation to think the HPV vaccination is required. And misleads parents and administrators to think it is required.  This is especially confusing for non-English speaking families or that English is a second language to them

Take action on AB 659

AB 665 passed Judicial Committee on June 20th.

AB-665 Minors: consent to mental health services goes to the Senate flooor for vote.

View voting results here.

AB 665 Removes the requirement that children must be a danger to themselves or others, or be alleged incest or abuse victims, before seeking care without their parents’ consent. This will remove the guardrails that prevent abuse of current law, so instead of cases of emergency, mental health professionals or school psychologists can refer for treatment and/or send a child to residential shelter services for any reason without parental consent.

According to Attorney Nicole Pearson of FACTS LAW TRUTH JUSTICE and OUR DUTY:

Assembly Bill 665 purports to authorize Medi-Cal mental health care for low income kids. It doesn’t. It steals children from their homes without due process for parents.

The Premise: Two Laws Authorize Minor Consent, Only One Gives Medi-Cal Coverage

Law #1: “Danger Guardrails” to Counseling & Residential Shelter Services Family Code § 6924(b) (1979)

• Law #1 allows mature children age 12+ to self-consent, without parental knowledge or consent, to mental health counseling and residential shelters, but only if danger is present: the child is (a) a danger to self or others, or (b) the victim of incest or abuse.

• Medi-Cal pays for this counseling and residential shelter services because the “Danger Guardrails” are present and protect parents’ inalienable right not to have their children emoved from them without notice unless special, exigent circumstances exist.

Law #2: “Non-Danger” Counseling, Only Health & Safety § 124260)(b)(1) (SB543, Leno, 2010)

• Law #2 allows mature children age 12+ to self-consent, without parental consent, to

mental health counseling without any exigent circumstances. Opting into a residential

shelter is not provided.

• Medi-Cal does not pay for this counseling because of Welfare & Institutions Code.

Law #3: No Medi-Cal Benefits for “Non-Danger” Counseling

Welfare & Institutions Code § 14029.8 (2010)

Law #3 says that Medi-Cal does not pay for H&SC § 124260 counseling.

AB665 Intentionally Seeks to Amend the Wrong Law

AB665’s stated goal is to expand Medi-Cal coverage to include counseling services to lower-income and – presumably – immigrant and minority children under Health & Safety Code § 124260. What AB665 actually does is remove the “danger guardrails” that have been in place for almost 50 years, which ensure that only those children most at risk can “self-consent” into residential shelters without their parents’ or guardians’ knowledge or consent, or any allegation–let alone proof – of abuse, incest, or danger to themselves or others. Children should not be endangered and healthy, loving parents should not be denied their right to not have their child taken from them because of AB665’s attempted end-run around Medi-Cal requirements.

The solution

AB665 Gut and Amend: The Best Path to Authorizing Medi-Cal $$$

The only, most simple, effective, and legal way to actually “remove barriers to mental health access” to Medi-Cal recipients, without violating well-settled constitutional rights, is to strike one word from Law #2: “not.” By striking “not” from Law #3 (WIC § 14029.8), the law will read that Medi-Cal benefits shall apply to all services to all mature minors 12+ in the state and the authors’ stated goal of “mental health parity” will be achieved:

Welfare & Institutions § 14029.8 (Current)

“Section 124260 of the Health & Safety Code shall not apply to the receipt of benefits under the Medi-

Cal program.”

Welfare & Institutions § 14029.8 (Proposed Amendment)

“Section 124260 of the Health & Safety Code shall apply to the receipt of benefits under the Medi-Cal

program.”

Neither Code Section Should Be Amended to Allow Greater Access to Mental Health Services without Parental Involvement.

Firefighters for Freedom win court of appeal.

Breaking News! Firefighters for Freedom won their appeal! Firefighters4Freedom, whose mission is to support the constitutional rights of firefighters in the City of Los Angeles during the COVID-19 pandemic sued the city of Los Angeles over the City’s 2021 COVID-19 vaccine mandate for City employees. F4F won their court of APPEAL June 21st, 2023 from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. Judge Michael P. Linfield dismissed in part and reversed with directions in part. The judge ruled that the lower court ruled in error. With an 82 page decision, the Court of Appeals reversed the decision of the lower court to dismiss the case. This is a critical victory for California and all who fight for freedom.  The tide is turning.   

PERK has been supportive of Fire Fighters For Freedom and their critical lawsuit against the city.  They have also been supportive of our lawsuit against LA County.  We have worked side by side to support each other and share the same legal team for our respective cases. Attorney John Howard and Attorney Scott Street have relentlessly fought the legal battles with the city and the county.  

Now, it's our turn.  Our lawsuit, Tsai v. Los Angeles County, was filed almost 2 years ago this fall.  In February, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gail Killefer dismissed the case that PERK filed for employees of Los Angeles County who were ordered to get the COVID-19 shots under threat of termination. The decision has been appealed. The appeal involves the same issues as the Firefighters for Freedom appeal. While the firefighters’ opinion was not published (and thus cannot be relied upon in our case) we believe the Court of Appeals’ analysis was sound and that we will get a similar result. Thus, the Firefighters For Freedom win today helps our case.  We are so proud of everyone's hard work.  

These lawsuits are making a difference, both today and for future generations of Californians.  

PERK will continue our fight for all Californians to protect and preserve freedom. We are grateful for the support from our PERK members, county employees, and partners. Let's keep up the fight! These victories will only continue as we all hold the line for freedom.