SHARE Atlanta Online information about Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth (CBRS)-
Voted YES on 4.4.08 by the HOUSE!! PASSED!!!!!! Officially a LAW!!
Coming: pictures and link to video of final session where bill is introduced!!
Everyone's Support is Needed. Please, always be kind and positive, you are setting a face and model for the Pregnancy and Newborn Loss Community. We want our advocacy to be uplifting and informative. People listen better when they see a smile. Thank you...Together, we WILL make a difference!
Click here to SEE Senator Weber introduce SB 381/No Heartbeat Act to the Senate. Hear what he said. Watch the senators vote for SB 381 (48 to 0). It happened on 2.21.08 and was recorded on the General Assembly's video!
HOW to SEEThe GA General Assembly page. Find Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008 on calendar. Click on the first session - 21 (I). Fast forward to about 19 minutes and Senator Weber (blue suit) introduces our bill. "This is one of those bills that I think is a pleasure to introduce and a pleasure to vote for...It will provide for comfort for many families." Sen. Weber
WHAT a CBRS is...
We are working hard to have a bill passed that would give parents who have experienced a stillbirth the option to request a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth or CBRS. Since 2001, the CBRS has been made available in 21 states. Georgia would be the 22nd state, and it is looking positive for this to happen. At present, parents may request a fetal death certificate. This is not the document that brings much comfort or closure...most parents do not wish it. The CBRS provides a parent recognition for their baby's birth, apart from their death. It is a positive, memorial in nature, document that can help parents to heal. We are pleased to have many parents in Georgia supporting this bill which we are calling the "No Heartbeat Act." Marcia McGinnis
Overall Process: Erin and I have been working on this for over a year. It is a good bill because we took great care to study passed bills and craft this bill very carefully. We got our sponsors in November 2007 and began the law making process in January 2008. We have had positive and wonderful support with our sponsors (Senator Dan and Rep. Fran Millar) for the bill. Senator Weber, our main sponsor, has been highly focused!! It moves slowly at times and then speeds ahead. It has had to move through both the Senate and the House. It moves through committees then finally voted on the floor of each body. The General Assembly ends sometime in April - depending on recesses, etc. We believe the bill will be passed in this General Assembly. We have a very good chance of that happening. So, all support is needed!! Erin and I have testified in the various committee meetings. It is an interesting experience! We have received positive support for this bill from the Senators, Representatives and Legislative assistants. We educate as we move through the process. We do not take for granted any of what we have achieved. Lots of work to understand what is happening has come from us and those in the General Assembly.
CBRS Update Page
Update 2.14.08: Bill passed Senate's Health and Human Resources Comm. ; Update 2.21.08 - Bill Passed 48-0 on Senate Floor; Update 3.27.08 - Passed in House Sub-Judiciary on 3.19.08; Update bill passed House Judiciary Committee on 3.20.08! Headed to House Rules on 3.31.08; Voted out of the House 42.08; Voted on the House Floor 4.4.08 YES!!!!
Click here to download a free Adobe Reader for PDFs
Precious Babies Born Still Scroll as of 4.4.08. As taken to the final General Assembly on April 4, 08. Email Marcia if you wish your child's name included on our litany.
Links to Documents...click on hearts
Draft of CBRS Bill was drafted by Erin after Erin and Marcia had researched the bills from the other 21 states. This bill most closely reflects Florida and SC's wording because the structure of their bills resemble GA's laws and their wording was very concise. This was approved by Senate's legal staff.
"No Heartbeat Act." as amended by Rep. Willard's House's Judiciary Committee 3.20.08. There were two minor word changes: State instead of county vital statistics office will be the place parents request from; and it is a "vital" record not a public. They also changed all of the "must" to "shall." We testified that day as well. We had been present the day before for the sub-judiciary meeting, but did not testify. It was passed out of that committee.
CBRS Senate Sponsors...Background and Who they are...Please read and contact them to thank them for sponsoring the No Heartbeat Act/Senate Bill 381.
Overview of CBRS Presented to House Judiciary Committee 3.08 almost identical to the one presentated to Senator Dan Weber, Rep. Fran Millar and Senate Committees as of 2.14.08 drawn up by Erin and Marcia
Marcia's Presentation for Senate/House Committees
Erin's Presentation and why she is active with this outreach. by Erin as of 1.08 - Given at Senate/House meetings
Stillbirth Parent Booklet about Parents who have experienced Stillbirth. This is major reason why Marcia is active with this outreach.
Questions-Email Erin or Marcia
Scroll of Precious Babies Born Still
We are composing a "Scroll of Precious Babies Born Still" to present to the Georgia Senate and House. If your baby was stillborn and you would like for your baby's name to be included please send Marcia these facts: Baby's Name, Date, Length of Gestation OR if you have a Georgian friend or family member who might wish to include their baby on this litany, please contact them and have this information sent to us. Thank you!
Email Marcia Baby's name, date, gestation, thank you!
3 EASY STEPS TO SEND AN EMAIL & HELP SUPPORT THIS BILL IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES!!
1. Click on hearts...Find YOUR Representative - On the left hand column there are various ways for you to "find your representative." You will have to pick the one that is easiest for you. Click on their email address.
If you know your Reps name...go here for email, etc.
2. Cut and paste one of the 2 messages below into an email message. Senators, Representatives, and Legislative Assistants DO read these emails. Legislative Assistants take phone calls. Legislative Assistants DO relay this information to the senator or rep. Representatives and Senators DO want to know when a bill is supported by their constituents.
3. SUGGESTED MESSAGES to SEND..PLEASE FILL IN and SEND:
A "THANK YOU" Template or Phone Script from YOU, your Georgian FAMILY and FRIENDS
""Dear Senator/Representative {Your Senator/Representative's Last Name},
"I am a constituent from {TOWN or COUNTY}. Thank you for your consideration in voting yes on the "No Heartbeat Act"/SB 381 when it comes to the {Committee/House/Senate Floor} this week. I am a {mother, father, grandmother, aunt, uncle, friend, cousin, etc.) (of a close friend, family member) who has experienced a stillbirth of (our, their) precious child, {Optional: BABY'S NAME and DATE}. This bill would bring (me, them, them and me) and many others much comfort and closure. Thank you for your support. Best Regards, {your name}"
A "THANK YOU" Template or Phone Script from YOU if you are a PROFESSIONAL or a SUPPORTER who wishes to support this bill
"Dear Senator/Representative {Your Senator/Representative's Last Name},
I am a constituent from {TOWN or COUNTY}. Thank you for your consideration in voting yes on the "No Heartbeat Act"/SB 381 when it comes to the {Committee/House/Senate Floor} this week. I am a {nurse, social worker, clergy, Stephen's ministry, Hospice Atlanta, Supporter etc.) who supports this important bill. {Its passage will mean a great deal to me because of the work I do with parents who have experienced a stillbirth.} This bill would bring much comfort and closure to the many (1100 each year) Georgian families who have experienced the tragic loss of their baby due to stillbirth. Thank you for your support.
Best Regards, {your name}"
Fill the template in with YOUR name and correct information. Place this in the Subject Line: "Yes"- "No Heartbeat Act"/SB 381
IF you wish, add a positive sentence using your baby's name or a quick uplifting personal thought about what this will mean to you or why.
If your Senator/Representative is a Sponsor or is on a Committee that Bill 381 is in: Please thank him/her for this as well. {Thank you for (sponsoring, voting for) SB 381. I appreciate this very much.)
Please be brief, we want them to read the notes. Our goal is to express our appreciation and our desire for this bill to be passed.
PUSH the SEND button.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS BILL!! Together we are making a difference!
Every Senator/Representative Will Vote:
Every legislator will vote for the "No Heartbeat Act"-Senate Bill 381 when it goes to the Senate/House Floor. They need to know that we wish this to become a law...a reality in Georgia! Our numbers alone will help them understand the importance of this bill and the CBRS for the families in Georgia.
"URGENT CBRS":
So, please watch your email EVERY DAY. We will be sending out Updates "No Heartbeat"/Senate Bill 381. When "URGENT CBRS" comes to your email box, please consider doing what we are asking for that day.
Session Meets in Feb. and March:
This is a time sensitive manner:
February and March of 2008 is when Georgia's Session will be determining if Georgia's families will have the CBRS. Please help make this happen. This is one of many causes and advocacy issues that will make a difference for our families.Advocate in a Positive Manner:
Doing our "homework" to make this bill happen, WILL be important for it TO happen. At all times, we want to set a "positive and kind" image of our Pregnancy and Newborn Loss Community. We are advocates for many and we are helping others understand and appreciate our issues and needs.
Staying Connected:
Please let us know if you would like to help us with some of the details of what we are doing...thank you! Also, it would be helpful if you will share with us any responses you might feel would help us with what we are all trying to achieve.
Home Page
copyright(c)SHARE Atlanta '08
Graphics on this Site are Copyright