Legislative & Political News and Information

AMA ACTION ALERT - WRITE NOW - HOUSE INTRODUCES HEALTH INSURANCE BILL FOR MOTORCYCLISTS! TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE YOU WANT THEIR SUPPORT ON THIS ISSUE!

U.S. Representative Michael Burgess (R-TX-26) and U.S. Representative Bart Stupak (D-MI-1) recently introduced H.R. 1076, "The HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act.” Identical legislation obtained 177 bipartisan cosponsors and passed the full Senate in the 108th Congress.

H.R. 1076 aims at ending health care discrimination for individuals participating in legal transportation and recreational activities-activities like motorcycling, snowmobiling, skiing, horseback riding, and all-terrain vehicle riding.

This legislation addresses a loophole caused by a Department of Health and Human Services' rule making it possible for health care benefits to be denied to those who are injured while participating in these activities.

“The development of this bill could not have been possible without bipartisan congressional support and the hard work of the American Motorcyclist Association,” stated Congressman Burgess. “I look forward to working alongside the AMA to get this legislation passed into law.''

Congressman Stupak noted, “This important legislation would prevent health insurance discrimination against citizens who take part in legal, recreational activities such as motorcycle riding and snowmobiling. I look forward to continuing to work with the American Motorcyclist Association and other organizations on this issue."

On August 21, 1996 an important opportunity arose when President Clinton signed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), prohibiting employers from denying health care coverage based on a worker’s pre-existing medical conditions or participation in legal activities, such as motorcycling.

In 2001, the Department of Health and Human Services released the final rules that would govern the HIPAA law. The rules recognize that employers cannot refuse health care coverage to an employee on the basis of their participation in a recognized legal activity. However, the benefits can be denied for injuries sustained in connection with those activities. Therefore, you were guaranteed the right to health care coverage but not guaranteed any benefits in return for your monthly payments.

The AMA is urging all motorcyclists to notify their Representatives and tell them to co-sponsor and support H.R. 1076, "The HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act."

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NCOM NEWS BYTES

Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,

National Coalition of Motorcyclists

CONGRESS CONSIDERS CONSUMERS' "RIGHT TO REPAIR" Congress recently held hearings regarding the right of American consumers to have access to information regarding the repair and maintenance of their cars, trucks and motorcycles from the manufacturer. Currently, motor vehicle manufacturers are only required by the EPA to provide information about emissions on board diagnostics systems, but nothing pertaining to other repairs or services. This effectively prohibits owners from taking their vehicles to non-dealer repair facilities or from performing repairs or maintenance themselves.

The Motor Vehicle Right to Repair Act of 2005 (HR 2048) was introduced in May by Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX) and Edolphus Towns (D-NY), and was heard November 10 by the Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection. The bill would penalize manufacturers for withholding information necessary to diagnose, service or repair their motor vehicles.

If you feel that consumers should have the right to choose how and where their vehicles can be serviced and repaired, then please weigh in on this important issue by contacting your Congressional Representative in Washington, D.C. by calling 202-224-8601 and ask them to support or co-sponsor HR 2048.

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at <<http://www.ON-A-BIKE.com>

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Idaho Legislative News

Certificates of Appreciation Presented

On behalf of motorcyclists in Idaho ANI State Legislative Chairman Tim "TJ" Herzog (right) and Willie Stephenson, Coordinator River City Chapter, present a Certificate of Appreciation to both Senator Mike Jorgenson (top) and Senator Skip Brandt (bottom) for their work sponsoring and supporting Idaho Senate Bill 1367, the motorcycle stoplight bill. We thank them for their efforts on our behalf.

A Certificate of Appreciation has also been prepared for and was presented to Rep. Phil Hart who sponsored and carried S1367 in the Idaho House. We are equally appreciative of Rep. Harts diligent work in support of our motorcycle stoplight bill, as well.

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4/26/06

MOTORCYCLES

NEW LAW BENEFITS MOTORCYCLISTS

A new law goes into effect on July 1, 2006 that will allow a motorcyclist to proceed with caution through a red light after that signal does not change to green after one complete cycle of that traffic signal. Motorcyclists have been plagued for many years with traffic signals that do not recognize a motorcycle due to its size. This problem exists primarily in low traffic situations when there isn't another vehicle to trigger the sensors in the ground.

Senate Bill 1367 was sponsored by Senator Mike Jorgenson, District 3 of Hayden Lake and supported by the Idaho Transportation Department, the Idaho State Police and ABATE of North Idaho, Inc., a Motorcyclists Rights Organization. The complete bill and related information can found on the website; www.abateofnorthidaho.org.

Tim Herzog

Legislative Chairman

ABATE of North Idaho, Inc.

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HOW DO YOU SPELL SUCCESS?

S-1-3-6-7

Governor Kempthorne signed S1367 into law on Friday, April 7th and will go into effect on July 1st, 2006. Idaho is only the 4th state to pass such legislation. Minnesota passed a bill in 2002, Tennessee in 2003 and Arkansas passed their bill in 2005.

According to Imre Szauter, Legislative Affairs Specialist for the American Motorcyclists Association, Idaho is the 1st state in 2006 to enact a traffic-actuated signal bill for motorcyclists. "Other states are still trying (New York, for example) while others have failed to do so this year (Washington, for example)."

Szauter continues, "Clearly, four states now recognize traffic-actuated signals as a problem for motorcyclist. One, I believe this sets into motion a campaign that other states DOT's will pick up on and two, this alerts NHTSA, FWHA and other federal agencies that the states are dealing legislatively with a problem that already has an engineering solution but no funding."

We would like to offer a BIG THANK YOU to Senator Mike Jorgenson (3) of Hayden Lake for all his efforts in obtaining endorsements and support for S1367 in our behalf. Also, thanks go to Senator Skip Brandt for co-sponsoring and Representative Phil Hart for carrying this bill in the House. We also appreciate and thank the following North Idaho Legislators for their vote and support of this bill: Senator Joyce Broadsworth (2), Senator John Goedde (4), Senator Dick Compton (5), Senator Gary Schoeder (6); Representatives Eric Anderson (1), George Eskridge (1), Mary Lou Shepherd (2), Dick Harwood (2), Phil Hart (3), Jim Clark (3), Marge Chadderon (4), George Sayler (4), Bob Nonini (5), Tom Trail (6), Shirley Ringo (6), Mike Mitchell (7), John Rusche (7), Ken Roberts (8), Paul Shepherd (8).

click HERE for a copy of Senate Bill 1367 in .pdf format (28kb)

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Click here for a copy of the letter sent by ABATE of North Idaho, Inc in support of Idaho Senate Bill 1179. Note that the governor signed Bill 1179 on April 6, 2005. To read the full text of the Bill click a link below.

Idaho Senate Bill 1179.pdf (160kb)