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Marriage fee boost would help victims Domestic-violence aid would benefit from legislation By PETER WONG SALEM -- State Rep. Judy Uherbelau wants to double the $25 fee couples pay for marriage licenses, but she says the money will go far to help victims of domestic violence. House Bill 2697, which Uherbelau champions, is the only one of seven top bills advocated by the Oregon Women's Health and Wellness Alliance that has had a public hearing so far. The Ashland Democrat said Tuesday that after last week's hearing by the House civil law panel, of which she is vice chairwoman, only one member opposed the proposed four-year increase. "I have been told that the legislative leadership does not want an increase in the marriage fee, so the bill has not come out of committee," she said. "But throughout this state, those programs always are short of money." One of them is Dunn House, run by the Jackson County agency Community Works. The increased fee would produce $650,000 more statewide for such programs. It would be in addition to the $10 already charged for mediation and conciliation services. Uherbelau also is chief sponsor of another alliance bill that establishes voluntary state licensing for birthing coaches known as doulas, and authorizes the Oregon Health Plan to pay licensed doulas. "All this bill does is recognize them for purposes of reimbursement," she said. "Right now, they're doing it for free if a family cannot afford it, and that's difficult for both parties." She said doulas offer a way for the state to save money and for families to obtain a different form of help for childbirth. Uherbelau was one of several legislators to speak at a news conference during which the 7-year-old alliance unveiled its priorities. Three other bills that the alliance advocates would continue or add requirements to health insurance coverage. Recent legislative sessions have failed to add coverage for prescription contraceptives, or pregnancy and childbirth expenses for dependent teenagers. The third bill would continue coverage for mammograms and gynecological examinations, which the Legislature added in 1993 and will otherwise end on Dec. 31. But it would change the baseline age for mammograms to comply with new standards of the American Cancer Society. The society now recommends annual mammograms starting at age 40, or if a woman is at high risk of breast cancer. The current requirement under the 1993 law is every other year under age 50. More than 70 percent of Oregon women underwent exams for breast cancer in 1996, compared with less than 50 percent in 1993. The proportion undergoing gynecological exams within a three-year period increased from 75 to 90 percent. A couple of those bills have been assigned to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, whose chairman, Republican Bill Fisher of Roseburg, has declined to schedule hearings. Fisher also has taken no action on a bill by Sen. Lenn Hannon, R-Ashland, to require equal health insurance coverage for treatment of mental illnesses, alcohol and drug abuse. "Insurance companies seem to wield great power over certain chairmen of committees and legislative leaders," Uherbelau said. "If they say there will be no hearing, it says something about our process that is not commendable -- that outside forces determine what hearings legislators should have.But we definitely should keep pushing." Bills from women's alliance Legislation promoted this session by the Oregon Women's Health and Wellness Alliance: Help for victims of domestic violence: House Bill 2697 would double the $25 fee attached to marriage licenses for support of shelters, hotlines, counseling and other emergency services. Birth doulas (coaches): House Bill 3007 would establish voluntary state licensing of doulas and authorize payment for their services. Child care block grant for students: House Bill 3256 would expand child care available for students in community and four-year colleges. The waiting list would be cut by half. Birth control: Senate Bill 521 would require insurance coverage for prescribed contraceptives. Women's health examinations: Senate Bill 588 would continue insurance coverage for mammograms and gynecological examinations, which the Legislature approved in 1993, and require coverage for mammograms annually after age 40, or if a woman is at high risk for breast cancer. (The current requirement is for mammograms every other year under age 50.) Maternity coverage for dependent teenagers: House Bill 2580 would require insurance coverage for pregnancy and childbirth expenses of dependent teenagers. Toilet parity: Senate Bill 643 would require new arenas built or remodeled after Jan. 1, 2000, with a capacity of at least 20,000 to provide two toilets for women for every one for men. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA