Repro Rights Report
37 proactive bills plus 10 repealers
Posted on February 17, 2016
So far during the current legislative sessions, abortion rights legislators have introduced at least 37 proactive bills as well as 10 others that repeal abortion restrictions.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Legislation expanding access to abortion
In Arizona, HB 2412 allows the state nursing board to permit qualified nurse practitioners to perform abortions. See the model legislation, Qualified Providers of Abortion Act and Access to Medication Abortion Act from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights.
Quite a number of bills expand public and/or private abortion insurance coverage: Arizona SB 1407, California AB 1954, Kansas HB 2580, Michigan SB 63, Michigan SB 214, Michigan HB 4764, Rhode Island HB 7467, Washington HB 1647, and Washington SB 5574. See the model legislation, Abortion Coverage Equity Act from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights.
In New York, AB 3693 ensures that abortion care training is included in medical residency training, and an institution that objects must offer alternative training for those who want it.
Legislation restricting crisis pregnancy centers
Several states have bills pending to require that crisis pregnancy centers, or other facilities that receive state funding, provide medically accurate information about reproductive health, and if they do not provide certain services, then referrals: Arizona HB 2206, Arizona HB 2664, Missouri HB1906, New York SB 508, and New York AB 4055. Arizona HB 2409 requires that CPCs be licensed as outpatient treatment centers. See the model legislation, Truth in Medicine Act, Pregnancy Center Disclosure Act, and Crisis Pregnancy Center Fraud Prevention Act from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights.
Legislation to protect clinic patients and staff
New Hampshire SB 542 , New York AB 182, and Pennsylvania SB 1105 amend civil and criminal law to prevent impediment of reproductive health care services, prohibit interference with access to reproductive health care services, and create an avenue for redress, relief, and damages. See the model legislation, Prevent Anti-Abortion Terrorism Act from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights.
Ohio HB 408 creates a 15 foot buffer zone and amends civil and criminal law in order to prevent impediment of reproductive health care services. See the model legislation, Clinic Safety Zone Act from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights.
Legislation to prevent employment discrimination and interference
The following bills have been introduced to protect employees from employment discrimination based on reproductive health choices: Michigan HB 4716, Missouri HB 1978, New York AB 1142, New YorkSB 2709. See the model legislation, Keep Bosses Out of the Bedroom Act from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights.
Legislation to expand access to contraception
Florida HB 947, Florida SB 1116, and Kansas HB 2586 expand access to Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARCs) and New Mexico SM 58 would create a working group that studies the effect of LARC access. See the model legislation, Long-Acting Birth Control Information Act from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights.
The following bills expand access to emergency contraception: Arizona SB 1407, Massachusetts HB 1278, Michigan SB 172, Michigan HB 4717, Michigan HB 4218, Michigan SB 736, Missouri HB 1907, Missouri HB 1908, New Jersey, AB 2369, New York SB 2713, New York AB 6954, New York AB 5178, New York, SB 4365, New York AB 6275, New York AB 6741, and Ohio SB 101. See the model legislation, Rape Survivor Information Act from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights.
A number of bills would allow pharmacists to prescribe contraception: Alaska SB 169, Hawaii HB 1896, Hawaii SB 2320, Illinois HB 5809, Iowa SSB 3082, Missouri HB 1679, New Jersey AB 2296, New Jersey, AB 2480, New Jersey SB 1073, New Jersey SB 1303, New York AB 8707, South Carolina HB 4644, Tennessee HB 1847, Tennessee SB 1958, and Washington SB 6467.
Bills to ensure coverage for a 12-month supply of contraception: Alaska SB 156, California SB 999, Hawaii SB 2319, Michigan SB 466, Minnesota HB 2606, and Wisconsin SB 724.
Bills that provide a form of contraceptive equity in insurance coverage: Illinois HB 5576, Maryland SB 848, New York SB 6013, New York AB 8135, Ohio HB 132, Vermont HB 620, Washington SB 5026, Washington HB 1502, Washington SB 6493, and Washington HB 1403.
Legislation to expose the hypocrisy of the anti-abortion movement
Iowa HB 2141, Kentucky HB 396, South Carolina HB 4544, Tennessee HB 1927, Tennessee SB 2292satirically expose the hypocrisy of the anti-abortion movement by legislating erectile dysfunction the way they legislate abortion: See the model legislation, Medical Equity Now (MEN) Act from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights.
Legislation to demonstrate support for abortion rights
California SJR 19, Michigan SR 118, Michigan HR 205, New Jersey SCR 78, and Rhode Island HB 7444 are resolutions or legislation to confirm the right to abortion services, show support for abortion rights, Roe v. Wade, and Planned Parenthood, or a request for the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate violence against reproductive health providers. See the model legislation, Abortion Is Health Care Resolution from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights.
Legislation to repeal anti-abortion laws
Ten bills have been introduced that repeal anti-abortion statutes. Arizona SB 1483 repeals a 24 hour waiting period and Virginia HB 43 repeals an ultrasound requirement. Arizona SB 1476 repeals clinic inspections. New York AB 6221 and New York SB 4432 both affirm the right to abortion and repeal the penal prohibition of abortion and Wisconsin SB 701 and Wisconsin HB 916 repeal the statutory prohibition of abortion. Arizona HB 2411 repeals the telemedicine abortion ban. Rhode Island HB 7612 repeals spousal notice before an abortion procedure. Utah HB 246 repeals the restriction on the use of public funds for contraception and abortion. See the model legislation, Prevent Political Interference from Delaying Abortion Act from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights.
Finally, Wisconsin introduced comprehensive bills that require physicians to provide medically accurate information, protect employees from discrimination based on reproductive health choices, require contraceptive equity within health coverage, and repeal abortion restrictions: Wisconsin SB 653, Wisconsin AB 880.