Repro Rights Report
More than 100 proactive abortion rights bills introduced
Posted on February 25, 2016
This is a compendium of more than 100 proactive pro-choice bills introduced as of February 25, 2016.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Legislation expanding access to abortion
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. New York AB 3693 ensures that abortion training is included in medical residency training. Illinois HB 4013 provides both Medicaid and private coverage for abortion. New York AB 3867, Washington HB 1647 and Washington SB 5574 require abortion coverage whenever policies include coverage of maternity care or services. OhioHB 356 provides Medicaid coverage. Arizona SB 1407, Michigan SB 63 and HB 4764, Ohio HB 360, Rhode Island HB 7467, Virginia HB 1225 and SB 183 all reverse prohibitions to allow all health insurance to cover abortion. See the model legislation Abortion Coverage Equity Act from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights. Washington HB 1403 allows medication abortion via telemedicine.
Legislation restricting crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs)
Arizona HB 2206 requires that CPCs provide scientifically accurate information and mandates that CPCs post a notice in English and Spanish stating “this center is not a licensed medical facility.” Arizona HB 2409 requires that CPCs be licensed as outpatient treatment centers. Arizona HB 2664 requires CPCs to provide clients with a list of reproductive health services they do not provide. Missouri HB 1906 requires CPCs to post a notice if they don’t have licensed medical personnel. New York SB 508 and AB 4055require CPCs to provide some basic information to patients. 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 Guarantee Medically Accurate Abortion Care
Arizona SB 1445 would prohibit punishing a health professional for educating or advising a patient about lawful healthcare services. See the model legislation, Patient’s Right to Abortion Information Act from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights. Washington HB 1787 and SB 5770 would prohibit health care facilities from limiting providers’ patient care. See the model legislation, Protect Physician Integrity from Political Interference Act from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights. Virginia HB 94 and SB 648 would allow women seeking an abortion to decline procedures and restrictions that are not required by evidence-based medicine. See the model legislation, Abortion With Dignity 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 prohibit harassment of clinic patients and staff. See the model legislation, Prevent Anti-Abortion Terrorism Act from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights. New York AB 3454 defines photographing persons entering a reproductive health care services facility as aggravated harassment. Ohio HB 408 creates a 15-foot buffer zone to protect clinic patients and staff. 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
Michigan HB 4716, Missouri HB 1978, New York AB 1142 and New York SB 2709 protect employees from employment discrimination based on reproductive health choices. 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 LARCs
Florida HB 947 and SB 1116, and Kansas HB 2586 expand access to Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARCs). 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.
Legislation to expand access to emergency contraception
Michigan SB 172 and HB 4717 are the same as the model legislation Rape Survivor Information Act from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights to require medical personnel, police and colleges to provide information about emergency contraception to survivors of sexual assault. Arizona SB 1407, Michigan HB 4218 and SB 736, Missouri HB 1908, Ohio SB 101, and Pennsylvania SB 542 require medical personnel to offer emergency contraception to sexual assault survivors (EC in the ER bills). Massachusetts HB 1278 requires providing emergency contraception to any woman who requires a rape kit. New York AB 6275 requires public colleges and universities to provide emergency contraception to any student requesting it.
Legislation to require pharmacies to stock and dispense contraception
Missouri HB 1907 requires pharmacies to stock and dispense contraception. New JerseyAB 2369 requires them to stock and dispense emergency contraception. See the model legislation, Women’s Right to the Pill Act from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights.
Legislation to allow pharmacists to prescribe contraception
Such bills introduced are: 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, New York SB 6811, South Carolina HB 4644, Tennessee HB 1847, Tennessee SB 1958 and Washington SB 6467.
Legislation to ensure coverage for a 12-month supply of contraception
Such bills introduced are: Alaska SB 156, California SB 999, Hawaii SB 2319, MichiganSB 466, Minnesota HB 2606 and Wisconsin SB 724.
Legislation to provide a form of contraceptive equity in insurance coverage
Such bills introduced are: Alaska HB 345, Colorado HB 1294, Illinois HB 5576, MarylandSB 848, New York SB 6013, New York AB 8135, Ohio HB 132, Vermont HB 620, Washington SB 5026, Washington HB 1502 and Washington SB 6493.
Legislation to expose the hypocrisy of the anti-abortion movement
Iowa HB 2141, Kentucky HB 396, South Carolina HB 4544, Tennessee HB 1927 and Tennessee SB 2292 satirically 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 rights laws
Fourteen bills have been introduced that repeal anti-abortion statutes. Arizona SB 1483repeals a 24 hour waiting period and Ohio HB 357 would repeal the waiting period and parental notice for abortion. Virginia HB 43 and SB 53 repeal an ultrasound requirement.Arizona SB 1476 repeals clinic inspections. New York AB 6221 and SB 4432, and Wisconsin SB 701 and HB 916 repeal existing statutory prohibitions of abortion. ArizonaHB 2411 repeals a 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. Kansas HB 2581 repeals the physician-only requirement for abortion. Massachusetts HB 1608 repeals the requirement that a late-term abortion be performed in a hospital. See the model legislation, Prevent Political Interference from Delaying Abortion Act from the Public Leadership Institute’s Playbook for Abortion Rights.
Finally, Wisconsin SB 653 and AB 880 are 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.