Abortion, Every Mother Matters Act, Pregnancy Launch Program created, resource access assistance offers required to be made before performance of an abortion
Impact
This act introduces the Pregnancy Launch Program, which is designed to promote alternatives to abortion through support for pregnant women. The program will offer a range of services from care plan coordination to help with immediate socioeconomic needs such as housing, employment, and childcare. Importantly, the bill emphasizes the importance of providing assistance during pregnancy and postpartum periods, thereby aiming to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce the overall number of abortions in the state. By doing this, the bill reflects a shift in state laws towards supporting childbirth and family formation as alternatives to abortion.
Summary
House Bill 401, known as the Every Mother Matters Act, aims to enhance support services for women considering an abortion by mandating that they receive information about various pregnancy-related resources. Before an abortion procedure, physicians are required to confirm that the woman seeking the abortion has received a 'resource access assistance offer.' This offer will involve a phone consultation with a trained professional who will communicate available services and resources that can assist the woman through her pregnancy and parenting journey.
Contention
While proponents argue that the bill offers crucial support to pregnant women and promotes healthier family outcomes, critics contend it may infringe upon reproductive rights. There are concerns that the mandated consultations could make access to abortion more cumbersome and could be seen as a form of coercion by requiring women to engage with state-sanctioned resources before exercising their rights. This contention is expected to lead to significant debate regarding the balance between supporting women during their pregnancy and protecting their autonomy.
Notable_points
The bill stipulates strict guidelines regarding the conduct of care agents and agencies involved in the Pregnancy Launch Program, ensuring they do not provide or assist in obtaining abortions. This distinction signifies a clear legislative intent to prevent any potential conflicts of interest and maintain a focus on providing support rather than infringing upon abortion access. Additionally, the provision allowing women to refuse assistance underscores a recognition of individual choice in sensitive health decisions.
Abortion; authorized to preserve health of mother or if pregnancy result of rape or incest; man convicted of rape or incest required to pay for abortion and undergo vasectomy; mother of unborn child who undergoes abortion to preserve her health authorized to petition to require father of unborn child to pay for certain abortion costs; judge authorized to excuse father from payment if he undergoes vasectomy
Abortion producing drug; prohibitions provided relating to access to abortion producing drugs via the internet or other information technology systems, Attorney General authorized to enforce, civil cause of action created, criminal penalties provided
To enact the Pregnancy Resource Act; Relating to income tax; to provide a state income tax credit to individuals and businesses that make contributions to eligible charitable organizations that operate as a pregnancy center or residential maternity facility; and to specify the obligations of the Department of Revenue in implementing the act
Public assistance, Department of Human Resources, request of waiver to exclude soda from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program required, exclusion provided for
Shark alert system; established; implementation by Department of Conservation and Natural Resources required; state and local entities assistance required
Adoption, Minor Adoption Code and Adult Adoption Code revised, procedures related to investigations, service of notice, and revocation of consent further provided for, duties of Department of Human Resources further provided for
Adoption, Minor Adoption Code and Adult Adoption Code revised, procedures related to investigations, service of notice, and revocation of consent further provided for, duties of Department of Human Resources further provided for
Enacting the pregnancy center autonomy and rights of expression act to protect the ability of private pregnancy centers to provide life-affirming care.