2010 News Releases
Reproductive Health Act introduced in the Assembly; measure updates New York’s abortion law
6.17.2010
Albany, NY June 16, 2010—Today, Member of the Assembly Deborah Glick introduced the Reproductive Health Act (RHA) (A.11484).
Introduction of this important legislation once again demonstrates the longstanding tradition of Assembly members’ commitment to and their leadership of reproductive health and justice for the women of New York State. For many years, the Assembly has been a recognized leader nationwide in the passage of legislation that protects the health and safety of women and honors their right to make reproductive health care decisions that are right for them. The Reproductive Health Act will update New York’s outdated and inadequate 1970 abortion law, protecting women and their health care providers.
“Speaker Silver and Assemblymember Glick have long been champions of policies that protect and advance women’s reproductive rights,” said Family Planning Advocates President and CEO M. Tracey Brooks. “The introduction and anticipated passage of RHA in the Assembly are aligned with the pro-choice views of more than 70 percent of New Yorkers.”
Forty years ago, New York was one of the first states in the nation to permit safe and legal abortion. While the law was groundbreaking at the time, it needs updating. Currently, health care providers in New York and the women they serve are guided by the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision if a pregnancy goes awry or the woman becomes ill and abortion is an option to protect her health. New York’s law, passed in 1970, only protects a woman during pregnancy if her life is in immediate danger.
“While other states continue to pass laws that put the health and safety of women at risk, the Reproductive Health Act will ensure that the women of New York do not face the same fate,” said Brooks.
Kidney failure, diabetes, stroke, extremely high blood pressure and cancer are just a few of the complications that can occur during a pregnancy. As a result, women and their families are put in the position of making difficult decisions.
The Reproductive Health Act will guarantee a woman's ability to make her own reproductive health decisions.
RHA ensures that a woman will be able to have an abortion if her health is endangered.
New York’s law does not contain an exception to protect a woman should the pregnancy pose a risk to her health. Our law only provides for abortion should a women’s life be endangered.
RHA also will regulate abortion care in public health law rather than in the criminal code.
“As a safe, legal medical procedure, abortion should be regulated under public health law where every other medical procedure is regulated, not in the penal code where it has been since before 1970,” said Brooks.
And, RHA will guarantee everyone the right to use or refuse contraception.
“This will prevent any mandatory imposition of contraception to the women of New York by regulation or judicial ruling,” Brooks explained.
“Patients need all available information and options to make the decisions that are best for them and their families. Their health care providers need to be able to help a woman by supporting and carrying out her decisions without having to consider conflicts between New York State law and federal case law. The Reproductive Health Act will ensure that,” Brooks said.
Contrary to misinformation about the Reproductive Health Act, this measure will not force religiously affiliated hospitals or health care providers to provide abortion services. In fact, the bill specifically states: Nothing in this article shall be construed to conflict with any applicable state or federal law or regulation permitting a health care provider to refrain from providing abortions due to the provider’s religious or moral beliefs.
The Reproductive Health Act was introduced in the Senate (S.5808) during the 2009 legislative session. Family Planning Advocates of New York State is working with lawmakers in both houses to ensure this bill becomes law for the benefit of the state’s women and families.
Family Planning Advocates of New York State is a non-profit, statewide organization dedicated to protecting and expanding access to a full range of reproductive health care services. It represents New York's Planned Parenthood affiliates and other family planning centers, as well as hundreds of organizations and thousands of individual members. www.fpaofnys.org
###
