Legislative Goals
The BPCLC works to advance pro-reproductive health rights legislation and to prevent legislation from being passed that would serve to restrict access to safe and legal abortion, contraception, and comprehensive sex education. During the 2019-2020 Legislative Session, the BPCLC is focused on the bills listed below. Click on the header of each current bill to view the bill's status, primary sponsor and co-sponsors, text, and legislative history.
Comprehensive Sexuality Education (S4844 Metzger, Montgomery/A6512 Nolan, Gottfried)
This bill requires public and charter schools to provide comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) to students in grades kindergarten through twelve. CSE shall be age appropriate, medically accurate, and inclusive of all students. This bill provides for the NYSED Commissioner in consultation with the NYSDOH Commissioner to develop a sexuality education program, draft regulations, and make recommendations to the Regents. Boards of Education shall establish advisory groups to make recommendations regarding the curriculum, content, and evaluation of sexuality education. A process will be created for parents to opt their children out of sexuality education.
Limited Services Pregnancy Center Study Bill (S6311 Hoylman/A8212 Glick)
This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Health to conduct a study and issue a report examining the unmet health and resource needs facing pregnant women in New York and the impact of limited services pregnancy centers on the ability of women to obtain accurate, non-coercive health care information and timely access to a comprehensive range of reproductive and sexual health care services in alignment with their health care needs and that supports personal decision making.
Equal Rights Amendment (S517-B Krueger/A272-B Seawright)
This bill provides for equality of rights and protection against discrimination by updating the New York Bill of Rights to reflect the evolution of concepts of equal rights and protections from discrimination that have occurred over the last eighty years.
Sexual Health Care for Minors (S3899-A Krueger/A973-A Paulin)
This bill ensures that minors under the age of eighteen will have access to a full range of sexual health care services, including vaccinations and other preventive care, diagnosis, and treatment without parental knowledge or consent, provided that the minor has the capacity to consent, and provides consent. This bill also updates state law to align with contemporary standards of medical practice by authorizing health care practitioners licensed under title eight of the Education Law, and acting within their scope of practice, to diagnose, treat, prescribe, and provide preventive care of sexually transmissible diseases, including administering immunizations.
Abortion Access Fund (S6632 Biaggi/A8681 Reyes)
The purpose of this bill is to break down barriers and aid in access to reproductive health care by establishing the Abortion Access Fund. New York State taxpayers will be able to indicate on their personal income tax return whether they wish to contribute to the fund.
Public University Emergency Contraception Act (S5089 Parker/A4831 Englebright)
This bill requires each college and university of the state university of New York and the city university of New York to provide emergency contraception upon request; provides for the commissioner to establish a statewide emergency contraception college education and awareness program and to distribute informational materials and posters relating to the safety and efficacy of emergency contraception.
Solitary Confinement of Pregnant Inmates and Inmate Mothers (S799 Lanza/A5339 Rozic)
The purpose of this bill is to exclude pregnant inmates, inmates who have given birth within the past eight weeks, and inmate mothers living with infants in prison nursery programs from solitary confinement in New York correctional facilities.
Total Access to Menstrual Products (TAMP) Act (A305 Rosenthal)
The purpose of this legislation is to require menstrual hygiene products, including tampons, sanitary napkins and panty liners, be made available for free in restrooms across the state.
Access to Menstrual Products in Homeless Shelters (A686 Rosenthal)
This bill will provide feminine hygiene products at no cost to adults and children in homeless shelters throughout New York State.
Reproductive Health Act (S240 Krueger, Stewart-Cousins/A21 Glick)
Passed and signed into law on January 22, 2019
The Reproductive Health Act would update New York’s abortion and contraception laws to recognize a woman’s fundamental right to access safe, legal abortion; ensure a woman’s right to have an abortion if her health is endangered; and treat the regulation of abortion as an issue of public health and medical practice rather than as a potential crime. Passing the Reproductive Health Act would guarantee that women’s reproductive health remains protected in New York, regardless of what happens at the federal level. State legislatures across the country have enacted over 450 bills that would ban or restrict abortion, some of which are a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade. All it takes is one of these challenges to reach the Supreme Court and Roe could be overturned. View Frequently Asked Questions about the Reproductive Health Act (RHA)
Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act (S659A Salazar/A585A Cahill)
Passed the Senate and Assembly on January 22, 2019
Requires every applicable group or blanket policy to provide coverage for all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices, and other products, including all FDA-approved over-the-counter contraceptive drugs, devices, and products as prescribed or as otherwise authorized under state or federal law; requires applicable group or blanket policies to cover emergency contraception, voluntary sterilization procedures, patient education and counseling on contraception, and follow-up services related to the drugs, devices, products, and procedures covered; provides for the coverage of dispensation of a 12 month supply of a contraceptive at one time; prohibits applicable group or blanket policies from imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on coverage provided.
The “Boss Bill” (S660 Metzger/A584 Jaffee)
Passed the Senate and Assembly on January 22, 2019
Prohibits employers from discriminating against employees or employees’ dependents based on their reproductive health decision making, including but not limited to, the decision to use or access a particular drug, device or medical service without the employee's prior informed, affirmative written consent; prohibits employers from taking retaliatory action and requiring employees to sign a waiver or other document that would deny their rights to make their own reproductive health decisions; provides penalties.
Anti-Choice Legislation
Requires Parental Notice of Abortions for Minors (A6125 DeStefano similar to A5999 Lawrence)
Requires the written notification of a custodial parent with whom the minor resides or of a legal guardian of the minor at least 48 hours prior to the performance of an abortion upon an unemancipated minor; defines unemancipated minor as person less than eighteen years of age; allows for waiver of such notice in limited instances; establishes circumstances and procedures for proceedings to obtain an order waiving such parental notification; prohibits coercion of a minor female by a parent, guardian, or other person to have an abortion; imposes penalties.
Family Protection Act – Notification Requirements on Abortions (A5637 Curran)
Enacts the Family Protection Act; requires informed consent by emancipated minors or the parent or guardian of an unemancipated minor at least 24 hours prior to obtaining an abortion; requires that the physician performing the abortion, the referring physician, or an agent of either physician inform the minor at least 24 hours prior to obtaining an abortion of the right to change her mind, the availability of materials to review, and sources of financial assistance; defines terms; prohibits coercion of a minor female by a parent, guardian or other person to have an abortion; provides exemptions for emergency situations requiring an abortion; imposes penalties.
The Woman's Right to Know Act – Waiting Periods for Abortions (S5067 Diaz)
Enacts the Woman's Right to Know Act; provides women facing unplanned pregnancies who are considering abortion with full information and reflection time prior to having an abortion performed upon them; provides a 24-hour waiting period to give women the opportunity to receive information about the medical risks of abortion, alternatives to the procedure, and the unborn child's development; requires the Department of Health to publish pregnancy and childbirth resource materials in English and Spanish; requires the woman to certify in writing, prior to the abortion, that certain information has been provided; provides criminal and civil penalties.
Unborn Victims of Violence Act (S3830 Ritchie/A3579 Cusick)
Provides that either a person or an unborn child in any stage of gestation may be the victim of an assault or homicide; also states situations when it does not constitute an assault on an unborn child such as during the course of an otherwise lawful abortion, during normal medical treatment, or by the pregnant woman, with the exception of self-abortion; defines "person" to include any human being who is born and is alive or an unborn child at any stage of gestation.
Damages for Sex Selective Abortions (A6769 Crespo)
Prohibits the performance or attempted performance of sex selective abortion; establishes a cause of action for damages against a person who attempts or performs a sex selective abortion; provides definitions; imposes penalties.
Ensures Review of Ultrasound Prior to Giving Informed Consent for an Abortion (A5374 DiPietro)
Ensures that women seeking an abortion receive an ultrasound and the opportunity to review the ultrasound before giving informed consent to receive an abortion; imposes penalties.
Requires Testing for a Fetal Heartbeat Prior to Performance of An Abortion (A5384 DiPietro)
Establishes the requirement of testing for a fetal heartbeat; establishes standards for informed consent, directing the department of public health to prepare and disseminate certain materials regarding abortion and providing for certain civil remedies; expands the definition of medical professional misconduct to include certain acts of abortion and authorizing certain sanctions for violations; criminalizes the performance of abortion under certain circumstances; establishes the joint legislative committee on adoption promotion and support; provides for certain remedies in the event that the supreme court of the United States overrules Roe v. Wade; and authorizes the commissioner of the department of health to promulgate certain rules and regulations.
Regulation of Abortions – Prohibits Dismemberment Abortions (A4777 DiPietro)
Regulates the performance of abortions by prohibiting dismemberment abortions; defines “justifiable abortional act” as being medically necessary to save the mother’s life or to prevent the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function, or within 20 weeks from the commencement of pregnancy.
Requires Parents to Receive “Opt-In” Letters Prior to Issuance of Emergency Contraception (A6680 Crespo)
Provides that parents of public school students whose school offers emergency contraception must receive an “opt-in” letter in the mail and agree that their child should receive such services or medication if necessary before such services are provided or medication is dispensed.
This bill requires public and charter schools to provide comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) to students in grades kindergarten through twelve. CSE shall be age appropriate, medically accurate, and inclusive of all students. This bill provides for the NYSED Commissioner in consultation with the NYSDOH Commissioner to develop a sexuality education program, draft regulations, and make recommendations to the Regents. Boards of Education shall establish advisory groups to make recommendations regarding the curriculum, content, and evaluation of sexuality education. A process will be created for parents to opt their children out of sexuality education.
Limited Services Pregnancy Center Study Bill (S6311 Hoylman/A8212 Glick)
This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Health to conduct a study and issue a report examining the unmet health and resource needs facing pregnant women in New York and the impact of limited services pregnancy centers on the ability of women to obtain accurate, non-coercive health care information and timely access to a comprehensive range of reproductive and sexual health care services in alignment with their health care needs and that supports personal decision making.
Equal Rights Amendment (S517-B Krueger/A272-B Seawright)
This bill provides for equality of rights and protection against discrimination by updating the New York Bill of Rights to reflect the evolution of concepts of equal rights and protections from discrimination that have occurred over the last eighty years.
Sexual Health Care for Minors (S3899-A Krueger/A973-A Paulin)
This bill ensures that minors under the age of eighteen will have access to a full range of sexual health care services, including vaccinations and other preventive care, diagnosis, and treatment without parental knowledge or consent, provided that the minor has the capacity to consent, and provides consent. This bill also updates state law to align with contemporary standards of medical practice by authorizing health care practitioners licensed under title eight of the Education Law, and acting within their scope of practice, to diagnose, treat, prescribe, and provide preventive care of sexually transmissible diseases, including administering immunizations.
Abortion Access Fund (S6632 Biaggi/A8681 Reyes)
The purpose of this bill is to break down barriers and aid in access to reproductive health care by establishing the Abortion Access Fund. New York State taxpayers will be able to indicate on their personal income tax return whether they wish to contribute to the fund.
Public University Emergency Contraception Act (S5089 Parker/A4831 Englebright)
This bill requires each college and university of the state university of New York and the city university of New York to provide emergency contraception upon request; provides for the commissioner to establish a statewide emergency contraception college education and awareness program and to distribute informational materials and posters relating to the safety and efficacy of emergency contraception.
Solitary Confinement of Pregnant Inmates and Inmate Mothers (S799 Lanza/A5339 Rozic)
The purpose of this bill is to exclude pregnant inmates, inmates who have given birth within the past eight weeks, and inmate mothers living with infants in prison nursery programs from solitary confinement in New York correctional facilities.
Total Access to Menstrual Products (TAMP) Act (A305 Rosenthal)
The purpose of this legislation is to require menstrual hygiene products, including tampons, sanitary napkins and panty liners, be made available for free in restrooms across the state.
Access to Menstrual Products in Homeless Shelters (A686 Rosenthal)
This bill will provide feminine hygiene products at no cost to adults and children in homeless shelters throughout New York State.
Reproductive Health Act (S240 Krueger, Stewart-Cousins/A21 Glick)
Passed and signed into law on January 22, 2019
The Reproductive Health Act would update New York’s abortion and contraception laws to recognize a woman’s fundamental right to access safe, legal abortion; ensure a woman’s right to have an abortion if her health is endangered; and treat the regulation of abortion as an issue of public health and medical practice rather than as a potential crime. Passing the Reproductive Health Act would guarantee that women’s reproductive health remains protected in New York, regardless of what happens at the federal level. State legislatures across the country have enacted over 450 bills that would ban or restrict abortion, some of which are a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade. All it takes is one of these challenges to reach the Supreme Court and Roe could be overturned. View Frequently Asked Questions about the Reproductive Health Act (RHA)
Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act (S659A Salazar/A585A Cahill)
Passed the Senate and Assembly on January 22, 2019
Requires every applicable group or blanket policy to provide coverage for all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices, and other products, including all FDA-approved over-the-counter contraceptive drugs, devices, and products as prescribed or as otherwise authorized under state or federal law; requires applicable group or blanket policies to cover emergency contraception, voluntary sterilization procedures, patient education and counseling on contraception, and follow-up services related to the drugs, devices, products, and procedures covered; provides for the coverage of dispensation of a 12 month supply of a contraceptive at one time; prohibits applicable group or blanket policies from imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on coverage provided.
The “Boss Bill” (S660 Metzger/A584 Jaffee)
Passed the Senate and Assembly on January 22, 2019
Prohibits employers from discriminating against employees or employees’ dependents based on their reproductive health decision making, including but not limited to, the decision to use or access a particular drug, device or medical service without the employee's prior informed, affirmative written consent; prohibits employers from taking retaliatory action and requiring employees to sign a waiver or other document that would deny their rights to make their own reproductive health decisions; provides penalties.
Anti-Choice Legislation
Requires Parental Notice of Abortions for Minors (A6125 DeStefano similar to A5999 Lawrence)
Requires the written notification of a custodial parent with whom the minor resides or of a legal guardian of the minor at least 48 hours prior to the performance of an abortion upon an unemancipated minor; defines unemancipated minor as person less than eighteen years of age; allows for waiver of such notice in limited instances; establishes circumstances and procedures for proceedings to obtain an order waiving such parental notification; prohibits coercion of a minor female by a parent, guardian, or other person to have an abortion; imposes penalties.
Family Protection Act – Notification Requirements on Abortions (A5637 Curran)
Enacts the Family Protection Act; requires informed consent by emancipated minors or the parent or guardian of an unemancipated minor at least 24 hours prior to obtaining an abortion; requires that the physician performing the abortion, the referring physician, or an agent of either physician inform the minor at least 24 hours prior to obtaining an abortion of the right to change her mind, the availability of materials to review, and sources of financial assistance; defines terms; prohibits coercion of a minor female by a parent, guardian or other person to have an abortion; provides exemptions for emergency situations requiring an abortion; imposes penalties.
The Woman's Right to Know Act – Waiting Periods for Abortions (S5067 Diaz)
Enacts the Woman's Right to Know Act; provides women facing unplanned pregnancies who are considering abortion with full information and reflection time prior to having an abortion performed upon them; provides a 24-hour waiting period to give women the opportunity to receive information about the medical risks of abortion, alternatives to the procedure, and the unborn child's development; requires the Department of Health to publish pregnancy and childbirth resource materials in English and Spanish; requires the woman to certify in writing, prior to the abortion, that certain information has been provided; provides criminal and civil penalties.
Unborn Victims of Violence Act (S3830 Ritchie/A3579 Cusick)
Provides that either a person or an unborn child in any stage of gestation may be the victim of an assault or homicide; also states situations when it does not constitute an assault on an unborn child such as during the course of an otherwise lawful abortion, during normal medical treatment, or by the pregnant woman, with the exception of self-abortion; defines "person" to include any human being who is born and is alive or an unborn child at any stage of gestation.
Damages for Sex Selective Abortions (A6769 Crespo)
Prohibits the performance or attempted performance of sex selective abortion; establishes a cause of action for damages against a person who attempts or performs a sex selective abortion; provides definitions; imposes penalties.
Ensures Review of Ultrasound Prior to Giving Informed Consent for an Abortion (A5374 DiPietro)
Ensures that women seeking an abortion receive an ultrasound and the opportunity to review the ultrasound before giving informed consent to receive an abortion; imposes penalties.
Requires Testing for a Fetal Heartbeat Prior to Performance of An Abortion (A5384 DiPietro)
Establishes the requirement of testing for a fetal heartbeat; establishes standards for informed consent, directing the department of public health to prepare and disseminate certain materials regarding abortion and providing for certain civil remedies; expands the definition of medical professional misconduct to include certain acts of abortion and authorizing certain sanctions for violations; criminalizes the performance of abortion under certain circumstances; establishes the joint legislative committee on adoption promotion and support; provides for certain remedies in the event that the supreme court of the United States overrules Roe v. Wade; and authorizes the commissioner of the department of health to promulgate certain rules and regulations.
Regulation of Abortions – Prohibits Dismemberment Abortions (A4777 DiPietro)
Regulates the performance of abortions by prohibiting dismemberment abortions; defines “justifiable abortional act” as being medically necessary to save the mother’s life or to prevent the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function, or within 20 weeks from the commencement of pregnancy.
Requires Parents to Receive “Opt-In” Letters Prior to Issuance of Emergency Contraception (A6680 Crespo)
Provides that parents of public school students whose school offers emergency contraception must receive an “opt-in” letter in the mail and agree that their child should receive such services or medication if necessary before such services are provided or medication is dispensed.