Directs the consumer protection division to conduct a study on limited service pregnancy center entities and to provide a report with its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the governor and legislature.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4372
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 4, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Health
AN ACT to direct the consumer protection division to conduct a study on
limited service pregnancy center entities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. 1. The consumer protection division shall conduct a study
2 on "limited service pregnancy center" entities whose primary purpose is
3 to provide pregnancy-related services and who advertise or solicit
4 patronage based on offers to provide pregnancy tests, prenatal sonogra-
5 phy, and counseling about pregnancy options. Such limited service preg-
6 nancy centers shall not include entities that provide or refer for
7 abortions, prenatal care or emergency contraception.
8 2. Such study shall require the division to collect data from such
9 entities and other relevant sources which shall include but shall not be
10 limited to:
11 (a) What state funds, if any, are directly or indirectly allocated to
12 limited service pregnancy centers in the state and the names and
13 locations of such organizations receiving state funding.
14 (b) What federal funds, if any, are directly or indirectly allocated
15 to limited service pregnancy centers in the state and the names and
16 locations of such organizations receiving federal funding.
17 (c) Whether the limited service pregnancy centers in the state are
18 part of larger umbrella organizations that operate limited service preg-
19 nancy centers across the country.
20 (d) The number of women who access services at limited service preg-
21 nancy centers and the geographic regions in which each woman accessing
22 the services of limited service pregnancy center resides.
23 (e) What services are provided by limited service pregnancy centers.
24 (f) Whether limited service pregnancy centers hold themselves out to
25 the public, either in person, through community participation or events
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05698-01-9
A. 4372 2
1 or through their advertising, websites or social media, as entities in
2 which comprehensive, all-options pregnancy counseling is provided.
3 (g) Whether misleading or medically or factually inaccurate informa-
4 tion is given to people seeking services at limited service pregnancy
5 centers, including but not limited to misinformation about: the alleged
6 links between abortions and breast cancer, the effects of abortion on
7 future fertility and the effects of abortion on mental health.
8 (h) If relevant, whether limited service pregnancy centers disclose
9 their religious affiliation.
10 (i) Whether any limited service pregnancy center informs people seek-
11 ing services whether or not it has any medical professionals on the
12 premises or on its staff.
13 (j) The number of state-certified medical professionals on staff or
14 providing regular volunteer medical services at limited service pregnan-
15 cy centers.
16 (k) Whether any limited service pregnancy center informs its people
17 seeking services that it does not provide or refer for comprehensive
18 reproductive health care services, such as abortions, contraception or
19 prenatal care.
20 (l) Whether any limited service pregnancy centers are providing ultra-
21 sound examinations, the medical licensure of the person performing and
22 interpreting the examinations if any, and how they disclose the results
23 of the examinations to clients.
24 (m) Whether limited service pregnancy centers collect information that
25 would be considered confidential in a licensed medical facility forma-
26 tion, how they handle medical records, and whether the medical records
27 are in compliance with federal and state requirements governing medical
28 privacy.
29 3. The consumer protection division shall make a report to the gover-
30 nor and the legislature of its findings, conclusions and recommendations
31 no later than one year after the effective date of this act and shall
32 submit with this report such legislative proposals as it deems necessary
33 to implement its recommendations.
34 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.