Albany, NY – In the aftermath of the leak of the U.S. Supreme Court's draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision establishing that women have a constitutionally protected right to abortion, Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal announced her new legislation to protect New York’s reproductive healthcare workers who provide legal abortions to people who travel to New York from states where abortion is or will be outlawed.

“The ability to control one’s body is a fundamental human right that should not be denied any woman,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan), Chair of the Committee on Social Services. “The Supreme Court’s imminent decision overturning 50 years of well-settled precedent infantilizes and imperils women, many of whom will be forced to overcome significant obstacles or endure dangerous conditions to access lifesaving abortion services. New York must and will become an abortion safe haven for women from all across the country."

The bills, A.9718 and A9768, will protect any medical provider who, acting in compliance with New York State law and within their scope of practice, provides an abortion or related reproductive services to any person from a state where abortion is illegal, against any medical malpractice claims or professional discipline related to those abortion services.

"Though New York enshrined Roe v. Wade in the state constitution in 2019, abortion and reproductive health care providers remain vulnerable to attack from extremist state houses so hell-bent on controlling women’s bodies that they are reaching far beyond their state borders to criminalize abortion and punish those who perform or undergo one. My new bills will ensure that reproductive health care providers can do continue to practice without fear of consequence," said Assemblymember Rosenthal.