Bill Text: NY A04372 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: 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.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - referred to health [A04372 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-A04372-Introduced.html

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                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.