Health of Women and Children
Summary
This proposal would increase state support for initiatives to promote adoption as a positive alternative to abortion. The legislation would include several elements:
- A public relations campaign to educate the public and clients of social service agencies regarding the availability and attractiveness of adoption as an alternative for an unplanned or crisis pregnancy, and to recruit more adoptive parents. A major component of this campaign would be an increased emphasis on promoting the adoption of special needs children.
- Financial support for adoptive parents and their children through tax relief and expanded eligibility for health insurance.
- Financial support for the Maternity and Early Childhood Foundation, and for private agencies that promote adoption.
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Summary
This legislation (A.2244 Rabbitt) would require physicians to provide women considering abortion with information concerning the risks of abortion, alternatives to the procedure and the gestational age and development of their unborn child. It would then give women sufficient time to reflect on the decision, weigh their options and give voluntary, knowledgeable and informed consent to the procedure. Because the so-called “morning-after pill,” or “emergency contraception,” is now widely available, informed consent should also be required for women considering its use.
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Summary
This bill would require 48 hours notice to one custodial parent prior to abortions performed on unemancipated children under age 18, or, in the alternative, a family court waiver of parental notification. (A.2128 Reilich/S.4028 Zeldin)
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Summary
On August 24, 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an application by Barr Laboratories to sell the morning-after pill “Plan B” (so-called “emergency contraception”) without a prescription in pharmacies to persons 18 years of age and older. Under the ruling, girls 17 and younger continue to need a physician’s prescription to purchase the pills. On March 23, 2009, a judge in United States District Court ruled that 17 year-olds should also have access to these drugs at the drugstore without a physician prescription. The FDA agreed, and changed its policy. (In August 2010 the FDA approved another emergency contraceptive known as “ella,” but this is available only by prescription.)
New York State law requires hospitals to offer these drugs to victims of sexual assault. New legislative proposals are anticipated that would further expand access to the morning-after pill, including one that would make it available to persons of any age without a doctor’s prescription.
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Summary
In June 2009 the Empire State Stem Cell Board voted to allow state payments for the ‘donation’ of human eggs to be used specifically for stem cell research. Payments are to be allowed not only for actual expenses involved, but also for time, burden and discomfort, up to $10,000 per retrieval. Statutory change is necessary to undo the action of the Stem Cell Board.
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